Prayer in the Workplace
In today’s stressful America, many workers bring elements of their faith to the workplace. When the phones are ringing, the boss is yelling, and co-workers are complaining, some Americans turn to prayers, icons, travel souvenirs from pilgrimages — right in their cubicles or offices.
In an article called Articles of Faith in the Atlanta Journal-Consitution, we learn of Bobby Coleman. Mr. Coleman battles workplace problems with words — and faith. The businessman keeps a plaque in his truck that reminds him he’s never alone.
“Lord help me remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that you and I together can’t handle,” reads the plaque.
Even though she doesn’t have a traditional work space, flight attendant Deborah Herring keeps a spiritual icon close to her while she’s working. On her wrist she wears a silver charm bracelet adorned with nine fruit charms. “On the back of each fruit charm is engraved one of the Fruits of the Spirit — Galatians 5:22,” she says. For instance, one represents self-control. Herring says she needs that when passengers repeatedly ask her which snacks are available, even though she announced it several times. The charm that reminds her to be patient helps her deal with unexpected flight delays.
Os Hillman, author of The 9 to 5 Window: How Faith Can Transform the Workplace, has been studying religion’s place in the corporate world for more than a decade. “I think people like to reflect their values where they spend 60 to 70 percent of their time,” Hillman says. He explains that, for Christians, this might mean keeping a Scripture verse on the wall that reminds them why they’re there.
Do you rely on prayer or other spiritual expressions in the workplace?
Ruth | May 29, 2008 12:06 am
I personally rely on Psalm 35 at my work place. Whenever I feel that something is not right or I smell danger I read that and pray.
Ange | May 21, 2008 10:22 pm
I often pray while I’m taking care of people in the hospital. Sometimes it’s just that equiptment will work, or to ask God to calm a patient, or just give them comfort. Sometimes for me to have more self control. I’ve seen God work miracles before my eyes.. and I know he hears everything.
JR | May 7, 2008 6:48 am
When it is stressful, I do some deep yoga breathing where I try and lose my thoughts by focusing on the sounds and feel of my own breathing. And if that doesn’t work as a release, I’ll try a meditation slow walk just around my work space. And if that doesn’t work, I may do a serenity prayer. And if that doesn’t work, I try to just surrender. And if that doesn’t work, I just stress out.
Diane B | May 7, 2008 6:43 am
I keep a pocket Bible in my desk drawer. When times are stressful, I read the Scriptures.
Linda Yerton | May 4, 2008 6:38 pm
A wonderful, awesome teacher at Lakewood Middle School was threatened with a lawsuit recently. She said a prayer for her students before the recent Benchmark testing. She was the type of teacher that made all the students feel special and showed them that could do anything that they put their minds to. She taught 7th and 8th grade math (algebra). She taught the kids how to do the work without the use of a calculator. My son still to this day won’t use a calculator in the upper math classes that he has, because he was taught it wasn’t needed all the time. I think it is a crying shame that our world has come to this. I strongly believe in prayer and think that it should be allowed back into the schools, workplaces, and in general life. Our world is suffering since prayer is not allowed.
Varrie Edwards | April 23, 2008 10:19 am
I rely heavily on prayer and spiritual expressions in my workplace. Satan is busier than ever and this seems to be his breeding ground. People are vying for power and money and anything that gets in their way is a target for elimination…and that means you. This is the place where Satan can trip you up before you ever knew what hit you. We interact with the world in every way on the job, and keeping Christ in the forefront is extremely essential. I’ve worked with many people who are so manipulative and so accustomed to tapping into your fleshly weaknesses, that I strongly urge every Christian to be aware and be prayed up when they arrive for work. I incorporate daily reminders for prayer that pop up on my calendar every couple of hours. Thank you for this site. I can now add it to my spiritual arsenal.—vde