A Farmer’s Prayer

When we talk about farming, people often think of the job as something lowly, in comparison to a banker, doctor, or lawyer. However, as Christians, we know that there is no such thing as hierarchy among jobs in the eyes of God. The “prestige” associated with a particular job is something that the world has attributed to it. Because of that, people pursue such employment and place their identity in them, as being in that particular job means having a certain kind of earthly prestige. However, that is just how the world works. If you are a Christian, you know that your identity is not dependent on what the world says about the prestige of your job. Your identity is in Christ. Regardless of your occupation, you already have this prestige in Christ, because you know that you have been adopted as God’s child, chosen by God, and are of a royal priesthood. God does not look at how much you earn, how nice your office is, or whether you work on Wall Street. What matters to Him is whether you are being faithful and glorifying Him in your work, and if you are being the salt and light to others through your work.  

Ephesians 1:4-5

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will

Colossians 1:12-13

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

1 Peter 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light

1 John 2:15-17

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

A Farmer’s Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank You because my identity and security are not dependent on what the world says about my job as a farmer, but is instead found in Christ. In Christ, I am your child, I am of a royal priesthood, and I am chosen. Thank You because even if I am a farmer, You can still use me for Your kingdom and share with others not investments, legal services, or products, but the ultimate person they need, Christ. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What is a farmer’s job?

A farmer’s job is to grow and cultivate crops. Their industry is agriculture. The crops that they produce are not just limited to consumption, but also raw materials. One of the examples where farmers grow crops for materials is cotton farming. Without cotton, we wouldn’t have materials to make clothes or our favorite jeans. Farmers are well known for growing crops that will later be harvested for people to eat. Many things you buy from the grocery store and other markets are grown by farmers. That goes to show that farmers are essential for society to function. Unless we grow the crops ourselves, we won’t have anything to eat!

Farming is more complex than most people think. It’s not just about planting seeds, watering crops, and harvesting them. There are many things at play here that farmers should know about and consider as they farm. One is simply the weather. If it is winter, farmers obviously cannot farm unless they have an innovative greenhouse where they can still grow plants. If it is summer, farmers must consider the irrigation of their plants. Farmers must also think about pests. Pests consume plants and can ruin a farmers’ hard-worked crops. That is why they apply control measures to keep pests away from their crops. Another thing to consider is the farmers’ soil, as some soils are suitable for growing crops, and others aren’t.

With today’s technology, farming has become more manageable, enabling farmers to be more efficient in their work. It also allows them to produce better quality fruits and vegetables. One example is that there are now drones that can spray fertilizer on the crops.

What do you pray for farmers?

Given the nature of a farmer’s work, there are many things you can pray for as a farmer. These things that you pray for are things that significantly affect the crops you grow. One of the things you can pray for is the weather. You don’t want a storm to pass over your field and destroy all your crops. You can offer this prayer for the protection of your crops against bad weather:

Heavenly Father, I pray for You to keep my farm safe from any storms or bad weather that may destroy the crops I have been cultivating. I pray that You will direct the path of any storm away from where my farm is. Protect my farm from any danger that bad weather may cause. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Another thing you can pray for as a farmer is excellence in your work. As mentioned before, farming is not just about planting, watering, and harvesting. There are other things that a farmer needs to know in order to farm better. One must learn about the soil, new farming methodologies, new technologies, etc. It is important to note that you want to be excellent in farming as a Christian because You want to glorify God. Therefore, even in agriculture, you are farming for the glory of God. As Christians, we should be faithful and good stewards of whatever God has entrusted to us. In this case, it is the farm.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:23-24

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Genesis 2:15

And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Father in heaven, remind me that I do this primarily for Your glory and not for the money as I farm. Money just comes as I do things excellently for You. Help me be a good steward of the farm that You have entrusted to me. May I always be faithful in keeping and working it. Give me the grace to be excellent in the work that I do, knowing that it is You whom I heartily work for. Grant me the skill, understanding, and wisdom to become a better farmer. Prosper the work of my hands that it may bear fruit. You are the one who causes things to grow. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Another thing you can pray for is your attitude when it comes to work or farming. The Bible repeatedly tells us that we should always be diligent when it comes to working. Proverbs 6:6-8 tells us to imitate ants, which are not sluggards, but hardworking creatures. Of course, it’s not just about working hard, but also working smart. 

All of us need provision, but provision comes from the work that God has entrusted to us, most of the time. That’s why if we slack when it comes to work, then we will likely fall into lack or poverty, because we didn’t work to be able to have income and buy the things that we need. Proverbs 14:4 says that there are abundant crops only because an ox is used to help in farming. In their context, oxen are used for agriculture. Some people still use them even now. If the manger is clean with no oxen, you have nothing to work on. You have no manger to clean or oxen to feed. However, that also means you won’t have any crops because you’re not farming. In other words, we must be willing to do the hard and dirty work to put food on the table.

Proverbs 6:6-8

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

Proverbs 14:4

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Proverbs 13:4

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Proverbs 10:4

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Proverbs 12:24

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Proverbs 22:29

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

Father in heaven, give me the grace to never be lazy when doing my work as a farmer. Help me be like an ant and be diligent and hardworking when it comes to my trade as a farmer. Also, give me the grace not just to work hard, but also to work smart. May working for You always be my motivation to be diligent in my work. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

As a farmer, the most important thing you can give to people is not the crops that you grow, but the Gospel of Christ. Being a farmer is just a means for your primary job, which is being a minister of reconciliation and an ambassador of Christ to those who don’t know Him. Through the Gospel that you share with others, people can be reconciled with God and find eternal life in Christ. That is how we can be the salt and light to the world. You can preach Christ to the people to whom you sell your crops, towards your co-workers, or the people working for you.

Proverbs 22:29

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

Matthew 28:19

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

2 Corinthians 5:18-20

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Heavenly Father, give me the grace to be the salt and light to the people to whom I sell my crops and the other farmers I work with by preaching Christ to them. Help me be bold and courageous as I preach the Gospel to them. I also pray that the Gospel I preach shall be evident in how I live my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

If you are a farmer and not yet a Christian, you should know that life is not just about farming. There is far more to life. You have a purpose, but you can only find that in Christ. For You to be in Christ, you must repent from your life of sin, believe who Jesus is, acknowledge His work on the cross, and commit to following Him for the rest of your life.