Leading in Public Prayer

Articles

Ken Weliever
03/06/22 - General

Here are 10 suggestions and guidelines to be more effective in leading others in public prayers:

Pray to God, not the audience.
Speak so you can be heard by everyone.
Make your prayer relevant to the occasion (Opening prayer, Lord’s Supper prayer, etc.)
Use the first person plural in your prayers when leading the congregation (we, us, our).
Avoid rambling prayers.
If possible, think about your prayer in advance.
Honor prayer requests.
Consider the proper elements of prayer (praise, thanksgiving, confession, requests).
Be sure your prayer is scripturally accurate (address God, pray in Jesus’ name).
Dismiss us. (Don’t repeat everything in previous prayers. Dismiss with God’s blessing)

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (Jas. 5:16)