A Billy Graham Secret

In The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham, one of Reverend Graham’s assistants relates a story about an appearance on the Today show. When he arrived, a program producer offered to escort Graham to a private room for prayer before the broadcast. The assistant expressed thanks for the kind offer but said Graham would not need the room. The producer seemed somewhat stunned that a world-famous Christian leader would not want to pray before an interview on national television.

"Mr Graham started praying when he got up this morning, he prayed while eating breakfast, he prayed on the way over in the car, and he'll probably be praying all the way through the interview," responded the assistant.   

Authors Marshall Shelley and Harold Myra included this anecdote about unceasing prayer to serve as one example of the well-developed prayer life of Reverend Graham. Our leadership responsibilities may not reach past leading a small group or our children. However, that responsibility needs 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV) power, “Pray continually.”

Many of us miss the opportunities we have. How many minutes do we usually wait for an appointment in a quiet lobby? We may get thrown out if we kneeled and prayed to a chair (which is what it could look like to an unbeliever). Instead we can pray silently for the burdens of family and friends.

Rather than get frustrated waiting for a red light to turn, could we “pray without ceasing,” (NIV or NKJV)? I would not suggest closing your eyes until horns behind you start blaring. To pray continually becomes a focus of the mind. In every situation, during every minute, we must seek God’s help. We are weak, and we do not have all the answers. Our Lord does.

After extensive interviews of Billy Graham Evangelist Association staff members and some well-known people, Myra and Shelley analyzed the leadership characteristics of Graham. A commitment to prayer was one of those important leadership traits. You can find The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham by Harold Myra and Marshall Shelley (Zondervan, 2005, 2008) here:

Amazon     Books-A-Million    Barnes & Noble  

A Quiet Place to Pray

Have we become so busy and have so many people and duties swirling around us that we can’t find a solitary place to pray? Do we want to pray but can’t because our mind is racing?

The Bible records Jesus had the same issue. In Mark 6:30-31, it states, “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'"

The Apostles and Jesus got in a boat to sail to a solitary place. However, the crowd ran along the shore and met them when they landed. Perhaps Jesus’ experience reminds us of leaving the chaos of work. Then, go home to three kids, who are jumping on the couch throwing pillows.

According to Philippians 4, the first step is to stop fighting the noise and the worry. Rather, tell God our frustrations. Pray our muddled thoughts and fears.

  ► In the doctor’s office lobby, pray about the test results.

      ► Waiting for the police, pray our fears about the accident.

      ► In the executive secretary’s office, pray about what the boss might say.

      ► Waiting on construction, pray about being late.

      ► When our coworker is yelling, pray about our response.

If our brain won’t stop buzzing, then write our concerns. Scribbling our prayers can bring our mind into alignment with his will.

John W. Peterson got it right. Remember his chorus? In Sunday school or VBS, many of us sang “Why Worry When You Can Pray?”

After we express our concerns, listen. While we are in pandemonium, God will bring peace. We will experience Philippians 4:5-7, “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Pray for Those Who Mock the Christian Faith?

Have you noticed the many protests lately? Does it irritate you when people openly mock our faith? Some late-night comedians and Hollywood icons make sport of the gospel. Individuals from certain causes make lewd remarks about our Savior.

The knee jerk reaction is to mock back with an equally witty response. Instead, could we simply pray for them? Remember Jesus’ response on the cross toward the mockers?  He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  (Luke 23:34)

We could pray for the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts to find salvation in Christ. Think of Saul of Tarsus. He began as one who mocked and persecuted Christians. Later, he became the Apostle Paul. With our prayers, could today’s mocker become tomorrow’s Billy Graham? By praying for those who mock us, we avoid the sin of bitterness in our hearts. We also demonstrate God’s sovereignty and power are not damaged or weakened by open hostility. 

Pray for Those Who Represent Christ Poorly?

When I was in college, I got a job as a school bus driver. Although the kids were a headache sometimes, I found working with some of the other drivers to prove more challenging. Rick was in his late 20s. His crude language was offensive to me. A curse word did not occasionally slip from his mouth; rather, it was a constant flow of profanity. I wondered if he talked like that during his bus route.


My stomach really churned when Rick would invite fellow
drivers to come to his church. They all said a quick, “No.” After he walked away, some would laugh and others would make comments like, “If that’s the way they talk at his church, I’m not interested.” “He must be joking. He doesn’t go to church, does he?” “What a jerk.” Although I am normally open about my faith, I didn’t want to be associated with Rick’s critical attitude and coarse language. He was a poor representative of Christ. So, I kept silent.


Now that I look back, I considered my display of Jesus better than Rick’s. Wasn’t my sin of pride equally as bad as his speech and attitude? I had followed Christ for 11 years, but maybe he was a brand-new believer.


In Luke 22:32, Jesus said, “But I have prayed for you Simon, that your faith may not fail.” He’s the dude that panicked and fell into the waves of the Sea of Galilee. He’s the guy that cut off the ear of the soldier in the Garden of Gethsemane. Later, he denied Jesus three times and cursed when questioned about it. Peter embarrassed the cause of Christ a few times, yet many consider him a hero of the holy.

Like Jesus, I will pray for other believers that their faith may not fail. That includes Rick and all others who may represent Christ poorly. I also hope there is someone praying my faith will not fail, because I may be only seconds away from shaming my Savior. 

Pray for Our Enemies?

Jesus could not have made it any plainer when he said in Luke 6:28, "Pray for those who mistreat you." (NIV) All of us have been wounded by someone. It hurts! God does not expect us to endure a deep hurt or abuse.

Reconciliation may not be possible because the other individual may not be willing to work things out. In the additional features of the DVD Unbroken, Louie Zamperini tells how he met one-by-one with the guards of his WWII POW camp and forgave them. The leader of the camp would not meet with Zamperini, but he forgave him anyway.

Whatever the circumstance, we can forgive and part of forgiveness is to pray for them. Forgiveness means we let go of the bitterness in our hearts and turn the matter over to our Lord to deal with the aggressor as needed. Holding grudges, getting revenge, and the like rob us of peace and joy. We need to be honest before God and pour out our hurts to him. He has big shoulders. This release of emotion will jump start the healing process and give us strength and courage to excuse the injustice.

Praying for politicians and for our enemies are both tall orders. Next time, I will discuss another difficult group of people we are commanded to pray for.

Pray for Politicians?

In January 2015, Gallup reported congressional members of the 114^th Congress rated a 16% job approval. Many of us may be tempted to pray for their retirement. However, I doubt that is what Paul intended in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

God grants authority. This is explained in Psalms 75:6 and Romans 13. As the ultimate sovereign power, God can change a politicians mind or remove them from their position with ease. Because our Lord is in control, we can pray and trust him to make our lives safe from tyrants. Intercede for their relationship with God, their family, and wisdom as they serve our country. Also, be thankful for them. Really.

We are commanded to pray for politicians and all people according to 1 Timothy 2:1-2. Politicians are not popular people and I have others in my life who are not my favorite friends either. I’ll bet there is a difficult individual in your life as well. Check out my next blog to figure out how to pray for those rascals as well.

Grocery List Prayer

To save trips and money, I make a grocery list and go to the store once a week. When we use all the ketchup and there is only an inch of milk left in the gallon, I put them on 

the grocery list. A number of years ago, I noticed my prayer time was like a grocery list. I

went to God always wanting. My prayers were one-sided conversations. 

I bought a book on prayer and found a system called ACTS. The A is for adoration. This starts prayer with a God focus instead of me focus. The C signifies confession, a part of prayer most of us would like to skip. But, I have found admitting sin is very freeing. My Lord is forgiving and patient with me. The T stands for thanksgiving. Thanking God is something to do everyday not just on national holidays. Finally, S is for supplication. I generally pray for others, then my family and myself. This order helps me to adjust my prayers to thinking of God, others and myself.

I recently found a prayer tool on the Navigators website. It uses the five fingers on your hand as an aspect of prayer. The five topics are: confession, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise. Each part has a scripture with it. You can find this one page PDF file, “Getting a Grip on Prayer”, at this link: Navigator Prayer Tool.

I pray you will find one of these methods helpful in keeping your prayer from being a grocery list, me-centered petition and rather be an intimate time with the God of the universe.