One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." - Luke 11:1

God is calling out a remnant of workplace Christians throughout the world who understand the role of prayer in their work lives. These people have learned that prayer is not a five-minute exercise in the morning devotion time, but it is a vital strategic tool to discern and know God's will and purposes in their work lives. You see, they have learned that their work lives are their ministries to God and others.

These men and women have entered into covenant relationships with intercessory prayer partners who help discern the activities they should be involved in. Some who have leadership positions, or even have paid staff who intercede for the decisions and activities in which they will be involved. They are a small remnant of workplace Christians who know that skill and technique are not enough to fulfill God's purposes.

A servant of the Lord has well said:

"Prayer is the rail for God's work. Indeed, prayer is to God's will as rails are to a train. The locomotive is full of power: it is capable of running a thousand miles a day. But if there are no rails, it cannot move forward a single inch. If it dares to move without them, it will soon sink into the earth. It may be able to travel over great distances, yet it cannot go to any place where no rails have been laid. And such is the relation between prayer and God's work. Without any doubt God is almighty and He works mightily, but He will not and cannot work if you and I do not labor together with Him in prayer, prepare the way for His will, and pray "with all prayer and supplication" (Ephesians 6:18) to grant Him the maneuverability to so work. Many are the things, which God wills to do, and would like to do, but His hands are bound because His children do not sympathize with Him and have not prayed so as to prepare ways for Him. Let me say to all who have wholly given themselves to God: Do examine yourselves and see if in this respect you have limited Him day after day."  [Watchman Nee, Let Us Pray (New York, New York: Christian Fellowship Publishers, 1977), 11.]

Is prayer a vital part of your work-life practices? Put prayer on the front lines, instead of making it an afterthought. You will begin to see renewed power in your work life.

Written by Os Hillman.  Os is president of Marketplace Leaders, an Atlanta based ministry.  marketplaceleaders.org     ICWM.net    Content distributed by WorkLife.org > used for non-profit teaching purposes only.