Who do you emulate? As a leader, you probably have some authors, preachers, or teachers that you follow and from whom you glean wisdom and insight. I have taught and helped establish many sons and daughters in ministry. Those who are most successful have learned from me and followed my ways. Every individual is different; they all don’t look like me or sound like me, but they can all copy the principles of the Word upon which my ministry was built. One of the foundations of my ministry has been and always will be prayer.
Every Success is a Prayer Success First
I want my sons and daughters in the faith to base their churches, ministries, businesses, and families on prayer as I have. While I want them to copy me, I want even more for them to replicate Jesus’ prayer life. Prayer is vital. Everything rises or falls on the prayer that undergirds it. Every success is a prayer success first, and every failure is a prayer failure first. If you want to be a victorious leader, you will have to prioritize prayer.
When Jesus Prayed
To replicate Jesus’ prayer life, you need to know when and how He prayed. When did Jesus pray? Jesus began His day and ended His day in prayer.
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. (Mark 1:35)
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)
Jesus set aside time alone with the Father in the mornings and evenings. He also prayed without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). He attentively listened to the Father’s voice as He went about His daily assignments. Jesus said, whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. (John 12:50) Jesus prayed to ascertain the Father's will daily, but He also prayed for those who are far from God.
What Jesus Prayed
In his prophecy about the Messiah, Isaiah wrote Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12).A transgressor is one who broke away from God’s authority or someone who trespasses, offends, rebels and revolts against God.
Praying for transgressors is called intercession. An intercessor is a mediator who acts to reconcile the differences between two parties. Jesus prayed for sinners – those who were far from God – to bring them near to God. An intercessor stands in the gap between sinners and the judgment they deserve. Intercessory prayer asks God to give sinners more time to repent, to send anointed laborers across their paths, and that the blinders come off the eyes of unbelievers so they can be reconciled to God.
I believe Jesus prayed as Paul told us in 1 Timothy 2:1: I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. Jesus prayed for all men and women. He prayed for sinners and saints. He prayed for males and females, children, and adults. He prayed for black people, white people, brown people, red people, yellow people, and every possible iteration of people on the earth. Jesus prayed for conservatives and liberals. He prayed city dwellers and country folks. Jesus prayed for the wealthy and the poor. Jesus prayed for everyone.
Faith Leader, you can replicate Jesus’ prayer life. Be committed to a lifestyle of prayer. Pray in the morning, at night, and as you go about your day, and pray for everyone. Success in your family, ministry, or business will follow because your successful prayer life will bring success to everything you do.