Hearing the Voice of God in the Marketplace

Hearing the Voice of God in the Marketplace

By Mike McLoughlin,
Youth With A Mission, Marketplace Mission
Visit the Scruples Small Business Forum at www.scruples.net for more information.

A Method of Prayer to seek the guidance of God in your decision making and in your plans.

1. Acknowledge that God is Sovereign. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

2. Acknowledge your need of wisdom. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

3. Pray for wisdom to do what is right. "So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" (1 Kings 3:9)

4. Commit to Him all the desires, thoughts, ideas and plans that you have. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."(Proverbs 3:5-6)

5. Thank Him in expectation of His blessing. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. (Psalm 5:3).

6. Obey what He says to do. So David did as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. (2 Samuel 5:25).

An Example

Example of A Prayer for Planning

Father in heaven, I thank you that you have given me this opportunity to start a small business. I thank you that in you I have everything that I need to be successful in this business.

Lord, I acknowledge that you are sovereign over my life and over my business. Jesus, you are Lord! I commit it to you and all the plans I have for this business.

I acknowledge my need of wisdom before you and I ask that you would give me wisdom to know how to start this business successfully.

Thank you that you promise me that you will give me the wisdom I need. Now Lord, I confess that it is very difficult to be a Christian and to be in business. There are many temptations. So I pray that you would give your servant a discerning heart to distinguish between right and wrong so that I may do my business honestly and to your glory.

I commit to you all my desires, thoughts, ideas and plans that I have with regard to this business and I ask that you would take away any thoughts that are not of you and that you would give me your mind on this matter. Help me to plan this business properly I pray.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you have heard my prayer and that you will bless me in this business. I will obey whatever you ask me to do. Amen.

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