Beyond the Bottom Line: Why Prayer is Needed in the Workplace

As you pray for those whose lives you intersect with daily determine how you might pray for those in workplaces in your city as well. We want to be sensitive to the needs and hurts of people whom we encounter at our favorite coffee shops, nail salons, grocery stores and gas stations.

The high frequency of prayer requests in church and online settings suggests that public or marketplace prayer opportunities would likely attract many participants, especially those seeking direction, health, family needs, or financial intercession.\

Jesus spent much of His earthly ministry in marketplaces, healing, teaching, and ministering where people frequently gathered. Of the 132 instances recorded in the Gospels, 122 of Jesus’ interactions with people took place in homes or places of business, not in places of worship.

Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.” On September 11, 2001, I learned firsthand why prayer is needed in the workplace. I remember this difficult day that shook our nation and the world. The images on television, the loss, and the grief are etched into my memory. I knew exactly where I was standing in my office when the first and second plane hit the towers. Yet, in the midst of tragedy, something powerful emerged—people praying together in offices, on sidewalks, in stores, and in boardrooms. The marketplace became a House of Prayer.

Prayers are not confined to church walls. On 9/11, the marketplace became a place of intercession.

I remember requesting permission to host a time of prayer from those I reported to. Prior to 9/11, my morning and evening breaks were times spent prayer walking the property where I worked. I did not know that God was preparing me to lead the charge to request this special time of prayer. Business leaders paused meetings to seek God’s comfort and guidance for our Nation’s leaders, protection of first responders and comfort for grieving families due to the great loss of life. It was a reminder that prayer is not just a private act—it can be a public witness of faith, hope, and unity.

Mobilizing prayer in the marketplace is not about making a name for yourself or stirring up trouble; it’s about inviting God’s peace, wisdom, and healing into the spaces where decisions are made and lives intersect.

Let's pray for the marketplace now.

Lord, we lift up every Marketplace space and place, every leader, and every worker. May our businesses, shopping centers, and conference rooms be places where Your presence is welcome. Teach us to pray boldly and compassionately, not only in times of crisis but in the ordinary moments of our workday. Let the marketplace be a mission field where Your love is seen and felt. In Jesus’ name, amen.

With Great Expectations,

Gwen Bradley

National Liaison For Prayer Mobilzation and Partnerships