Sustaining Rhythm of Prayer at your Work.

Do you feel God’s presence when you are working? Why is that on Sundays during the worship times, we sense God’s presence, but not during our work week days?

In Colossians 1, Paul says that whether we realize or not, everything in this world was created through and for Jesus Christ (1:15-17). That means, whether we are at an office working on excel sheets, or singing praises during the worship times, God is with us. So we can enjoy His presence at all times. But, the question is how could this be done?

The answer lies in our prayers. In a simple term, prayer is talking with God. It is what makes our ongoing relationship with God possible all the time. Just as we love to talk with our loved ones on the phone, prayer is a communication channel through which we address our souls, emotions, and concerns to the Lord. So, if prayer is what connects us with God, then the question is how can we pray while we are working?

Nehemiah was tasked with a very difficult task of building and repairing the broken walls in the city of Jerusalem. How could he do this? Not in his power. But through prayers. Nehemiah teaches us how we can pray and stay connected to God while working.

(1) Concentrated (or Closet) Prayer (Nehemiah 1:5-11)

First, before Nehemiah even starts working the wall-building project, he spends significant amount of time in prayer. In this prayer (1:5-11), Nehemiah prays alone in a closet. His prayer is solely concentrated to God alone asking God for His mercy, guidance, and strength to start and finish the wall-building project.

Every morning, before I go to my work-place, I try to spend significant amount of time praying for the work that lies ahead. I pray for God's wisdom, strength, and power to do the work given to me excellently and faithfully, so that through this work of accounting, the company's financial needs can be met, so that it can fulfill God's mission in the world.

(2) Concise Prayer (Nehemiah 2:4)

Then, at work Nehemiah offers a concise prayer. Right before Nehemiah goes to the king and asks for an approval of the building-wall project, he offers a concise prayer to the LORD for His favour (2:4).

When we are about to start an important strategic meeting at work, or talk to a major client, we can offer up a brief and concise prayer to the LORD. It could be as short as saying, “God, please help me to lead this team with your wisdom, so that your will be done."

(3) Conversational Prayer (Nehemiah 4:4; 5:19; 6:14)

Then, while working here and there, going back and forth, Nehemiah talks to God in a very conversational tone (4:4; 5:19; 6:14).

At work, when you have a strong relationship with your co-workers, you talk to your co-workers casually about your plans for weekends, what your kids are doing, and general things of life.

In the same way, imagine God is your co-worker. In fact, whether you realize or not, God is working in this world through you to accomplish His purpose. So, we are co-workers with our Heavenly Father! Then, why don’t we express our thoughts to God? The point of conversational prayer is that we are consciously making our best efforts to be aware of His presence with us.

(4) Community Prayer (Nehemiah 4:9).

Lastly, Nehemiah did not pray alone. He prayed together with his co-workers. As a community of believers, God does not want us to walk our faith alone but in the community of other believers as well. So, at work places, if you can find a friend to pray together, be intentional about spending time together in prayer. Pray for the direction of your company. Pray for your co-workers. Pray for your clients. But, even if you can’t, you can always find friends to pray together through your local church community.

Every morning, my wife and I pray for our companies. We pray for our Boards of Directors. We pray for the managers that God may fill the leaders with His wisdom and His Spirit to lead the company in the direction God wants it to go.

So, it is possible to sense God’s presence at all times, because God promised, "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). This awareness can happen through (1) concentrated prayer, (2) concise prayer, (3) conversational prayer, and (4) community prayer.