A Prayer For A Business

Many of us have a dream of opening a business, whether big or small. We may want to open a small store, restaurant, or perhaps a tiny coffee shop where people can relax and then go on with their lives. Or we might desire to have a big business, such as a tech startup, where we envision improving people’s lives with our innovation or perhaps having a multitude of branches nationwide. As we start dreaming of having a business, the first step we can take is to pray about it. We pray because it is not something that we do independent of God. We take every step of the way with God in the picture.

Father in heaven, as I pray and desire to start a business, may I always move forward with You and cling to Your Word and wisdom. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

For the Glory of God

In Colossians 3:23-24, it is written that in whatever we do, we work heartily for God and not for men. We are ultimately serving Christ. As we pray to God for a business, we must first lay down a very important foundation—the meaning and purpose as to why we pray. As followers of Christ who live a life of worship of Him (Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.), everything that we do is no longer for our own interests but for Christ, Who loved us and died for us. As believers with a changed and renewed heart, our heart’s desire is to glorify God. Glorifying God means living in such a manner that we bear His image so that others may see and know Who God is (Genesis 1:27; Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which). That is also why in 1 Corinthians 10:31 Paul tells us that whenever we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we do all for the glory of God.

 

 

That goes to show that we pray, desire, and run our business for the glory of God. We want a business not so that we can have properties, assets, or money but so that we can use it as a channel for the kingdom of God and His glory. There are many ways we can use our business for the glory of God. One would be by using integrity and honesty in conducting our business, which would emulate and exemplify Christ to non-Christian businesspeople. We can also use our business as a platform to preach the Gospel through what it advocates or by discipling the employees in a relational manner. You can also use your business’s income to be a channel of God’s blessing and generosity to those in need. The business and resources that God has given us come with responsibility (2 Corinthians 9:8-11). In everything that you do with your business, you do it for the glory of God.

Therefore, one of the things that you can pray for is your heart. Pray that you will always delight yourself in the LORD so that the desires of your heart will always be for Him and His glory (Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD ; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.).

Heavenly Father, as I pray for a business, I pray that You will always align the desires of my heart with Yours. May my heart’s delight always be in You, and from there, may my desires always be for Your glory, even when it comes to my desire to have a business. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

The Necessary Virtues

There are qualities, traits, and virtues that we need to pray for if we want to have our own business. For example, the virtue of being diligent. Surely, we cannot expect our business to go well if we are too lazy to be diligent and faithful in managing it. That is why Proverbs 10:4 says that a slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. Also, in Proverbs 6:6-8, the writer guides us to follow the example of the ant, which is diligent. Proverbs 21:5 also tells us that the plans of the diligent will lead to abundance. The main point of these passages is not to guarantee that your business is destined to become a multi-million business and that there is no risk of bankruptcy. Rather, it is to show the importance of being diligent. At times, people have the talent and even resources, yet they still fail because they are not diligent.

Another important virtue to keep in mind is “integrity.” As believers, we are not only using our business to glorify God but we’re also glorifying God by how we run that business. What sets our business apart is not only the advocacy it has or how generous you are but also how your business is run. It is vital that you always uphold integrity and honesty in your business. Such endeavor rests even in the most basic of truths, which is that our heart’s desire as followers of Christ is to love and honor God. So, we want to run our business with integrity (Proverbs 10:9; Proverbs 19:1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, Than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.).

As you pray to God for a business, pray also that you will run it with integrity and diligence, honoring God by the way you lead and manage it.

Heavenly Father, give me the grace to glorify Your name by being honest and having integrity in all of my conduct as a business owner. May I be able to reflect Who You are by being honest in my taxes, paying the right wages, getting deals honestly, and being blameless in all of my conduct. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Praying for the Business Itself

Of course, we pray for the business itself. This is the technical aspect of it. As you pray for a business, identify what your needs are. For example, do you need business partners you can trust? A suitable location to open your store? Enough capital to start a business? Maybe you need ideas for what business to open, or you need wisdom and knowledge on how to run it well. Whatever those needs are, you can ask and seek God for them. Philippians 4:19 tells us that as we become generous to others, God will supply our needs. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 also tells us that God enriches us so that we may be generous in every way. We can ask God for our needs and be a channel of blessing to others through our business.

Father in heaven, I pray for the capital I need to open a small business. Lead me to a favorable location where there will be enough customers, and may I have a good deal on the lease. Give me the wisdom and understanding I need to manage my business competently. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Praying for a business is not inherently thinking about only wealth and riches. It is okay to pray that our business will grow, become big, and accumulate wealth. But when we do so, we have to pray it from the heart; from wanting to be God’s instrument here on earth. We think of our business and wealth as tools and not the ultimate thing we desire.