Do We Pray in Vain?

Not too long ago I was going through some papers and retrieved a prayer that I had prayed every day during one of my most difficult years at work. One of the people that I worked with literally made a complaint to someone against me every day for over a year. I felt helpless to do anything about it – few came to me to find out my side, and of those that did they never really encouraged me that anything positive was going to happen. I prayed anyway!

This is the prayer, it is one of those things that someone sends you in your e-mail, so I don’t know who to give credit to. The prayer is called: PRAYER Before Starting Work!

My Heavenly Father, as I enter this work place,
I bring your presence with me.
I speak Your peace, Your grace, Your mercy, and Your perfect order into this office.
I acknowledge Your power over all that will be spoken, thought, decided, and done within these walls.
Lord, I thank You for the gifts You have blessed me with.
I commit to using them responsibly in Your honor.
Give me a fresh supply of strength to do my job.
Anoint my projects, ideas, and energy, so that even my smallest accomplisment may bring You glory.
Lord, when I don’t understand, guide me.
When I am weary, energize me, When I am Burned out, infuse me with the light of the Holy Spirit.
May the work that I do and the way I do it bring
Faith, joy, and a smile to all that I come in contact with today.
And, oh lord, When I leave this place, give me traveling mercy.
Bless my family and home to be in order as I left it.
Lord, I thank you for everything You’ve done, everything You’re doing, and everything You’re going to do.
In the Name of Jesus I pray,with much love and thanksgiving…Amen.

I prayed this prayer every day- and every day it seemed like things were getting worst. To make a long story short – I decided to retire- that was three years ago. The day after my official retirement, I started back on the same job as a consultant, and now three years later I am still working at this same assignment. The person who complained about my work has not worked at my place of employment for three years!

Now I need to say, that my prayer was not to get the woman who complained against me. My prayer was for me to get through the season in victory! Naturally, I did not like my name being slandered, but I learned along time ago not to worry about the one who the enemy used to attack me – I learned to focus on receiving what I needed to receive for my own deliverance.

Do we pray in vain? Only someone who has never prayed could ask that question – our prayers are precious to God and bring great reward to us. When we pray we give permission to act in our behalf and I can testify – He has done great things for me, whereof I am glad! Needless to say, although I have no present adversary, I still pray this prayer!

God Bless You,
Maria