Prayer: The First Step in Discipleship

As a disciplemaker, you desire to share about your growing relationship with Christ, but maybe you’re not sure about whom to approach about discipleship. Prayer is important for every aspect of life, especially for discipleship. It is through this conversation with God that you posture yourself to willingly follow His lead.

Here are three prayers for discipleship to posture your heart like Christ and take this first step as a disciplemaker.

#1:  Pray for wisdom, discernment, patience, and a heart ready to invest in others.

Scripture: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” James 1:5 (NIV).

Prayer: Father, I ask for Your wisdom. Give me a heart ready and willing to invest in another through discipleship. Help me abide in You, Jesus, and continue to strengthen my relationship with You. I desire to follow Your lead and pace as I seek to invite others into a discipleship relationship.

#2: Ask God to lead you to the right person.

Scripture: “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them . . .” Luke 6:12-13 (NIV). 

Prayer: Father, just as You gave Jesus guidance for His 12 disciples, show me who in my life may want to grow in their relationship with Christ through discipleship. Give me a heart that is watching and listening for how You are at work around me. Also, provide the courage I need to take the next step to invite another to grow as a disciplemaker.

#3: Pray for a continued dependence on the Holy Spirit’s work in your life and in the lives of those you will disciple.

Scripture: “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” Galatians 5:25 (NIV).

Prayer: Father, teach me what it looks like to stay in step with the Holy Spirit and depend on His work in my life and in those I disciple. Strengthen me when I get weary or impatient with the pace of this spiritual growth journey. Fuel me with Your love, so that it may be the greatest characteristic of any discipleship relationship.

As you focus on these prayers for discipleship, watch for God’s movement in your life and in those around you. This first important step of discipleship will lay the foundation for future disciplemaking relationships.