A few years ago I read a book by John Piper called Brothers, We Are Not Professionals. In this book I discovered a prayer that has encouraged and strengthened my prayer time.

I keep a copy of the prayer on my desk and backstage so I can always reference it quickly. I posted it below in hopes that it also may encourage and strengthen your prayer time as you plead for the souls of your people.

“The life-giving preacher is a man of God, whose heart is ever athirst for God, whose soul is ever following hard after God, whose eye is single to God, and in whom by the power of God’s Spirit the flesh and the world have been crucified and his ministry is like the generous flood of a life-giving river.

“God, deliver us from the professionalizers! Deliver us from the low, managing, contriving, maneuvering temper of mind among us. God, give us tears for our sins. Forgive us for being so shallow in prayer, so thin in our grasp of holy verities (truths), so content amid perishing neighbors, so empty of passion and earnestness in all our conversation. Restore to us the childlike joy of our salvation. Frighten us with the awesome holiness and power of Him who can cast both soul and body into hell. Cause us to hold to the cross with fear and trembling as our hope-filled and offensive tree of life. Grant us nothing, absolutely nothing, the way the world views it. May Christ be all in all.

“Banish professionalism from our midst, Oh God, and in its place put passionate prayer, poverty of spirit, hunger for God, rigorous study of holy things, white-hot devotion to Jesus Christ, utter indifference to all material gain, and unremitting labor to rescue the perishing, perfect the saints, and glorify our sovereign Lord.

“Humble us, O God, under Your mighty hand, and let us rise, not as professionals, but as witnesses and partakers of the sufferings of Christ. In His awesome name. Amen.”