A Prayer for God to Lead Bosses - Your Daily Prayer - October 16

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A Prayer for God to Lead Bosses
By Lynette Kittle

Bible Reading
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard”- Matthew 20:1

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God cares greatly about how bosses treat their workers. It matters to Him, and He is watching, holding bosses responsible for how they treat their employees.

In the parable of the landowner who hires workers for his vineyard, God models a boss who is generous to his employees, giving the ones hired later the same pay as those hired earlier, a freedom God reserves for those in charge.

Even if bosses may suffer financially for doing so, or in other ways, by being generous and blessing their employees, 1 Peter 2:19 assures, “For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.”

As Christians, bosses are called to be good to their workers, even when it conflicts with current business trends that prioritize making money over how employees are treated.

Asking God to Direct Our Bosses

In praying for bosses, we want to ask God to lead them, remembering that He does not approve of those in authority directing their employees to go against His word.

We can pray for our bosses to read and study the Bible, and to let the Holy Spirit help them know in an instant what the right thing to do is. As the Apostle Paul directs, we can pray for them to do what is right, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

Asking God to Help Our Bosses Hear Us

It’s also good to pray for bosses to be open to hearing and listening to their employees, especially when employees may be struggling with their conscience pertaining to what their bosses are asking them to do.

Sometimes bosses are genuinely mistaken or don’t understand, and aren’t purposefully trying to misdirect or mislead their employees, or asking them to do something unethical. In these instances, bosses need God’s wisdom and discernment, a humble heart, and the ability to listen, hear, and consider what an employee brings to their attention, and to recognize the truth in a work matter.

When it comes to bosses, we want to keep in mind that there may be times when they’re not exactly sure if what they’re asking us to do is right or wrong. They may be following orders from their bosses and trusting that they are receiving correct instructions.

In times when we doubt our bosses’ leadership, we want to search God’s Word for direction. As Paul wrote, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Like Paul, we want to trust what Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

We can trust God’s Word to give us direction and discernment to see through errors, manipulation, and deception, revealing to us the truth about what we’re being asked to do.

Asking God to Lead Our Bosses to Do What Is Right

God commands all of us, including bosses, in Leviticus 19:11: “Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.’”

He calls and greatly desires that our bosses do what is right before Him, as Proverbs 21:3 explains: “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

As someone with authority over others, choosing to do what is right matters to God because He never deviates from doing what is right. As Psalm 145:17 explains, “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and faithful in all He does.”

James 4:17 emphasizes how it’s especially important for bosses to do what they know is right, warning, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

Let’s Pray

Dear Father,

Thank you to my bosses for their position and the authority You’ve given them in my life.

Strengthen me to trust You as I work under their guidance, believing You are in control of the situation.

Direct my bosses, as they lead me, to look to You and Your word for how to care for, direct, and watch over their workers. Help them to be generous, to keep their word, to provide for and pay my co-workers and me what is just.

Speak to them about being open to hearing my co-workers and me when we bring concerns to them, and to keeping their ears open to our thoughts and questions.

Guide my bosses to what is right before You, even if they don’t know You personally, help them to choose to follow Your godly ways and principles.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Go Deeper: Responding with Courage When Others Act Foolishly

When others in positions of authority or influence act poorly, we can feel vulnerable and threatened. What if we work for a reactionary boss who could cause the entire company to go under? Or what if our spouse’s poor choices cost him his job and then our home? We’ve probably all experienced times when we’ve felt as if someone else’s choices have backed us in a corner. Our fear might cause us to lash out, to try to flee, or to freeze and shut down completely. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery and Shellie Arnold unpack a section of Scripture that reveals a better, wiser option. If this episode helps you face fear with God's confidence, be sure to follow Faith Over Fear on Apple or Spotify so you get new episodes every week!

Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Jasmin ne

Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.

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