Rooted in Prayer
Rooted in Prayer: An Invitation for Pastors and Leaders
Ministry is demanding. Sermons to prepare, people to shepherd, crises to respond to, leaders to develop, meetings to attend—the list never ends. Many pastors and ministry leaders confess that prayer often gets pushed aside by the “urgent.” We know prayer matters, but sometimes it feels impossible to give it the time it deserves.
But here’s the truth: if we aren’t rooted in prayer, we’ll be swept away by the weight of ministry.
Why Being Rooted in Prayer Matters
Think of a tree during a storm. If the roots run deep, it may bend, but it will not break. If the roots are shallow, even a small wind can topple it. Pastoral leadership is no different. A deeply rooted prayer life doesn’t remove the storms—it prepares us to stand through them.
When Paul writes in Colossians 2:6-7 that we are to be “rooted and built up in Christ,” he is reminding leaders that our strength doesn’t come from strategy, talent, or personality—it comes from Christ. And prayer is how those roots go deep.
The Pastor Who Burned Out
A pastor friend of mine once told me, “I spent years building my church but neglected my soul.” He was preaching, leading, and counselling, but his private prayer life had dried up. Eventually, exhaustion and discouragement caught up with him, and he stepped away from ministry for a season.
What turned things around wasn’t a new book or a better plan—it was prayer. He began waking up early, simply sitting in silence before God, praying through Scripture, and pouring out his honest thoughts. Over time, his soul healed, his perspective shifted, and his ministry became less about “managing people” and more about “abiding in Christ.”
His story is a reminder that prayer isn’t optional—it’s oxygen. Without it, we suffocate.
Practical Ways to Root Yourself in Prayer
If you’re a pastor or leader, you already know prayer matters. The question is: how do we actually live it out when life and ministry are so full? Here are some practical, real-life rhythms:
Start with Stillness.
Before grabbing your phone or opening your laptop, take two minutes to be still. Whisper Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.” This resets your heart before the day shouts at you.
Pray on the Move.
Not every prayer needs to be on your knees. Pray on your commute. Pray while walking through your neighbourhood. Pray over every chair in your church before Sunday service. Make prayer the soundtrack of your life.
Use the “First Five.”
The first five minutes of every meeting, phone call, or ministry appointment—pray. Not just “open in prayer” as a formality, but genuinely ask God to guide what happens next.
Turn Worry into Prayer.
Philippians 4:6 reminds us to bring everything to God in prayer. Every time you catch yourself worrying about budget, attendance, or conflict, stop and turn it into a prayer. It’s a discipline that transforms anxiety into peace.
Find a Prayer Partner.
Ministry is lonely if you try to do it alone. Find another pastor or leader you can pray with weekly. Some of the deepest encouragement I’ve received has come from 20-minute prayer calls with friends in ministry.
Build a Secret Place.
Jesus often withdrew to pray (Luke 5:16). Where’s your “lonely place”? Maybe it’s your office early in the morning, a chair by the window, or a local park. Guard it. Protect it. Your secret place is where roots grow deepest.
A Call to Pray Together
Personal prayer roots us—but there is something powerful about gathering together with other leaders to pray. The early church was birthed in a prayer meeting (Acts 1–2). Revival movements throughout history have always started with prayer. When leaders come together before God, He strengthens us, unites us, and sends us out renewed.
That’s why we’re hosting a Prayer Gathering for Pastors and Ministry Leaders. It’s not another conference, strategy session, or leadership seminar. This is about slowing down, seeking God together, and allowing Him to refresh us from the inside out.
Here’s what you can expect:
Unhurried time in God’s presence. No agenda but Him.
Prayer for one another. You don’t have to carry the burden alone.
Space to listen. We’ll give God room to speak into our lives and ministries.
If you’ve been running on empty, if prayer has felt dry or distant, or if you simply long for more of God, this gathering is for you.
Final Word
Pastors and leaders, your people need your sermons, your vision, and your leadership. But more than that, they need you to be rooted in Christ. And you can’t be rooted without prayer.
Don’t let the urgent crowd out the essential. Let’s be leaders whose roots run deep—leaders who find their strength not in strategy, but in the Spirit.
I want to invite you personally to join us for the Prayer Gathering. Come, be refreshed. Come, be rooted.
Because when pastors pray, churches thrive. And when churches pray, communities change.
Jeremiah works as Church Coach, Communications & Resource Lead with the ABNWT District of the PAOC. He is a passionate and creative leader who believes that the church is the hope of the world. He uses collaboration, innovation, and inspiration to challenge churches and their leadership to engage in the only mission Jesus ever sent his church on: making disciples.