Pray for Business
(an extract from 40 Days Prayer and Fasting for 7 Mountains or Spheres of Influence: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Pray for the Spheres by Lilian Schmid – see Books)
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
(Genesis 2:15 NIV)
All of us are involved in business to some extent, either directly or indirectly. Without the trade (i.e., buying and selling) of goods/products and services, we would lack food, housing, transport, medical care, and everything else we require and desire to live life in the modern world.
Similarly, unless we are in a culture of total bartering for trade, we require a unit of exchange, a currency, money, to purchase and sell goods and services. Thus, there are financial institutions and services dedicated to the production and management of finance.
Those who are ‘in business’ are either responsible for the running of a business organisation, be it a corner store or a local ‘tradie’ (tradesperson) or a multi-national corporation, or they are they employed by a business organisation, i.e. responsible for their assigned tasks in the operation of the business. All in business are led by others and accountable to others regardless of their position.
Businesses come in different sizes, management, and ownership styles, but ultimately involve people at different levels of responsibility, e.g. members of boards, executives, in management, workers, and owners and shareholders.
Do some research on the many businesses in your city/town/suburb, region, and country. If it seems a big task, start with the local shops, tradespeople, factories, banks, chemists/drugstores, car yards and repairs, bookstores, and so on.
Where appropriate, try to find the names of the owners and top managers of these businesses. Businesses are about, and for, and run by people.
Try also to identify any Christian groups and outreaches to the business sphere.
These will all help you focus your intercession.
- Pray for all businesses to acknowledge God as their first/top priority.
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.
(Matthew 6:33 NASB)
- Pray for all businesses to operate in God’s ways without fear of failure or loss of reputation.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will
(Ephesians 1:11 NIV)
- Pray for businesses to be honest, accountable, and have good integrity.
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
(1 Corinthians 4:2 NIV)
- Pray for trust and respect to be built and strengthened between management and workers in all businesses.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.
(Philippians 2:14-16a NIV)
- Pray for Christians to be a blessing to businesses.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
(Colossians 3:1-6 NIV)
See also our prayer initiative Adopt a Business.