The prayer life of the worship leader is often an overlooked discipline. Our attention is easily fixed on other and lesser matters, and we neglect the first work of prayer. Mike McKinley, who serves as pastor of Guilford Baptist Church in Sterling, Va, posted a very useful article on the 9Marks site titled “8 Ways to Pray During Sermon Preparation.” While reading his prayers I was convicted and encouraged to widen the scope of my own prayers for our people as I prepare to lead in congregational worship. I have adapted the prayers for application of the worship leader. My prayer for us as we lead the people of God in the worship of God, we would do so humbly, dependent, and steeped in prayer.
1. Lord, please help me to understand the meaning of the lyrics we sing and ensure they point to Christ.
2. Lord, please increase my love for the people I will lead in worship.
3. Lord, please give me wisdom to apply what I sing first to my own pursuit of truth, and call people to the same end.
4. Lord, please use the truths I sing to help me grasp and love the gospel more so that I might help our congregation do the same.
5. Lord, please help me to see how the content of our songs, readings, and prayers confront the unbelief of my hearers.
6. Lord, please help me enter into leading worship having submitted my life to the truths I sing.
7. Lord, by your Spirit please help me to lead your church in worship with the necessary power and with appropriate affections.
8. Lord, please use these songs to bring glory to your name, joy to your people, and salvation to the lost.
