The 7 habits of highly effective pray-ers
Devote yourselves to prayer…’ — Colossians 4:2
‘Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.’ — Oswald Chambers
A while ago, I started Stephen Covey’s classic book ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’—hoping that, well, it would make me a more effective person.
If you haven’t read it, the book includes such wisdom as ‘be proactive’ and ‘begin with the end in mind’ and ‘think win–win.’
Well, I’m clearly not a very effective reader, because I barely got past chapter 2.
But it did get me thinking: what would my life look like if I wasn’t just seeking to be a highly effective person, but a highly effective pray-er?
What if I was like those fiery old Christians who devoted their lives to worship and intercession?
What if ‘being an effective person’ was never the point anyway?
Because I’ll wager that a praying life is much more valuable, in God’s eyes, than an effective life.
With that, here’s my attempt at 7 habits of highly effective pray-ers:
1. Let God’s voice be first: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
2. Begin with worship: ‘Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.’ (Psalm 100:4)
3. Make God's priorities your priorities: ‘Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.’ (Psalm 86:11)
4. Repent regularly: ‘But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.’ (1 John 1:9)
5. Practise gratitude over grumbling: ‘Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
6. Make prayer a constant conversation (not just a morning meeting): ‘Never stop praying.’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
7. Intercede bigger than yourself: ‘I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.’ (1 Timothy 2:1)
I don’t just want to be an effective person. I want to be effective for God’s Kingdom—and that begins with prayer.
Have I missed anything? Let me know!
Love,
Mike
