As we pray for the development of leaders, our motivation should reflect that of Jesus: the harvest fields themselves. We need to allow our heart to break for the harvest.
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” — Matthew 9:35-38
With this motivation, we can pray and look around us with an awareness of who God is raising up. Who are the people that seem to be emerging in fruitfulness from the discipleship process? Who is the Lord telling you to invest in? Engage in listening prayer.
As God gives you clarity, go and talk to those he brings to mind. What I say when I do this is, “I’ve been praying and your name keeps coming up. So tell me, what is God doing in your life right now?” If you’ve heard right from God, you’ll hear a wonderful story about the timeliness of this conversation because he’s been speaking to them as well.