What Western Christians get wrong in prayer
An Indian Pastor challenges your prayer life
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Western Christians struggle with prayer.
A few years ago, I met with the leader of an Indian church planting network. His lessons for Christian leadership were inspiring. Particularly what he had to say about prayer.
Here are 8 lessons I took away.
1. Is God popular?
The first question Western Christians ask is “How big is your church?”.
This planter evaluated on numbers too. But his biggest concern wasn’t Sunday attendance or even small group attendance.
It was prayer attendance. He told us this:
High attendance at Sunday service means the preacher is popular.
Attendance at Bible study means the Bible is popular.
Attendance at Prayer meetings means God is popular.
Is God popular at your church?
2. No decision without prayer and fasting
When was the last time you fasted?
For big decisions this Indian church turned to prayer and fasting. Not for one day but 40 days. This included: new elders, new church plants, the start of a new year.
Western Christians seem to assume that this is only possible in India. However, even the 2nd London Baptist Confession says new elders should be
….solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer
2LBCF 26:9
This is basic Christian discipleship.
3. Prayer Involves Planning
Passionate prayer is not unplanned prayer.
My temptation was to believe Indian prayerfulness cannot be replicated. But the leaders do provide fuel for the flame.
For example, they have a Pastor of Prayer. His job is to provide things to pray for. Notes are prepared for pre-service prayer, prayer summits and special prayer seasons.
The reason prayer happens is because it is planned to happen.
4. Leaders should pray and sing privately
Prayer fills us up.
He encouraged this room of leaders to prioritise prayer. Like the apostles in Acts 6 you are “to give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word”.
What if you don't know what to pray?
You can sing! He encouraged pastors to give themselves regularly to praise God’s name in song.
You may want an empty building to do this, but it is a pleasure!
5. Pray for your members by name weekly
This man prayed for his congregation by name daily! (And it is not a small church). But at the very least, a pastor should pray for his members weekly.
One thing I have found helpful is to get a list of names and one request for each. Then you pray regularly for these until the prayer is answered.
Prayer is pastoral ministry.
6. Preachers think too lowly of prayer
Is prayer important?
Every pastor would say yes, but our schedule reveals the true priority. For example, do you set aside time to pray seriously before you preach?
If not, what does this say about who you think is in control?
7. Pastors must be an example
Churches reflect their leaders.
If leaders set an example, the people will follow. This doesn't mean boasting of private prayer like a Pharisee. But it does mean not being a hypocrite when you challenge others.
People will eventually catch your passion.
8. Persevere
Prayer is work.
This Indian church didn't start with all-night prayer meetings. A slow focus on prayer eventually became addictive. Don't look at this church and think "Impossible!". Rather, commit to growing in your prayer life.
Persevere in prayer.
That’s it! Why are you still here? Turn off your phone and pray.
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Some helpful material here, however the first point is problematic:
High attendance at Sunday service means the preacher is popular. / Attendance at Prayer meetings means God is popular.
Sunday is the Lord's Day (not the preacher's day), and that includes the Word preached and sung, and it includes prayer. Certainly a church can have extra services specifically devoted to prayer, but we dare not judge the depth of people's faith by how many attend such services. (I personally have attended prayer meetings most of my life, from childhood on. Two of those churches have had very tedious prayer services--one or two people praying 30-minute prayers or going through a prescribed list in a rote way--and I didn't attend at those churches after trying a couple of times.)