Before the Meetings: A Morning Prayer

Start by noticing who Jesus is on a morning like this. He is not distant from your schedule or surprised by your calendar. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, Jesus is "the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8, ESV)—steady, present, and entirely trustworthy. You might talk to him about his character: his wisdom, his calm authority, his ability to speak truth into any room. Tell him what it means to you that he is with you this morning, even as you move from meeting to meeting. You could pray about his peace—the kind that doesn't depend on how well things go. Let yourself rest for a moment in the fact that you are not carrying these meetings alone.

Now, gently bring the harder things. Where do you sense anxiety or impatience rising in you about today? Perhaps you're worried about being heard, or nervous about a difficult conversation ahead. Maybe you're tempted to rush, or to say something you shouldn't. Jesus invites you to lay these down without shame. As he tells us, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28, ESV)—and that includes the weariness of walking into meetings unprepared emotionally or spiritually. You don't have to hide your doubts or frustration from him. Simply name what's true: where you're struggling, where you've already failed someone, where pride or fear is creeping in. He already knows, and he's waiting for you to speak it.

Let your mind turn to what's already working. Thank Jesus for the people who will be in these meetings with you—even the difficult ones. Thank him for clarity you've already found, for past meetings that went better than you feared, for the breath in your lungs this morning. You might thank him for a colleague who listens well, for a decision that's already been made, for the chance to be part of something that matters. As Paul writes, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4, ESV). Even in a day of meetings, there is something to be glad for. Spend a moment naming it.

Finally, ask. Be specific. You might pray for wisdom in a particular conversation, for patience when things move slowly, for words that will build others up. Pray for the person leading the meeting, for clarity on what actually matters versus what just feels urgent. Ask Jesus to help you listen well, to notice what others need, to speak only what's true and kind. You could pray, "Help me represent you well today—not perfectly, but honestly and with care." Ask for calm when you feel rushed, for humility when you're tempted to defend yourself, for courage if you need to say something hard. As Jesus taught us, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find" (Matthew 7:7, ESV). He invites you to bring these specific needs to him. Don't hold back.