This is the fourth instalment on a series of articles on ‘The Major Tools of Leadership’. This week’s article focuses on Leaders Pray.
Does prayer make a difference in world events? Switch scenes to South Africa. In the early 1990’s, everyone knew South Africa’s racist government would have to change, but most observers expected massive bloodshed to accompany that change. There was a man named Ray McCauley, a Pentecostal preacher, with a fascinating life story and an imposing physical presence (he competed against Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Mr. Universe contest).
In the final days of the apartheid regime, the emergency black leadership of late Nelson Mandela and late Bishop Desmond Tutu courted Ray, no doubt because his weekly television audience represented a large constituency.
One day, Mandela called on Ray for help. Forty-five black people had been murdered in a township, and Ray went with Bishop Tutu to visit and comfort the families. Ray recalls, “I then saw one of the most moving scenes of my life. Desmond Tutu stood before the crowd of 15 000, motioned for silence and in his high-pitched, melodic voice began to speak: “I am your Bishop appointed by God! Yes, that’s right! Preach it! I have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize! You got it! Amen”. Using nothing but words (‘the rod of his mouth’), this great man of God silenced the crowd, brought peace and closed in prayer. And 15 000 demonstrators, many of whom were out for blood, simply turned around and walked home”.
Prayer is one of the most influential aspects of a leader’s life. Most people who count themselves leaders must view prayer as part of their daily life. It is important, therefore, that we accord the philosophy of prayer a key corner in the life and practice of today’s leaders. Nothing can take its place. We must also recognise that prayer is often misunderstood. Sometimes it seems we want to use prayer in the way of magic, as if we can control or change natural events simply by praying. The problem with this view is that we may actually weaken or even destroy our faith by such misconception.
Think of the pastor in a hospital room when a child dies. The parents are downstairs in the chapel, ‘praying’ for the child’s recovery.
When they return, the pastor must tell them their child is dead. The first question in the mind of the parents often is, ‘What of the prayer just offered? Does this mean God does not care for them or their child?’. Sometimes, one or both of them will strike out in anger and they may say they will never pray again, never attend church again, never have faith again. The problem is not prayer, of course, it is our inadequate and inappropriate understanding of prayer.
The concept of prayer is directly related to and dependent on our concept of God. Therefore, leaders must ultimately place their faith in God. They must do this because they know God has called them, and that whatever God begins, he also completes. (Phil 1:6)
Perhaps the clearest way leaders demonstrate their faith in God is through their prayer life. The leader’s prayer life is critical for several reasons. First, nothing of eternal significance happens apart from God. Jesus declared: “You can do nothing without Me”. (John 15:4)
Leaders who neglect a close relationship with Christ will not achieve God’s will through their organisation. It’s that simple. Leaders are men and women of action. They are wired to obtain results. They are busy people with full schedules. Taking time to pray can appear to be wasting time. Prayerless leaders can keep full schedules, only to discover later that despite their best efforts, little occurred.
Secondly, prayer is fundamental because to be a leader, one must be filled with the divine presence of God, and have the Holy Spirit’s presence in their lives. Without the spirit activity, people may be leaders, but they are not spiritual leaders.
The third reason leaders pray is because God is all-powerful. He can do far more then even the most resourceful leaders. God’s promise is open-ended: “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find it.” (Matt 7:7). If someone is angry with a leader, reconciliation might look impossible. But God can melt the hardest heart. God can change people’s attitudes. When Nancy Reagan was diagnosed with a tumour and had to undergo a mastectomy, her husband Ronald, though he was president, realised that even the most powerful executive in the world has limits. Reagan confessed: “For all the powers of the president of the United States, there were some situations that made me feel helpless and very humble. All I could do was pray – and I did a lot of praying for her during the few weeks.”
A fourth reason to pray is that prayer is the leader’s remedy for stress. Leaders are intimately acquainted with pressure. Most leaders carry a heavy load of responsibility. It may be difficult to find someone with whom to share their concerns. Leaders who allow Christ to carry their loads are relieved of enormous pressure, and can face the most difficult assignments. The essence of human values, Aristotle said, lies in the exercise of our human powers.
Consequently, to sit with folded hands, asking God for blessings, is to reject in advance the gift requested. Prayer has the power to change our lives and prepare us to appreciate and cope with the events and circumstances we face.
In sum, therefore, when leaders come to the end of their own resources, they will discern that they can do nothing more for their people. Giving speeches and issuing memos will change nothing. Some things can only be achieved through prayer (Ps 50:15), as Og Mandino notes: “To never forget that the powerful talent God bestowed in Me is the power to pray.”
When a doctoral student at Princetown asked, “What is there left in the world for original dissertation research?” Albert Einstein replied, “Find out about prayer. Somebody must find out about prayer.”