Epaphras Prays is a newsletter about personal and intercessory praying. We encourage the People of God to pray from the Word of God for other People of God. Sign up here:
Some years ago, I sat in a planning meeting for an upcoming church event. The team was eager to brainstorm ideas—venue logistics, promotional strategies, and volunteer schedules dominated the discussion. Everyone brought great energy and enthusiasm to the table.
Yet, as the meeting went on, I noticed something missing: prayer.
We spent an hour mapping out all the practical details but didn’t pause to pray over any of it. Not once did we ask for God’s guidance, wisdom, or blessing on the plans we were making. It felt strange, like trying to build a house without laying a foundation. We had good intentions and plenty of ideas, but we were relying solely on our own strength.
By the time the meeting ended, I couldn’t shake the thought: We spent all this time planning for God’s work, but we didn’t actually involve Him in it.
That experience taught me how easy it is to focus on the “doing” while forgetting to seek the Lord first. Without prayer, even our best efforts can feel rushed, misguided, or disconnected from His purposes. But when we make prayer the foundation of our work, everything changes.
It aligns our plans with His will and reminds us that the success of any ministry doesn’t depend on us—it depends on Him.
What About You?
* Do you approach ministry tasks with prayer first, or as an afterthought?
* How has prayer shaped your mission or ministry in the past?
* Are there areas where you need to surrender control and trust God more fully through prayer?
Reflection
Take a moment today to pause and pray before your next task, decision, or ministry effort. Invite God to guide your steps, align your heart with His will, and prepare the way ahead. Let prayer be the foundation, not just a support, for all that you do.
