All night in prayer
Jesus before choosing the Twelve
Before one of the most consequential decisions of his ministry — choosing the twelve apostles — Jesus did something striking: he went out to a mountain to pray, and spent the whole night in prayer to God. The next morning he called his disciples and chose the Twelve. The decision that would shape the entire future of the church was preceded by a night of prayer.
If the Son of God prayed all night before a major decision, how much more do leaders need to. We tend to face big decisions with analysis, advice, and pro-and-con lists — all good — but with little prayer, or a hurried prayer tacked on at the end. Jesus models the reverse weighting: extended, serious seeking of God before the choice. The magnitude of a decision should be matched by the depth of prayer preceding it. Major decisions made in a flurry of analysis but without real prayer are made in functional independence from God.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally, and it will be given to him.”
— James, on asking for wisdom — James 1:5 (WEB)
The magnitude of a decision should be matched by the depth of prayer preceding it. Major decisions made without real prayer are made in functional independence from God.
“In these days, he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God.”
Jesus sought God all night before a pivotal choice. A leader formed here weights big decisions toward prayer, not just analysis. The inner work is seeking God seriously before deciding.
Precede major decisions with serious, unhurried prayer, not a hurried add-on. Match the weight of a choice with the depth of prayer behind it. Seek God for wisdom before consulting only spreadsheets and advisors.
Leaders lean on analysis and advice and tack prayer on at the end, if at all. The blind spot is deciding big things in practical independence from God.
Identify a major decision ahead. This week, give it serious, unhurried prayer before finalizing it.
If the Son of God prayed all night before choosing the Twelve, how much more do we need to? We face big decisions with analysis and advice but little real prayer.
Before your next major decision, will you give it the kind of prayer its weight deserves?