Before the Meetings: A Morning Prayer

Start by remembering who Jesus is—not as a distant figure, but as the one who sees you and knows what today holds. You might pray something like: "Jesus, you are wise and present. You speak truth clearly and listen with perfect understanding. I'm grateful that you're not distant from my day—you're already in every room I'll enter." As Paul reminds us, "In him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:17, ESV). That includes your meetings, your words, and the people you'll encounter. Take a moment to sit with that truth. What about Jesus's character gives you confidence as you face these conversations?

Now, bring the weight you're carrying. Maybe there's anxiety about how a conversation will go, or frustration with someone you're about to meet. Maybe you're carrying pride about something you want to prove, or fear that you'll say the wrong thing. You don't need to hide any of that from Jesus. He already knows. As it says in 1 Peter 5:7, "Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you" (ESV). That's not a burden to him—it's an invitation he's making. Take a moment. What are you worried about? What are you carrying that isn't yours to carry? Tell him about it honestly.

Before you leave this prayer time, notice what you're grateful for. Maybe it's the opportunity itself—that you have work to do and people to talk with. Maybe it's something smaller: a good night's sleep, a cup of coffee, the gift of words. Maybe you're grateful for a person you'll see today, or for the fact that you don't face these moments alone. The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, "Rejoice and be thankful" (Philippians 4:4, ESV), even in the midst of hard things. What's one thing—big or small—that you can thank Jesus for right now?

Finally, ask Jesus for what you actually need. Not what you think you should need, but what you do need. Maybe you need clarity in a difficult conversation, or courage to speak up. Maybe you need patience, or humility to listen well. Maybe you need him to calm your mind so you can think clearly. Jesus invites us to bring these requests directly to him: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6, NIV). So bring them now. What do you need from Jesus as you step into these meetings? Ask him. And as you do, trust that he is already working—in you, in the people you'll meet, in the conversations that matter.