Before the Meetings: A Morning Prayer

Start by noticing who Jesus is in the midst of your day. He is not distant from meetings and conversations—He moves through them with you. As Paul writes, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV). Your meetings matter to Him because you matter to Him.

Take a moment to thank Jesus for His presence. He doesn't just show up at church or in quiet moments—He's in the conference room, the video call, the difficult conversation. Tell Him what you love about His character: His wisdom, His patience, the way He listens without rushing to fix things. Speak to Him like someone who has already been in every meeting you will face today.

Now bring the weight you're carrying. Maybe you're anxious about being heard, or you're dreading a difficult conversation. Perhaps you've prepared obsessively out of fear, or you're tempted to say something you shouldn't. You don't need to hide any of this from Jesus. He knows already, and He invites you to speak it aloud: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28, NIV).

If you're carrying frustration about someone you'll see today, bring that too. Tell Jesus where your patience is thin, where your pride might get in the way, where you're afraid. There's no judgment here—only an open door to honesty. Let Him meet you in what's real, and as you do, notice that His response to your confession is always welcome home.

Even in a morning full of unknowns, there's much to be grateful for. Thank Jesus for the people you'll meet—even the difficult ones. They are not accidents or obstacles; they're part of your story and His story. "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV).

Thank Him for the clarity you have, for coffee or tea warming your hands, for your own voice and the chance to use it today. Thank Him for the strength He's already given you through all the meetings you've survived before. And thank Him for the reminder that no meeting is beyond His reach or care. Spend a moment naming three small things you're grateful for as you face this day.

Now ask Jesus for what you actually need. Don't soften your requests or pretend you have it all figured out. Do you need wisdom to know what to say? Ask Him. Do you need patience with someone difficult? Tell Him. Do you need courage to speak up, or grace to stay quiet? He's listening. "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" (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV).

Bring the people you'll meet into this moment too. Pray for their hearts, their struggles, their needs—not so you'll perform perfectly around them, but so you'll see them as Jesus does. Ask Him to help you be present, to listen well, and to speak with kindness. And ask for one thing you might not think to ask for: ask Him for joy in the midst of it all. Not fake happiness, but the deep peace that comes from knowing you're not alone in any of it.