10 Prayers for Beginning a Meeting With Godly Focus

Before we take a closer look at today’s prayers for beginning a meeting, I invite you to join me as I prepare to release a new book.  In just over a month, I will release a new book for teens.  It’s called Anchored: A Teen Devotional for Understanding the Old Testament and Applying It to Your Life. 

My vision is to teach teens the key narratives from the Old Testament while helping them see that all of Scripture is relevant to our everyday lives.  These devotions delve into everything from anxiety to sexuality, all drawn from the truth of God’s Word.  I’m building a launch team right now.  If you’re interested, send me a message or click on this link, and I’ll invite you to the Facebook page.  There is no pressure, just an opportunity to pray over the book and help spread the word!

And now, onto today’s post!

10 Prayers for Beginning a Meeting

The first few minutes of any meeting can set the tone for the entire gathering.  Starting a meeting with a focus on God can unify those who have gathered, bind spiritual forces of evil, and lead to breakthrough.  Today, we’ll look at 10 prayers for beginning a meeting well.

Prayers for Beginning a Meeting With Focus on God

1. Thank God for his presence.

Philippians 4:6 reminds us to pray about everything with grateful hearts.  We can always pray with gratitude that God is with us.

As we pray this way to start our meetings, we are both cultivating gratitude and reminding everyone that God is present.

Scripture:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 4:6, NASB

Prayer:

Father, thank you for your loving presence with us today.  We find comfort in knowing that you are always with us, pursuing us with goodness and mercy.  Please help us become more aware of your presence with us today, guiding us by your Spirit, and directing our words, attitudes, and actions.  Amen.

2. Pray for a spirit of unity.

When people gather together, differences can lead to division.

Pray for a spirit of unity among those gathered.

Scripture:

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Philippians 2:1-2

Prayer:

Lord, thank you that you are a God of peace.  We pray for a spirit of unity among those who are gathered together today.  Where there are differences, help us keep open minds and listen to one another.  Ultimately, lead us to a place of single-mindedness as we make decisions and move forward.  We want to be in alignment with you, Lord.  Lead every individual into alignment with your desires so that we might move forward in one accord.  Amen.

3. Pray for wisdom.

God promises to give wisdom to those who seek it.

Declare this promise and seek God’s wisdom before your meeting begins.

Scripture:

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James 1:5

Prayer:

God, thank you for the promise to give wisdom to those who seek it.  We stand on this promise today and ask for your wisdom in every decision that needs to be made.  Help us make decisions for your glory and for the good of all who are involved.  We turn to you to lead and guide us.  Amen.

4. Pray for humility.

We walk in humility when we don’t think more highly of ourselves than we should and honor others above ourselves.

A spirit of humility can change the trajectory of any meeting.

Scripture:

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves . . .

Philippians 2:3

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for demonstrating true humility through Jesus, who did not come to be served but to serve.  We confess that humility does not come naturally to us.  We want to be right, and we want our own way.  Humble us, Father.  Help us to honor the needs and perspectives of others as we reject the desire to defend ourselves or prove that we are right.  Shape us into the image of Christ as we embrace his humility.  Amen.

5. Pray for blessing.

God blesses those who earnestly seek him and aim to walk in his ways.

Pray that he will bless your time together so that it will bear fruit for his kingdom.

Scripture:

6. Pray for direction.

God wants to direct us.  When we earnestly seek him, he guides us and shows us the way to go.

Scripture:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Prayer:

Lord God, thank you that you are trustworthy.  We confess that we struggle to trust you when we don’t understand your direction.  We come before you today and ask that you will guide us as we lean not on our human understanding but on you, acknowledging your sovereignty over every issue we will discuss today.  Please guide our decisions so that they bring you honor and glory.  Amen.

7. Pray for meekness.

Meekness is strength under control.

It is teachability and gentleness, shown through patient trust in God.

A spirit of meekness can radically transform the atmosphere of a meeting.

Scripture:

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5, NIV

Prayer:

God, thank you for showing us what meekness looks like through Christ.  In Jesus, we see that meekness is not weakness; rather, it is strength under restraint.  We pray for a spirit of meekness among us today, that we will be patient with one another.  Help us to be gentle and kind when we disagree, open-hearted and open-minded.  Amen.

Read here for 10 prayers for beginning a meeting with a focus on God. #prayer Share on X

8. Pray for God’s vision and God’s glory.

As followers of Christ, we want our lives to bring glory to God.

This can only happen as God imparts his vision to us.  Pray for his vision to become clear so that he might receive the glory from every decision made in the meeting.

Scripture:

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Prayer:

Father God, we want our decisions to bring you glory.  Please impart your vision for the decisions that need to be made today.  Help us to embrace this vision humbly.  We pray that this meeting will ultimately result in your glory, drawing people into your love, and bearing good fruit in the world around us.  Amen.

9. Pray for all oppositional spirits to be bound.

Ephesians 6 reminds us that we face spiritual battles that are not of flesh and blood.

At times, it might seem like other people are our enemies, but this is never the case.  Satan is our enemy, and he is out to destroy.

Before a meeting begins, it is wise to pray for all demonic spirits to be bound and cast out in the power of Jesus.

Scripture:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

Prayer:

Father, we thank you that you are the Lord of Hosts.  You are seated in authority over every spirit and dominion.  In the mighty name of Jesus, we bind and rebuke every demonic spirit that aims to hinder your purposes in this meeting.  We cast out these spirits in Jesus’ name and declare that they have no place here.  Father, please remove every barrier so that your Holy Spirit can move freely among us, for the glory of your name.  Amen.

10. Pray for good fruit.

Ultimately, God wants our lives to bear good fruit and expand his work on earth.

Pray that the meeting results in good fruit in your community and beyond.

Scripture: 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for inviting us to join you in your work on earth.  We want to bear good fruit, revealing that we belong to you and fulfilling your will for our lives.  We pray that this meeting will result in good fruit: that because of the decisions we make today, souls will come to you, healing will take place, and your will might be done on earth.  Amen.

~~~

If these prayers for beginning a meeting blessed you, I invite you to explore our library of family devotional books and free devotional eBooks below.  May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing to the Lord!

Calling All Parents (and Grandparents)!

As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God.  Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision.  They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love.  You can find all three books here or read more below.

Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!

God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom.  Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world.  I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven!  You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord.  Find this life-changing devotional book here.

Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter

Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion.  I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven.  Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.

Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20.  It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing.  This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start.  Bekah and I will help you right here.

These Books Are Free on Kindle Unlimited: God Wants to Heal, Restore, and Refresh You

God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone.  He also wants to help you establish a rhythm of meeting with him daily as you trust him with the hard parts of your life.  Click here to explore two books that will guide you: Be Still and Trust and Lean Into Grace.  They are free on the Kindle Unlimited program and for sale in print.

Download Your Free Devotional Here

Set Free: Let God Do What You Cannot explores ten realms in which most of us need God to work in our lives and bring deliverance.  We’ll talk about finding freedom from fear, worry, insecurity, bad habits, emotional pain, and more.  This short online devotional will bless you as you let God accomplish what you’ve been unable to achieve through willpower.  Get your download for free with promo code GRACE or for a donation of 3.99 right here.

I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free.  I invite you to explore the collection right here!

Read here for 10 prayers for beginning a meeting with a focus on God. #prayer Share on X