A Prayer for Resilient Worship Leaders

In Matthew 21:13, Jesus declares, “My house will be called a house of prayer,” highlighting the vital role of prayer in our spiritual lives. This article explores the profound impact of integrating prayer into personal and communal worship, offering a comprehensive guide to foster a deeper connection with God. Drawing inspiration from A.W. Tozer’s practice of pausing to pray during study, we invite participants to make this course an immersive prayer experience. Whether engaging in solitary reflection or group intercession, this guide aims to transform our churches into vibrant houses of prayer, nurturing resilient worship leaders and enriching our spiritual journeys.

How to Use the Prayer Guide

• Personal prayer. We strongly encourage each participant to make this course an opportunity for prayer. It is said that A.W. Tozer was often prompted to pray while studying; he would stop reading, slide out of his chair, get down on his knees, and spend time with the Father in prayer. We hope you’ll be prompted often to make this material a matter of prayer.

• Prayer in groups. If you’re working through this course with your worship team, be sure to pray beforehand that God will use this mini-course to bring you closer together. Use this guide to direct your prayers for specific needs in your life, your ministry, your church, God’s Kingdom, and the world.
• Making your church a house of prayer. You can use this guide to encourage others – staff, volunteers, and members – to pray for a worship awakening in your church. Share with your church’s ministry teams and small groups, and encourage your pastor to include the prayer topics in a worship service.
• Ask God for a spirit of prayer. You can use this prayer or something like it to begin your time of prayer: O Almighty God, you pour out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to you, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship you spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. – Book of Common Prayer (2019)

Praying for Resilient Worship Leaders 

1. Pray that we would be drawn closer to Jesus, the great High Priest.

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. – Hebrews 3:1-3

2. Pray that we would place our trust and confidence in the Lord alone.

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,

whose confidence is in him.

They will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit. – Jeremiah 17:7-8

3. Pray that we would grow in our understanding of the gospel and its impact on our lives and in the lives of those we serve and lead.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” – Romans 1:16-17

4. Pray that we would be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to become more resilient for our lives and work.

In him [Jesus Christ] you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.– Ephesians 1:13-14