Theme
Leadership Prayer
A short, Scripture-shaped theme prayer for an ordinary moment of Christian faith.
The prayer
A prayer to pray now
Lord Jesus, You said that whoever wants to be great must be the one who serves. You showed us this when You knelt down with a towel and washed feet. Your kingdom does not work the way the world works. You did not come to be served. You came to give Your life for us.
Make me that kind of leader in every place You have put me. In my home, on my team, at church, in my small group. Help me ask hard questions of myself before I ask them of others. Help me be small in my own eyes. Help me serve before I am seen.
Take away my want to be noticed or praised. Let me go first into the hard work and last into the praise. Your way is not the world's way. Shape me to follow You.
Amen.
How to pray it
- Read it slowly. Move through this prayer one line at a time, out loud if you can, letting each phrase land before the next.
- Make it personal. Pause where a line meets your day and name the person, fear, or hope it touches before God.
- Carry it with you. Keep one sentence with you — on your phone or in your pocket — and return to it when the day gets loud.
Verses to pray
Pray these slowly, one line at a time. Scripture quoted from a public-domain translation.
It shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be20:26 TR reads “let him be” instead of “shall be” your servant.
Matthew 20:26
Questions about this prayer
When should I pray leadership prayer?
Pray it whenever the words fit your moment — at the start of the day, in a hard stretch, or when you simply want to turn toward God.
Which Bible verses anchor this prayer?
This prayer is anchored in Matthew 20:26. The "Verses to pray" section above quotes them in full.
Can I save or share this prayer?
Yes. Use the Copy prayer button to copy the words, or open the Chosen Portion app to keep a daily prayer, devotional, and Scripture with you.