The Hidden Ripple Effects of Prayer

Perry Marshall introduced me to the concept of emergent properties, a property where something new comes forth that you couldn’t have predicted. 

Think about the invention of the automobile. Car manufacturers and tires … of course. Paved roads … fine. Maybe even long-distance trucking, instead of trains and ships for large-scale transport.

But drive-thru windows? Rest stops? Motorcades? 

Not to mention interstate highways, the suburbs, traffic lights, and so on.

Some of these are more predictable (gas stations) than others (the Pasadena Rose Parade). 

But the point is: when we do something, we have no way to see the end result of all that comes about because of what we’ve done. 

Obviously, this has spiritual implications. 

When we encourage someone, or offer forgiveness, or kindness; when we act with self-control; when we pray with someone—we have no way to predict how the universe adjusts as a result, both in the natural realm and in the heavenlies.

When we pray for a business at Workplace Prayer, we also have no real ability to see how those prayers turn out.

Lord, you know that I am not, perhaps, as adventurous as I may wish … sometimes the unpredictable nature of prayer makes me shiver. But thank you that you are a good God.

The weapons we use for the fight are not merely human; they carry a power from God that can tear down fortresses! Thank you, God!

Amy Joy

Does God actually care about our work? Yes! Far more than most of us were ever taught! Get a short, free reflection on why work—the place we spend the most waking hours most weeks—matters to him.

This booklet comes from Workplace Prayer, where we cover businesses in prayer, by name. If you're already longing to be prayed for, you can begin a week of coverage, our treat, at prayercoverage.co.