Headed to work and need to pray? Want to start your work day with prayer?
Your job consumes much of your time each day and each week. How you approach your work day or your shift goes a long way in determining what kind of day you will have. Wouldn’t it be a positive step to pray before you go to work? Wouldn’t it be strengthening to bring God into your focus at the start of your shift?
These seven empowering prayers can help you bring a faithful focus to your duties and tasks as you step into your work. You can pray any of these prayers in your car as you commute (eyes open please!), as you park your car in the employee lot, or as you clock in to start your shift–or at whatever time suits you.
At times, any job can be stressful or challenging and we can’t always control the way we’re treated. But we can choose to take the perspective that God has given us this job. Our work gives us purpose each day, financial provision for ourselves and our family, and connection with others. Whatever your work situation is, you can be content in knowing that God is guiding you and helping you.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3.23-24, NIV).
You can also modify or change any of these prayers to suit your particular need before you go to work. But do pray! Grow closer to God each day as you talk with him as you go to work. See what happens over time as you pray regularly about your job, your co-workers, and your supervisors.
We invite you to share your requests and comments at the end of this article.
A Brief Prayer Before Work
Lord, I ask for your strength and guidance today as I do my job. I want to do my best work so help me to focus and attend to all that I have to get done today. I pray for my co-workers and my boss as I engage with them, that we can work together to finish this project. Thank you for hearing me, Lord, and thank you for this job which provides for me and my family. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Prayer for an Employee Working Day Shift
Thank you Lord that my new job is on the day shift! I’ve been hoping that when I got hired I would get the 9-5 slot and my manager came through for me. This will allow me to get my kids off to school and be home for our evening meal together, which is what I’ve wanted for quite some time.
Help me Lord, as I seek to do my very best each day. I want to show my manager that I’m trustworthy in this new role and make myself valuable to the company so I can stay in this day job. I’m looking forward to meeting my co-workers and I pray that I can be a positive presence with each of them.
I give you thanks and praise for how this job came to me and for the blessing it brings to me and my family. This job will allow us to save money instead of just going month-to-month, hoping to make it. Thank you Lord! I pray this prayer to you, my God and my Delight, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer for an Employee Working Night Shift
Lord Jesus, I’m headed to work again for the night shift. I’m grateful for this job and for this particular time I work. I enjoy the quieter environment and the fact that there’s less distractions than during the day shift. I like that I can get my work done efficiently and effectively during the night hours.
I pray for my co-workers as we build some camaraderie on the night shift. We’re a unique bunch but we work together well, and for that I am thankful. I ask that you help each of us be attentive tonight as we complete a big project that’s due by the end of shift. I pray there be no obstacles for us as we get it to the finish line.
Thank you for the renewing sleep I get when I go home, which allows me to be fully present with my spouse and kids when they get home each day. Thank you for helping us all make this work for our family. I pray to you, O God, in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Prayer for an Employee Working Graveyard Shift
Lord Jesus, I just got moved to the graveyard shift for the next month. I was working night shift and that was a little tough to get used to, but this is going to be a challenge. My boss said it’s only for this month, until they bring a new guy on to the shift, so I’ll do my part for the company.
I’m thankful for the extra pay it will bring in this next month, but I need your help God to make the best of this. I’ll get home after my spouse and kids have left for work and school, so I’m going to miss that connection time.
I pray you help my body and sleep patterns adjust to this overnight shift. Help me to be clear-headed and focused so I can be safe and others around me can be safe. Help me to do my best work in this temporary change. I pray this in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.
Prayer for an Employee Working in an Office
Father God, I wanted to pray for my job today. There’s been some employee turnover in our office in the last couple of weeks and everyone is getting used to each other. I want there to be good relationships with all of the employees so we can work together well in our section of the office.
I pray that you let me be an encouragement to those around me as I do my job. I love working here and I believe we can do so much good if we will work cooperatively with one another. Allow me to do my part in getting people connected to each other in our office.
I pray for my boss and for the owners, that you give them wisdom to lead us forward. Thank you for guiding me here to this job and this role. Thank you for the office being close to my house and a good environment to learn and grow in my work duties and skills. I pray this prayer in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Prayer for an Employee Working Outside
God, I pray for your protection today. I have to work outside and the weather is going to be a mess. There’s no way around it because the project we’re on requires us to be outside for this portion of the job. I pray for my safety and the safety of everyone around me.
Help us all to work smoothly and cautiously at the job site. There’s so much potential for something bad to happen that I wanted to pray to you and ask for your peace and calmness to fill me and surround me. May that peace be evident to my co-workers so they relax and focus.
I thank you for this job, and that I have the opportunity to work in my field and use my expertise each day. That is a financial blessing and so rewarding, Lord. It’s because I like this job so much that I lift this prayer to you, my Protector and my Savior, Lord Jesus, Amen.
Prayer for a Manager/Boss of Employees
Dear God, I have a tremendous responsibility each day to oversee all my employees. I take this very seriously so I ask for you to guide me and give me wisdom beyond myself. I want to handle each encounter with both grace and accountability.
I pray for the safety of each employee as they commute to and from the workplace. I pray for their safety while they are here. I pray for the company to continue to be profitable so we can not only continue to pay everyone’s salary but give them raises for all of their hard work.
Lord, I ask that you enable me to walk the line between being friendly with my employees so we get along, but also firm so that the purpose and mission of the company moves forward. Thank you for this job and for trusting me with this oversight of other people. I pray all these things in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Final Thoughts
When we work we generally feel better because we have something to do each day. Since work is an aspect of our lives that happens on a regular basis, week-in and week-out, it’s a good habit to attach prayer to our job. When we pray before we go to our job or work site, we’re inviting the Creator to join us in what we’re doing.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16.3, NIV).
We likely will work better, work smarter, and approach our jobs with a better mindset if we prayed each day about our job. Share these prayers with your family, as they may wish to join you in praying for your job. What a wonderful time of spiritual connection you could have, simply by praying as you head to work. You can also bring prayer to the workplace meetings to help build stronger bonds with your team.
We welcome your prayer requests down below in the comments section. Keep praying!