Lead Me, O Lord
Ten Prayers
for Christians in General
but Especially
for those aspiring for Leadership
Lead describes not an exalted status or unquestionable spiritual authority or superior value within a flock, but a sober calling to follow His Shepherd in such a way that others can “consider the outcome of [his] way of life, and imitate [his] faith,” [Jn 13:15; Eph 4:20; Phil 2:5; 1Pet 2:21; 1Jn 2:6] to speak to them “the word of God,” and to keep watch over their souls, as one “who will have to give an account” (Heb 13:7, 17).
And to know when to leave it in God’s hands [Lk 19:41-44; Acts 13:44-52].
I.
Call to Prayerful Dependence
Every believer [and
especially those aspiring to leadership] are called to prayerful
dependence each praying for one another. For who is adequate knowing that each of
us is accountable to Jesus for how he models what it means to be a Christian;
for how rightly he handles the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15), and for how the
souls he’s influencing spiritually fare? Every sheep needs to pray for those
God has placed over him [1Tim 2:1-8; Heb 13:17].
It has been said that “how well a pastor leads hangs on
how well he follows the Great Shepherd’s lead,” but it is equally
true that as the Jews demonstrated, some will never follow even the greatest
leader – Jesus.
The following suggested areas of prayer are offered to help those
interested in developing a prayer life.
1.
Following: Lead me as my shepherd.
Ps 23:1–3 The
Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He
leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of
righteousness for his name’s sake.
Lord Jesus, I am a sheep of your pasture and one with
influence by your appointment [Acts 20:28],
therefore, I am all the more dependent on you to shepherd me, since apart from
you I can do nothing (Jn 15:5). Help me keep looking to you for
everything I need (Phil 4:19) and
seeking to serve in the strength you supply (1
Pt 4:11). Lead me in
paths of righteousness for your name’s sake. Thank you for restoring my soul in
right attitude and humility.
2.
Wisdom: Lead me in your understanding.
Ps 119:34–35 Give
me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead
me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. [Pr 3:5-7]
Lord Jesus, The “fear of the Lord is
the beginning of wisdom” and “those who practice
it have a good understanding” (Ps
111:10). Therefore, I delight in your word: it is the source of
understanding for how I may “walk in a manner . . . fully
pleasing to” you (Col 1:10). Because
I love you, grant me the understanding to wisely observe your commandments with
my whole heart, (Jn
14:15). I meditate your words and keep them in my mouth that I might
see how to keep them and make my way prosperous and with good success. [Joshua 1:8]
3.
Teaching: Lead me by your Spirit.
Ps 143:10 Teach
me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level
ground!
Lord Jesus, as a believer you’ve called me to teach others
to observe all you’ve commanded (1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:9,
Mt 28:19-20). I have
nothing to teach that I have not received from you through others by your
Spirit (1 Cor 4:7). Help me remember that I teach not just through my words, but
through my attitude and actions as a doer of the Word and not a hearer only. (Jas 1:22). So lead me by your good Spirit and teach me to do your will.
Direct my steps in ways that demonstrate your righteousness and compassion. Let
me walk in love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, kindness, gentleness,
faithfulness, and self-control [Gal 5:22-23].
4.
Purity: Lead me in your righteousness.
Ps 139:23–24 Search
me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be
any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting! … Ps 5:8 Lead me, O Lord, in your
righteousness.
“Lord Jesus,
lead me in your righteousness — don’t let me try to lead with mine.”
Lord Jesus, apart from your sovereign keeping, I am
vulnerable to temptation and prone to wander so I ask you to lead me not into
temptation but deliver me from the evil one [Mt 6:13].
I stand on your promise to move me keep your decrees and precepts by Your
Spirit [Eze 36:27]. You know the state
of my heart and my inmost thoughts [Ps 19:12-14].
Do whatever you must to reveal any grievous way in me so that fellow believers “who hope in you” never have cause to “be put to shame through me” (Ps 69:6). Help me be an example being a 1st
responder to confess, repent, receive grace, and pursue holiness. Lead me in
your righteousness — not mine.
5.
Guidance: Lead me in your truth.
Ps 25:4–5 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me
your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my
salvation; for you I wait all day long.
Lord Jesus, all your paths “are
steadfast love and faithfulness” (Ps 25:10). But I often do
not know the right path to take. I am utterly dependent upon you to lead me.
Make me humble enough to remember that “in an
abundance of counselors there is safety” (Pro 11:14), patient enough
not to move until you grant sufficient clarity, and bold enough to follow you
when your guidance becomes sufficiently clear. Lead me in your truth to teach me.
6.
Courage: Lead me because of my enemies.
Ps 27:11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a
level path because of my enemies.
Lord Jesus, you showed wisdom, grace, and courage before your
spiritual and human adversaries. Train me to show such courage. Teach me to be “quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (Jas 1:19), to seek Your glory as
He who sent me, and not my own (Jn 7:18). Teach me to truly love my enemies
and seek their good (Lk 6:27) but remaining courageous enough to
speak the truth in love even if it is unpopular and despised (Eph 4:15). Lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
7.
Discouragement: Lead me with your light.
Ps 43:3 Send out your light and your truth; let them
lead me.
Lord Jesus, when I am assaulted with discouragement because
of opposition from adversaries; criticized by fellow believers, sorrow from
tragedies within my church, difficulties within my family, my besetting
weaknesses, or fatigue from long, strenuous labors, have mercy on me. Send out
your light and your truth and let them lead me to once again “take courage” (Ps 27:14).
Remind me you are working all things out [Rom 8:28].
8.
Protection: Lead me to your refuge.
Ps 31:3 You are my rock and my fortress; and for your
name’s sake you lead me and guide me.
Lord Jesus, you laid down your life for us to deliver us
from your Father’s wrath (Jn 10:11; Ro 5:8–9). You warned that we would experience
tribulation in the world, but not to fear because you have overcome the world (Jn 16:33). And you promise to “rescue [us] from
every evil deed and bring [us] safely into [your] heavenly kingdom” (2 Tim 4:18). Protect me from being faithless. Protect me from discouraging
others through my fear of what man can do to me more than I fear the
destruction of shrinking back (Heb 10:39; Mt 10:28). You are my rock and fortress; when I
am afraid, lead me to seek my only safe refuge in you.
9.
Overwhelmed: Lead me when my heart is faint.
Ps 61:1–2 Hear my
cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when
my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Lord Jesus, I take comfort that I am surrounded by a great
cloud of faith-filled, strong, courageous witnesses [Heb
12:1] like David who also felt overwhelmed by his circumstances and
became faint of heart. I take comfort that you know my frame and remember that
I am dust (Ps 103:14). At such times, “lift me high upon a rock” (Ps 27:5), above the fray, where I can rest and regain
perspective. I take refuge in your word to “not let
my heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” [Jn 14:1, 27] What
you command to do we are equipped to do. I cast out all fear with its torment
and remember your perfect love [1Jn 4:18]. Lead
me to the rock that is higher than I.
10.
Spiritual Desertion: Lead me through my
darkness.
Ps139:7–12 Where
shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I
ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make
my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning. and dwell
in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your
right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and
the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night
is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
Lord Jesus, when darkness has covered me, and I have lost
sight of you; when I can’t discern your presence, and your voice seems like a
distant echo; when a spiritual storm overtakes me, and I become disoriented and
confused, remind me that saints through the ages have also endured such
experiences. Remind me that even my darkness is not dark to you. And reveal
yourself — not only to me, but also to my brothers and sisters — as the
Shepherd who never loses a sheep (Lk 15:4), even in the valley of the shadow of
death (Ps 23:4). Even there, let your hand lead me until the storm passes and “light dawns in the darkness” (Ps 112:4). Help me grow strong in the faith as Abraham [Rom 4:20], remind me that I follow “the light of the world” and as I follow Jesus I won’t
“walk in darkness but have the light of Life [Jn
8:12].
