I first wrote this prayer more than 5 years ago, and its intended purpose was to be used in a weekly staff meeting at a church. However, the cautions, content, and encouragements found in this prayer can be quite useful to refresh and reorient even the one who uses this prayer by themselves in a non-Christian environment. Mandatory meetings can be grueling affairs, sometimes fruitless, sometimes intimidating, often depending upon ones perspective in the moments leading up to a meeting. This prayer therefore works against our temptations to view meetings, our coworkers, our own authority or lack thereof, and our work as God in Scripture does. Whether your temptation in meetings is to disconnect, to keep silent when you ought to speak out, to demonize another person in the meeting, or to fear how others will receive you, this prayer is useful for both leaders and the people they lead. The simple practice of confronting our own errant perspectives and behaviors, especially when set against the perfect character of Christ in His work, reminds us who we are called to be when administrative tasks, drama, and organizational monotony threaten to cause us to forget.
This prayer is a call and response, which makes it particularly useful when used by groups of people. Therefore, this method of prayer lends itself to settings like meetings. This prayer could be used in a meeting of your non-profit, or a meeting of the deacons or elders of a church, or wherever else Christians meet together to accomplish work. Alternatively, in non-Christian settings this prayer may also be used by yourself, or among any Christians present beforehand. My hope is that you, whether you are a leader or one who is led, would see yourself and your coworkers rightly, with all the dignity and responsibility that this entails of each of you, and all the fruitfulness that will inevitably result.
Leader - Lord, today we endeavor to work together as a community in order to bring glory to Your name. Let this time be a reflection of that ultimate desire. As the loss of Your Son proved to be to us unmatched gain, let us not here seek to establish a competing comfort, whether in reputation, in record, in rule, or in reward. People - Lord, we seek to give honor to You in our work, and to honor each other as we work. Bless this time of discussion and planning, and orient our minds toward hearty interaction rather than passive disengagement. Leader - Holy Spirit, teach us to make the best use of our time here together. Let us not waste the precious minutes You have given us with frivolous pursuits or discussion. Teach us the way of Christ, whose short time here was marked with wisdom, measured words, and careful discernment, and was planned for the right time before the foundation of the world. People - Holy Spirit, teach us to make the best use of our time here together. Let us not waste precious minutes of our fellowship which could be used to listen to our fellows and ascribe to them the inherent value You have set upon them. Teach us the way of Christ, who did not merely seek what was expedient or swift, but was patient and loving as He met with those whom He came to serve, seeking the will of His Father in obedience to His commands. All - May we lay down our expectations and hopes for this time, and submit to Your leadership and Your will. Leader - Oh God, give me the strength and grace necessary to lead those for whom I am responsible. Remind me of Your tender love for them, and make it my own. Aid me in attributing value and providing correction, each in their own measure, as is fitting and just for a leader. Teach me to regard my authority with great care, as a gift from You meant to encourage and develop Your beloved people here. People - We submit ourselves to the authority You have graciously provided us, and we pray for their good. May our time be marked by fruitfulness and creativity, using the breadth of gifts you have given us to their fullest extent. Help us to regard even the seemingly insignificant tasks we encounter as worshipful service rendered unto you. May our tongues be governed by honesty and boldness in humility. Let our service here be work done heartily unto You, reflecting the spirit of Christ's service to us. All - Praise be to God, who has gathered us here for a purpose. Let us then work alongside Him with joy, being intent to honor His name in our work, for nothing is withheld from us in Christ. Amen.