From high profile leaders to local pastors even to the people in the pew, it seems that problems with our morality continue to emerge. Over the last fifteen years many Christian leaders have experienced some type of moral failure. Ranging from adultery, divorce, homosexuality, financial improprieties and spiritual manipulation to name a few. I say this not to judge but only to point out, that we have a problem. I believe that our greatest problem is also our most serious sin. Prayerlessness. We attempt to blame our failures on others, our pasts, the pressures of ministry and the pressures of life in general. These things may be factors in our lives but I do not believe that they are the reason for our demise. Surveys suggest that pastors spend an average of 3 minutes a day in prayer. Not 30 minutes but 3 minutes. If the prayer lives of leaders is virtually non-existent then what can we expect of the people we lead. Hosea 4:9 states, “like people, like priest”. We produce what we are.
We must become people of prayer. When we are intimate with our heavenly father we hear His voice and desire to walk in obedience to Him. It becomes our primary desire to please Him. God desires to be sought and loved by the people that He loves. In this intimacy we become one with Him just like two people do in marriage. We become inseparable so that when the world sees us they see Him. This intimacy produces such power that we begin to resist the devil and he flees from us. James 4:7-8 tells us, “ that when we submit to God and draw near unto Him, He draws near unto us”. This gives us greater power to overcome.
In summary, the closer we get to God the more like Him we become in every way. In power, humility, holiness and love. It’s time we repent of our prayerlessness and begin seeking God in greater ways than we ever have before. Let’s be consistent and persevere in prayer believing that God will transform our lives in prayer. Prayer is our greatest privilege as well as our greatest weapon against moral failure.
