This year, Pastor Stephen spoke at Southwest Church and prayed for our local business owners in the Coachella Valley.  Please use this prayer and continue to pray for our servant leaders whenever possible.

National Day of Prayer  2 May 2019

Southwest Community Church  Pastor Stephen Sloat

I’d like to ask all business owners to stand while we pray for you; any kind of business: Drs. Office; retail; landscaping; pool service; law office; whatever.  Others please stand around them to support them as we pray.

Before we pray I would like to read Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.  It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

            If you do what this passage directs us to do, then your work is every bit as sacred as the work I do and your pastor does!

            Please pray with me as I lead us.  Let’s pray…

Gracious and loving Lord, we now lift up to You our brothers and sisters in Christ to whom You have entrusted a business.  First, we thank You for these men and women who took the bold steps necessary to launch into business.  We are grateful for those who have done so because we benefit from their businesses.  Whatever their business, may they do their work wholeheartedly as for You, striving to honor and please You in their many labors.  Guide them according to Your will in every decision they make.  We ask You to give them Your wisdom in running their business.  May they be outstanding in their field of business as they serve You, so their work itself will be a witness of Your greatness and Your faithfulness.  Bless their work with great success; and in that success may they be a blessing to their employees, their families, their church family, to their communities, and to those in need.

Jesus You modeled servant leadership.  We ask you to guide Your people who lead in business to be servant leaders.  May they humbly treat their employees and their customers as more important than themselves.  Help them to deal honestly and justly in every transaction of their business, displaying Christlike integrity in all they do.

May their lives, too, be a testimony of the righteousness of Christ.  Let them be holy in all their behavior because You, O Lord are holy.  Protect them from even the appearance of evil in their business dealings, in their relationships, and in their communications. May they consistently be godly examples in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.  May they become examples of godliness within their churches, using their leadership abilities to serve their churches, as well.  And inspire them to use their positions within their communities to glorify Your Name and to be Your witnesses, sharing the word of Your gospel with their employees, their coworkers, clients, and customers, making the most of every opportunity You supply.

“Let all that you do be done in love.”  So, we pray that Christian business leaders will lead their team with love, so as to create a work environment that reflects You.  Let them become known as people who truly care for and love others as they are, even as You love them.  Help them to live out Your love in every area of their lives.  We ask these things in the awesome name of Jesus.  Amen.