The Leader's Ultimate Influence
One of the most dog-eared books in my personal library has been in my possession for nearly 40 years. I’ve read it through multiple times and returned to it for points of reference scores of other times.
J. Oswald Sanders’ 1967 classic, Spiritual Leadership, has marked not only my life but thousands of other pastors as well. The book is a treasure trove, filled with wise counsel that is timeless.
Sanders speaks about a variety of leadership functions, but the one that hit me the hardest when I first read the book (and still hits me today) has to do with the leader’s ultimate influence.
“Leadership is influence,” Sanders says. (Now that’s a great definition in a nutshell!) He continues, “Since leadership is the ability to move and influence people, the spiritual leader will be alert to discover the most effective way of doing this.”
“Leadership is influence.” – J. Oswald Sanders
Then he adds, “Prayer influences men by influencing God to influence them.”
Read that last sentence again…slowly.
“Prayer influences men by influencing God to influence them.” – J. Oswald Sanders
Prayer: the Ultimate Influence
According to Sanders (and with his luminous legacy he should know), the ultimate way to influence others is through prayer.
In saying this, Sanders echoes the words of one of his own spiritual heroes, the great missionary statesman, Hudson Taylor: “It is possible to move men, through God, by prayer alone.”
Therefore, to lead effectively is to influence others for God. But that will only happen if those others are influenced by God. And that is a function of prayer.
If leaders want to lead well, they must pray well.
If leaders want to lead well, they must pray well.
Other renowned authorities in the realm of spiritual leadership concur.
Author Henry Blackaby states, “More than any other single thing leaders do, it is their prayer life that will determine their effectiveness.”
Pastor Chuck Swindoll notes, “Prayer…is absolutely essential in the life of the leader.”
Missionary statesman Wesley Dewel writes, “…as a leader your usefulness is dependent upon your prayer…”
Storied Christian leader J. C. Ryle concludes, “I have read the lives of many eminent Christians who have been on earth since Bible days. Some of them were rich and some were poor…some were learned and some were unlearned…But one thing, I see, they all had in common. They all had been men of prayer.”
The Timeless Secret
Certainly, fearless faith, spiritual gifts, and anointed abilities help make leaders spiritually influential. Credible integrity, fervent passion, clear purpose, and wise planning are important. It is essential to cast your vision, identify your values, and build your team.
But the one thing high-impact leaders and dynamic spiritual influencers down through the ages have had in common has been their dynamic prayer lives. Prayer is their timeless secret.
The one thing high-impact leaders and dynamic spiritual influencers down through the ages have had in common has been their dynamic prayer lives. Prayer is their timeless secret.
As one writer put it, “I have trained pastors and church leaders in almost all fifty states and in many foreign countries. Again and again, I have seen the same thing – all other factors being equal, prayer is the common denominator of effective spiritual leadership.”
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