Leadership on Its Knees

Christian Leadership - in the Church and in the World, or in any combination of these two - begins and ends on its knees. This, simply put, means that leaders (As well as being readers) need to be people of prayer. This is something that has been fermenting in my mind for a few months now, going back to a small gathering for young leaders I was privileged to be a part of in late August, where the Book of Nehemiah was powerfully preached.

Nehemiah followed God faithfully. He left a fairly privileged job (Cup-bearer to the King) to go and rebuild the shattered and essentially destroyed city of Jerusalem. He did so because God told him to. And he did so driven by prayer. The bulk of the first chapter of Nehemiah is his prayer. Nehemiah led from his knees. Every time Nehemiah faced opposition he turned to God, spoke to God, went to his knees. And this echoes a radical truth. The greatest position of strength for a Christian leader is on your knees. Praying. Petitioning. Interceding. Listening. 

It is often said that the logic of the Kingdom of God is not the same as the logic of this world. Its absolutely true. Leadership from a secular perspective is (variously) all about team building, motivation, character, determination, and vision. And all of those of course apply in various ways to Christian leadership. But the posture is different. The starting position is different. Christian leaders should not start behind a desk, or glaring over a microphone, or in front of a powerpoint - but on their knees. Prayer is many things. But above all, in terms of changing the world, preaching the Gospel, and seeing the Kingdom of God explode in our contexts, we need to pray, because the power that only comes through power is the power to change the world. Prayer is powerful. And it is what should drive any and every Christian, leader or not, as they partner with Jesus.

Leonard Ravenhill said, and I personally find this deeply challenging, that

"No man is greater than his prayer life"

I want to close with an extended quote from E.M.Bounds. His book on prayer was recommended to me by my friend Joshua Jones in his recent interview, and of what I've read thus far, its excellent. Bounds has this to say;

"Praying men are God’s chosen leaders. The distinction between the leaders that God brings to the front to lead and bless his people, and those leaders who owe their position of leadership to a worldly, selfish, unsanctified selection, is this - God’s leaders are preeminently men of prayer. This distinguishes them, as [it is] the simple, divine attestation of their call, the seal of their separation by God. Whatever of other graces or gifts they may have, the gift and grace of prayer towers above them all. In whatever else they may share or differ, in the gift of prayer, they are one"

However, whatever, whomsoever you lead, lead by praying. Leadership on its knees. 

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