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REFLECTION

Prayer is important in a Christian’s life because it provides him or her the opportunity to communicate to God through faith and to cause the impossible to be possible, and the unbelievable to happen in the lives of God-fearing mortals. I invite you to journey with me even as we explore the power of prayer in the life of a corporate executive in the midst of challenges.

The designation executive refers to a person or group of persons having administrative or supervisory authority in an organization or in government authority. A corporation is a business entity that is owned by its shareholder(s), who elect a board of directors to oversee the organization’s activities. A corporate executive is therefore a person or group of people appointed or employed by an organisation or business entity to manage its affairs towards its growth, success and prospects. To be a corporate executive is an enviable position and achievement which comes with enormous tasks and challenges, especially during an era of economic recession. Businesses and corporations go through great distress and unfortunately some collapse during economic recessions and times of austerity. For a Christian corporate executive, these are times when our faith is tested! We are faced with difficult questions and decisions. Many corporate executives burn out and become depressed because they seem not to have answers to deal with the ramification of the economic distress their company or corporation is facing. It is at this point, a Christian corporate executive must appreciate the importance and power of faith and prayer. Dear friend, if it is only about knowledge, experience, academic and professional qualifications and expertise then many would have surmounted the challenges they face in their world of work but life has taught us that we are limited in our abilities and are mere mortals, it is for this reason Jesus told his disciples that “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”(Matthew 19:26). Again, when the disciples were unable to overcome the evil spirit possessed boy, “…his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” (Mark 9:28-29). Dear friend, faith and the power of prayer complement our knowledge, experience, academic and professional qualifications and expertise. We may have tried our best by doing that which is humanly possible during our challenges but have you considered fervently praying to the Lord? Remember, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

The Power of Prayer in the life of a believer and a corporate executive:

1. Prayer sustains us when we are depressed and frustrated and it enables us to voice out our anxiety and vexation before God who is the prayer-answering God. Hannah became depressed by her barrenness but she kept on praying without ceasing. She kept on going to the house of the Lord to pray. Dear friend, even Eli, the man of God, the Priest and in our time, we may say the pastor, did not understand the level of Hannah’s frustration and pain. “As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” (1 Samuel 1:12-17). Dear friend, as a corporate executive, you may have no one to speak out your anxiety, frustration and vexation to but you can rest assured that through prayer God listens to your soul and is able to intervene in your difficult situation. Your fellow executives, subordinates and superiors may not understand your challenges and frustration but prayer teaches us that God understands and listens to us. What a great relief and comfort!
2. Through Prayer, we change the course of our destiny. You may currently be a corporate executive of a company or corporation which has hitherto been going through endless challenges. You may be wondering if you are at the right place and whether you have anything meaningful to contribute. You may have perceived yourself as a failure since these challenges surfaced during your administration or under your watch. Dear friend, through prayer our destiny can change from pain to joy, failure to success. Jabez refused to accept that his destiny will one of pain and failure, he prayed for a turnaround in his life, “his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). Would you accept your current challenges as a corporate executive or you would through faith engage the power of prayer to change your destiny even in these challenging economic times?
3. Battles are won through Prayer. The account of David and Goliath teaches the power of prayer in battles. After Goliath had intimidated the Israelites and ridiculed David, David spoke to him and prayed to the Lord, “Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hand.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47). Your challenges as a corporate executive may be as tall and intimidating as Goliath but you are the David God has empowered and destined for victory, you are the one God has appointed in these difficult times to overcome the surmountable challenges in your corporation or workplace. Take charge and pray for empowerment to overcome, for you are only an instrument in the hands of God, “For the battle is the LORD’S, (1 Samuel 17:47)
4. Prayer is the manifestation of our faith. Prayer and faith cause the extraordinary or supernatural to happen. “… a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. (Matthew 9:20-22) The woman’s words “if I only touch his garment, I will be made well” is a prayer with faith and surely she was healed. Jesus said to her “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well” There are times we become clueless in the face of persistent challenges at work but prayer keeps us focused on Jesus our Lord, helper and healer. Through Prayer, we demonstrate to God our faith in Him as the healer and solution to our challenges and problems. With prayer, we are able to make positive and impactful declarations in our lives and receive their manifestation in our precarious conditions. The woman with the issue of blood made a prayerful and positive declaration on her health condition, took a step of faith and she received her healing. Do not go to work always depressed as a corporate executive, pray positive declarations into your life, work and take positive steps in achieving them and the Lord will cause the impossible to happen.

In conclusion, always remember to do your best and with faith and prayer leave the rest to God. Shalom.