Practical Steps to Leading a Successful Prayer Meeting
Leading a prayer meeting needn’t be an overwhelming or challenging proposition if you follow some simple practical steps in planning and preparation.
Pray }
Plan } well before the meeting.
Prepare }
During the meeting:
All prayer should start with thanksgiving (Phil 4:6); therefore commence the meeting with a time of worship, ensuring that an atmosphere of praise pervades the first part.
Remember:
- Prayer is agreeing with God’s will (1 John 5:14-15). Immature faith tries to manipulate God. Mature faith seeks to move under the banner of God’s will; so give time and opportunity to find out what God’s will is (James 1:5).
- Prayer, not debate or argument, is the proving ground of our faith (Acts 4:1-37) so give space for faith to rise positively.
Times of quietness can be very effective for this.
Consider:
- Confession
- Intercession
- Praying in the Spirit
- Prayer/fasting
Avoid:
- A shopping list of prayers,
- Prayers that really tell everyone else what you have been doing,
- Prayers that generally go around the world (verbally) but have no real meaning.
Be:
- prepared for God to work
- expectant of it
- flexible when He does
- available for it to happen
If the prayer meeting is to be successful the leader needs to realize that he/she, during the meeting, stands between God and the people and thus needs to recognize their responsibility.
Environment:
- Aim for a room temperature of 65°F (18°C), well ventilated.