iWork4Him PowerThought: Recent Episodes
Jim & Martha Brangenberg
Prepping for work each day, chug your coffee and take a short swig of workplace inspiration with the iWork4Him PowerThoughts. Hosts Jim & Martha Brangenberg give you a 1-minute daily challenge to live out your faith at work. Each episode is designed to kick off your day with an idea you can put into practice as soon as you get to work. The iWork4Him PowerThoughts are focused on helping you to recognize that your workplace IS your mission field. Catch new episodes every Weekday.
I heard a clever quip the other day about trying to take control from God’s hands. God is writing the story of your life: so STOP TRYING TO GRAB THE PEN FROM HIS HAND! This applies to our work as well. Sometimes we think we are living God’s plan for us in our work when we are actually just “taking Jesus with us”. And only praying to Him to ask for blessings on what we are doing at work. How can we know when we’ve succeeded in FOLLOWING Christ in our work? By changing our mindset to one of FOLLOWING, vs. LEADING. Why not start your work day with a prayer like this: Father, today, I commit my hands to YOUR work. As you lead me, may YOUR will be done and may YOU be glorified in all I do. Amen.
Being intentional seems to be a consistent hallmark of followers of Christ. Because Christ is our best example of intentionality. Intentionality is defined as being deliberate or purposeful. How about you? How are you working with intentionality today? In the office, with your co-workers, intentionally representing Christ and showing His love and patience to everyone you come in contact with? Most days we may just be unconsciously going through our work day. We invite you to begin today by going before the father and asking Him: "Here's all I have, what do YOU want me to do with it today? What is YOUR priority today, Lord?" And then living that out as we step into our work, and every other place our feet may wander.
Are you feeling as though you’re just going to work on auto-pilot? That you can do your work now, with your eyes closed, with one arm tied behind your back? When’s the last time you asked God to stretch YOU, in your work? Comfort is not a place Christ-followers should be camping out in. .... So how about you? Are you brave enough, to ask “Lord, will you stretch me today? Will you put me to better use, in the place where you would have me be? Will you bless me today with the work you have chosen for me, at this time in my life? .... Hebrews 11:6: And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
If you are like me you jump up out of bed, check for emergency text messages, check the weather, rush through your morning devotional time so you can get on to the real work of the day. Just recently Martha and I were reading a book by Kim Avery “The Prayer Powered Entrepreneur” and she suggests a different approach. Kim suggests that when we have our morning quiet time, be quiet and ask our Lord what His priorities are for us today. Instead of letting distractions rule our day, ask the Lord to prioritize our day so His will is done. I’m going to try this from now on, and maybe you would like to do the same. Lord, what is at the top of your priority list for today? I pray that I can do this the rest of my life, what about you?
Every one of us in ministry. What? No, you say, I’m a CPA, I’m an engineer, I manage people at a construction company. Yes, and you are called to be an Ambassador for Christ there. The Apostle Paul agrees, as he wrote to the Ephesians, in Chapter 6 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should. If Paul can be an ambassador in chains in prison, then we (without chains) can too….wherever He placed us. And God placed YOU in YOUR SPECIFIC WORKPLACE for a reason. For HIS REASONS, not our own.
Are you dreading Monday? Do you start to lose your joy come Sunday evening? .... What if instead of dreading Monday, you LOOKED FORWARD TO IT? What if instead of moaning about Monday, you prayed away your dread, and replaced it with thanks, and joy and intention? .... To pray that come Monday morning, you would FEEL GOD in your work, as you work. That your work would glorify God, that you would be the best Ambassador for God your workplace has ever seen? .... So how about you? Are you ready to be used by God in your work? To see Monday as a tremendous opportunity, to enjoy your work and to glorify God, and maybe even give your co-workers a glimpse of our Heavenly Father.
There is a truth about work that has been lost to much of our culture since the creation of the world. It is that GOD CREATED WORK. He created work for us, to do together and for HIS glory. Genesis 2: 19 So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. Work is NOT a PUNISHMENT, it’s a GIFT. And God wants to JOIN US in it. Every day. He DELIGHTS in it. He is our team-mate, just as He was with Adam. He brought the animals TO Adam to name. So how about YOU? Won’t you invite God to work WITH YOU today? WHEREVER He has placed you?
As a business leader, if you turned your business over to God, what would that look like? What would be the result? Hundreds of business owners we’ve interviewed over the past eight years have done it. They say the result is a DEEP sense of peace vs. stress, pressure, and tension. And a new, deepening understanding of their role as a STEWARD of God’s business, vs. “being the OWNER of it”. What would it take for YOU to be ready to turn YOUR organization over to the Lord’s ownership today? We invite you to place Christ in your org. chart as CEO, and commit right now, to shift your mindset from ”OWNER to STEWARD”.
What if our WORK WAS our WORSHIP? The Hebrew word avodah means work, worship, and service, altogether! Work: being productive, worship: praising and glorifying God and service: a form of service to the world and our community. We are MEANT to be of service, to be PARTNERS with God in the ongoing creation of the world. The various usages of this Hebrew word that is first found in Genesis 2:15 shows us it was God’s ORIGINAL DESIGN and DESIRE that our work and our worship would be a SEAMLESS WAY of living, as it was thousands of years ago. What about YOU? Are you making the work of YOUR hands every day AVODAH? You’re invited today to start worshiping God with your work.
What if today, we committed to operate our businesses from a philosophy of “It’s not about WHAT we sell or HOW MUCH we sell, it’s about the LIVES we TOUCH and CHANGE.” That’s “God’s way of doing business”. And it’s the exact OPPOSITE of everything we have been taught as professional business people. But isn’t that always God’s way? This counter-cultural philosophy is rooted in Matthew 6:33: But seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. What is the Lord asking YOU TO DO as a next step in seeking first HIS Kingdom in YOUR workplace?
Money. We all need it to live. Is your view of money healthy and in alignment with biblical principles? Is the WAY you use it serving man, or God and His Kingdom. 1 John 3:17 says If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? How about your income? How about your company’s revenue? Are you tithing from your corporate revenue stream? Have you ever considered it? We challenge you today, to pray about your personal and corporate tithing. And ask God HOW YOU should be using the income He’s blessed YOU WITH to serve your fellow man, God and His Kingdom.
For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. So how about you? Are you resting from your work? Are you taking a day off every week and keeping it holy? Are you honoring God with your business and keeping the Sabbath, not only for yourself, but for your employees and customers? Two of the giants in retail, Hobby Lobby and Chick-Fil-A are closed on Sunday, and their profits are up! The world says “you’re crazy to close on Sunday”, but God says differently. If you’re working on Sunday, or asking your employees to, we challenge you to go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him “How can I honor you by keeping the Sabbath holy?”
I learned something new talking with a Physical Fitness company owner in Nashville. The only gift God has given us that we can control 100% is our body. What we eat, how we take care of it, what we feed it, if we are exercising it. Reminds me of Luke 11:36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you. Never thought of that. That we have an obligation to glorify God with our body, and that body is the vehicle that either enables us to work with excellence or not. What will YOU do today, ensure your body is primed to work in excellence unto the Lord?
Have you ever experienced a major upheaval in your business or work life? Something that looked like it was taking you in the opposite direction of where you were headed? Or was (you thought) the next logical step? It’s highly possible that God is using this to move you to exactly where HE wants you to be. For HIS work, in HIS time, for THIS season. Let Romans 8:28 encourage you today, and we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. God is orchestrating it all, for His glory. This week, as you experience upheaval in your work life, why not turn to Romans 8:28? And even place a copy of it on your desk?
Humility. The term "humility" comes from the Latin word humilitas, a noun related to the adjective humilis, which can be translated as "humble", but also as "grounded", or "from the earth", since it derives from HUmus (earth). The greatest leaders, including our Lord have it. CS Lewis said: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of YOURSELF LESS.” What if TODAY, you and I, thought of ourselves less at work, and started to think MORE about others. James 4:10 says it best: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. And how about Psalm 149:4 For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. How will YOU work from a place of humility today?
Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.
Kathy Branzell, President of the National Day of Prayer says: there’s the idea that when I work, I work, but when I pray, God works. So how about YOU? Are you working, when you should be praying? Are you starting work first, before you pray? Are you taking God’s place for the results by over-working? There’s a beautiful balance we can obtain between work and prayer. We can choose to pray first, then work. And then pray, staying in constant contact with the Lord to guide and direct our work, vs. all that extra-efforting stuff. Psalm 127 says: It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” We challenge you today, to incorporate prayer INTO your work, and trust God for the results and experience a little of His rest.
Are there ROCKS in YOUR schedule? ROCKS are IMMOVABLE commitments. Those priorities that are unchangeable. As a working Christ-follower, what are some of YOUR ROCKS? Here are some of mine: Time with the Lord. Family commitments. And anything I have given my word to, to be there. Is WORK one of YOUR ROCKS? If it is, maybe it’s time to look at that rock, and decrease its size, or the amount of space it’s taking on your calendar. Don’t’ let Luke 20:18 define how you live and manage your life. “Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.” So how about YOU? Is work a stone YOU’RE stumbling over? How about crushing that rock and use it to make a path to more time with family?
Heard this the other day: The principles never change, but the methods always do. What a solid management philosophy this makes for us Christ followers. Principles are defined as: fundamental truths that serve as the foundation for a system of beliefs. Our biblical core beliefs are the basis of who we are and what we do. And that applies to how we work, lead and manage. But the methods, those change, based on the circumstances, and the people involved. So we need to be flexible, not rigid. Deeply rooted, but like the branches of a tree, sway with the wind. So how about you? Are your principles well rooted but flexible enough for change?
Some things in life are more challenging than others. Like finances. And even more challenging: How do we glorify God with our finances? If you think you’ve mastered your finances, there’s a next step, a better way to glorify God with them. To transform the money we make from working for the Lord, and seeing that it is invested in Kingdom building. It’s called Biblically Responsible Investing and it’s transforming the way Christians look at the money they invest, and where they invest it. So how about you and your finances? .... Are you willing to look at every dollar and steward it even more for God’s Kingdom? If you are, we invite you to pray about it, and go to our website for next steps on how to transform your finances into the ultimate Kingdom resource.
When people around you at work succeed, do you find yourself happy for them or feeling bad for yourself? It can be easy to compare our career path to someone else’s and come out feeling like we missed our chance at moving up - but the truth is that everyone’s journey will look different. Galatians 6:4 says, “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.” So next time the temptation to compare yourself to a coworker comes up, take the focus off of others and put it back on the work God has given you to do today. Because when you work with excellence, you bring honor to God… and that’s the measure of TRUE success!
Is God building another testimony for you, through your workplace? Often, hard times come in our work, and we’re called to respond as a Christ-follower. Not react with fear, self-pity, anger, resentment or push-back. But with a keen sense and trust that God is sovereign in our work. That He may have brought something to an end, for His Glory, not our punishment. So how about YOU? .... Are YOU going through a hard time at work? And if you are, how are you responding? We recommend first taking it to prayer, and asking the Lord what He wants you to know about the situation, how you can grow from it, and what does he want you to do next, for His glory? Then take some time and pray for those you work alongside for the tough time they are going through too.
How do you measure your work success? We’re referring to eternal success in your work. One way is to ask yourself: Is my workplace better off because of having me work there? Have I changed it for the better? Would my co-workers say that I am a blessing to work with? A roofing business owner in Florida told us he takes an inventory every year, looks back at the year to see what benefit or good he has added: to his customers, his employees, his community and his family. So how about you? WE invite YOU to incorporate this “taking inventory” process by adding it onto your calendar once a month. David Jeremiah said, “If we don’t take inventory every once in a while, and give thanks to God for the great things He has done for us, we get totally out of perspective.” Make sure you take time to ask the question of yourself today “IS my workplace blessed because I work there?“
Is God leading your work? How do you get the point where you can say YES, He is. Here’re a couple of ideas to get you started. First, read a book or listen to faith at work podcasts that introduce you to the concept of working for the Lord. Second, pray and ask God to show you how and where He is at work in your work today. Three, take a faith at work devotional and put it on your desk. Before you turn on your PC, read the devotional and pray that God lead you in your work. This might take some consistent practice, like changing a habit, to shift your mindset. So how about you? Colossians 3:23 is a GREAT verse to put on your desk, so it reminds you WHO you work for: 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
As we start our work week, let’s remind ourselves of our calling to our work and God’s plan for our work. Declare this now as you head to work today, walk to your office, or sit down to do your devotions. … “My workplace is my mission field, a place of full-time ministry… My workplace ministry manual is my Bible. …My calling to my workplace is not a second-class calling…. I dedicate my workplace as a mission field for God, and because of Jesus in my life, I am committed to celebrating the work that God gave me….AMEN”
Are you a leader in your organization? If so, what are you doing to care for your team members? Your employees? Are you ignoring the big stresses in their lives? If you are, it could be costing you in a big way. For example: The divorce of a $60,000 a year employee will cost $86,000 in lost productivity. There are legal, low cost remedies to helping your employees get the help they need to calm the sometimes raging seas of their lives. So how about YOU? Are you turning a blind eye to the pain in your workplace? Wake up! Look and listen, and seek to put benefits and programs in place that make employees lives easier. And commit today, to start being the good shepherd. The one who sacrifices his life for the sheep.
At work, sometimes we walk away from a meeting or conversation and think to ourselves “Boy, that person sure needs some fixing.” But, in reality, if we took a moment, and thought more carefully about it, maybe even looked a little deeper, we may just see what needs to be fixed is US, not them. Leaders know this. They know that the organization is a reflection of WHO they are and WHO they are being. A leader knows that before their “team needs fixing”, THEY need fixing first. So how about YOU? Are you a leader that leads knowing they need to fix themselves first? Or are you the leader that looks at all the fixing everyone else needs to do? We challenge you today, if you have a thought about someone else, to first look at yourself, and see what needs to change.
I wonder how much of our life is lived from a place of “taking”. Not consciously, but just getting up and living our life, as we go to work and just delve in. I’ve found my unconscious self is pretty selfish. If I don’t pray first, submit in obedience, my day, my hands, my mouth, eyes and ears, to serve all those I come in contact with, I’ll just spend all day at work taking what I need and want. .... So how about you? Are you living your life and workday taking? .... We challenge you today, to stop unconsciously working, and living as a taker. But to set up your day from a place of “How can I be a giver today? How can I contribute to everyone I come in contact with?”
Wisdom. It’s defined as knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action. Wisdom goes beyond KNOWING what is right and into DOING what is right. God calls us to be wise in everything that we do – constantly seeking out what is true and right in his eyes and then acting on it. James 3:17 says, “The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” Are you living out the wisdom from above in your workplace? Before you speak or act this week, consider if what you are about to do is carrying forward peace, mercy, fairness, and sincerity. If it isn’t, pause and ask the Holy Spirit to give you His wisdom before you move forward!
As Christians everything about us should be changing. When we were born again, it wasn’t just a one-time event. We are to be changing daily…remember the word “sanctified”? We are being “set apart” to be dedicated to God’s use. And to that end, we’re to be changing and growing more Christ-like every day, to be conformed to His image. So how about you? Would those you work with say you’re a better co-worker today than you were 6 months ago? Would your manager say you’re a better team member today than you were last month? Would your CEO say you’re a better executive this year than you were last year? 2 Timothy reminds us: If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. We challenge you to pray to be conformed and changed today so that someone may notice and ask about it tomorrow.
Mutual respect. It’s when two people show respect for each other. .... Respect is defined as the process of honoring someone by exhibiting care, concern, or consideration for their needs or feelings. This should be a HALLMARK of us as Christ followers. And even more apparent at work, with our colleagues. To respect them as co-laborers AND as fellow sons and daughters of God. .... Author Dina Dwyer-Owens says it’s been her experience that When we hold ourselves accountable and show mutual respect to others, it’s amazing the respect that comes back. So how about you? Are you living mutual respect in your work today?
When’s the last time you really saw your co-workers? .... Saw them as real three-dimensional people? Not just a co-worker, workplace mate or just an employee? When’s the last time you remembered, that they’re a son or daughter of God? .... That they were created, like you, by God, for a purpose. That they are worthy. That they have a life, and that life is just as important as yours. That they’re on a journey, their own journey, just like we all are. .... So how about you? We invite you today, to put on God’s view of each person you work with, and to see Christ in each of them. And then watch the supernatural transform your work relationships and your workplace.
Ahhh rebellion. Its’ the sickness of youth but perhaps, there’s still some rebellion in our hearts as adults. Is there some ONE or some THING that you’re rebelling against at work?...You may be doing it unknowingly… “under the table”…undermining, backbiting, using sarcasm or pushing against another’s ideas or leadership in subtle ways. Romans 13:1 and 2 is clear: Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. So how about you? Won’t you commit to glorify God, by submitting to YOUR authorities at work?
After a conversation with Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, of Love & Respect, I’m rethinking the way I go about being a peace-keeper. Here’s what he said: Sometimes, as peace keepers we hedge on the truth, or just lie, to keep the peace. .... So let’s apply that to our workplace. Are you unknowingly hedging on speaking the truth in work situations, to keep the peace? How can you know? You’ll probably have a niggling in your spirit, an unsettledness. So what can we do to know when to speak the truth: We can check in with the Holy Spirit in the moment, before conversing, and pray for wisdom for how and when to speak. Keeping the peace may not be what best serves the organization. But speaking the truth is. So how about you?
If you’re someone who watches or reads the news, then you know that there are a lot of bad things going on in the world today. From pandemics and civil wars to inflation and genocides, there is no shortage of darkness in the twenty-first century. How does all this sorrow and hardship affect your life? How about your work? Do you take it with you to the office? Do you chat with your co-workers about it? Do you live in fear or frustration? Bad news was going on during Jesus’s day as well, but the Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:8, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Today, I invite you to fix your mind on what is GOOD and then speak about it to your co-workers, who desperately need the hope of Christ.
Do you ever feel like a hamster on a wheel - stuck in a monotonous, repetitive, and unfulfilling pattern of going to work, eating, sleeping, and paying bills? When every day feels the same it can be difficult to live with a sense of significance… but here’s some good news: our significance is not determined by our position or plans but by God working out His plans through our current position. Psalm 57:2 says, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” God has a purpose for you, RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE. The job that you hold, the people that you work with, none of that is an accident. Jesus wants to use you to bring His light to everyone that you encounter. Next time you feel stuck on the hamster wheel, pray that God would open your eyes to His eternal purposes for you today at work.
We all have a calling, have you heard this before? Some of us get called to the pulpit and some to the foreign mission field but most of us get called to our cubicles, construction sites, care facilities or whatever your job site may be. Your Workplace, It’s your mission field and in that mission field, you and me, we may be the only Jesus our co-workers, employees and bosses may ever meet. That Job that you hold and the work that you do, and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance. The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance. So, as you contemplate the value of your work today, realize this…You don’t need to quit your job in order to go into fulltime ministry. You are already in fulltime ministry, right there where you work.
Why do you go to work? Something gets you out of bed and on the clock. Is it for a paycheck, to get experience, or to feel like you’re making a difference? All of us have a reason. If you paused and assessed yours, what would the answer be? For nine years we have opened the iWork4Him radio show and podcast by asking: Who do you work for, really? This simple question gets at the heart of the matter because when it comes down to it, there are only two people you can be working for: yourself or God. Either you are laboring for the things of this world – your comfort, wealth, status, and pride. Or you are laboring for the things of eternity – a harvest of righteousness and the fruit of the gospel. Your work matters to God – invite Him in!
Do you find ever yourself scrolling through social media and feeling bad about yourself or your life? Or how about, looking over at your coworker and wondering why they got the promotion you feel you should have had? Sound familiar? Comparison is an ugly emotion… one that Mark Twain calls “the death of joy.” When Simon Peter, one of Jesus’s closest disciples, was told that he would be martyred for his faith, he looked over at his friend John and asked how he would die. Jesus responded, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.” Jesus’s answer to Peter holds true for us as well! Next time you find yourself comparing your life, achievements, or appearance to that of a coworker or friend - stop looking at them, and instead, follow Jesus.
Mary Magdalene stood outside the empty tomb crying. She thought that someone had stolen the body of Jesus, the only thing she had left of him. But Jesus himself – very much alive – said from behind her, “Woman, why are you weeping? … I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Have you ever been in a position like Mary’s - mourning the loss of a friend, family member, job, relationship, or dream? Maybe you are in that position today. In these desolate moments beside the tomb of something lost, Jesus wants to meet you. And in your grief, he reassures you that you are a child of God, seen and loved and heard. No matter what you are facing this week, remember that Jesus is alive and because of that, you are a child of the Most High!
How do you define success? Being promoted? Achieving a certain number of social media followers? Reaching a particular income level? Well, Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines it simply as, “a favorable or desired outcome.” Take a moment today and consider how God’s desired outcome looks different than the world’s. In Matthew 22, Jesus tells a lawyer there are two main things we should desire in life… and they have nothing to do with financial status, power, or position! He said, “you shall love the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… and shall love your neighbor as yourself.” What kind of desired outcome are you pursuing at work: the world’s version of success that centers on personal gain? Or God’s, which is about honoring Him and loving those around you?
If you have a job, chances are you have a job description - you know, that piece of paper that lists out what duties you are responsible for performing at work. Take a moment to consider your performance at work over the last 6 months. Are you meeting the requirements of your job description or are you exceeding them? Do you do the bare minimum or do you look for ways to improve your workplace? Are you someone who helps your coworkers or who shirks your duties? Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human men.” Here’s the thing: your job performance matters to God! And when you work with excellence, going above and beyond the expectations of your employer, you honor Him! Put in a little extra effort this week, and see what God does!
Most people consider a vocation to be a career that they feel a strong draw towards or that they are particularly suited to. But as Christ-followers, we look at vocation a little bit differently. Dr. Chip Roper from the Voca Center in New York talked with us recently about the biblical view of vocation, which is simply a divine call to God’s service or to the Christian life. From this perspective, your vocation isn’t a career, but how you act in your current career. It is about recognizing that God has called you to your job for this time, in this season, to minister to your coworkers, vendors, bosses, customers, and clients! So remember, you aren’t just working for yourself; you’re working for the Lord! Step into your Kingdom calling this week by inviting God to teach you about your vocation as a workplace missionary.
God loves our work! Why? I’ll give you a hint – it’s not because He’s a workaholic. It’s because work is an opportunity for God to partner with us for the salvation of souls! When we head to our jobs each day, we have an opportunity to not only make a paycheck but to engage in Kingdom purposes! 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “So we are Christ’s Ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ...” What does it mean to be Christ’s ambassadors and to speak on his behalf? Simply this: that we represent Christ and his purposes wherever we go, including work. Because when our faith is put into action people notice something is different and it becomes a catalyst for conversation. How can you partner with God at work this week as His ambassador?
Our country is more divided today than in almost any other time in history. All you have to do is turn on the television or log in to social media, to be bombarded by anger, hatred, accusations, and arguments. Everyone has an opinion and they are all shouting to be heard! But as Followers of Christ, we are called to live differently. We are called to be counter-cultural. In Ephesians 4:1-3 the Apostle Paul says, “I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” What is your attitude towards others? Are you patient and gentle or are you rude, harsh, and condescending? We challenge you to bear with one another in love this week. Be kind to those you find difficult at work. Act in a manner worthy of your calling in Christ.
In John 17:17, Jesus prays for his followers saying, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” But what does Jesus mean by sanctify? The Greek word used for sanctify in this verse is hagiazo and it means to separate something – to set it apart – for an intended purpose or mission. In other words, Jesus intended that all those who follow after him would be set apart for a unique purpose and mission: to spread the good news of the gospel to the world. And guess, what? This same mission extends to you today! You have been strategically placed in your workplace for a reason. There are people there who need to hear about the truth of who Jesus is, and you may be their only chance! So, how can you carry out the mission of Christ at work today?
Have you ever had a coworker who seems to get all the breaks and suddenly, the green-eyed monster of envy rears its ugly head? Envy is birthed out of comparing our lives to someone else’s and being dissatisfied with the difference. But here’s the thing: comparison is a dangerous game. When you become preoccupied with watching someone else’s life, you miss the things that God wants to do in your life. Proverbs 14:30 says, “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.” You see, jealousy and envy will slowly destroy you and destroy the good and gracious plans that God has in store for your life. So, next time you find yourself silently judging, critiquing, or being envious of someone at work, try what Paul suggests in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.”
Have you ever heard the old adage, “you have two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you speak?” Well, it’s true! Nobody likes to be run over with somebody else’s words! James 1:19 says it this way, “Everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak.” What is your speaking to listening ratio? Do you tend to overrun the conversation, or do you wait to hear what other people have to say? When we take the time to ask thoughtful questions and genuinely listen to the answer, the person we are talking to feels valued and understood. Find one coworker or client at your job today and ask them how they are really doing. Then wait for the real answer… the one that goes deeper than just “fine.” You may be surprised by what you find out!
We live in a busy world. If we aren’t in a meeting, or working on a project, or going to an appointment – we are looking at our phones, or answering emails, or hopping on a video conference. Technology has made work accessible ALL. THE. TIME. Not just from nine to five. But as Mahatma Gandhi once said, “there is more to life than increasing its speed.” So, how about you? Are you running so fast that you are missing the things God has in store for your day? Try intentionally slowing down and scheduling in blank space on your calendar. When you do, you may be surprised by the connections and conversations you are able to have. When we make time for people, the Lord opens incredible ministry opportunities. Who does God want you to speak to today?
There is a trick that some realtors use when they are showing a property or doing an open house: they put a batch of cookies in the oven right before the potential buyer comes through the door. The buyer is then met with the comforting aroma of warm, gooey cookies which give them a sensation of home. Good smells draw people in and invite them to stay awhile. 2 Corinthians 2:16 in the Passion Translation says, “Through our yielded lives he spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere we go. We have become the unmistakable aroma of the victory of the Anointed One to God – a perfume of life to those being saved.” What aroma is your life giving off to the people you work with? Not sure? Here’s a trick. Spend some time praying before work each day, and the aroma of Christ will fill your life.
1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.” I love it when the Apostle Paul talks about all the different parts of the body of Christ because so often, we get caught up in comparing ourselves to someone who was designed to function differently. But the truth is, no matter which part of the body of Christ you are, you are essential, and your role is significant! Every part of the human body must be in working order for it to be healthy. Similarly, every believer must be participating in their unique calling for the whole body of Christ to function well! When you understand who God created you to be and what He created you to be doing, comparison disappears. So, lean into your work today, because God placed you there for a reason!
If I had one hundred dollars for every time someone said, “I want my life to have purpose, so I am thinking about quitting my job to go work in a church or Christian nonprofit” I would be a very, very rich man. There is a myth that has been circulating through theological communities for decades: that in order to have a Kingdom impact, you have to work in a four-walls church, a ministry, or a foreign mission field. But Psalm 139 in the Message translation says, “Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? To be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there!” The Holy Spirit resides inside of YOU, and that means that wherever you are – THAT is your mission field. So where you work, doesn’t matter nearly as much as WHY you work. How can you work for the Lord today?
God is up to something. He is not idly sitting by up in the Heavens, uninterested and uncaring about the matters of earth. He is intimately involved. Luke 12:7 says that “He even counts every hair on your head!” And as if it isn’t already crazy enough that the Lord of All cares about our day-to-day lives, He doesn’t stop there. He asks us to join Him in His work! Let me say that again: the Maker of Heaven and Earth wants to partner with YOU! What an invitation! You have the chance to be part of what God is doing in your workplace, neighborhood, and friend group. Have you said ‘yes’? Or have you left God knocking on the door with the invitation in his hand? Don’t miss out on this opportunity. Don’t let another day pass you by without asking Jesus what he wants to accomplish through you today.
When was the last time you pushed yourself to do something that made you uncomfortable at work - whether volunteering to learn a task outside of your usual job duties, offering to take on a new project, or making friends with another employee? Moving outside of your comfort zone may feel awkward or stressful at first, but it is also the best way to grow! And in order to become a mature person – personally, professionally, and spiritually – we absolutely MUST grow! William S. Burroughs once said, “When you stop growing, you start dying.” So, ask yourself, is your work ethic alive and growing? How about your family life? How about your spiritual life? This week, challenge yourself to find one thing that you can do to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and into your growth zone!
Have you had a performance review in the last year or two? If you have, how did you do? Did you need improvement? Did you meet expectations? OR did you EXCEED expectations? Because here’s the thing: when you do good at work, people notice. Your quality of work is, in itself a witness to who God is… a God of goodness, of care, and of EXCELLENCE. Colossians 3:23 says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Because the thing is, God is interested in good business, good profit, good attitudes, good character development, and meeting your employee needs. And when we connect God’s passion for people with God’s passion for quality and excellence the line between the sacred and the secular dissolves and the secular BECOMES sacred. How are you going to pursue excellence for the Lord at work this week?
Have you ever felt like your life is an endless cycle of waking up, going to work, making dinner, paying bills, and then going back to work again? King Solomon could relate. Even though he was an extremely wealthy and successful ruler, he still struggled with feeling like everything in life was meaningless, a striving after the wind. But God gave Solomon supernatural wisdom, and after some consideration, Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 2:24, “So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?” You see, Solomon knew that the only true source of joy is God – and with God, even our work can be filled with satisfaction. Next time you feel exhausted by the cycle of work and life, ask God to give you joy in your work.
Have you ever felt unsure about your future or about a big decision in your life? Maybe you’re feeling that way right now – confused, uncertain, and discontent. Perhaps you feel paralyzed by fear of making the wrong move or wrong choice. In these seasons, when everything seems dark and foggy, how do you move forward with confidence? James 1:5 in The Passion Translation says, “If anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace.” Did you catch that? God doesn’t want you to fail – He WANTS to guide you! Ask Him for wisdom and trust He will give it. Then take the pressure off yourself, leave the rest… and rest in His generous grace!
When unexpected things happen, when crises come, when you are let go, or passed over, or disappointed, or get a bad diagnosis… where do you put your faith? The phrase “do not be afraid” can be found in the Bible 365 times; one time for each day of the year! It is the most repeated command in Scripture, and for good reason: life can be difficult. In fact, before his ascension to heaven in John 16, Jesus says “In this world you WILL have trouble” as in… it’s a certainty. BUT, he says, “take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus is bigger than our troubles and he knows in advance everything that will happen to us. If you find yourself in an anxiety producing situation today, remember that God goes before you. His promises are new every morning, so do not be afraid.
When you have a major decision to make or a faced with a “fork in the road” in your career, whose opinion do you seek out first? Do you ask your friends? Your partner? Do you make a list of pros and cons? Do you just avoid it? Although we’ve all probably done each of these things, there is a BETTER way: ask the one who already knows everything about your past, present, and future. When we get on our knees and seek God’s opinion first, He leads us towards the best decision. So, next time you are faced with a tough choice, pray, read God’s word, and pay attention to the confirmations and affirmations that come through Christ Followers in your life. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” So, stop worrying, and start praying – He will take care of you.
God formed Adam and Eve on the sixth day of creation… making their first full day in the Garden of Eden the Sabbath – a day of REST. God is gracious so He didn’t start them out on a Monday … instead, God emphasized the importance and holiness of spending time in his presence FIRST, before the work week begins. He asks us to look to him FIRST. Rest in Him FIRST. And only then, after worshiping, resting, and praying, are we to be sent out to do the work that God has for us. The Sabbath is a GIFT. And when we don’t treasure it, we don’t honor God. Remember, Jesus was always busy but NEVER in a hurry. He always made time for people, for rest, and for prayer. So, what about you? Do you consider Monday to be the start of your week? Or Sunday… the day of Rest?
Businesses always seem to be searching for “the magic bullet” that will propel them into the “big leagues”. We’ve heard hundreds of stories of eternally successful companies and their practices and believe we know the secret. It’s excellence. Excellence as unto the Lord. Not being great at what you do, but EXCELLENT. .... It’s the very top level. Consider these synonyms for excellence: high quality · superiority · brilliance · greatness · eminence · supremacy · peerlessness. Remind you of anyone? These words describe Jesus Christ. And since our entire purpose is to conform to His likeness, these words should be describing US, and our work, and our organization. ....the Question is… DO they?
Whether we’re aware of it or not, temptation is all around us at work. It didn’t get left at home when we left for work today. As we take God to work with us, we should also be aware that the enemy will be working there too. Starting our day with the Lord in prayer, and putting on the FULL armor of God (Ephesians 6), are some of the best ways to keep the door shut on temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. And IF you’ve opened the door to temptation at work, speaking and praying bible verses over it is the way to combat it. Today, will YOU fight temptation at work with the presence of the Lord and His word?
I heard recently from a retired army guy that he was taught to run TOWARDS the problem, not away from it. .... I wonder how many of us run towards OUR work problems vs. away from them. Perhaps we think “confrontation” is un-Christ-like…but how did Jesus deal with problems?
With the woman at the well, He confronted her, asked and answered questions. In the temple, He confronted with over-turning the tables and admonishing. Did he EVER run away from a problem? Never. His way to address problems were spirit-based AND involved action of some kind. But He never opted out, avoided or ignored the situation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Won’t YOU use Proverbs 3 to run towards YOUR problems at work today?
Have you ever tried to ignore God and His direction in your work or career? Tried to go your own way, and kept running into roadblocks, un-ending NO’s and shut doors? Sometimes in our career, we try to LOGIC our way towards our calling, to where WE want to be, but God has His plans. Remember the Israelites? It took them 40 YEARS to make a 14 day journey. That’s 14, 600 days of blindness, vs. 14 days of obedience. That’s A LOT of resistance. So, the next time you’re being led somewhere you don’t want to go, try praying about it, asking several devoted friends to join you in praying for an answer. If you’re paying attention, God is probably speaking through others to you as well, to guide you. You can fight God every step of the way, but we don’t recommend it! We challenge you today, to PRAY your way through your career options and challenges.
Have you ever met a salesperson or a marketer who offered you something that seemed too good to be true… and then it turns out it WAS too good to be true? Although overpromising may increase sales and conversions on the front end, underdelivering on those promises alienates customers and creates a bad reputation. Similarly, overpromising and underdelivering in your relationships at work and at home causes division, disappointment, and distrust. Proverbs 11:3 says, “The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.” Integrity is more than being honest – it’s matching your actions to your words in a way that honors God and those around you. Are there any areas of your life that you are overpromising and underdelivering?
We all have a calling, have you heard this before? Some of us get called to the pulpit and some to the foreign mission field but most of us get called to our cubicles, construction sites, care facilities or whatever your job site may be. Your Workplace, It’s your mission field and in that mission field, you and me, we may be the only Jesus our co-workers, employees and bosses may ever meet. That Job that you hold and the work that you do, and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance. The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance. So, as you contemplate the value of your work today, realize this…You don’t need to quit your job in order to go into fulltime ministry. You are already in fulltime ministry, right there where you work.
I recently had my concept of “neighbor” challenged. Does neighbor mean only the people in my neighborhood? The ones we live near? Actually, in a broader sense, it is anyone “living or located near another”. That means the folks all around us at work, in the next cubicle. The teacher in the next classroom. The person exercising next to us at the gym. Our neighbors are everywhere and the Lord had a great deal to say about them. Some Hebrew origins of the word, also translate it to mean “fellow man”. Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Today, how will YOU show love to ALL THOSE who you work around all day long?
Have you ever encountered a salesperson that wouldn’t stop pushing you to buy an item because they were on commission? It’s obvious in these situations that the salesperson is more interested in reaching their numbers than about meeting the needs of the customer. They have become producers rather than servers. As followers of Christ, we can end up doing the same thing when we focus only on our output at work, rather than caring about the people at work. Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of us look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Are you a producer? Or are you a server? Ask God how you can serve the people around you today – whether in your work, your home, or your neighborhood. Because you may be the only Jesus they ever meet.
Sacrifice. It’s defined as surrender of something for the sake of something else. We are called to do it in our life as a Christ follower, just as He did. 1 Corinthians 13:3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. What does love-based sacrifice look like in our workplace? .... We sacrifice pride, to choose what’s best for the organization, over our own ideas. .... We sacrifice time, when we put a co-worker’s needs before our own. .... We sacrifice “top sales numbers” to do what’s best for the client, not our own paycheck. HOW are YOU willing to be sacrificial in your workplace this week?
Your work matters to God, and God has strategically placed you in your workplace to be his representative. But what exactly does it mean to be a representative of God? 1 John:4 says, that God IS love. So, when we genuinely love people, we are giving them a taste of who God is – it’s as easy as that! Being a representative of God in the workplace doesn’t mean that you need to be a pastor, an evangelist, or an apologist – all you need to do is love God and love the people around you with authenticity, transparency, and humility. So, when you go to work, remember that you have an opportunity to be a representative of God by showing care and respect to those around you. Pick one way this week to show your coworkers that you genuinely love them, and so does God!
65% of the population will never go into a four walls church – that means that over half of the people in the U.S. will never hear about Jesus from a pastor or dedicated ministry. BUT here’s the good news: almost everyone will be employed during their lifetime, which makes the workplace one of the LARGEST mission fields in the world – a place where we, as ambassadors for Christ, are given free access to the lost and hurting! John 4:35 says, “Wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest… and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life.” Are you treating your workplace like your mission field? If not, WAKE UP! The fields are ripe with people waiting to be brought to eternal life – and Jesus is asking you to be a part of the harvest.
Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light of the world… No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” When you go to work, do you switch off your faith? Do you put your belief under a bowl? Or do you proudly display it, letting it shine so that others can see it? The thing is, nobody benefits from your light if it’s hidden... no one even knows it’s there! But when you let your light - your faith - shine proudly at work, every good deed and kind word will bring glory to God! These regular parts of your day, suddenly become opportunities to share the love of Christ with everyone around you.
How many times have we said to ourselves. “I wish I had time to go on a mission trip.” Well guess what, you DO! Your workplace IS your mission field. Your daily commute IS your mission travel. And your workplace has been crafted perfectly by God, specifically tailored to you, and your giftings. We can all begin to view our workplace and every co-worker as “the mission”. We can prepare, pray, plan and then serve our colleagues in the same way we would as if we hopped on a plane and flew to another country. Charles Spurgeon the Reformed preacher said “Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor.” So which are YOU? What would it take for you to start tomorrow, to shift your mindset and intentionally serve your workplace as YOUR mission field?
Have you ever been afraid to share the gospel because you might not know all the answers? Well, here’s the good news: we don’t need to argue people into Christ, we just need to invite them to encounter Him! What a relief - God is the one who does the heavy lifting… not us! When you set out to simply do good, work with excellence, and love people… others will be drawn to the light of Christ inside of you naturally… like a moth to a flame. Matthew 5:6 says, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” So, remember today that by working with integrity and honoring those around you, you’re INVITING them to encounter Christ… and it is Christ who will change and soften their hearts – the pressure is off!
The workplace is the largest mission field in the world, yet many Christ-followers don’t engage in their calling as missionaries because they don’t know how to share their faith at work. Fear around rejection, offending someone, or saying the wrong thing are just a few of the barriers that prevent believers from bringing the good news of the Gospel to their coworkers, employees, and clients. But here’s a tip: the most effective way to share your faith is simply to share your own story. Jesus often spoke in stories, called parables, when he was teaching. Why? Because they are a relatable carrier for important truths! Your testimony is no different! When you talk about God’s faithfulness in your life, you are sharing the Gospel. So, who can you share your story of faith with this week at work?
What is the first question someone asks you after an introduction? I’d be willing to bet that 9 times out of 10 its “So… What do you do for work?” That question may feel fine and dandy when you are in a high-powered position or working your dream job – but for most people it’s uncomfortable to be instantly framed by their employment OR lack of employment. We live in a society that equates our value with our job title. But the TRUTH is that your identity is NEVER going to be found in the things you do or how impressive your resume is. Psalm 139: 14 says, “I give thanks to you God because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.” So remember, your value and identity are based on the fact that God designed, made, and loves you… just as you are!
Have you ever felt stuck in a rut? Like all you do is go to work, come home, eat, and sleep, just to go back to work and do it all over again the next morning? This endless cycle can feel maddening! But did you know that God never intended for our work to be a burden? In fact, God gave Adam the job of caretaker of the world as a GIFT – as an opportunity to partner with Himself! And guess what? Jesus is extending the same gift to you today! When you dedicate your work to God, you become a partner with Him. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Jesus wants to take your daily work and make it so much more than toil! He wants to partner with you in the redemption of the world! Invite Jesus into your work today.
I almost finished a 500 piece puzzle the other day, but one piece was missing. I searched high and low but I couldn’t find it anywhere. In the end, I couldn’t complete the picture with just 499 pieces… I needed the last one. 1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.” YOU are a part of the body of Christ and YOU bring something unique to this world - something only you can bring! Your skills, gifts, and passions help reveal who Jesus is to the world. But… if you aren’t engaging, the puzzle is missing an essential piece and the picture is incomplete! God wants to use you, right where you are, to reflect Himself to your coworkers, bosses, friends and neighbors. Are you using your skills and gifts for the glory of Christ today?
When God created Adam, he didn’t place him in the Garden of Eden for an extended vacation – No! God created A JOB for him. In Genesis 2 it says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to WORK it and TAKE CARE of it… and the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them...” Of course, God could’ve easily named the animals He created, but instead He CHOSE to invite Adam into the work He was doing. In the same way, God has created a job for you, and has invited you to work TOGETHER with Him in it! Because when we work in partnership with God, our jobs become more than just hustle… they become holy. How can you invite God into your work today?
A company we love, and one you may have heard of, called Dayspring, helps direct their branding by asking the question, “what do we want people to walk away feeling after they’ve encountered a Dayspring product?” Do we want them to feel seen, loved, or encouraged? And what can we do to make customers want to return after an encounter with our products? These kinds of branding questions aren’t just for companies! 2 Corinthians 5:20 says that, “we are Christ’s ambassadors and God is making his appeal through us.” In other words, we are Christ’s BRAND ambassadors! Take a moment and ask yourself the question: how well am I representing God’s brand at work? When people encounter me, do they walk away feeling seen, loved, and encouraged? Think of one thing you can do today that will make those around you want to return to Christ.
One of my favorite topics on faith in the workplace is to delve into the legal rights of Christ followers at work. We have more rights than most Christians know. And these legal rights are extremely important for every Christ follower to be aware of. Whether you are an employee, in management or own a company or run a non-profit. WHY? We’re losing ground in our rights, because WE, the people of faith, have been so silent. We are hiding our faith in the closet for fear of creating problems, of disruption or of retribution. We are putting our peace and comfort BEFORE our God. We are NOT called to comfort but to live as James 4:17 says: Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
Mission fields are EVERYWHERE – including apartment communities. Statistics show that 96% of those who live in apartments have no connection to a church. So, as a Christ follower, if you live in an apartment complex or work in one on-site, there’s an opportunity to bring Christ to those that live there. Maybe you have Christian friends that live in an apartment. Would you be willing to share this idea with them? They have an amazing opportunity to start living INTENTIONALLY, loving on and caring for their neighbors. As we are all called to do wherever we live. 1 Corinthians 13:1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. Are you ONLY a noisy gong or clanging cymbal where YOU live?
Every paycheck you’ve been putting a little away for retirement. But once that money enters your 401K, what happens to it? Well, usually it gets invested into a whole bunch of companies. But did you know that many of the companies you may be investing in are actually support activities that blatantly go against Scripture! Proverbs 16:8 warns against this by saying, “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.” So, while you may be trying to steward your money well, you could actually be supporting businesses who work AGAINST everything you, and God, stand for! So, what can you do about it? Three words: Biblically. Responsible. Investing. Organizations like Inspire Investing can help you use your money to honor God and support companies whose values align with God’s purposes. This week, take a look at where your money and investments are REALLY going.
What’s your marriage got to do with your work? On the surface, nothing. But underneath, everything. Your home life always directly affects your mindset, your attention, attitude and perspective. When our marriage is unhappy, we are distracted, less productive, and typically less than 100%. Time invested in our spouse produces fruit. And that fruit sustains us and goes before us in every aspect of our family, life and work. Are you investing as much time and effort in your marriage as you are in your work? Rick Warren said: "The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now."
Have you ever looked at your current job and wondered, “how did I end up here?” The good news is, you didn’t end up there on accident! God has strategically placed you exactly where you are for a REASON – to share the good news of Jesus Christ with your coworkers, employees, bosses, and clients! 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.” So next time that you feel burnt out or bored with your job, remember that you are an ambassador for Christ – sent to your workplace to make an appeal on God’s behalf! For He created your work, He ordained it, He orchestrated it, and He is the one who will sustain you in it. So, take heart! Your job isn’t an accident…. It’s an anointing.
Growing up, I lived in Minnesota. During spring, we had this phrase that, "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb" meaning it would start cold and snowy and transition gently into spring... but usually it was the opposite. "In like a frozen lamb and out like a roaring lion." Life can be like that too. The transition from cold winter period of our lives – in other words some dark and cold experiences - into a period of new life and growth and perhaps a new assignment can be trying... but God is with you. He has you right where He wants you and He is preparing you for something great. Your life - right where you are, right at your current job, is critical to God's plan for the redemption of this world. He is shaping you to be more effective. Embrace the cold, for spring is coming!
Priorities. .... Have you ever thought about if you’re REALLY living your priorities? .... When’s the last time you stopped and did an inventory of WHERE you’re spending your time? .... Where we spend our time is the surest barometer of where our heart and priorities lie. Webster’s defines priorities as something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives. As Christ followers, we’re given our priorities by our Lord, not the world. .... Andy Stanley says it this way: “We don’t drift in good directions. We discipline and prioritize ourselves there.” Are YOU disciplining and prioritizing yourself in God’s direction today? ....
When’s the last time you checked in on your worldview? We invite you to re-calibrate your worldview BACK to a biblical worldview. There are 5 components involved: 1. your view of God, 2. Your view of creation or reality , 3. Your view of humanity, 4. Your view of moral order and 5. Your view of purpose. If each Christ follower woke up every day with their biblical worldview firmly set in their minds and hearts, we could change the world for Christ in a day (or maybe a week!). Romans 12:2 reminds us: Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Will you start TOMORROW with your biblical worldview ON?
I recently heard the phrase “mental load” for the first time. If you aren’t familiar with it, “mental load” is the largely invisible work of noticing and remembering. For example: I need to schedule a dental cleaning; we are out of lightbulbs; and my kid needs snacks for soccer practice. In other words, It’s the running list of everyday responsibilities that tend to fall on women to remember and carry out. The issue of mental Load can be especially applicable for career women or women with a side hustle as they try to carry out their duties at home and work. So, what can you do when your mental load is out of control? The biggest thing is to name it, explain it, and ask for help. Next time you’re exhausted, articulate your mental load and ask for help!
There is a common phrase that many people, especially working moms use. It’s “stretched too thin”. In the shadow of that statement is the often ignored concept of “self-care”. Many people have been taught growing up to put themselves last, after their spouse, children, their home and their work. So it’s no wonder many of us fail to take care of anything having to do with our own health and well-being. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. The word of God says we are to care for ourselves, so we can THEN care for others. What will you do today, this week, to take better care of yourself?
I heard an outrageous comment from a partner of a Christian farm equipment company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He said “Common sense has NO PLACE in the life of a spirit-led follower of Christ.” Here’s what I think he meant. When we are attuned to the Holy Spirit, what He guides us to do in the moment often seems contrary to what we think of as “logical”, And that reminded me that Christ’s actions were “counter-cultural” meaning: a set of attitudes opposed to the prevailing social norm. And if Christ is counter-cultural, then we should be too. We should look different, .... smell different ...., think different, .... act different. .... 2 How will YOU be a counter-cultural spirit-led follower of Christ in YOUR WORKPLACE today?
James 4:17 says Remember, it is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. This is so important, let’s hear it again. Remember, it is a sin to know WHAT you ought to do and then NOT DO IT. When you are MOVED at work during the day, by hearing about or seeing an injustice, do you pray and ask the Lord what He would have you do? .... Or do you just shrug it off and ignore it? The only way we, the body of Christ, will win people for Christ is for each of us to respond and DO our part. And that includes standing against injustice EVERYWHERE we are, including our workplace. .... What will YOU do today, when you see an injustice at work?
There’s a new diversity in town: GENERATIONAL diversity. .... While it’s not “new”, it’s “new” because we are now shining a light on it, naming it, and weighing the pros and cons of it. Of what it means in our work relationships, and in our organizations. How DO we take this reality and use it to build the body of Christ where we work? .... By respecting each other’s differences, and seeing the benefit of every generation and their unique perspectives and contributions. As Paul wrote in Ephesians: But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. .... Where do you need to shine the light on generational diversity in YOUR workplace today?
It’s a fact that love is spelled T.I.M.E. .... In today’s workplace, we can get so caught up in the fast pace that we forget that as Christ followers, we’re to be mindful and intentional with every task, and every person. How DO you slow down during the workday? One good way is to STOP multitasking, and focus your FULL attention on each task and conversation at a time. Another great way is to use a Prayer Prompter app on your phone that can remind you to: pray, give thanks, to ask for wisdom and discernment, and to be AWARE of the needs around you. We are called to LOVE our neighbors (which are our co-workers). How well are YOU showing love to YOUR co-workers with YOUR TIME?
In today’s culture, respect for our elders and wisdom, has been replaced by idolizing youth and outward appearances. As Christians, we believe that ALL human beings are created by God in His image. Therefore every person has inherent dignity and creator-ordained worth. To be created in the likeness of God means that each person bears His image and with it, a value beyond our unique characteristics or individual attributes. Do you treat ALL people at work with the same respect? Do you say hello, and look into the eyes of the janitor or the server at lunch? The FedEx guy? Do you know their names? We challenge you this week to treat everyone you meet with the dignity and respect you previously reserved for only those “who merit it.”
A guy named David Foster Wallace once said, “Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.” Now Wallace may have had a lot of things wrong, but he had this right… every day – you and me and every other person on this earth - worships something. We worship whatever it is that absorbs our heart, imagination, and mind to such an extent that it gains PRIORITY over everything else. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Everything that we do in our day to day lives can be an act of worship to God when He is our number one priority – even work! Would you say you’re using your work to worship God? Or have you slipped into worshiping your work?
What does it take to transform a city? One answer is “a city movement”. When a city brings together the isolated segments of government, clergy, companies, and non-profits, a PROFOUND shift occurs. The power of the body of Christ is unleashed into every area of the city. The light of Christ shines and exposes that which is hidden and a city is miraculously transformed. It reminds me of what JFK used to often say: “The rising tide lifts all the boats.” This is biblical collaboration at its ultimate expression. Ecclesiastes 4:12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. What’s your workplace doing to transform YOUR city?
A businessman and book author recently told me: In my search for leadership knowledge, I kept coming back to the Bible and realized that Proverbs is a practical business book. I don’t need much more. The Bible IS a source of wise counsel for us in all aspects of our life and that includes our work. .... Many Kingdom workplace leaders hold to the belief that the Bible is THE BEST BUSINESS BOOK ever written. Psalms provides wisdom during challenges, to give words to our lamenting and petitions to the Lord. The leaders in the bible, such as Moses, Deborah, Abraham and Queen Esther, provide real examples of what it looks like to BE a Godly leader. When’s the last time YOU went to THE WORD for business wisdom?
We have heard it said from just about every Kingdom company we have interviewed that it is all about relationship. That putting people first makes all the difference in the health of their business. This concept is contrary to how the world has taught us to do it. But we have heard and seen in these Kingdom companies, that when you put people first before profits, the profits will follow. That is a heavenly model of doing business, vs. a worldly one. This proves out the words of Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. What will you do today, to implement this Kingdom model of doing business?
I recently heard a new term for a business where the leader is a Christ follower. He called his business a “for-profit ministry”. That was dad’s term for their family business, a junkyard of all places. He had a holistic approach to it. Yes, he was a businessman, who was committed to turning a profit. AND, He saw it as an opportunity to help people by giving them a job, and helping them anyway he could…like sending their children to college. There was an intentionality of bringing Christ with him to the junkyard every day. As James 4:17 exhorts us: So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. What about your mindset? We invite you to try on the “for-profit ministry mindset” today, and see what happens!
When I graduated from high school, I had my life all planned out. For years I had felt God calling me into ministry, so naturally I planned to attend Seminary…. But then God asked me to take a right turn in my vocation - He asked me to go into business. At the time I didn’t understand how I could feel called to ministry AND the marketplace, but today I can look back and see that all those years WERE ministry and that he was laying the groundwork for iWork4Him. Isaiah 55:8 says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts…And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” We don’t have the big picture, but GOD DOES! So, how about you? Are you saying NO or NEVER to something that God is asking you to consider? Try removing the word NEVER from your prayer life – and see what God does.
1 Corinthians 6:19 says, “do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is IN YOU, whom you have received from God?” Whoa! Think about that for a moment: the Holy Spirit… the very presence of God… lives INSIDE of our bodies! How crazy is THAT! The God of the universe has taken up residence inside of us, where He not only guides us as a wise counselor but also intercedes on our behalf and empowers us to carry out the good works that prepared in advance for us. If God lives in us, and works through us, then it makes sense that our lives should demand a supernatural explanation! Are you living life in your own power or in God’s power? Take a moment today and pray that the Holy Spirit would do something through you that you couldn’t possibly do on your own! – something that demands a supernatural explanation.
Why is it that the grass always looks greener on the other side? Well, in today’s world it’s because the grass probably has a photo filter on it! Did you know that the average person spends two and a half hours scrolling through social media per day?! That’s more time than it takes to workout, make dinner, and clean the house! This constant access to the edited highlights of our friends’ and coworkers’ lives leads us to compare, compare, compare. But Proverbs 4:27 says, “Do not turn to the right or the left, keep your foot from evil.” PAUSE. Looking too much at the filtered lives of those around us can lead to jealousy, discontentment, resentment, and envy. PAUSE So, instead of going on your phone or tablet and comparing your life to your neighbors’ vacation photos, take a moment today to stop and thank God for the blessings in your own life!
Chuck Proudfit -- founder of the ministry At Work on Purpose -- told us on a recent show, “to start thinking like a journalist...” What does that mean? And what exactly do journalists do? Well, they find where the story is, and then they join it! And like journalists, we, as Christ-followers, have the opportunity to find what God is doing and join him! Ephesians 2:10 in the Message Translation says, “God creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” Are you a spiritual journalist - seeking out God’s story? Take a moment today and ask the LORD what he is up to in your office, in your home, or in your neighborhood. Then pray about how you how you can join in His good works!
As Christ-followers, our witness can become compromised when we act or speak out of a place of anger and frustration that leads us to wrongfully blame, shame, or hurt someone else. Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you THINK. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” But how do we change the way we think when we are cut off in traffic, passed over for a promotion, or hurt by someone’s words? Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership suggests this practice: when you’re angry, pause and write down your thoughts. Then, write next to them what kind of thoughts God wants you to have for the situation or person. This puts GOD back in control rather than your circumstances or the people around you.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Life is full of seasons and activities. With so many things begging for our attention, how do we find balance? Dave Zillig from Equilibrium breaks it down into five core areas that must be healthy for our lives to truly thrive. The fifth of which is Finances, and it’s no surprise it made the list. Money is mentioned in the Bible more than 800 times! Why? Because it can be used for good and is also a source of temptation and sin. Mismanaging or seeking after money can cause all sorts of issues in EVERY area of life. BUT healthy money management is spoken about in Scripture as part of being a good steward of your resources. What role does money play in your life? Is it an idol? Or a resource for the Kingdom of God?
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Life is full of seasons and activities. With so many things begging for our attention, how do we find balance? Dave Zillig from Equilibrium breaks it down into five core areas that must be healthy for our lives to truly thrive. The fourth of which is Fitness. In 1 Corinthians Paul writes that our bodies are a temple for the Holy Spirit within us and thus are precious. What does that mean? That we should take care of ourselves by eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Because when we care for our physical body – our whole life benefits. Are you taking care of your temple OR are you treating it like it’s disposable? Think of one healthy habit to incorporate into your work week!
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Life is full of seasons and activities. With so many things begging for our attention, how do we find balance? Dave Zillig from Equilibrium breaks it down into five core areas that must be healthy for our lives to truly thrive. The third of which is Friends. God designed us to function within a community of people, and friendships are an integral part of that. Even Jesus had friends, 12 of them! The Psalmist wrote that a good friend is more precious than gold – and it’s true - good friends are hard to find! And sometimes being a good friend is just as hard! Do you take the time to invest in and pray for friends? How about to befriend and pray for your coworkers? Take time to be a good friend this week.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Life is full of seasons and activities. With so many things begging for our attention, how do we find balance? Dave Zillig from Equilibrium breaks it down into five core areas that must be healthy for our lives to truly thrive. The second of which is Family. Because here is the thing - true success starts in the home. Having strong relationships with your spouse, your children, your parents, and your siblings is a part of God’s particular calling on your life. While your earthly work, money, and success will pass away, your family is made up of eternal souls – souls that God has given you to help shepherd and grow. Is your family a priority? Take time to show them this week.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Life is full of seasons and activities. With so many things begging for our attention, how do we find balance? Dave Zillig from Equilibrium breaks it down into five core areas that must be healthy for our lives to truly thrive. The first of which is Faith… and there’s a reason that Faith is first– because when it isn’t, EVERYTHING else in life will be out of balance. Our number one priority – before marriage, family, or work - has to be Jesus or every area suffers. Matthew chapter 6 says, “But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” What are you seeking first? Take stock this week on where Jesus falls in your priorities, and then move him to the top!
Have you ever worked for a company or organization with a toxic workplace culture – the kind that not only made it unpleasant for the employees but also for customers and clients? On the flipside, have you ever worked for a place where the culture was so positive that employees stayed for years and customers and clients became friends and partners? Dee Ann Turner, an expert on stewarding talent, says that “culture is the soul of the organization.” And incredible culture is built through core values that are demonstrated – not just stated. Like the old adage says: actions speak louder than words. As Christ-followers we already have a given set of core values! BUT are you demonstrating those core values at work? Remember, the WAY that you work is equally as influential to your testimony as what you say you believe!
Have you ever worked for a company or organization with a toxic workplace culture – the kind that not only made it unpleasant for the employees but also for customers and clients? On the flipside, have you ever worked for a place where the culture was so positive that employees stayed for years and customers and clients became friends and partners? Dee Ann Turner, an expert on stewarding talent, says that “culture is the soul of the organization.” And incredible culture is fostered by a sense of purpose. In other words, a healthy workplace culture requires a “why.” Why do we go to work? Why do we do what we do? And what value is it to the people we are doing it for? As Christ-followers we already have a purpose, no matter what job or position we hold! Our purpose is to share Jesus with the world – including the people we work with!
Have you ever worked for a company or organization with a toxic workplace culture – the kind that not only made it unpleasant for the employees but also for customers and clients? On the flipside, have you ever worked for a place where the culture was so positive that employees stayed for years and customers and clients became friends and partners? Dee Ann Turner, an expert on stewarding talent, says that “culture is the soul of the organization.” And incredible culture is built through a challenging mission. This is the “what.” What are we trying to achieve? What is the end goal? Whatever the mission of our current team or department, we also have an ultimate mission as Christ-followers! God has commissioned us to bring the lost and hurting to Him – including your bosses, coworkers, and employees. How are you living out your God-given mission at work?
Have you ever worked for a company or organization with a toxic workplace culture – the kind that not only made it unpleasant for the employees but also for customers and clients? On the flipside, have you ever worked for a place where the culture was so positive that employees stayed for years and customers and clients became friends and partners? Dee Ann Turner, an expert on stewarding talent, says that “culture is the soul of the organization.” And incredible culture begins with individual care of those within the organization. One way to begin caring for the people you work with is to start simply praying for them by name. When you pray for someone, God changes your heart TOWARDS them and opens the door for you to show His love TO them. I challenge you to pray for your coworkers, employees, and bosses by name this week – it’ll change everything.
Have you ever worked for a company or organization with a toxic workplace culture – the kind that not only made it unpleasant for the employees but also for customers and clients? On the flipside, have you ever worked for a place where the culture was so positive that employees stayed for years and customers and clients became friends and partners? Dee Ann Turner, an expert on stewarding talent, says that “culture is the soul of the organization.” What does the soul of your current workplace look like and how can you become a force for positive change within it? If you’re a manager, CEO, or leader – think of ways to foster a Christ-like culture in your area of impact. If you’re an employee – think of one way to be a positive light to your coworkers and clients today.
Do you want God to unlock His purpose for you in your work? As you execute the first 4 steps of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant: Praying for, serving, befriending, and praying with others, remember your work behavior is important. The final step of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is to be someone of excellence in your work. Be the best and brightest example of a worker in your workplace position. Excellence makes your behavior believable and your faith real. Excellence gives you a platform for sharing your faith. As a Jesus Follower, everything about us should be changing, and everyone around you should be benefiting from your faith, whether they believe in Jesus yet, or not. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Does God care for the people you work with? Of course, He does. In step 4 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, look for opportunities to pray with others. When you continually work alongside the same people, you know their typical manners and facial expressions. When you notice someone having an off day, ask them, “How are you doing?” when they say “I’m Fine,” keep asking, “ No really, how are you doing? I noticed you looked a little down today” then wait and be QUIET. When they have shared what is on their heart, ask, “Can I pray with you about that, right now?” I have never had someone say “No” when I followed these steps. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” When you pray, you are opening the door for them to meet your savior.
Do you want to see your workplace as a mission field? In step 3 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, we encourage you to befriend your co-workers or employees outside of the office. Why? Our work relationships are work focused and can be shallow. When you build friendships on your own turf, outside of work, real relationships develop. When you let someone into your world, it breaks down walls. Breaking down walls builds trust. Eventually, they will trust you when you share your Jesus story, the work He has done in your life. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble”….Be a real friend to someone today.
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? Step two of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant helps transform your workplace mindset into a mission-focused workplace ministry mindset. Start looking for ways to serve your co-workers, bosses, and/or employees outside your job requirements. Why? Anyone can do a job that meets expectations, but how many people help others meet or exceed expectations? When you go out of the way to help others at work with a stressful project or a mundane responsibility, you open up a door of ministry opportunity. Galatians 5:13-14 says For you have been called to live in freedom… use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? I thought so. Step one of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is the most powerful step you can take at work to transform your workplace and your heart. Prayer - Start praying for those you work alongside every day. Pray for your co-workers, bosses, and employees by name. You can even pray for their spouses and kids. After you have done this for a few months, have a conversation like this “Hey, I have been praying for you, is there anything I can pray about specifically?” 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. “ Start Praying today and watch the transformation begin.
Can ANY type of business impact the lives of the customers they serve? Even, let’s say, an office cleaning company? They sure can…. How does it happen? Is it by being a Christian that leads a company with good morals, values and ethics? Or, is there a level above and beyond that? There IS a level above and beyond and it’s called being a kingdom company. So how do you become a “kingdom company”? A great place to start is to have a trusted Christian board of advisors, where you learn and grow in business acumen and actively apply your faith at work. Proverbs 11:14 says Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers. Do YOU have advisers speaking truth into you and YOUR business? If not, WHY NOT?
When’s the last time your beliefs about another generation were challenged? Mine were recently, after interviewing a couple, whose life’s work is to teach and enable “generational reconciliation” in the workplace. What on earth is generational reconciliation? It’s helping us, and each generation to understand the other generation, to know the truth about what they believe and to know the best attributes of each, so they can be appreciated and leveraged. What has it got to do with faith and work? Apparently, a great deal. In the next two years, Millennials will make up 50% of the workplace. Ifyou own a business or manage anyone from this generation, your knowledge of them will be a huge predictor of “meeting with ETERNAL and EARTHLY success”. How will YOU seek generational reconciliation in YOUR OFFICE this week?
What’s the difference between believing IN God and trusting God? A San Antonio business owner got to find out, when he had to choose between going to work on Wall Street as a fat cat, or listen to God, and chose what’s best for his family. In Matthew 6:33 God advises us to “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” In the midst of your business decision making today, are you seeking first the Kingdom of God? Are you seeking God first vs. YOUR success? Your TEAM’s success? The BIGGER sale? The LARGER profit? You’re invited to seek God’s best and highest first, as your go about your work today.
Changing the world. We all have that secret desire, don’t we? Changing the world in Kingdom terms is not measured in the BIG, the BIGGER and the BIGGEST actions in our life and work. It’s the opposite. Changing the world happens, one person, one word and one action at a time. It can be as small as a smile, a kind word, or a self-less act of service. It’s counter-intuitive, just like the work of Christ. So how about you? Would you like to change the world? Would you be willing to start today, changing the corner of the world where God has placed YOU? We invite you to start changing the world RIGHT NOW, with ONE smile, ONE kind word, and ONE kind action.
Are you stuck in a rut or comfortably nestled in there? Have you been “doing your Christianity the same way, with the same people, in the same ministry, in the same church? In the same type of work? With the same company?” When’s the last time you stopped, poked your head UP OUT OF THE daily rut and asked “Lord, am I doing your will? Am I doing ministry and my work YOUR WAY? Where do YOU want me?” PAUSE So how about you? PAUSE When’s the last time you considered re-thinking how your walking out your faith? And who you’re working or ministering with? When’s the last time you got UNCOMFORTABLE, in order to follow The Lord? We invite you TODAY, to ask in prayer “Lord, where do you want me?”
How many of us think we are doing business God’s way, when in reality, we are just Christians who love Jesus, go to church, and believe we live by Christian values? There’s another way for us to start and run a business. To work and lead our teams. It’s the Kingdom way. .... Start with God as your ultimate business partner, and ask Him what HIS plan is. And then keep moving based on what He’s directed you to do. The mindset is: to be Kingdom minded, Kingdom focused and Kingdom motivated. When you are in this place, the business flourishes, almost effortlessly. .... When we are doing our job in faith and obedience, the fruit is produced, by God, in His way, In His time. Proverbs 16:3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed
Is it enough to be an ethical and hard-working owner, employee or boss, or does Jesus ask us to BE something MORE? Over the past twenty years of being a student of faith at work, we’ve discovered that there are costs to being a Christ follower in the workplace. Not a Christian, a CHRIST FOLLOWER. .... There’s a difference. .... And there are COSTS to making Him known at work. They are born out of Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. If we don’t stand out, how are people going to know Jesus has radically changed our life? .... So we’re asking, do YOU stand out in YOUR workplace?
After years of meeting with and interviewing people from all types of work and all organizational levels, there is one major truth that keeps bubbling up to the surface. The investment IN PEOPLE, above all else, pays not only Kingdom dividends, but business dividends as well. This is what Christ did, and it is the ultimate example of Christ’s holy character: Matthew 20:28 says “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” When we invest in our employees, the next generation, or future leaders in our workplace, we are giving away our life as a true Christ follower. What is ONE commitment you will make today, to start investing in the life of another in YOUR workplace?
It’s Christmas Eve. Tomorrow is a day focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. The day that you were born, your parents saw you as a gift. How will you be a gift to your family today, to the parents that gave you birth? Is it with your frequent phone calls or notes dropped in the mail? Is it helping around the house with projects that they just can’t do on their own anymore? Sometimes it takes a high level of intentionality to be a gift to the family that isn’t always easy to be around. As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. Today, be that gift to those you love.
Christmas is coming – just 2 days away. This week has focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. Are you a gift to the people you live near? Outside of work, we come in contact with a lot of people. You might be involved in a small group from church. How are you a gift to your small group? Are you a gift in the way you serve others in your community? Are you a gift in the way you love others when they’re going through a struggle? Are you a gift in the way you pray for people or the way you help out with projects that others just can’t do alone? As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. This week, be that gift to those you love.
Hebrews 11 says, “By faith Abel brought an offering.” What is an offering? Jesus said that while the bridegroom is with us, we want to feast, but when he is gone, then we look at fasting. We don’t earn God’s favor when we go without or by bringing him an offering. Faith grows when it is expressed in sacrifice when it’s not easy. When I “bring my sacrifice of praise” God is honored and my faith in Him grows because “God dwells in the praises of His people.” When God gives the entrepreneur an idea, that does not mean the idea will automatically happen, even if we put some effort into it. The Venture Capital firm that you approach for financial help is more interested in your track record of executing an idea than the idea itself. Abel brought an offering. What are we bringing to God?
Hebrews 11 says, “By faith we understand. . . that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” Stephen Covey says, “Begin with the end in mind.” Entrepreneurs start with ideas of something that doesn’t exist yet, to form the foundation of what is to come. No wonder the context of Hebrews 11:3 is “by faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command.” Why do we struggle with creation when it is self-evident that everything begins as an idea, including the things we create? The essence of the entrepreneur’s work is to see a gap in the market, that needs to be fixed. Something from nothing or at least nothing that we could see! God is “able to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
Hebrews 11 says, “Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.” The prophet Jeremiah reminds his listeners to “Stand by the road, and look, and ask for the ancient paths.” Moses, in speaking to the Israelites in Deuteronomy says, “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” Paul quotes this to the new Christians in Rome to then go on to say, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord. . .you are saved.” This is equally true in business. What you have done in the past, becomes your scorecard and your reputation. If you have a reputation of always doing what you promise to do, you will find a way through the challenges to the success that the Lord plans for you.
Hebrews 11 says, “Faith. . . is the evidence of things not seen…” Faith is holding on even when you can’t see the answer. That’s how Daniel and his friends must have felt when the King decreed that all of his senior advisors would die if no one could answer the riddle posed by the King’s terrifying dream. But The King wouldn’t tell anyone what he had seen in his dream. They had to tell him the dream and its interpretation. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Daniel urged his three friends to ask God to show them the secret because God knew the answer. How does this apply in our work? No matter our job, we have strategic planning sessions to help chart the course forward. The planning is our “evidence” that we are believing for what is “not yet seen.” But in the end God knows the answer you need.
Hebrews 11 says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for…” Hope is not the absence of doubt. We all have doubts. Faith has substance when we hold on to it despite our doubts. When Job said in his book that “Though He slay me I will hope in Him” Job is essentially saying what any of us have said when we declare, “Even if God doesn’t come through in the way that I expect and am praying for, I still trust He is in charge.” The essence of entrepreneurship is “things hoped for.” The challenge of business is “hoping” until you succeed, not giving up when the challenges and setbacks come. Hope is collected over time through experience and study. You are surrounded by many at work who have no hope. Will you share some today?
Let's start today with some biblical encouragement about work. Ephesians 2 10 says, "For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” Imagine with me for a moment that your focus as a Jesus-follower is to deeply integrate your faith into the work you deliver. Continue imagining. You're not contributing…you cannot contribute anything to God's plan that He hasn't prepared ahead of time for you. But you're participating in full, in the plan by WALKING through His plan. So, ask yourself these 3 questions:
• What does maximum involvement in God's plan look like for me at work?
• How do I see God using me at work?
• How can I express myself as His masterpiece?
When you start every day with these three questions as your focus, God will do amazing things through you.
When I began working, I fell into a trap. I searched for meaning in the kind of work I was doing. Jeremiah 9:23 tells us “…the world defines greatness by wealth, wisdom, and power.” That's where I thought my focus should be…to find significance at work. And you know what? I was continually let down and discouraged until I realized Jeremiah 9:24 said this, "…the one who boasts should boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth for I delight in these things."
Is your personal value and significance linked to the kind of work you do? NO. You have value because He declares you valuable…valuable enough for Christ to die for you. How can you show your value in your work today?
Do you think your work and your faith are separate considerations? There's always a divine reason God has us at work. When we understand that, we have the right focus. In John 4, the disciples challenged Jesus for talking to the woman at the well after they got back from town buying food. Jesus says: "Don't you say, ‘There are still four months, then comes the harvest: I say open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest.’" The disciples dutifully went to town but overlooked sharing their faith. This woman was saved with one kind encounter, and she wanted to share it with everyone! There's nothing wrong with having your head down at your job, doing great work. But our faith does not end on Sunday. It continues every day, sometimes with the slightest kind gestures and conversations with those around us. Now that's faith and work.
What's God want from us at work? Some think WHAT we produce at work is PRIORITY ONE. No matter your job, consider this from 2 Peter 3:10, "But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief, on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be totally destroyed." So, if our work-product will one day burn up, where should my focus be at work? Ask the Lord this each day: "Why do you have me here?" Does someone at work need me to listen without judgment? Does a co-worker having a hard day need a lending hand? If you focus on the people in your workplace and not just your work, both your work-product and workplace will improve.
Have you ever said, "I go to work just to earn a living"? Most of us will work more than 100,000 hours in a lifetime. That's more than a third of your life! Sadly, stats show that at least 7 in 10 people don't like their job. And, three in seven HATES it. If our Christianity is going to be relevant, it must address how our work week will be used for the glory of God. We also need to understand God's truth about Work. If you believe you go to work just to earn a living, consider this verse about your job: Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." This is just one of God's truths about why we go to work. I pray it re-shapes your thinking and appreciation for the work God has given you. Watch God provide for your needs today.
Retirement can be 30-plus years of unemployment, but what do those 30 years look like? Experts from the Retirement Reformation have determined there are three stages of retirement. The active stage is when you start pursuing life with all your energy. It is a time to be passionate about God's call on your life. Stage 2 is the mentoring stage, where people utilize the experiences and insights they've gained to instruct, inspire, mentor, coach, and impact others. In the final stage of our life, the sharing stage, men and women seek to give their wisdom and their wealth to others around them that they love. I think you can see a commonality throughout all these phases. No matter what we're doing or how healthy our bodies are, we are pouring our lives into others. Start preparing for retirement today by getting used to pouring your life into others.
As we contemplate retirement, the horizon before us is full of immense opportunity. There are so many needs to fulfill and so many things to do; the adventure is exciting. But how do we find out what we're supposed to do in retirement? Well, we need to see where God is working and go and join Him there. There is a dire need for foster grandparents. There's a dire need to be an adoptive grandparent to those families who don't have grandparents around. There's a dire need for mentorship and discipleship for the next generations, using your life experiences and Jesus experiences so that they can learn from you. You are not dead; therefore, you are not done. You are not washed up because you're 65. In fact you are loaded and ready for making an impact without the constraints of working nine to five. Let’s get going.
Does your calling retire when you do? Is our calling just for our years from 20 to 65? Does God have a call on all of our lives or just those predetermined working years? It is so important to recognize that the American government created the age 65 milestone. When we were born, we were born with a call on our lives. We were given a unique set of gifts, talents, and abilities that are ours for a lifetime to serve under the direction of our Lord. I understand you may want something different to do after age 65, but just understand this: whatever you do will utilize those gifts, talents, and abilities along with the wisdom and knowledge you've gained. Your calling does not retire when you do.
It's important to recognize that very few of us think about what God wants us to do during our retirement years. We focus our thoughts on our adventures, the vacations we plan, and how many times we can play golf, tennis, or pickleball. But what does God want us to do? When we retire, our callings do not. How do we know what God wants us to do? We ask Him. This is no small task either, as retirement can be 30 years of our lives. We must spend significant time seeking the Lord for what those retirement years look like. I can give you a clue. Your lifelong experiences, wisdom, and knowledge will be used in whatever God calls you to do during your retirement years. God has a purpose for your retirement years and it involves flourishing, fulfillment, and excitement.
Let's face the reality: every one of us spends a little time dreaming about our retirement. In fact, many of us spend time saving money for retirement, but to be honest with you, almost none of us plan on how we will spend our time in retirement other than going on vacation. God has way bigger plans for you than to just be on vacation during retirement. He wants you to flourish just like you did while you were working. He wants you to live with purpose and fulfillment as you live in your community. He wants you to pour your life into those in the upcoming generations. He wants you to plan for what you're retiring to. Spend some time today asking the Lord what it is He wants you to do in the final phase of your life.
A pastor is a shepherd, and a shepherd/pastor spends time with his sheep, reassuring them with his voice and lending them a sympathetic ear while carrying them when they are weak, sick, in danger, or hurt. What’s great about being a shepherd is that shepherds get to be good listeners. They may be talking to the sheep, but most sheep know they can just hang out with the shepherd without getting a lecture. That’s a super great way for us to minister to the sheep that we’ve been entrusted with. Sit down and listen to people. Having your assigned sheep know you can be a listening ear without judgment is such a great gift. Practice being a shepherd today in the lives of those you work with by listening, and see how your relationship grows in trust and love.
A pastor is a shepherd, and a shepherd/pastor helps his sheep out of difficult situations. We don’t have to wait for our sheep to get into dangerous situations; we can guide them away from danger. Sometimes, it's too late, and our co-workers are already in trouble. Sometimes, the people we work with don’t know they’re flirting with disaster, but you sure can tell. Maybe it’s flirtatious behavior at work or going to the bar after work. Perhaps they just don’t know that the behavior they are deep in could end in disaster. By gently guiding them away or distracting them to something healthier, you are a pastor to them. Shepherd people away from danger before they get there and be there without judgment if they get into trouble before you can stop them. A pastor/shepherd is always willing to put others first and to speak up when he sees a sheep in danger.
A pastor is a shepherd, and a shepherd/pastor protects his sheep from the enemy's attacks. What does this look like in your workplace? The enemy attacks everybody a little differently. Some he attacks with anger and bitterness. Some he attacks with making stupid decisions. Some he attacks with addictions. You can walk alongside those you work with and show them they are heading into enemy territory. That they’re in danger And that you know a solution. You may even get a call on a Friday night from a co-worker who has gotten in over their head, and needs a ride home. That call only comes if a relationship exists. That relationship allows you to be a pastor to them, and a pastor protects his sheep. When you see your sheep in trouble, show them the way to safety.
A pastor is a shepherd, and as a shepherd, a pastor guides his sheep to green pastures. What does that look like in your workplace? Often, we have conversations with those we work with and they are not hanging out in Green pastures. They’re hanging out in mud pits or sewer pits or drainage ditches. Many of them don’t know anything different. They grew up in a drainage ditch, a mud puddle, or a sewer pit. That’s what their life has always looked like. We serve a living savior who wants each one of us to live life to its fullest; as a pastor in your workplace, lead people to the green pastures, where they can eat spiritual food that will replenish, restore, and renew them. Just because someone grew up in a pretty broken place, doesn’t mean our Father can't renew them. Embrace your role as Pastor and lead people to green pastures at work.
This week, we’re going to focus on the role of Pastor in the marketplace. I believe that many of you have been given the gift of being a pastor/Shepherd, and that role is critical in your workplace. Pastors are guides, leaders, protectors, intercessors, and teachers. So often, we’re unaware of the gifting that we’ve been given. For those of you who naturally Shepherd people, loving people right where they’re at, your calling is so important to reaching the lost at work. You may be a CEO, a Supervisor, a Manager, or a team lead, but you know who you are, and you know that you have been given a gift to shepherd and love people. This is an incredible gift. Celebrate the fact that you are a shepherd and look for ways to use this gift to show others the savior.
When the internet was created, the goal was the free-flowing of shared information for the good of humanity; what resulted was much more sinister than that. How do you love the Lord your God with all your strength if you spend too much time on the internet looking and experiencing things that sap your strength? That fills you with filth, that plagues you with guilt and shame. Living in this world makes it impossible to Love God to the fullest. The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy; Jesus came to bring life so we can live it to the fullest. Does your internet surfing lead to life or death? Stop Ignoring the dangers of the internet at work and home and put some digital armor in place like a safe internet VPN with Web filters and anti-virus and protect your strength.
When the internet was created, the goal was the free-flowing of shared information for the good of humanity; what resulted was much more sinister than that. We are called to love the Lord our God with all our soul. What's creeping around in your soul? Is it scripture, or is it what you watched on TV last night? Is it the latest sermon you read or the pornographic videos you ingested over lunch? Is it your weekly bible study topic, or is it your deep desire to place a bet on the next race at the track? Your soul is a precious place, and our eyes are the windows to our soul. What are they seeing? Choose to protect your soul and those you work with and live with. Stop Ignoring the dangers of the internet at work and home and put some digital armor in place like a safe internet VPN with Web filters and anti-virus and protect your soul.
When the internet was created, the goal was the free-flowing of shared information for the good of humanity; what resulted was much more sinister than that. We are called to love the Lord our God with all our mind. Are you? What do you fill your mind with? It is so easy with the internet everywhere, both in public and private, to fill our minds with EVERYTHING but God and His Love. We stream TV at levels like never before. Because we can binge-watch anything, we fill our minds with murder, horror, and sex. Without being careful, our minds can become a playground for evil. At work and home, protect your mind so you can fill it with HIM and His word. Stop Ignoring the dangers of the internet at work and home and put some digital armor in place like a safe internet VPN with Web filters and anti-virus and protect your mind.
When the internet was created, the goal was the free-flowing of shared information for the good of humanity; what resulted was much more sinister than that. We are called to love the Lord our God with our hearts, but when our hearts are distracted by the evils of the internet, God can't find a place. Do you know if your heart is safe whenever you surf the web? What about your kids, your spouse, or your grandkids when they visit? At work, are the people you work with struggling with a heart addiction to internet sins like pornography and gambling? What are you doing to help protect their hearts? Are there guardrails in place to keep the internet a healthy place at work? Stop ignoring the dangers of the internet at work and home and put some digital armor in place like a safe internet VPN with Web filters and anti-virus and protect your heart.
When the internet was created, the goal was the free-flowing of shared information for the good of humanity; what resulted was much more sinister than that. Every day, we use the internet to do our jobs, complete our shopping, and study our bible. However, if we are not careful, the internet can lead us to pornography, inappropriate relationships, gambling addictions, and more. We think we have the willpower to resist all the daily temptations on the internet, but statistics now prove we do not. Huge percentages of men and women, teens, and children have been exposed to pornography on the internet and find themselves driven to view more and more of it. Create a work and home environment where God can heal and stop this destruction. Put some digital armor in place, because the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
What does a normal Thanksgiving dinner look like for you and your family? Does it have all the fixings and smell just like grandma's house when you were growing up? Is it always exclusive to family? There are people you work with and people you live around that will be alone this year; why don't you mess up your normal Thanksgiving and invite some of them to join you? Jim and I would like to challenge you to have your last normal Thanksgiving last year. May last year be the final year when your Thanksgiving celebration didn't include your neighbors. This year we challenge you to invite people into your life and into your Thanksgiving celebration that would otherwise be home alone, probably not even celebrating Thanksgiving. What does a normal Thanksgiving look like? It looks like the power of neighboring in action.
This whole idea of practicing the power of neighboring at Thanksgiving can cause some strife at home. Not everyone wants to open up their Thanksgiving table to strangers, or people that just aren't family. I know in my family growing up we never had anybody who wasn't family over for Thanksgiving. It just wasn't done. But at Martha's house, her parents were great at inviting people who would be alone at Thanksgiving and having them join us for a family Thanksgiving celebration. Gather your family around you and share this idea with them. Share the idea that you want to solve somebody's loneliness at Thanksgiving this year and you need their help. Once you explain this to your family, I can't imagine that they won't be on board. Maybe they can even think of some people that need to be invited. Together you can change somebody's life this Thanksgiving.
What does loneliness look like? Does it have a face? Does it always look the same? You and I have the ability to solve someone's loneliness problem at Thanksgiving this year. All around us are people, our neighbors, who don't have anywhere to go for Thanksgiving. They are either too far away from family or don't have family or they’ve been alienated. Can you imagine being alone at Thanksgiving? It's just a big fat bummer. Look around you. As you leave your neighborhood this morning or drive through your neighborhood this afternoon, think about all the people that you know. Are any of them going to be alone at Thanksgiving? As you walk between the cubicles or sit down for lunch, are any of those people going to be alone at Thanksgiving? Solve loneliness today by inviting a neighbor for Thanksgiving.
The power of neighboring at Thanksgiving looks like this. It begins with compassion, and it continues with intentionality. We all have neighbors, whether they are at work or in our neighborhood. They could even be in the pews sitting near us at church. But how many of those neighbors will be alone at Thanksgiving time? In my opinion, there is nothing worse than being alone during the holidays. My challenge to you today is to institute the power of neighboring right where you live and right where you work. Find out if anyone you know and care about will be alone on Thanksgiving. And then invite them for dinner. You may already have a crowded dinner table, and you may have to cook some more food, but by inviting them to be part of your celebration of Thanksgiving, you could change their life.
One day, a religious leader approached Jesus and asked him who's my neighbor? Jesus responded with the parable of the Good Samaritan. Now we know who the neighbor was in this parable. The Good Samaritan was a powerful neighbor in the wounded man's life. The power of neighboring lies within each of us—the power to transform somebody's life by loving them as we love ourselves. The power of neighboring requires selfless acts and living on the edge of comfortableness. The power of neighboring started with Jesus, and it continues on in you. You have the ability to impact somebody's life for eternity by loving them. Your neighbors, they are at work, and they are in your neighborhood too. The big question I have for you today is who is your neighbor and will any of your neighbors be alone this Thanksgiving.
Jesus said that our unity would attract others to Christ because our unity would show that Jesus came from our heavenly father. In other words, when we walk as one in the marketplace, our neighborhoods, our communities, and our country, the message is loud and clear: Jesus has transformed the lives of all these people, and they walk as one in love. It's so important that we, as workplace believers, display our love for Jesus in unity, to attract others into conversations and, eventually, a relationship with Him. Our unity is attractive. That was Jesus's idea all along. For the remainder of this year, look for ways to walk in unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ to solve your community's problems and bring Jesus-sized solutions to those who need it.
Almost 2000 years have passed since Jesus returned to heaven. In the last 500 years, denominational segregation has plagued the body of Christ. We all go to different churches on Sunday. We live in a town of about 2000 people with 15 different churches and 15 different denominations. Very little ministry is coordinated for the ministry to this small town by the leaders of those churches. There is hope because marketplace and political leaders are unifying in Christ to bring flourishing to this town. When we are unified as followers of Jesus, outside our denominational hold, we can impact our cities and communities for good. When we face the problems together, we are so much stronger and more powerful. When Christ followers unite, no weapon of the enemy can stand against us. Those weapons may be poverty, drug addiction, broken families, et cetera. Let's unite as Jesus followers and bring good to our cities.
Do you know what's great about believers? We all experience God differently. I know this because we're all different. Not one of us is the same. Jim and I got to sit down with some friends here in our small town in Missouri just the other day. We go to different churches on Sunday, yet we share a sweet fellowship in Christ. They shared some of their traditions surrounding the giving and taking of communion. While their traditions are very different than ours, the commonality is the communion. As believers in Jesus let us work hard at focusing on the things we have in common despite the efforts of denominations to split us, and focus on the things that the Bible teaches us clearly. The power of a unified church cannot be overcome. Let’s find unity by celebrating the diversity of how others worship Jesus.
What has amazed me most in the last 11 years is the incredible unity in the body of Christ out in the marketplace. On Sunday, we are the most segregated, separated people on the planet. But on Monday morning, when we go to work, nobody cares about Denominations. All they care about is, “I want to hang out with and do business with people who love Jesus. I don't care that you may show your love for Jesus in a different way than I do or sing different songs on Sunday than I do. All I care is that you love Jesus.” Jesus prayed for us in John 17. He prayed that we as believers would be one so that through that oneness, the world would know that God sent Jesus. In the marketplace, I see this unity. For the sake of the people in our communities, let’s lay down our denominational swords and walk in Unity as we minister to their needs in the name of Jesus.
Have you ever wondered where all of the denominations in Christianity come from? I mean really, 2000 years ago, there were the Jews and the Gentiles. Today, we have 43,000 “Christian” denominations around the world. What happened? I'll tell you what happened. People. Instead of focusing on the unity Christ talked about in John 17, Christ followers throughout the centuries have focused on differences in traditions and interpretations that broke Christianity into 43,000 pieces. On Sunday morning, the church is segregated and separated. But denominations have no place in the marketplace, so it's easy to unify on the message of Jesus. Don't let your denominational commitment on Sunday get in the way of you forming solid relationships with other believers in the marketplace on Monday.
We go to work so we have money. We need money to pay our bills and to buy things. Where I spend my money matters to God, especially if I know that those companies are supporting things that are actually anti-God. We work with Inspire Investing to ensure our investments are biblically responsible. We chose a mobile carrier, Patriot Mobile, because they are pro-God, pro-family, and pro-country. We select our retailers, ensuring our dollars are not being spent to support the things we fight against every day. That may mean that sometimes we must go out of our way shopping. It also may mean that sometimes we just don't buy. Christ calls on us to be good stewards. Good stewards of our time. Good stewards of our work. And good stewards of our money. Steward it all well.
In our family, I spend most of the money at retail stores. Jim spends most of the money online. When we have the choice, we choose retailers that we know are either pro-god, pro-family, pro-country, or at least neutral on these subjects. Finding neutral companies is very difficult. Our country is polarized even in our retail environment. Years ago, we took a bullseye to a certain retailer and stopped shopping there because they supported the abortion industry. Today, they are one of the largest retail supporters of alternative lifestyles. When our money walks, our money talks. Recently, a large beverage retailer made a huge marketing blunder. It cost them billions of dollars because they didn't know who their customers were. Those customers walked, and those dollars talked. As a Jesus follower, we can make sure our money is walking and talking to a place that supports our biblical worldview.
Each one of you has a workplace that is your ministry place. A mission field full of lost and hopeless people who need to meet Jesus. The people you work with and for may be blinded to all of the destruction around them to the family and to our country. Yet they may be funding it inadvertently. Many companies support organizations whose sole aim is to destroy the family or our country because of pressure from the outside. Suppose they knew there was pressure from the inside to stop supporting those organizations; that could make a difference. Ask questions. Find out how the owners, shareholders, and stockholders are asking for your company's profits to be spent. Make sure that those in charge know how impactful those dollars can be. Be a proactive voice within your organization, helping them choose places to invest their dollars within the community that supports God, the family, and our country.
How do we know if our company is pro-Christianity, pro-God, pro-family, or pro-US of A? Is it even important for us to know these things? I think it is. Almost every organization has excess dollars that they are investing in other organizations with an agenda. What is the agenda that your company or organization is supporting? Are they supporting your values, neutral on them or working against them? What we are warning about today is making sure you're not supporting companies fighting against the very things that we know and love: God, family, and country. I hope it doesn't surprise you, but there are thousands of companies and organizations in this great country that hate your biblical morality and want to destroy your family. Find out who you really work for.
It's important to know who we work for. I don't mean the name of your boss or the name of your company. I mean, who is your company? What do they stand for? What do they support with their profits? We need to know everything about the company where we invest 40 to 50 hours weekly. I'm just saying you need to be aware of the company you're working for to make sure that they're not taking your hard-earned hours and turning them into a campaign to destroy the biblical worldview that this great country was founded upon. Who do you work for, really? It is a really important question to ask. If you are already in a job with a company that does not honor God, see how you can make a difference. But if you're searching for work, choose wisely because you were called to be a good steward, including where you invest your work time.
We've talked about it all week. We love to work, period. It brings exhilaration to our lives. We love the thrill of the kill. The completion of a major project. The landing of a major sale. Work brings satisfaction and appreciation in ways that family life rarely can. However, work is demanding. If we let it, work can take control of our lives. If left unchecked work can destroy the relationships with the people we love, the people that we are working so hard to provide for. If we don't keep work under control, it will control us. Nobody on their deathbed has ever said I wish I had worked more and spent less time with my family. If you were lying on your deathbed today, would your life display a love for your family or a love for your work? Protect those you love and get your work under control today.
There have been times in the 37 years of our marriage when one or both of us needed to work a significant amount of extra time to meet a deadline to keep our jobs. The issue comes when that short term becomes all the time. Jim and I started an insurance agency from scratch. We knew that for the first three years, Jim would need to work three nights a week and 4 1/2 days a week to grow the agency's sustainability. We made a point to ensure that we always had a date night and never worked weekends. We agreed together that the investment of time was necessary. But it had a deadline. If your job never stops asking for more and is hurting your family, it may be time to start looking for a new job.
I can't tell you how many times Martha and I have heard this one phrase in a marriage mentoring session. “I work hard so my family can have the things I didn't have when I was a kid.” That's all fine and dandy, but usually, we are given that excuse after the spouse feels neglected. That usually spurns a conversation about not feeling appreciated for how hard one spouse works. It creates an argument about all of the stuff they own, which causes them to work so hard to pay for the stuff they own. It's all a vicious circle. You don't need to create a fairytale experience for your children. They just want you. They don't care about all the stuff. Take a step back today and see if your work is hurting the very ones you want to provide for.
I love to work. I love to jump out of bed, get ready for work, and go to work. I spend all day working and come home, and then after dinner, I like to work some more. Working brings energy to me, and working brings satisfaction. I love to work because I love to see things get accomplished. I love checking things off my list. There's a danger in loving work. It's so easy to get caught up in my work that I don't realize that I'm hurting those around me by working so much. There was a time in my life when my job required me to work 60 hours a week—even time on Sunday. Jim and I had to work through balancing my work life and family life. I love to work, but I also don't want to sacrifice everything I love because I love to work.
I work hard, I make money, I pay bills, and I buy stuff. I work hard for my money. I want to bless my family with the things that they need. I have a right to spend the money I make on the things I want, right? If you are married, then there's some caution that needs to be expressed here. The money you make because of your job should go into a common money pot for your family. All of the money that goes in there goes to paying for all the family's bills. There is no such thing as his money and her money In marriage. So when we're out to protect our marriage from our job, it starts with having the right attitude about the money that we make from our job. Don't sacrifice everything that means so much to you because of the money that you make.
We've all heard of the five love languages, but have you heard about the five languages of appreciation at work? The final way people feel appreciated at work is through Appropriate Physical Touch. You need to be careful when it comes to touching at work. But expressing appreciation through appropriate physical touch for someone who needs that touch can be as simple as a handshake, a high five, or a pat on the back. In some situations, it might even be a hug of celebration. Any way you look at it, appropriate physical touch must always respect boundaries. Many of those we work alongside have situations that cause them to be very cautious about physical touch. That's why respect is needed. But even hurting people can sometimes appreciate that high five or that meaningful handshake. For more information, check out appreciation at work dot com.
We've all heard of the five love languages, but have you heard about the five languages of appreciation at work? The 4th way people feel appreciated at work is through giving tangible gifts. Giving the gift of words, time, or service is meaningful to many people, but some people just like gifts. And a gift at work could be a simple cup of coffee, a candy bar, or a plaque of appreciation. Sometimes, a gift could be some time off or tickets to a baseball game. When somebody's appreciation language is gifts, all you need to do is find out what's important to them and match the gift. Everyone likes to be appreciated. You can hit a home run every time when their appreciation language is gifts. For more information, check out appreciation at work dot com.
We've all heard of the five love languages, but have you heard about the five languages of appreciation at work? The number three way people feel appreciated at work is through Acts of Service. One of the greatest ways we can show our appreciation for others is by helping others complete a project. It means so much to them when we help somebody at the end of our shift or at the end of our day to finish what they're doing. And sometimes, it's just cleaning the toilet, vacuuming, or helping unload a car full of supplies. Any way you look at it, helping others out of the goodness of your heart with a little act of service can make a real difference in the life of someone you work with. For more information, check out appreciation at work dot com.
We've all heard of the five love languages, but have you heard about the five languages of appreciation at work? The second way people feel appreciated at work is through the gift of Quality Time. Relationships are so important at work. But you can't just build relationships one minute at a time while talking at the water cooler. When you ask somebody how they're doing, mean it. Find out how people are doing. Spend time checking in with them to get to know them. Make sure you have lunch with people and be transparent and authentic with them. If you're a team leader, create time for your team to connect. Make it possible for people to spend time together without a deadline and work hanging over their heads. For more information, check out appreciation at work dot com.
We've all heard of the five love languages, but have you heard about the five languages of appreciation at work? The number one way people feel appreciated at work is through words of affirmation. Words that uplift, words that encourage, words that affirm a person's worth. Words of appreciation spoken by a coworker or a boss mean so much. Almost 50% of the population at work feel that words of affirmation are a gift to them. Are words of affirmation important to you? I bet they are. I also bet they're important to the people you work around. Make sure that those you work with know that words of affirmation build you up and keep you going every day at work And that you could use a few more every day. For more information, check out appreciation at work dot com.
Every year, people are elected to the local boards of education in your area. How many of them are believers? Less than 10%. Getting on the local school Board of Education does not require a degree; it requires a willingness and obedience to a call from God. As believers, we have walked away from the public school system for far too long, and it is time to take a stand and get involved where possible. The kids of this next public school generation need you. We celebrate you believers who are on your local school Board of Education. You are not alone, but there are far too few of you. Please consider running for your local school Board of Education and serve on a mission field that desperately needs an intervention from God.
Christ-following Principals, Vice Principals, Guidance Counselors, and office staff within the public school system serve in a massive mission field. So many in their profession have been misguided and deceived to believe that God has no place in the public schools and that in fact, He does not exist. The religion taught in our public schools today is humanism – a religion as old as Noah. We celebrate those believers who venture off to their public school administrative jobs today. Take heart, you are not alone, and God has not been kicked out of the public schools because YOU ARE THERE, and He is there in YOU. Maybe you are listening today and feel called to join your brothers and sisters in this challenging mission field. Great. You are desperately needed on the mission field of the public school system. Never underestimate the power of obedience in a believer's heart to respond to God's call.
We often think of missionaries as people who have graduated from college or seminary and being sent off overseas. I define the word missionary as someone who is a follower of Jesus who has been sent into a field of people who are lost and hopeless and need to meet Jesus. The public school system is such a mission field. Our students who know and love Jesus are the missionaries sent behind enemy lines to bring Jesus to their fellow students. We celebrate these students today and pray for them because their workplace is the education place. Their workplace involves desks and learning and studying. Their mission field surrounds them in every classroom, at every lunch table, and in every gym class. Can you take time today to Encourage a local student missionary?
I know that many of you have been told that in order to serve as a missionary, you need to go overseas. No way. The mission field of the public school system is monstrous. Teachers who enter the classroom every day serve as missionaries and representatives of God at every education level in America. This mission field is under attack. And it's been under attack for over 60 years. Maybe More. There is a desperate need for more believers to set aside their comfort and become public school teachers willingly. Your faith is needed in classrooms of every type and subject. We celebrate those believers who serve as teachers in the public school system today, but we recognize they need more backup. Please consider joining the missionary team at a public school near you. The public school students in your community need to meet Jesus, and you may be their only hope.
What's the definition of a mission field? It is a place where lost and hopeless people live and work. The public school system is one massive mission field. Some incredible believers are teachers, aids, and administrators throughout the public school system, but we need more. God and the Bible have been weaseled out of every corner of our education system. But take heart: those of you serving in the mission field of the public school system are being prayed for today. Don't give up. The fields are ripe for harvest. More of you are desperately needed there to serve as teachers, aides, school board members, and administrators. So please pray for those serving in this battleground mission field and consider joining them in the fight for the souls of our public school students.
Don’t hang up on God! A friend shared this insight when she realized God wants to be with her at work and all day, not just during her morning quiet time. Imagine that God is right next to you throughout the day as you sit at your desk, meet around the conference room table, deliver that presentation, or make that sales call. Scripture tells us that we are God’s co-workers, and that is true in all of the work we do. Yet, we are more prone to ignore His presence. We neglect to ask for His direction, wisdom, and strength. Jesus told us that apart from Him, we can do nothing, but as we abide in Him, our lives will be fruitful (John 15:5). You’ll have to be intentional. What can you do to remind yourself to turn to God throughout your day, to simply pause, pray, and obey?
Your voice matters. No matter what you’ve experienced or been told, your ideas, creativity, and perspectives are important contributions to your work. Unfortunately, many women have been ignored, overlooked, and had their ideas stolen by others. Someone may have assumed you are more junior than you are. As difficult and discouraging as those experiences can be, other people don’t get the final say about our value or our contribution. We are God’s co-workers, called to partner with Him in our work. Bring those difficult situations before God in prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what He wants you to do and say. Pray for your co-workers and for your organization, then do the next right thing with boldness and courage. The tougher the situation, the more glory God gets. Praise Him and thank Him in advance, then watch God work on your behalf.
We all have two voices speaking to us daily—God's still, small, loving voice and the accusing, fear-ridden, loud voice of the enemy. How can you tell the difference? If it’s encouraging, uplifting, life-affirming, convicting yet loving, aligned with Truth, you can be sure it is from God. If it brings fear, insecurity, anger, condemnation, or confusion, you can be sure it’s from the enemy. Whose voice should you listen to? I recommend choosing God. Every. Time. We all face battles at work that make us vulnerable to a myriad of thoughts. But God gives us the victory. Whether you’re facing unfair treatment, conflict, failure, or just feel stuck, turn to your Father. Pray for that difficult boss or co-worker. Pray for wisdom in that challenging circumstance. Ask God to turn your situation around for good. Listen for His direction and take obedient action. Then anticipate a miracle! Remember, God is for you!
You, dear sister, were created in God’s image. Man and woman were given the same cultural mandate to fill and subdue the earth. Your talents and desire to make an impact through your work are planted in you by your Creator. Your purpose is to steward those talents for His glory by continually leaning on Him. No one else will use your talents in quite the same way you do. You will reach, impact, and connect with people who others never will. God needs every single one of us to work like He is our CEO—Chief Eternal Officer. What you do in partnership with God for His glory will have eternal impact. So today, as you tackle the mundane and struggle to climb the mountains, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and your goal to bring Him glory. Because it doesn’t all depend on you—it depends on you depending on Him!
Who you are is not the sum of your past mistakes, successes, or talents. You are a daughter of the one true King, created in Christ Jesus, to do work that brings glory to God in your own unique way. Even when no one else seems to notice you, God sees everything you do to support others, contribute to the success of your organization, and share His love. God hears every prayer you whisper, cry, or scream. He is working even when you don’t see it. There is nothing He allows that He won’t redeem. Today, through the challenges and hard work, pause and acknowledge God’s presence with you. He’s right there, and He wants to give you strength, joy, peace, and rest, dear sister. All you have to do is ask. He loves you more than you could possibly know.
One day a friend of mine called me and said “Jim, I have been trying to mentor and disciple my friend for 2 years now. He is hopeless. Maybe He will listen to you.” That was almost 10 years ago now. My new mentee was not a believer yet, was struggling with issues from the battlefield that impacted his marriage, and was very skeptical of church culture. For 3 years, we wrestled about faith topics in person, by phone, and by text. Finally, he surrendered his life to Jesus, which is hard for war vets to do, and then the real work began. For the next 7 years, we read and studied the Bible together, discussing family, work, faith, and parenting issues. Today he is challenging me with things about my faith. God has worked a miracle. Mentoring this young man has made a difference for eternity. Pour your Jesus Life into someone today.
For the first two decades of our marriage, Jim and I did youth ministry as volunteers. We spent thousands of hours with kids from various backgrounds and family structures. I worked with girls who were daughters of pastors and daughters of high-powered executives, some from broken families and some from healthy solid families. These relationships often started when these girls were 11 or 12 and continued until they graduated from high school. However, two special relationships have lasted over 35 years. These two young ladies I invested my Jesus life into are now parents of teenagers. To have lived a lifetime with them has been such a reward to me and my faith. Are you intentionally investing your Jesus life in someone today? You are surrounded by others who need you to live life alongside them.
My husband Jim and I are very different. He has done a lot of formal mentoring, and I tend to do more informal mentoring. Over the years, I have taken the time to live life alongside so many different women. Some older than me, some younger than me. Since Jim and I are involved in marriage mentoring with Christian Entrepreneurial couples, I often spend time with the wives working life out with them. You see, mentoring for me looks like phone calls, drop-in visits, shopping trips, and texting. The women I pour my Jesus life into rarely have time to meet for coffee, but we can share coffee over the phone or Facetime just the same. My mentoring often looks scattered and informal, but I am available when needed and recognize that just stepping out for a call is part of my discipleship ministry. Who do you pour your Jesus Life into?
If there is one thing, I learned from my first mentor, Mike, it is that mentoring and discipleship is something to be done in the context of life and not in a hurry. It was not a box to be checked but time to be set aside. It was an investment of Mike’s life into mine and, honestly, as it turns out, an investment of my life into Mikes. Since I experience God differently than Mike, he learned things from me too. It's important to understand that every time you pour your Jesus life into someone else, you will, in return, have their Jesus Life poured into you. This interchange is part of the process of disciple-making. Mentoring with discipleship takes time, but it is an investment that pays lifelong & eternal rewards. Pour your Jesus life into someone and watch them pour back into you. It will change your life for the better.
As a 16-year-old and a new believer of just 3 years, I needed someone to invest their life in mine. Was that discipleship or mentorship that I needed? Enter - Mike. Many would argue that being a disciple-maker is inherently different than being a mentor. Mentors often help someone become more like the mentor; Disciple makers help someone become more like JESUS. Discipleship invites someone to follow us as we follow Jesus and then step aside so that we can learn directly from the Master Himself. I argue that Mike poured his Jesus life into my life and taught me not just about Jesus but about life and Jesus – no matter what you call it. As believers, everyone needs a Paul figure that will pour their Jesus Life into them and a Timothy to pour their Jesus life into. Being mentored and mentoring others has rapidly deepened my faith. Get a mentor and start mentoring today.
When you retire, does your calling retire too? Does our calling run out when Social Security kicks in? I don't think so. Your mission field assignment may or may not change later on in life. Some of you have a career that could go until very late in life. Just because you're 65 doesn't mean that you're done working. Sure, maybe you need to change things up or perhaps you need to work fewer hours. But it's important to realize that as a Jesus follower, everywhere you go, everyone around you should be benefiting from your faith, whether they believe in Jesus or not. What better place to invest your life than in an industry you have spent your life learning? The American dream of retirement is a lie. 30 years of vacation is not a dream; it's a nightmare. Ask God what He has for you in retirement.
Why are you retiring? Is it because you're too old to work? Is it because you're ready for a break? Is it because you're ready for a change? We need to recognize why we want to retire. Change is OK. But it doesn't mean that retirement is an end to our work. God gave us work as a gift. That gift continues throughout our lives until the very last breath. Our work is meant to glorify God. If you're retiring because you're just tired of the job that you're in or the industry that you're in, maybe God has something new and fresh for you. Remember this. You have a lifetime of wisdom that the next generations need. The next generations desperately need you to pour your life into them. Retire with a purpose, and pour your life into others.
So many retirees in America have spent a lifetime preparing for retirement. Well, I should say they're preparing their financial means for retirement, but are they preparing for what God has them to do in their retirement? The answer is almost categorically no. How much time have you spent preparing for how God will use you when you retire? Does that planning include how you will use your gifts, talents, and spiritual abilities for God's glory in a community that needs you? Or is most of that time spent dreaming about how you will relax in the sunshine and always have a perpetual tan? You've heard it said that many people who retire with no purpose end up returning to work or dying. Why don't you ask God for His plan for you and your retirement?
The American dream of retirement is a lie. The American dream says that we will retire and live out the remainder of our lives on vacation, enjoying sunsets on the beach where every day is filled with pleasure and deep satisfaction. One problem. It never works out this way. Most of us know what we are going to retire from. We're retiring from a job we just want to be done with. It has paid our bills and provided a living for our family, but we're ready for some change. Does God desire that change to be a 30-year vacation? I don't think so. It's easy to know what you're retiring from, but what are you retiring to? God has been investing in you for a lifetime. You have a hoard of wisdom. God's plan for you is to use that wisdom in your next life stage.
The American Dream of Retirement is a lie. It's also not biblical. God never intended for us to retire from work and then go on a perpetual vacation. Retirement is only mentioned once in the Bible and only for levitical priests. However, when they retired, their next role was to train up the next generation of levitical priests. We can learn a lot from that model. If you are retired or almost retired, God has a plan for the remaining years of your life. That plan is to use your lifetime of experiences wherever you go. Will it involve some vacation time? Absolutely. But as long as you are not dead, God is not done with you. Our Retirement years can be the most fulfilling years of our lives as Jesus Followers because we walk in wisdom and can impact the next generations of our family and our community.
It shouldn’t surprise us. Our God, who is a God of order, design, and truth, knows what our priorities should look like. The number five priority should be our hobbies and volunteer work. God, Spouse, Kids, Work – they all come first. When your church volunteering gets in the way of family, spouse, and even work time, everyone gets disgruntled. If your volunteer work causes you to neglect your kids or spouse, that’s upside down. When something attacks the fabric of society (Marriage and Family), it is out of line with God’s original intent. After a week of evaluating your priorities, did you find things in order or out of order? Submit your priorities to God and He will lead you out of the mess. But you have to let Go and Let God—time for the weekend. Celebrate God and Family and put everything else aside.
It shouldn’t surprise us. Our God, who is a God of order, design, and truth, has a clear answer for our priorities. Our Number 4 priority should be our work. Work is a gift from God, just as our relationships are. Work is necessary to shape our character and pay our bills. Work is designed to have a start and an end every day. Everything unravels when work is a higher priority than our families and God. Marriages struggle, kids struggle, and we become strangers with God. When Work is put in its proper place, it is a blessing that causes flourishing for us, our coworkers, bosses, employees, customers, and vendors. Avodah is the Hebrew word for Work and Worship. That is what God intended- for our work to be worship at the same time. Keep it in check, and life will be good.
It shouldn’t surprise us. Our God, who is a God of order, design, and truth, has a clear answer for our priorities. Our Number 3 priority should be our relationship with our kids. I know that not everyone listening has kids but listen for your friends. When our kids run our priorities list instead of being in 3rd place, the whole family is a mess, especially you. Our lives are not supposed to revolve around our kids. Our kids should clearly be in place behind God and our spouse. When this is done properly, our kids will understand three important things, God is important, marriage is critical, and the world is not all about them. Do your kids a favor today and tell them their priority in your life. Today is a great day to start showing them the truth.
It shouldn’t surprise us. Our God, who is a God of order, design, and truth, has a clear answer for our priorities. Our Number 2 priority should be your relationship with your spouse if you are married. Everything else but God should be prioritized behind your spouse. So often, this gets really messed up. We put work first, and everything else just ends up in a mess. When we get married, we are marrying our best friend—someone we want to spend our lives with – all of our lives. When we neglect time with our spouse and our priorities get out of whack, our marriage and everyone around us suffer. Do you know what usually pushes your spouse's relationship out of order? Your kids. We will talk about them tomorrow. Want to keep your marriage intact and flourishing? Prioritize your spouse over kids and work, and under God.
It shouldn’t surprise us. Our God, who is a God of order, design, and truth, has a clear answer for our priorities. Our Number one priority should be our relationship with Him. Our quiet time, our calendars, our checkbooks and our screen time reflect this. When God doesn’t take first place in our lives, we always seem to be hurried and harried, never getting enough done. When our daily schedule reflects God as our number one priority, with first place in our day, things fall into place, time moves productively, and things just work. When God is number one, your work will reflect your relationship with Him, and others will be attracted. Who’s number one in your life? What’s it going to take to put God back on top? You will benefit the most if you get this done.
What's the purpose of business? God designed business to be a blessing to your community. What does that look like? It means that the service you provide is always done with excellence. It means your product is safe and does exactly what you say it will do. Your community is everybody you serve. But the community also means the area around where your business resides. Being a blessing to your community can look like investing in your city's infrastructure and in ministries that touch the lives of people there. Being a blessing to your community means much more than just writing a check. It means unleashing your employees in the community as volunteers on a regular basis. If you asked the local civic officials if your business was a blessing to the community, what would they say?
What's the purpose of business? God designed business to be a blessing to the employees of the business. What's that look like? It means paying your people well, treating your people nicely, providing a safe work environment, and listening to them. There are so many things you can do to be a blessing to your employees, but number one is they need to be loved… Have you ever asked your employees how you’re doing? Have you ever asked them if they feel blessed to work for you as a business owner? If you haven't, maybe today is the day you start asking those tough questions. If your business isn't being a blessing to your employees, then they're likely not being a blessing to your customers, and eventually, your business will run out of steam and close its doors. Jesus said love your neighbor. Start doing that with your employees today.
What's the purpose of business? God designed business to be a blessing to the vendors that supply your business. What does that look like? It means ordering your supplies well in advance. It means being respectful on the phone when you're making your orders. It means paying your bills on time. It means telling others about the quality of service you receive from the vendors. If your business is blessing your vendors, then they will be a blessing to your business, because you're one of their customers. If your vendors aren't happy with how you treat them, then there's something wrong with your business. As Jesus followers, how we treat others really matters. It's one of the two things Jesus said was more important than anything else. Love God and love people. How are you treating your vendors today?
What's the purpose of business? God designed business to be a blessing to the customers of the business. That may sound oversimplified, but if your customers aren't feeling blessed by your product or service, then you won't have a business for very long. What does it look like to be a blessing to your customers? It means that the product that you provide is well-built, long-lasting, and meets the needs of the customer. It means that the service you provide is done with excellence, on time, and exactly what you told the customer you would do. Do you ever survey your customers to see if they're satisfied? To see if you're a blessing to them? There really is no point in being in business if your business isn't a blessing to your customers. Ask them today how you're doing.
What's the purpose of business? God designed business to be a blessing to the business owner and his/her family. What does that look like? A paycheck, or is it more? Of course, a business needs to provide an income to the owner, but it must also help his/her marriage and family to flourish. If your business is robbing your family of your time, then it's not a blessing. If your business isn't providing consistent income, maybe your business model needs a little work. God designed business to be a blessing, to have purpose in meeting the needs of those the business serves. But first and foremost, if the business isn't a blessing to the business owner and their family, something has to change. Is your business a blessing to your family?
We can spend a whole year preparing for a short-term mission trip. But how much time have you spent preparing for your workplace mission field? We need to prepare our openness to God’s leading as we work. All day long, decisions need to be made. You will also be presented with opportunities for conversations. How often do you stop before you make that decision and say, “God, what do you want me to do here?” How often do you stop before talking with someone and say, " God, what do you want me to say here?” Too often at work, we are so busy checking things off our to-do list that we miss the opportunities to involve God in our daily work. Prepare yourself today to be directed by God in all that you decide and in all your conversations.
We can spend a whole year preparing for a short-term mission trip. But how much time have you spent preparing for your workplace mission field? We need to prepare our strength daily. I'm not sure who said it first, but whoever said it was right. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Exercise isn't a bad idea either. If you never get to eat a decent breakfast and never get a chance to exercise, how can your strength be prepared for your workplace ministry? We need to be ready to battle the enemy who wants to keep the lost souls of our workplace neighbors entrapped in eternal damnation. We need to be at the top of our game every day. We must eat right, grow strong, and keep our face to the Son and our feet on the rock. Are you at your full strength today?
We can spend a whole year preparing for a short-term mission trip. But how much time have you spent preparing for your workplace mission field? We need to prepare our souls daily as we get ready for work. What does that mean? So often, our souls have been hurt and damaged by the people we work with and the people we live with. Preparing our souls means forgiving those who have sinned against us. Remember, forgiving isn't for them it's for you. If you don't forgive others, your soul will never be prepared for your workplace mission field. Do you have people at work that you need to forgive? If our souls are not prepared through forgiving others who have hurt us, we will not be able to prepare others for the soul repairing that Jesus can do for them. Is your soul prepared today?
We can spend a whole year preparing for a short-term mission trip. How much time have you spent preparing for your workplace mission field? We need to prepare our minds daily as we get ready for work. What does that mean? Spending time in God's word, prayer, journaling, and just plain quiet time. If we jump out of bed, get ready for work, and take off down the driveway, our minds will be filled with furious thoughts about everything we want to accomplish in the day. If we prepare our minds, we will focus on the people we work with and how we need to love on them and pray for them. If you don't prepare your mind, your workplace mission field is in danger today. If you do prepare your mind, those people you work with, they're in danger of meeting Jesus.
We can spend a whole year preparing for a short-term mission trip. But how much time have you spent preparing for your workplace mission field? We need to prepare our hearts daily as we get ready for work. What does that mean? It means confessing our sins to our heavenly Father before our day starts. Confessing just means agreeing with God for what He already knows about our attitudes and actions. So often we carry negative attitudes and actions towards those we work with because of frustrations at our jobs. Our hearts need to be prepared with love for those in our workplaces. Whether that be our bosses, our vendors, our customers, or fellow employees, our hearts need to be ready to hear the voice of God and respond lovingly to those around us. Have you prepared your heart for today?
I have this funny thing that I do. When I ask people how they’re doing, I mean it. So if I ask someone, “How are you doing?” and they say, “Fine,” I respond with, “Really? Freaked out, insecure, neurotic, and emotional. No, how are you really doing?” And I mean it. Then I shut up and listen. When someone shares from their heart after you’ve had that exchange, it opens the door for the next step. I say, “Thank you for sharing that with me. I really appreciate you allowing me to see a part of your heart. Can I pray with you about that right now?” I’ve never been told no. Because prayer, in a time when someone is hurting, is meaningful, powerful, and effective. Look for opportunities to overcome the “ I’m fine” response. Because when you pray with people, it changes things.
I grew up in a household where faith and work were lived out daily. My mom and my dad prayed over their business all the time. So it wasn’t new for me to see a connection between faith and work and prayer when Jim and I got married. However, we had never been discipled to understand the relationship between faith and work. I saw it lived out in my dad‘s and my mom‘s lives, but JIM had never seen that done. I saw my mom and dad put prayer at the center of all of their major decisions at work. I saw God rescue my parents from financial peril in business and bless them as they took steps of faith in business. Prayer works and is a critical part of everyday business. Can you give it a try today – and pray before you act?
How about praying for that bad boss or coworker who you struggle with? Most of the reason you likely struggle with them, is that they are not living or leading with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, but how could we ever expect them to, if they don’t know God? Now if you’re like me, it’s still tough to get yourself to pray for bad superiors. But again, like everyone, they have burdens, internal struggles and pain they have to deal with. And considering they’re muscling through on their own steam, with no help of hope from a relationship with Jesus, maybe that thought is enough to lift them up in prayer. In fact, your prayers may be the only ones on their behalf that they ever receive. We need to have mercy on them as the Lord had on us. Pray that they follow the Father’s call into the Kingdom.
Our God is a God of order. Look at His creation. In our bodies, every heartbeat and breath works with a thousand other systems to maintain life in every fiber of our being. The chemical balance within the kidney is precisely controlled, the fluid pressure in every cell is maintained, and our sleep tonight will initiate a series of brainwaves that defy even the experts to explain their purpose, rhythm and order. We are created in His image. We are called to be His reflection. On a regular basis, take time to create organization and order in your life. It is a Godly activity that reflects Him, His ways, and His world. It will increase your yield in your workplace, and in your everyday living, as His Word works in your life, today. Just remember, none of this is possible without a good night’s sleep.
We live in the midst of a non-stop world. Our responsibilities at home and work fill our thoughts the instant we wake up, then run with us throughout the day. Our jobs, meetings, phones, TV, personal trials and temptations are relentless, noisy invaders that drive us all our waking hours. The result – we can’t hear God in our life, not enough anyway. Would you recognize the Lord’s soft voice if He walked up behind you? You would if you spent time with Him. Find a quiet place to daily ask Him about His Word, His world and your place in it. Before long you will not only know His voice, but will know Him, and be walking with Him. Start your days with your Bible in your hands not your phone.
I have never worked a manufacturing line. But I know this. If people don’t do their jobs at the manufacturing plants, then many items we count on wouldn’t be made. If you feel like you're just a manufacturing worker and want to quit your job to go into full-time ministry. Don’t! That's a disaster. Your job is so critical to the lives of thousands of people, perhaps millions. God has gifted you uniquely to be able to build things, fix things, and package things. Without manufacturing, we'd still be in the dark ages. Every day as a worker in a manufacturing environment, you have the unique ability to touch the lives of everyone around you and impact the lives of people you'll never meet. Please stay at your job and keep making a difference. Imagine a world where everybody in a manufacturing environment quit their job to work at a church. That's not a world I want to live in.
I've been in sales before. For 10 years, I worked in Christian retail. I actually worked at a Christian bookstore inside of a church. Every day I had to manage employees, manage stock, keep track of sales, and please the people that owned the store. I loved selling people things they needed. I sold lots of Bibles. I sold lots of books. I sold lots of gifts. I sold a lot of music. I saw the joy of matching the right product with the right customer. I knew I wasn't just a salesperson. I knew I wasn't just a bookstore manager. I knew that I was in full-time ministry in a Christian bookstore. I knew that what I did every day was making a difference. Imagine a world where all the salespeople quit to go into full-time ministry. That's not a world I want to live in.
You might say, All I ever do is clean up after people. As a janitor, I'm sweeping floors day in and day out. I clean them, and other people get them dirty. I clean the bathrooms, and they get dirty again. I just want a job that matters. I'm gonna quit my job and go into full-time ministry. STOP. You are not just a janitor. You have a unique set of gifts, talents, and abilities that God has given you to see dirt and know how to clean. You see a mess and know how to bring order. You know how to fix things. You know how to clean things. You know how to make things safe. All of that stuff is very important. You are gifted, and you are called. Just imagine a world where everyone who is a janitor quits their job to go into full-time ministry. That's not a world I want to live in.
I had a conversation the other day with a friend of mine. She said to me “ I'm a really good accountant but I'm thinking about quitting my job and going to work in a church. I just want my work to make a difference. I want my work to matter to God.” So I said, “ You are not just an accountant. You are someone uniquely gifted by God to work with numbers. You organize those numbers so they make sense. Without your set of unique gifts, talents, and abilities to work with numbers, the entire world would collapse. God designed you right from the start to love working with numbers. Embrace it.” Now just imagine a world where everybody who's an accountant quit their jobs so they could go work in a church. That's not a world I want to live in.
If I hear one more person say that their job doesn't make a difference so they’re going to quit their job and go work in full time ministry - I'm gonna explode. You're not just a plumber. You're a plumber who loves Jesus and who's really good at keeping people's water flowing, their toilets flushing, their drains draining and their hot water hot. You're a blessing to everybody you serve because they depend on you for reliable plumbing. And when you do an excellent job, God is glorified and you have an opportunity to tell people why you do things with excellence. So you're not just a plumber, you're a Jesus follower who is a plumber. You are gifted and you are called. Just imagine a world where everybody who's a plumber quits their job and goes to work in a church. That's not a world I wanna live in.
Jesus routinely met and ate with people who we would refer to today as very, very lost. They were the most despised people of that day. And yet, Jesus had no issue with spending time with them. Our workplace is not only a place to make a living, but also a place God has ordained for us to make relationships, build trust, and grow friendships – especially with pre-believers. Often, the workplace is where we have the greatest opportunity to influence those who don’t know Jesus, and who are struggling or dying without Him. How many people would Jesus have already invited to lunch if He worked at your place? Look with His eyes. Pray for courage to introduce yourself to those He shows you, and don’t forget your/(you’re) light, as His Word works in you, today.
When Jim came home one day and said, I think we should hire a prayer intercessor for iWork4Him, I didn’t know what to think. We had heard from and interviewed business leaders and organization leaders from around the country with prayer intercessors on their staff. I thought it was powerful, but I had never considered that someone should be paid to pray. We pay people to do all kinds of other things around our workplaces. Why wouldn’t we pay for them to spend time interceding on our behalf with our heavenly father? It’s a radical idea today, but it totally makes sense. It has changed how we do business each and every day. Consider hiring an intercessor for your business or organization today and see what a difference it makes when you have an additional set of ears listening to Him.
Unforgiveness can destroy us. God knows our heart of flesh can become hardened and lifeless if the wounds we have received are not allowed to heal. Jesus told all his disciples that we are to forgive others as we would like God to forgive us. In the workplace, there are people who look out for only themselves. Many times, their actions and attitudes can create in us something very unholy. We may find ourselves wishing the worst for them, secretly hoping that “they get theirs”. This mindset of hatred and bitterness is one that can fester and build over the years as more and more people make your “list”. The Word of God is clear – we are not to harbor hate, but we are to love our enemies, and forgive their misdeeds. It’s hard work, but it is what Jesus demonstrated for us; and then commanded us to do likewise.
Perhaps the single most devastating sentence I ever hear is this “I have decided to quit my job and go into full-time Ministry.” Ugh…This one sentence describes the condition of the hearts and minds of millions of Christians. It is a misunderstanding that STOPS TODAY. You don’t need to quit your job to go into full-time ministry. You are already a full time fully funded, fully trained missionary. You are fully equipped and fully enabled to enter your mission field. You understand the language and the culture, and you already love the people. You know your mission. As a Jesus Follower, everything about you has been changing, and everyone around you is now benefitting from your faith, whether they believe in Jesus or not. May your vibrant faith pave the way into life-transforming conversations as you love your neighbor on your workplace mission field.
We haven’t been taught to take advantage of the power of praying while working. I’m here to tell you today that it makes a difference. That it changes things. That it will revolutionize decision-making in your work. Whether you’re the organization’s overall leader or anywhere on the organizational chart, prayer can impact everything you do. Praying with others at work is also powerful. As we finish this week talking about the power of prayer at work, my challenge to you is to start incorporating prayer into all of the minute parts of your life, especially when you’re working. God wants to be involved in all of the details of our life. Talk to him today while you’re writing emails, on the phone with others, in meetings, or even out to lunch. Involve him in every part of your work life and see the change that happens.
I have to be honest with you. I never thought prayer and work had anything to do with each other. I’m guessing I’m not alone. Prayer seemed like the kind of thing you did at church and around a meal at home, but in a business meeting or around the conference table? Not a chance. I never thought prayer would become an active part of my work life. But that’s been part of the transformation process in my life. Maybe you’re not ready to pray out loud in a meeting, but my challenge to you today is to pray before you go into any meeting or start any formal conversation. Ask God to be a part of it. When you have a busy day with lots to do, ask God to help you concentrate and work with excellence. Involve your heavenly Father in your work. See what happens.
You are a missionary. Mission work takes time. For many of you, you have trained for this mission, Sunday after Sunday for decades. You have studied daily for thousands of combined hours. You have worn your carpet thin with hours of interactive training with our Father. You have a calling and a gifting, and they have been combined to provide a career as a fully funded missionary. You have worked years developing a reputation of integrity and excellence. You have displayed love and understanding in a workplace where forgiveness is rare and kind words, well…not so much. You can speak the language now. You know those who are hurting most. You want those you work with to experience His love. The time you have invested in preparing the fields ripe for harvest is well spent. Begin the harvest now.
You are a missionary. You are ready for this assignment. You are equipped with the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit inside of you, giving you access to all the power of God. You have been dispatched to your workplace on purpose because lost and hopeless people there need to meet Jesus. Because you work there, you understand the culture and the tasks at hand. You know the daily stresses and the victory of a well-served client. The person next to you in the pew and the person at the pulpit don’t have the same advantage that you do in reaching the lost in your work. You are a light in a world dominated by people cloaked in darkness. You have trained for this. You are ready. Matt 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
You are a missionary. You know how I know? You are on a mission field in your workplace with lost and hopeless people who speak a different language than most people around you. Most of those around you speak in terms of hurt and disappointment. You speak a message fueled by love, forgiveness, and hope. Every day you talk with people, work with people and interact with people who have never heard the truth of the Gospel - the Good News about Jesus. They have a jaded idea about Jesus and the Bible and about church people, but most have NEVER read a single word Jesus spoke. They have never experienced the power of those transformational words. You are the bridge of hope to those you work with. Speak that truth today.
You are a missionary. You are on a mission. Your Workplace is your mission field. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 & 20 - Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.” There is no question about calling – we are all called to go – wherever that is. You are a missionary to the largest unreached people group in America – Workplace Pre-Believers. Let that settle in. Lost and hopeless people surround you with an unending emptiness. Be Jesus to them today. Let your transformed life impact everything you do, and share Jesus with those you work with as you go.
- Jim: During your commute today, whether its walking down the hallway or driving down the highway, what will you think about?
- Martha: Will you be caught up in the stress of the day or will you be preparing your heart for what God is going to do today, alongside you in your work?
- Jim: God set the workplace standard before evil entered our world. He gave Adam a job to name all the animals. An almost impossible task, except that God brought all the animals to him.
- Martha: You see, God doesn’t expect us to get the job done without helping us.
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Jim: What if today, on your “way” to work, you spend that time asking God to reveal His purpose in your work and your placement in your workplace. Neither are by accident.
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Martha: How we spend our first moments of the day makes a huge impact on the rest of the day, especially our work. Spend your “commute” wisely today.
- Jim: For more about iWork4Him and the iWork4Him podcast, go to iWork4Him dot com. That’s iWork the number 4 Him dot com.
In praying for those I worked with, serving them above what my job required me to do and in developing real relationships with them outside of “Work”, I began to notice when their demeanor changed and they were having a bad day. I learned to ask, “How are you doing today?” I really wanted to know the answer. They would respond with “I’m Fine”, then I would respond, really? Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional? Really, how are you doing? Then I would be quiet and let them share what was really going on because they knew I genuinely cared. When they were done sharing, I learned to say, “Thanks for sharing that with me, can I pray about that with you right now?” I never got turned down. Mind you this took a couple of years to develop but you can do it too. You can start by simply asking “How are you doing today?”
God taught me how to shift the paradigm of work into a place of work interlaced with ministry, a workplace mission field. I prayed for those I worked with, I served them over and above, I befriended them, and I prayed with them. But I realized, none of these actions mattered if my work wasn’t excellent. If I wasn’t a great employee, with great work production, and great work relationships, no one would care about my faith. Others needed to see that my faith was real and that it applied to all of my life. Excellence needs to define who we are at work. Looking back, I made mistakes but I prayed with tons of people, made lifelong friends and even participated in leading one of my bosses to Jesus and another to rededication. iWork4Him was born out of this story, can you say iwork4Him?
- Martha: When Jim & I were 13 we committed our lives to full-time Christian Ministry. So naturally I thought I would be a pastor’s wife or a missionary.
- Jim: I thought I was going to be a youth pastor.
- Martha: When we got married, I naturally thought that ministry was in our future.
- Jim: Martha was right about that. But we were both wrong about the location of our ministry. We kept thinking we were headed for church ministry.
- Martha: But Jim and I are both good at business and we ran an insurance agency. We didn’t know our ministry was right there in front of us. We treated people well.
- Jim: But we never saw it as a ministry. In fact, no one ever spoke into our lives that we could have a ministry in our workplace.
- Martha: But we were in ministry and our workplace ministry calling perfectly matched our God given gifts, talents, and abilities.
- Jim: So, are you committed to full-time Christian Ministry? You’ll find it at your workplace today!
- Martha: For more about iWork4Him and the iWork4Him podcast, go to iWork4Him dot com. That’s iWork the number 4 Him dot com.
In 2006 I started a new job commuting 90 miles each way to work. I made a commitment to not turn on the radio on my way into work. I wanted to dedicate that time to pray for my family, my bosses and their families, my co-workers, and my employees. I learned to be quiet and I learned to make notes when I heard things from the Lord in my prayer time. I like to say that it Changed my life. Over the 4 years of this commute, I watched one of my Bosses come to be a Jesus follower and one rededicate his life to Christ. I was able to pray many times with my employees and I was able to demonstrate through service and friendship that my life was changed by Jesus. iWork4Him was launched through this prayer time and the iWork4Him Nation Covenant was birthed out of the process God took me through.
During my morning commute to my new job, I began praying for the people I worked with and then serving them above what I was required to do but I knew that more was needed to shift my faith paradigm at work. I needed to really know these people I worked with. My wife and I started creating ways to get to know people outside of work to develop real relationships. We had people over for dinner, we went out after work, and ate lunch together. My intention was to know more about them as individuals, not just co-workers. I learned their spouses’ names, their kids’ names. I learned what bothered them and what encouraged them. At the same time, I let them know who I was. I shared about my family, my dreams, my struggles. We just shared life. I started to see the real people I worked with. Do you know your co-workers personally?
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. There is brokenness in us, in our world, work, and community. There is healing in Jesus. Today as you have zoom calls, meetings, sales calls, service calls, or power lunches, look for the broken around you through God's eyes. See people the way He sees them… as Image bearers. In following Jesus, we are to be like Him. He brought healing wherever he went. Sometimes it was physical, and sometimes it was emotional. Either way, He was a healer, and he wants you to heal too. You first, then others. By loving God and loving people, God will heal wounds through us. You are in your workplace on purpose because there is healing to be done. Remember, Jesus is a healer, and since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. Frederick Buechner said, "Pay attention to the things that bring a tear to your eye or a lump in your throat because they are signs that the Holy is drawing near." What injustice in your community brings you to tears? Homelessness, poverty, joblessness, sexual exploitation? What can you do about it? God provided you with a job and an income. What is that income for? For providing for your family and for bringing healing to your community. God asks that you Consider 10% of your income for ministering to the needs of the lost and broken. Sometimes those lost and broken are right next to you at work. Remember, Jesus is a healer, and since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. Frederick Buechner once said, "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." I believe the greatest need is the healing of the lost and broken. Likely you have noticed brokenness in your workplace that needs to be healed. What are you doing about it? Praying about it? Seeking to understand it? Trying to find the person who is causing the brokenness? In our workplaces, we often find broken people bring their brokenness to work with them, and it multiplies. It's one reason you as a Jesus-follower are there. That brokenness needs healing, and you know the best healer in the world. Remember, since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. You may be saying to yourself, but how do I bring healing to my workplace when I am so broken myself? As a Jesus-follower, you serve the ultimate healer. For the woman at the well, he didn't just give her water; he gave her healing from the inside out. She was a broken woman who had been married five times. No matter what is broken inside of you, Jesus can handle it. In Luke 4:18, Jesus says, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free. Remember, Jesus is a healer, and since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
This week we paid special attention to you, the everyday workplace believer, and your role in bringing God's Kingdom here to earth. Just because you're not a pulpit pastor or a foreign missionary doesn't mean that you're not in full-time ministry. Your workplace is your mission field! You might be the only representative of Jesus that your coworker, vendor, supervisor, or client ever comes into contact with. Every work day is an opportunity for you to be the hands and feet of Jesus. So, stop thinking less of yourself if you don't have a job in vocational ministry. Where you work and who you work with – none of it's an accident! Practice being intentional at work, especially with those who would never step foot inside the walls of a church. Your full-time ministry has already begun, and the workplace is the largest mission field in the world.
At some point in our lives, most of us have had at least one job that made us pretty miserable. And even if you haven't, we all have days when we don't feel like clocking in. When we don't want to be at our job, it shows. Our coworkers notice. Our vendors notice. Our customers usually notice. What kind of testimony are we displaying at work? I'll remind you of one of our favorite verses here at iWork4Him: Colossians 3:23 – "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." You have a critical role in reaching pre-believers in your workplace for Christ! Your attitude, actions, and words all matter. You're not working for you or your boss. You're working for God! Transform your workplace by living out this life-changing truth!
Do you act differently around your pastor than you do around your family or friends? Most people do – even those who don't go to church. We feel like we have to be on our best behavior. We can't be our authentic selves. On the other hand, how do coworkers act around each other? It's usually easier to speak freely with the people we work with, especially if we've taken time to invest in a relationship with them. As believers, that puts us in an ideal position to minister to our coworkers – a position that most pastors just don't have. Don't lose sight of this incredible opportunity you have. You might not speak from a pulpit, but neither did Jesus. As Matthew 5:16 instructs: let your light shine bright so that those around you will have no choice but to praise God! You have more exposure to pre-believers than most pastors ever will.
Modern church culture emphasizes the importance and prestige of working in full-time ministry as a pastor, foreign missionary, or the like. But here at iWork4Him, we want to help resurrect the original idea behind the idea of ministry. There's a theological misunderstanding that the top jobs in the Kingdom are missionary and pastor, but that's simply not true! There are no tiers in the kingdom. No 1st tier jobs and then 2nd tier jobs supporting 1st tier ministers. We should be ministering wherever we go and in whatever we do. Call to mind the familiar Bible verse 1 Corinthians 10:31: "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." That means that our work should be worship – and that's awesome! Take a few minutes to reflect on how you can glorify God today through your full-time ministry at work, at home, and in your community.
The body of Christ is made up of many parts; none is more important than the other. Do you ever feel unimportant in the Kingdom of God? Like who you are and what you do is on a lower tier while others are on a higher one? In 1 Corinthians 12, God lets us know that each of us plays an important role in the body of Christ. Verse 18 says, "Our bodies have many parts, but God has put each part just where He wants it." Are you letting God use you right where you are, or are you too busy comparing your talents, resources, and position with others? Stop scrolling through social media, thinking you're not enough. You are an essential part of God's plan, and He desires to use you! So, when you're feeling unimportant, remember – there are no tiers in the Kingdom!
- Martha: As you woke up today, did you find yourself celebrating the end of the work week?
- Jim: We have all been trained to celebrate weekends and to dread our work.
- Martha: But is that the way God feels?
- Jim: I grew up thinking that work was a result of original sin. That the reason work was evil was that it came from evil.
- Martha: But that was a lie. God created work long before Adam and Eve sinned. God gave us work to be fulfilled and for us to flourish.
- Jim: Now work did get more difficult after Adam and Eve Sinned, but God still wants to walk alongside us in our work. Want proof? Read the biblical history on Abraham and his corporate empire or Joseph and Daniel on their government jobs.
- Martha: God wants to join us in our work, and that is worth celebrating. God has a purpose for your work too. So TGIF today, that’s okay but prepare yourself for TGIM come Monday.
- Jim: For more about iWork4Him and the iWork4Him podcast, go to iWork4Him dot com. That’s iWork the number 4 Him dot com.
- Martha: Do you ever feel like quitting your job? Even though it’s a good job and it pays well.
- Jim: We mean quit your perfectly good job so you can go into full time ministry. Have you ever had that thought?
- Martha: If you are like us, you feel the need for significance in your work and you feel like a job in a church or a Christian non-profit is the only way to go.
- Jim: We are here to help stop the madness. The job that you hold, the work that you do and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance.
- Martha: The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance.
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Jim: Try this thought on for size. Your workplace is your mission field. Pay attention today at work and see if you meet any people who need to meet Jesus – and don’t quit your job.
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Martha: For more about iWork4Him and the iWork4Him podcast, go to iWork4Him dot com. That’s iWork the number 4 Him dot com.
With the new reality that my work was in fact my place of ministry, my workplace mission field, I modified my workplace commute prayer time. I still prayed for my family, but I added my bosses, my coworkers, and eventually my employees. I noticed a funny thing happening. I started to see these people differently - the way God saw them. I grew in empathy and love for them, and I really started seeing myself as a minister in my workplace. In addition to the demands of my new job, I started to serve my co-workers over and above what I was required to do. This selfless serving of others caused them to see that something was different about me. I started to see my faith relevant to my work. My paradigm was shifting, and my heart was encouraged. Who can you start praying for today? And then watch what God does to your heart.
It all started with my new job. Commuting 90 miles to work. I made a commitment to not turn on the radio for the morning commute. I wanted to learn how to pray. My new job had so much adventure built in, but I wanted this job to be different. I prayed for my family on the way to work and others who had specific prayer requests but then God rocked my world. One day, in my email in box, my friend Bob sent me the Today God is First devotional from Os Hillman. For the first time, I learned that God loved my work and that my workplace was my mission field. I was floored. For years I had tried to go into full-time ministry in a church, but this devotional told me that I was already in ministry at my work. You are in your mission field at work. Let that sink in today.
Jim: When you woke up today did you find yourself celebrating the first day of the work week or did you find yourself dreading it?
Martha: It seems that most of us suffer from TGIF syndrome instead of adopting the TGIM revolution. We need to start Thanking God its Monday.
Jim: you see, God designed our work to have purpose and fulfillment. He also designed it so that He could work alongside us, bringing us His wisdom along the way.
Martha: What is it going to take for you to switch from dreading Monday to celebrating it?
Jim: If you are like me, it is going to take a Romans 12:2 Paradigm Shift. We have to stop copying the Behavior and Customs of this world and allow ourselves to be transformed and allow God to change the way we think.
Martha: Every Day your work matters to God. Let’s start celebrating Mondays. For more about the iWork4Him podcast, go to iWork4Him dot com. That’s iWork the number 4 Him dot com.
Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.
What do you do when you’re faced with a problem at work? If you’re like me, you probably go about trying to find a solution, usually starting with Google! We met and interviewed a remarkable woman named Susan. She went to God first, not google. She asked HIM for the answer to the problem. And kept praying in earnest expectation until He answered. She said to us “God has the answer to every problem, if we’d just ask Him.” So, how about you? Are you depending on yourself, Google or asking others first? Or are you praying to the one who has ALL the answers? We invite you, the very next time you’re faced with a work challenge, to stop, pray and ask God to give you the answer.
Have you ever thought about what you want to be known for? Stephen, an executive we interviewed, says it starts with your personal brand. And your personal brand starts with asking yourself “What do I want to be known for?” So how about you? If your co-workers were asked about you, and who you are, what would they say?
We challenge you today, to take this question “What do I want to be known for?” and pen and paper and sit with it until you have an answer. And then, start intentionally beginning to LIVE IT OUT, consistently where you live, work and play. Ephesians 5:15 exhorts us “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Changing the world. We all have that secret desire, don’t we? Changing the world in Kingdom terms is not measured in the BIG, the BIGGER and the BIGGEST actions in our life and work. It’s the opposite. Changing the world happens, one person, one word and one action at a time. It can be as small as a smile, a kind word, or a self-less act of service. It’s counter-intuitive, just like the work of Christ. So how about you? Would you like to change the world? Would you be willing to start today, changing the corner of the world where God has placed YOU? We invite you to start changing the world RIGHT NOW, with ONE smile, ONE kind word, and ONE kind action.
Are you stuck in a rut or comfortably nestled in there? Have you been “doing your Christianity the same way, with the same people, in the same ministry, in the same church? In the same type of work? With the same company?” When’s the last time you stopped, poked your head UP OUT OF THE daily rut and asked “Lord, am I doing your will? Am I doing ministry and my work YOUR WAY? Where do YOU want me?” So how about you? When’s the last time you considered re-thinking how you’re walking out your faith? And who you’re working or ministering with? When’s the last time you got UNCOMFORTABLE, in order to follow The Lord? We invite you TODAY, to ask in prayer “Lord, where do you want me?”
Life/work balance. How many of us have fallen for that myth and tried to make it happen? Only to fail over and over…a business coach we interviewed has a better concept. How about living an INTEGRATED LIFE? One that brings Christ into each aspect of our life and work, so that we are putting The Lord, not our futile “balance” efforts, first. So how about you? Are you ready to live ONE INTEGRATED LIFE, where you represent the Lord, you listen to the Lord, and let Him show you your priorities every day? Join us in this prayer: Father, today, I submit my day, my plans to you. Please show me YOUR PRIORITIES for my day. In Jesus’s Name, Amen
In the past couple of months, I’ve heard one word repeatedly out of the mouths of followers of Christ who bring their faith into the workplace. INTENTIONALITY. Intentionality is a concept defined as "the power of a mind to stand for things, properties and states of affairs". WAS and IS Jesus intentional? You bet. Should WE be intentional? You bet. HOW DO we shift to this state of intentionality? By starting with the Lord and asking what His intention is for OUR DAY? For OUR WORK? For OUR TEAM and the clients we serve. By the way, the opposite of intentionality is unconsciously or unknowingly. How will YOU shift the mindset of YOUR work from unconscious to INTENTIONAL, for HIS glory?
Do you need to be removed? Sometimes, we start something and think we are supposed to stay in it, lead it, and serve it. And, we stay IN IT…sometimes too long. We no longer seek the Lord’s counsel about IF we should still BE where He placed us.
Sometimes He just wants us to START something, sometimes He wants us to “help get it off the ground”, NOT stay and lead it or serve it. Sometimes, the BEST thing we can do for the work He asked us to start is to leave. So how about you? Are you staying in some work or ministry too long? When’s the last time you prayed about what God would have you do next? We invite you today, to take your work to the cross and ask “Lord where do you want me? And what would you have me do?”
I try to keep my heart pure and intimate with Christ, so I can be a source of light and encouragement to the people I work with. That’s the faith at work philosophy of a millennial professional we interviewed. What a beautiful philosophy of how we can really prepare and BE Christ at work. So how about you? Is your heart pure and intimate with Christ so YOU can be a source of light and encouragement to YOUR co-workers? How about today, before stepping into work, you prayed this prayer: Father, purify my heart, that may I BE Christ to everyone I work with today. Use me Father, to be a source of light and encouragement to everyone I work with. In Jesus’s name.
Heard this great reminder from a manager of a Christian Retail company “The biggest challenges in my life and work have been when I have forgotten WHO God is, or WHO I AM in Christ.” So how about you? Are you in the midst of a challenge at work? If so, CLING to the words of God. Remind yourself right now who you are IN HIM, not the words of what the world tells you. Here are just a few:
I am a child of God, I am Jesus’ friend, I am a NEW creation, I am an heir with Christ, I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God and I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
What’s the fastest way to get what you DON’T want? Tell the Lord “I will NEVER _________________” Yep, just ask any other Christ follower who’s made the mistake of saying something like that. You WILL end up being exactly where YOU said you would NEVER be or DOING something you said you would never do. Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and His ways are NOT our ways. We don’t have the big picture, but God does. So how about YOU? We’re challenging you to remove the word NEVER from your vocabulary and to replace it with scripture, such as Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Have you ever considered that God wants to use YOUR business influence, the position He’s put you in, as a “platform” for Him? A stage on which to do your work while others watch and see HOW you work? If you lead just ONE person or have interact with groups of people inside OR outside your business, like vendors or, contractors, then you have a platform. A platform designed by GOD for you, for such a time as this. That you would work for His glory, show His characteristics of caring, courage, diligence, fairness, integrity, respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness. So how about you? When they watch you work do, they see YOU, or do they see Christ?
72% of people who get up and go to work every day think “nobody cares about me”. That’s a WHOLE LOT of hurting people that will never experience God’s love. So, what if we just took God’s love to them? What if there was a chaplain in the workplace that looks just like them, that meets them where they are; to just listen, pray and love them? Workplace chaplains DO exist and are more and more common in today’s workplaces! And THAT is the gospel! Echoing Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9, “When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” So, we challenge you, look into finding a chaplain for your people and transform your workplace into a place where people are loved.
Have you ever met someone that lives one integrated life? They seem to flow seamlessly between their work and personal life without pause or care. What is this? It’s authenticity. And its attraction is unparalleled. How is it possible? It’s living a life based on Godly values. I’d hazard a guess a person like this lives their values in this order: God, Family, and Service. When we LIVE BY our values, decisions are easier, relationships are easier, and knowing where to invest our time, talent and treasure is easier. Because our values ARE our priority. And our heart lines up with our values, and those line up with our thoughts, our thoughts then direct our words and actions. How are YOU living your values at work today?
Culture. Webster’s defines it in the corporate realm as: the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization. How aware are YOU of YOUR COMPANY’S culture? When’s the last time you really stopped and took a look at it? How does it align with your OWN personal values as a Christ follower? And if you’re a leader, what are you doing to ensure your culture aligns with God’s word and will? Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” What is ONE ACTION you will take THIS WEEK, to align YOUR CULTURE with God’s will?
Generosity. Is it an action, a state of the heart, or a mind-set? I heard recently that generosity is BEST when it includes all three and we compare it with IMPACT. Have you ever thought about your giving in this way? That your giving could possibly be leveraged for the highest impact for eternity? What if we all stopped and looked and prayed over the resources we have, and re-committed the 10% tithe of all our income, to MAXIMIZE impact for the Kingdom? Isaiah 32:8 says “But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.” What will you do today, to put on this new “eternal” mindset of generosity?
Ecclesiastes 4:12 says A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Are you a Christian standing alone in your work or professional life? Are YOU standing alone in OTHER areas of your life? What if you prayed and asked for a group that you could “do life and work” together with? We, as God’s creation, were BUILT for community. IF you have no community, you may be operating out of God’s will or, slogging or surviving, vs. thriving. We challenge you today, to ask a trusted Christian friend, or to go online and search for a Christ-honoring community to be a part of.
What do you think would happen to our economy, our country, if all the working Christians decided to “go into ministry”? There would be no “marketplace”, our economy would collapse and we would be thrown into chaos. Could it be that is NOT God’s plan or design for us? What if each of us were CALLED TO MINISTRY IN OUR WORK, right where we’re planted? And that OUR JOB IS our pulpit, our work performance then becomes our Christ-like message and our co-workers our “congregation”. Now THAT’S a powerful realistic vision for building the Kingdom. James 2:14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? How will YOU SHIFT your work to be a ministry TODAY?
What’s the difference between a career and a vocation? Career is defined as an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life with opportunities for progress. A VOCATION, on the other hand, is defined as a person's main occupation, especially regarded as particularly worthy and requiring great dedication. WOW. That’s a big difference. We heard recently that as a Christ-follower, we should seek to have a VOCATION vs. a career. Because having a vocation keeps us focused on building the Kingdom and living and working FOR the Kingdom of God. Which one do YOU have? What could you do this month, to shift YOUR CAREER into a VOCATION?
We spend more than one-third of our life at work. Yet sadly, Barna research shows nearly two-thirds of churched adults say it has been at least three years or more since they heard church teachings on work and career, and yet, the workplace is where most Americans spend the biggest share of their waking hours. What can YOU do, to introduce your church to the importance of faith and work? Invite your pastor to your office and ask him or her to pray for your team, your clients and your year for maximum impact for the Kingdom. What day this month will YOU invite YOUR pastor to work? For more recommended resources and ideas, go to our Resources page on iwork4him.com.
It comes as no surprise that less than 20 percent of Americans regularly attend church. But just about all Americans have a job. So, we COULD say that not everybody has a pastor, but just about everybody has a boss. So how will the other 80% of Americans find out about Jesus Christ if they are not stepping into a church? The current population of the US is about 330 million. So that’s 264 Million people that WE can witness to through our daily interactions in our jobs. You are the one that has been chosen. You ARE CHRIST’S AMBASSADOR, for such a time as this. Today, won’t YOU PRAY AND COMMIT to BE Christ-like at work, to everyone you work with?
Relationship. Relational. Is there any better word to describe Christianity that sets our “religion” apart from all others? Our faith is based solely on relationship. And is there any better model for us to follow? In our life, in our work? And the basis of this relationship model is LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. Are you a NOISY GONG in YOUR workplace? We invite you to SHIFT to LOVE in your workplace today.
When’s the last time you were UNCOMFORTABLE, OR PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE in your work? Discomfort = growth, and comfort = stagnation. The people doing the most growing are the ones that submit to spiritual and personal growth, like having a group of fellow Christ followers, who challenge them and hold them accountable, in their professional life, their leadership and business. You know what they say, if you’re not growing, you’re dying. The wisdom of Proverbs 27:17 says As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. John Maxwell said it best: If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone. What will YOU do this week, in your professional life, to be challenged and GROW?
Humility. The term "humility" comes from the Latin word humilitas, a noun related to the adjective humilis, which can be translated as "humble", but also as "grounded", or "from the earth", since it derives from HUmus (earth). The greatest leaders, including our Lord have it. CS Lewis said: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of YOURSELF LESS.” What if TODAY, you and I, thought of ourselves less at work, and started to think MORE about others. James 4:10 says it best: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. And how about Psalm 149:4 For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. How will YOU work from a place of humility today?
There is a word that defines the bible, defines Christ, and defines leadership. That word is LOVE. But isn’t love seemingly contrary to business and how it operates? Or IS IT? Did you ever have a bad boss? What quality of work did you do for them? Did you ever have a great boss? One that got the absolute best work from you? What was the difference in those two bosses? I’ll bet it was LOVE. Love that respects, listens, appreciates and builds up. 1 John 3:11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Said another way, control disconnects. Love connects. This connection (which is actually LOVE) translates to the bottom line. We invite you to pick ONE DAY AT WORK THIS WEEK, and TRY IT.
Money. We all need it to live. Is your view of money healthy and in alignment with biblical principles? Is the WAY you use it serving man, or God and His Kingdom. 1 John 3:17 says If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? How about your income? How about your company’s revenue? Are you tithing from your corporate revenue stream? Have you ever considered it? We challenge you today, to pray about your personal and corporate tithing. And ask God HOW YOU should be using the income He’s blessed YOU WITH to serve your fellow man, God and His Kingdom.
There is a truth about work that has been lost to much of our culture since the creation of the world. It is that GOD CREATED WORK. He created work for us, to do together and for HIS glory. Genesis 2: 19 So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. Work is NOT a PUNISHMENT, it’s a GIFT. And God wants to JOIN US in it. Every day. He DELIGHTS in it. He is our team-mate, just as He was with Adam. He brought the animals TO Adam to name. So how about YOU? Won’t you invite God to work WITH YOU today? WHEREVER He has placed you?
What if our WORK WAS our WORSHIP? The Hebrew word avodah means work, worship, and service, altogether! Work: being productive, worship: praising and glorifying God and service: a form of service to the world and our community. We are MEANT to be of service, to be PARTNERS with God in the ongoing creation of the world. The various usages of this Hebrew word that is first found in Genesis 2:15 shows us it was God’s ORIGINAL DESIGN and DESIRE that our work and our worship would be a SEAMLESS WAY of living, as it was thousands of years ago. What about YOU? Are you making the work of YOUR hands every day AVODAH? You’re invited today to start worshiping God with your work.
Are you feeling as though you’re just going to work on auto-pilot? That you can do your work now, with your eyes closed, with one arm tied behind your back? When’s the last time you asked God to stretch YOU, in your work? Comfort is not a place Christ-followers should be camping out in. .... So how about you? Are you brave enough, to ask “Lord, will you stretch me today? Will you put me to better use, in the place where you would have me be? Will you bless me today with the work you have chosen for me, at this time in my life? .... Hebrews 11:6: And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Per a 2015 Barna Group study, only 20 percent of Christian adults are involved in some sort of discipleship activity. And, less than one-quarter of Christian adults (23%) are currently being discipled by someone one-on-one. Discipleship in the context of work is known as “mentorship”. How about YOU? Are you allowing someone to mentor you as a Christ follower in your work? And if you are a “seasoned” professional, Are YOU making it a priority to intentionally mentor a next generation co-worker? We encourage you to pray about mentorship this week and ask the Lord “Who would you like me to mentor Lord?” and “Would you provide a God-honoring mentor for me?”
After years of meeting with and interviewing people from all types of work and all organizational levels, there is one major truth that keeps bubbling up to the surface. The investment IN PEOPLE, above all else, pays not only Kingdom dividends, but business dividends as well. This is what Christ did, and it is the ultimate example of Christ’s holy character: Matthew 20:28 says “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” When we invest in our employees, the next generation, or future leaders in our workplace, we are giving away our life as a true Christ follower. What is ONE commitment you will make today, to start investing in the life of another in YOUR workplace?
I think it’s safe to say that the media focuses on, and provides negative news these days. Should we just take it, and keep feeding ourselves this negativity? How does this affect your work? Do you take it with you? What are you chatting with your co-workers about? And are you feeding the beast of “all that’s wrong with world”? Or are you speaking life at work. We can, and should consciously choose what we WILL and WILL NOT listen to. Philippians 4:8 exhorts us: And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. We invite you today, to observe WHAT you speak at work, and shift it to glorifying God.
I heard a clever quip the other day about trying to take control from God’s hands. God is writing the story of your life: so STOP TRYING TO GRAB THE PEN FROM HIS HAND! This applies to our work as well. Sometimes we think we are living God’s plan for us in our work when we are actually just “taking Jesus with us”. And only praying to Him to ask for blessings on what we are doing at work. How can we know when we’ve succeeded in FOLLOWING Christ in our work? By changing our mindset to one of FOLLOWING, vs. LEADING. Why not start your work day with a prayer like this: Father, today, I commit my hands to YOUR work. As you lead me, may YOUR will be done and may YOU be glorified in all I do. Amen.
Being intentional seems to be a consistent hallmark of followers of Christ. Because Christ is our best example of intentionality. Intentionality is defined as being deliberate or purposeful. How about you? How are you working with intentionality today? In the office, with your co-workers, intentionally representing Christ and showing His love and patience to everyone you come in contact with? Most days we may just be unconsciously going through our work day. We invite you to begin today by going before the father and asking Him: "Here's all I have, what do YOU want me to do with it today? What is YOUR priority today, Lord?" And then living that out as we step into our work, and every other place our feet may wander.
Have you ever experienced a major upheaval in your business or work life? Something that looked like it was taking you in the opposite direction of where you were headed? Or was (you thought) the next logical step? It’s highly possible that God is using this to move you to exactly where HE wants you to be. For HIS work, in HIS time, for THIS season. Let Romans 8:28 encourage you today, and we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. God is orchestrating it all, for His glory. This week, as you experience upheaval in your work life, why not turn to Romans 8:28? And even place a copy of it on your desk?
The wonder-woman complex. It’s an unrealistic belief that we as women need to be everything to everybody. Where did that come from? And what’s it doing to us? What if instead of trying to BE wonder-woman, we commit to be who God created us to be. .... To get to know our spiritual gifts, talents, strengths, and then went in search of God’s heart, to find our true calling? .... What if every woman of faith lived and worked their calling? How much different would our world, our nation, our state, our city, our community, our home, our workplace be? So how about you? Are you tired of being something other than what God created you to be? Visit us online to find resources to change your wonder-woman complex into your true calling.
What if today, we committed to operate our businesses from a philosophy of “It’s not about WHAT we sell or HOW MUCH we sell, it’s about the LIVES we TOUCH and CHANGE.” That’s “God’s way of doing business”. And it’s the exact OPPOSITE of everything we have been taught as professional business people. But isn’t that always God’s way? This counter-cultural philosophy is rooted in Matthew 6:33: But seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. What is the Lord asking YOU TO DO as a next step in seeking first HIS Kingdom in YOUR workplace?
As a business leader, if you turned your business over to God, what would that look like? What would be the result? Hundreds of business owners we’ve interviewed over the past eight years have done it. They say the result is a DEEP sense of peace vs. stress, pressure, and tension. And a new, deepening understanding of their role as a STEWARD of God’s business, vs. “being the OWNER of it”. What would it take for YOU to be ready to turn YOUR organization over to the Lord’s ownership today? We invite you to place Christ in your org. chart as CEO, and commit right now, to shift your mindset from ”OWNER to STEWARD”.
Every one of us in ministry. What? No, you say, I’m a CPA, I’m an engineer, I manage people at a construction company. Yes, and you are called to be an Ambassador for Christ there. The Apostle Paul agrees, as he wrote to the Ephesians, in Chapter 6 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should. If Paul can be an ambassador in chains in prison, then we (without chains) can too….wherever He placed us. And God placed YOU in YOUR SPECIFIC WORKPLACE for a reason. For HIS REASONS, not our own.
Are you dreading Monday? Do you start to lose your joy come Sunday evening? .... What if instead of dreading Monday, you LOOKED FORWARD TO IT? What if instead of moaning about Monday, you prayed away your dread, and replaced it with thanks, and joy and intention? .... To pray that come Monday morning, you would FEEL GOD in your work, as you work. That your work would glorify God, that you would be the best Ambassador for God your workplace has ever seen? .... So how about you? Are you ready to be used by God in your work? To see Monday as a tremendous opportunity, to enjoy your work and to glorify God, and maybe even give your co-workers a glimpse of our Heavenly Father.
For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. So how about you? Are you resting from your work? Are you taking a day off every week and keeping it holy? Are you honoring God with your business and keeping the Sabbath, not only for yourself, but for your employees and customers? Two of the giants in retail, Hobby Lobby and Chick-Fil-A are closed on Sunday, and their profits are up! The world says “you’re crazy to close on Sunday”, but God says differently. If you’re working on Sunday, or asking your employees to, we challenge you to go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him “How can I honor you by keeping the Sabbath holy?”
I learned something new talking with a Physical Fitness company owner in Nashville. The only gift God has given us that we can control 100% is our body. What we eat, how we take care of it, what we feed it, if we are exercising it. Reminds me of Luke 11:36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you. Never thought of that. That we have an obligation to glorify God with our body, and that body is the vehicle that either enables us to work with excellence or not. What will YOU do today, ensure your body is primed to work in excellence unto the Lord?
If you are like me you jump up out of bed, check for emergency text messages, check the weather, rush through your morning devotional time so you can get on to the real work of the day. Just recently Martha and I were reading a book by Kim Avery “The Prayer Powered Entrepreneur” and she suggests a different approach. Kim suggests that when we have our morning quiet time, be quiet and ask our Lord what His priorities are for us today. Instead of letting distractions rule our day, ask the Lord to prioritize our day so His will is done. I’m going to try this from now on, and maybe you would like to do the same. Lord, what is at the top of your priority list for today? I pray that I can do this the rest of my life, what about you?
When’s the last time you really saw your co-workers? .... Saw them as real three-dimensional people? Not just a co-worker, workplace mate or just an employee? When’s the last time you remembered, that they’re a son or daughter of God? .... That they were created, like you, by God, for a purpose. That they are worthy. That they have a life, and that life is just as important as yours. That they’re on a journey, their own journey, just like we all are. .... So how about you? We invite you today, to put on God’s view of each person you work with, and to see Christ in each of them. And then watch the supernatural transform your work relationships and your workplace.
Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.
Some things in life are more challenging than others. Like finances. And even more challenging: How do we glorify God with our finances? If you think you’ve mastered your finances, there’s a next step, a better way to glorify God with them. To transform the money we make from working for the Lord, and seeing that it is invested in Kingdom building. It’s called Biblically Responsible Investing and it’s transforming the way Christians look at the money they invest, and where they invest it. So how about you and your finances? .... Are you willing to look at every dollar and steward it even more for God’s Kingdom? If you are, we invite you to pray about it, and go to our website for next steps on how to transform your finances into the ultimate Kingdom resource.
Are you a leader in your organization? If so, what are you doing to care for your team members? Your employees? Are you ignoring the big stresses in their lives? If you are, it could be costing you in a big way. For example: The divorce of a $60,000 a year employee will cost $86,000 in lost productivity. There are legal, low cost remedies to helping your employees get the help they need to calm the sometimes raging seas of their lives. So how about YOU? Are you turning a blind eye to the pain in your workplace? Wake up! Look and listen, and seek to put benefits and programs in place that make employees lives easier. And commit today, to start being the good shepherd. The one who sacrifices his life for the sheep.
At work, sometimes we walk away from a meeting or conversation and think to ourselves “Boy, that person sure needs some fixing.” But, in reality, if we took a moment, and thought more carefully about it, maybe even looked a little deeper, we may just see what needs to be fixed is US, not them. Leaders know this. They know that the organization is a reflection of WHO they are and WHO they are being. A leader knows that before their “team needs fixing”, THEY need fixing first. So how about YOU? Are you a leader that leads knowing they need to fix themselves first? Or are you the leader that looks at all the fixing everyone else needs to do? We challenge you today, if you have a thought about someone else, to first look at yourself, and see what needs to change.
How do you measure your work success? We’re referring to eternal success in your work. One way is to ask yourself: Is my workplace better off because of having me work there? Have I changed it for the better? Would my co-workers say that I am a blessing to work with? A roofing business owner in Florida told us he takes an inventory every year, looks back at the year to see what benefit or good he has added: to his customers, his employees, his community and his family. So how about you? WE invite YOU to incorporate this “taking inventory” process by adding it onto your calendar once a month. David Jeremiah said, “If we don’t take inventory every once in a while, and give thanks to God for the great things He has done for us, we get totally out of perspective.” Make sure you take time to ask the question of yourself today “IS my workplace blessed because I work there?“
Is God building another testimony for you, through your workplace? Often, hard times come in our work, and we’re called to respond as a Christ-follower. Not react with fear, self-pity, anger, resentment or push-back. But with a keen sense and trust that God is sovereign in our work. That He may have brought something to an end, for His Glory, not our punishment. So how about YOU? .... Are YOU going through a hard time at work? And if you are, how are you responding? We recommend first taking it to prayer, and asking the Lord what He wants you to know about the situation, how you can grow from it, and what does he want you to do next, for His glory? Then take some time and pray for those you work alongside for the tough time they are going through too.
I wonder how much of our life is lived from a place of “taking”. Not consciously, but just getting up and living our life, as we go to work and just delve in. I’ve found my unconscious self is pretty selfish. If I don’t pray first, submit in obedience, my day, my hands, my mouth, eyes and ears, to serve all those I come in contact with, I’ll just spend all day at work taking what I need and want. .... So how about you? Are you living your life and work day taking? .... We challenge you today, to stop unconsciously working, and living as a taker. But to set up your day from a place of “How can I be a giver today? How can I contribute to everyone I come in contact with?”
Kathy Branzell, President of the National Day of Prayer says: there’s the idea that when I work, I work, but when I pray, God works. So how about YOU? Are you working, when you should be praying? Are you starting work first, before you pray? Are you taking God’s place for the results by over-working? There’s a beautiful balance we can obtain between work and prayer. We can choose to pray first, then work. And then pray, staying in constant contact with the Lord to guide and direct our work, vs. all that extra-efforting stuff. Psalm 127 says: It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” We challenge you today, to incorporate prayer INTO your work, and trust God for the results and experience a little of His rest.
Are there ROCKS in YOUR schedule? ROCKS are IMMOVABLE commitments. Those priorities that are unchangeable. As a working Christ-follower, what are some of YOUR ROCKS? Here are some of mine: Time with the Lord. Family commitments. And anything I have given my word to, to be there. Is WORK one of YOUR ROCKS? If it is, maybe it’s time to look at that rock, and decrease its size, or the amount of space it’s taking on your calendar. Don’t’ let Luke 20:18 define how you live and manage your life. “Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.” So how about YOU? Is work a stone YOU’RE stumbling over? How about crushing that rock and use it to make a path to more time with family?
As Christians everything about us should be changing. When we were born again, it wasn’t just a one-time event. We are to be changing daily…remember the word “sanctified”? We are being “set apart” to be dedicated to God’s use. And to that end, we’re to be changing and growing more Christ-like every day, to be conformed to His image. So how about you? Would those you work with say you’re a better co-worker today than you were 6 months ago? Would your manager say you’re a better team member today than you were last month? Would your CEO say you’re a better executive this year than you were last year? 2 Timothy reminds us: If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. We challenge you to pray to be conformed and changed today so that someone may notice and ask about it tomorrow.
As we start our work week, let’s remind ourselves of our calling to our work and God’s plan for our work. Declare this now as you head to work today, walk to your office, or sit down to do your devotions. … “My workplace is my mission field, a place of full-time ministry… My workplace ministry manual is my Bible. …My calling to my workplace is not a second-class calling…. I dedicate my workplace as a mission field for God, and because of Jesus in my life, I am committed to celebrating the work that God gave me….AMEN”
We all have a calling, have you heard this before? Some of us get called to the pulpit and some to the foreign mission field but most of us get called to our cubicles, construction sites, care facilities or whatever your job site may be. Your Workplace, It’s your mission field and in that mission field, you and me, we may be the only Jesus our co-workers, employees and bosses may ever meet. That Job that you hold and the work that you do, and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance. The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance. So, as you contemplate the value of your work today, realize this…You don’t need to quit your job in order to go into fulltime ministry. You are already in fulltime ministry, right there where you work.
Ahhh rebellion. Its’ the sickness of youth but perhaps, there’s still some rebellion in our hearts as adults. Is there some ONE or some THING that you’re rebelling against at work?...You may be doing it unknowingly… “under the table”…undermining, backbiting, using sarcasm or pushing against another’s ideas or leadership in subtle ways. Romans 13:1 and 2 is clear: Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. So how about you? Won’t you commit to glorify God, by submitting to YOUR authorities at work?
After a conversation with Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, of Love & Respect, I’m rethinking the way I go about being a peace-keeper. Here’s what he said: Sometimes, as peace keepers we hedge on the truth, or just lie, to keep the peace. .... So let’s apply that to our workplace. Are you unknowingly hedging on speaking the truth in work situations, to keep the peace? How can you know? You’ll probably have a niggling in your spirit, an unsettledness. So what can we do to know when to speak the truth: We can check in with the Holy Spirit in the moment, before conversing, and pray for wisdom for how and when to speak. Keeping the peace may not be what best serves the organization. But speaking the truth is. So how about you?
Mutual respect. It’s when two people show respect for each other. .... Respect is defined as the process of honoring someone by exhibiting care, concern, or consideration for their needs or feelings. This should be a HALLMARK of us as Christ followers. And even more apparent at work, with our colleagues. To respect them as co-laborers AND as fellow sons and daughters of God. .... Author Dina Dwyer-Owens says it’s been her experience that When we hold ourselves accountable and show mutual respect to others, it’s amazing the respect that comes back. So how about you? Are you living mutual respect in your work today?
Heard this the other day: The principles never change, but the methods always do. What a solid management philosophy this makes for us Christ followers. Principles are defined as: fundamental truths that serve as the foundation for a system of beliefs. Our biblical core beliefs are the basis of who we are and what we do. And that applies to how we work, lead and manage. But the methods, those change, based on the circumstances, and the people involved. So we need to be flexible, not rigid. Deeply rooted, but like the branches of a tree, sway with the wind. So how about you? Are your principles well rooted but flexible enough for change
Is God leading your work? How do you get the point where you can say YES, He is. Here’re a couple of ideas to get you started. First, read a book or listen to faith at work podcasts that introduce you to the concept of working for the Lord. Second, pray and ask God to show you how and where He is at work in your work today. Three, take a faith at work devotional and put it on your desk. Before you turn on your PC, read the devotional and pray that God lead you in your work. This might take some consistent practice, like changing a habit, to shift your mindset. So how about you? Colossians 3:23 is a GREAT verse to put on your desk, so it reminds you WHO you work for: 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
When people around you at work succeed, do you find yourself happy for them or feeling bad for yourself? It can be easy to compare our career path to someone else’s and come out feeling like we missed our chance at moving up - but the truth is that everyone’s journey will look different. Galatians 6:4 says, “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.” So next time the temptation to compare yourself to a coworker comes up, take the focus off of others and put it back on the work God has given you to do today. Because when you work with excellence, you bring honor to God… and that’s the measure of TRUE success!
If you’re someone who watches or reads the news, then you know that there are a lot of bad things going on in the world today. From pandemics and civil wars to inflation and genocides, there is no shortage of darkness in the twenty-first century. How does all this sorrow and hardship affect your life? How about your work? Do you take it with you to the office? Do you chat with your co-workers about it? Do you live in fear or frustration? Bad news was going on during Jesus’s day as well, but the Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:8, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Today, I invite you to fix your mind on what is GOOD and then speak about it to your co-workers, who desperately need the hope of Christ.
Do you ever feel like a hamster on a wheel - stuck in a monotonous, repetitive, and unfulfilling pattern of going to work, eating, sleeping, and paying bills? When every day feels the same it can be difficult to live with a sense of significance… but here’s some good news: our significance is not determined by our position or plans but by God working out His plans through our current position. Psalm 57:2 says, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” God has a purpose for you, RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE. The job that you hold, the people that you work with, none of that is an accident. Jesus wants to use you to bring His light to everyone that you encounter. Next time you feel stuck on the hamster wheel, pray that God would open your eyes to His eternal purposes for you today at work.
Wisdom. It’s defined as knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action. Wisdom goes beyond KNOWING what is right and into DOING what is right. God calls us to be wise in everything that we do – constantly seeking out what is true and right in his eyes and then acting on it. James 3:17 says, “The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” Are you living out the wisdom from above in your workplace? Before you speak or act this week, consider if what you are about to do is carrying forward peace, mercy, fairness, and sincerity. If it isn’t, pause and ask the Holy Spirit to give you His wisdom before you move forward!
Do you ever find yourself scrolling through social media and feeling bad about yourself or your life? Or how about, looking over at your coworker and wondering why they got the promotion you feel you should have had? Sound familiar? Comparison is an ugly emotion… one that Mark Twain calls “the death of joy.” When Simon Peter, one of Jesus’s closest disciples, was told that he would be martyred for his faith, he looked over at his friend John and asked how he would die. Jesus responded, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.” Jesus’s answer to Peter holds true for us as well! Next time you find yourself comparing your life, achievements, or appearance to that of a coworker or friend - stop looking at them, and instead, follow Jesus.
Mary Magdalene stood outside the empty tomb crying. She thought that someone had stolen the body of Jesus, the only thing she had left of him. But Jesus himself – very much alive – said from behind her, “Woman, why are you weeping? … I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Have you ever been in a position like Mary’s - mourning the loss of a friend, family member, job, relationship, or dream? Maybe you are in that position today. In these desolate moments beside the tomb of something lost, Jesus wants to meet you. And in your grief, he reassures you that you are a child of God, seen and loved and heard. No matter what you are facing this week, remember that Jesus is alive and because of that, you are a child of the Most High!
Have you ever felt like your life is an endless cycle of waking up, going to work, making dinner, paying bills, and then going back to work again? King Solomon could relate. Even though he was an extremely wealthy and successful ruler, he still struggled with feeling like everything in life was meaningless, a striving after the wind. But God gave Solomon supernatural wisdom, and after some consideration, Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 2:24, “So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?” You see, Solomon knew that the only true source of joy is God – and with God, even our work can be filled with satisfaction. Next time you feel exhausted by the cycle of work and life, ask God to give you joy in your work.
Our country is more divided today than in almost any other time in history. All you have to do is turn on the television or log in to social media, to be bombarded by anger, hatred, accusations, and arguments. Everyone has an opinion and they are all shouting to be heard! But as Followers of Christ, we are called to live differently. We are called to be counter-cultural. In Ephesians 4:1-3 the Apostle Paul says, “I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” What is your attitude towards others? Are you patient and gentle or are you rude, harsh, and condescending? We challenge you to bear with one another in love this week. Be kind to those you find difficult at work. Act in a manner worthy of your calling in Christ.
If you have a job, chances are you have a job description - you know, that piece of paper that lists out what duties you are responsible for performing at work. Take a moment to consider your performance at work over the last 6 months. Are you meeting the requirements of your job description or are you exceeding them? Do you do the bare minimum or do you look for ways to improve your workplace? Are you someone who helps your coworkers or who shirks your duties? Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human men.” Here’s the thing: your job performance matters to God! And when you work with excellence, going above and beyond the expectations of your employer, you honor Him! Put in a little extra effort this week, and see what God does!
When unexpected things happen, when crises come, when you are let go, or passed over, or disappointed, or get a bad diagnosis… where do you put your faith? The phrase “do not be afraid” can be found in the Bible 365 times; one time for each day of the year! It is the most repeated command in Scripture, and for good reason: life can be difficult. In fact, before his ascension to heaven in John 16, Jesus says “In this world you WILL have trouble” as in… it’s a certainty. BUT, he says, “take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus is bigger than our troubles and he knows in advance everything that will happen to us. If you find yourself in an anxiety producing situation today, remember that God goes before you. His promises are new every morning, so do not be afraid.
In John 17:17, Jesus prays for his followers saying, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” But what does Jesus mean by sanctify? The Greek word used for sanctify in this verse is hagiazo and it means to separate something – to set it apart – for an intended purpose or mission. In other words, Jesus intended that all those who follow after him would be set apart for a unique purpose and mission: to spread the good news of the gospel to the world. And guess, what? This same mission extends to you today! You have been strategically placed in your workplace for a reason. There are people there who need to hear about the truth of who Jesus is, and you may be their only chance! So, how can you carry out the mission of Christ at work today?
Have you ever felt unsure about your future or about a big decision in your life? Maybe you’re feeling that way right now – confused, uncertain, and discontent. Perhaps you feel paralyzed by fear of making the wrong move or wrong choice. In these seasons, when everything seems dark and foggy, how do you move forward with confidence? James 1:5 in The Passion Translation says, “If anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace.” Did you catch that? God doesn’t want you to fail – He WANTS to guide you! Ask Him for wisdom and trust He will give it. Then take the pressure off yourself, leave the rest… and rest in His generous grace!
1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.” I love it when the Apostle Paul talks about all the different parts of the body of Christ because so often, we get caught up in comparing ourselves to someone who was designed to function differently. But the truth is, no matter which part of the body of Christ you are, you are essential, and your role is significant! Every part of the human body must be in working order for it to be healthy. Similarly, every believer must be participating in their unique calling for the whole body of Christ to function well! When you understand who God created you to be and what He created you to be doing, comparison disappears. So, lean into your work today, because God placed you there for a reason!
God loves our work! Why? I’ll give you a hint – it’s not because He’s a workaholic. It’s because work is an opportunity for God to partner with us for the salvation of souls! When we head to our jobs each day, we have an opportunity to not only make a paycheck but to engage in Kingdom purposes! 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “So we are Christ’s Ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ...” What does it mean to be Christ’s ambassadors and to speak on his behalf? Simply this: that we represent Christ and his purposes wherever we go, including work. Because when our faith is put into action people notice something is different and it becomes a catalyst for conversation. How can you partner with God at work this week as His ambassador?
Why do you go to work? Something gets you out of bed and on the clock. Is it for a paycheck, to get experience, or to feel like you’re making a difference? All of us have a reason. If you paused and assessed yours, what would the answer be? For nine years we have opened the iWork4Him radio show and podcast by asking: Who do you work for, really? This simple question gets at the heart of the matter because when it comes down to it, there are only two people you can be working for: yourself or God. Either you are laboring for the things of this world – your comfort, wealth, status, and pride. Or you are laboring for the things of eternity – a harvest of righteousness and the fruit of the gospel. Your work matters to God – invite Him in!
Have you ever had a coworker who seems to get all the breaks and suddenly, the green-eyed monster of envy rears its ugly head? Envy is birthed out of comparing our lives to someone else’s and being dissatisfied with the difference. But here’s the thing: comparison is a dangerous game. When you become preoccupied with watching someone else’s life, you miss the things that God wants to do in your life. Proverbs 14:30 says, “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.” You see, jealousy and envy will slowly destroy you and destroy the good and gracious plans that God has in store for your life. So, next time you find yourself silently judging, critiquing, or being envious of someone at work, try what Paul suggests in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.”
There is a trick that some realtors use when they are showing a property or doing an open house: they put a batch of cookies in the oven right before the potential buyer comes through the door. The buyer is then met with the comforting aroma of warm, gooey cookies which give them a sensation of home. Good smells draw people in and invite them to stay awhile. 2 Corinthians 2:16 in the Passion Translation says, “Through our yielded lives he spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere we go. We have become the unmistakable aroma of the victory of the Anointed One to God – a perfume of life to those being saved.” What aroma is your life giving off to the people you work with? Not sure?
Here’s a trick. Spend some time praying before work each day, and the aroma of Christ will fill your life.
Have you ever heard the old adage, “you have two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you speak?” Well, it’s true! Nobody likes to be run over with somebody else’s words! James 1:19 says it this way, “Everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak.” What is your speaking to listening ratio? Do you tend to overrun the conversation, or do you wait to hear what other people have to say? When we take the time to ask thoughtful questions and genuinely listen to the answer, the person we are talking to feels valued and understood. Find one coworker or client at your job today and ask them how they are really doing. Then wait for the real answer… the one that goes deeper than just “fine.” You may be surprised by what you find out!
When was the last time you pushed yourself to do something that made you uncomfortable at work - whether volunteering to learn a task outside of your usual job duties, offering to take on a new project, or making friends with another employee? Moving outside of your comfort zone may feel awkward or stressful at first, but it is also the best way to grow! And in order to become a mature person – personally, professionally, and spiritually – we absolutely MUST grow! William S. Burroughs once said, “When you stop growing, you start dying.” So, ask yourself, is your work ethic alive and growing? How about your family life? How about your spiritual life? This week, challenge yourself to find one thing that you can do to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and into your growth zone!
How do you define success? Being promoted? Achieving a certain number of social media followers? Reaching a particular income level? Well, Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines it simply as, “a favorable or desired outcome.” Take a moment today and consider how God’s desired outcome looks different than the world’s. In Matthew 22, Jesus tells a lawyer there are two main things we should desire in life… and they have nothing to do with financial status, power, or position! He said, “you shall love the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… and shall love your neighbor as yourself.” What kind of desired outcome are you pursuing at work: the world’s version of success that centers on personal gain? Or God’s, which is about honoring Him and loving those around you?
God is up to something. He is not idly sitting by up in the Heavens, uninterested and uncaring about the matters of earth. He is intimately involved. Luke 12:7 says that “He even counts every hair on your head!” And as if it isn’t already crazy enough that the Lord of All cares about our day-to-day lives, He doesn’t stop there. He asks us to join Him in His work! Let me say that again: the Maker of Heaven and Earth wants to partner with YOU! What an invitation! You have the chance to be part of what God is doing in your workplace, neighborhood, and friend group. Have you said ‘yes’? Or have you left God knocking on the door with the invitation in his hand? Don’t miss out on this opportunity. Don’t let another day pass you by without asking Jesus what he wants to accomplish through you today.
We live in a busy world. If we aren’t in a meeting, or working on a project, or going to an appointment – we are looking at our phones, or answering emails, or hopping on a video conference. Technology has made work accessible ALL. THE. TIME. Not just from nine to five. But as Mahatma Gandhi once said, “there is more to life than increasing its speed.” So, how about you? Are you running so fast that you are missing the things God has in store for your day? Try intentionally slowing down and scheduling in blank space on your calendar. When you do, you may be surprised by the connections and conversations you are able to have. When we make time for people, the Lord opens incredible ministry opportunities. Who does God want you to speak to today?
When you have a major decision to make or a faced with a “fork in the road” in your career, whose opinion do you seek out first? Do you ask your friends? Your partner? Do you make a list of pros and cons? Do you just avoid it? Although we’ve all probably done each of these things, there is a BETTER way: ask the one who already knows everything about your past, present, and future. When we get on our knees and seek God’s opinion first, He leads us towards the best decision. So, next time you are faced with a tough choice, pray, read God’s word, and pay attention to the confirmations and affirmations that come through Christ Followers in your life. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” So, stop worrying, and start praying – He will take care of you.
Have you had a performance review in the last year or two? If you have, how did you do? Did you need improvement? Did you meet expectations? OR did you EXCEED expectations? Because here’s the thing: when you do good at work, people notice. Your quality of work is, in itself a witness to who God is… a God of goodness, of care, and of EXCELLENCE. Colossians 3:23 says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Because the thing is, God is interested in good business, good profit, good attitudes, good character development, and meeting your employee needs. And when we connect God’s passion for people with God’s passion for quality and excellence the line between the sacred and the secular dissolves and the secular BECOMES sacred. How are you going to pursue excellence for the Lord at work this week?
If I had one hundred dollars for every time someone said, “I want my life to have a purpose, so I am thinking about quitting my job to go work in a church or Christian nonprofit” I would be a very, very rich man. There is a myth that has been circulating through theological communities for decades: that in order to have a Kingdom impact, you have to work in a four-walls church, a ministry, or a foreign mission field. But Psalm 139 in the Message translation says, “Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? To be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there!” The Holy Spirit resides inside of YOU, and that means that wherever you are – THAT is your mission field. So where you work, doesn’t matter nearly as much as WHY you work. How can you work for the Lord today?
What is the first question someone asks you after an introduction? I’d be willing to bet that 9 times out of 10 its “So… What do you do for work?” That question may feel fine and dandy when you are in a high-powered position or working your dream job – but for most people it’s uncomfortable to be instantly framed by their employment OR lack of employment. We live in a society that equates our value with our job title. But the TRUTH is that your identity is NEVER going to be found in the things you do or how impressive your resume is. Psalm 139: 14 says, “I give thanks to you God because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.” So remember, your value and identity are based on the fact that God designed, made, and loves you… just as you are!
Every paycheck you’ve been putting a little away for retirement. But once that money enters your 401K, what happens to it? Well, usually it gets invested into a whole bunch of companies. But did you know that many of the companies you may be investing in are actually supporting activities that blatantly go against Scripture! Proverbs 16:8 warns against this by saying, “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.” So, while you may be trying to steward your money well, you could actually be supporting businesses who work AGAINST everything you, and God, stand for! So, what can you do about it? Three words: Biblically. Responsible. Investing. Organizations like Inspire Investing can help you use your money to honor God and support companies whose values align with God’s purposes. This week, take a look at where your money and investments are REALLY going.
Most people consider a vocation to be a career that they feel a strong draw towards or that they are particularly suited to. But as Christ-followers, we look at vocation a little bit differently. Dr. Chip Roper from the Voca Center in New York talked with us recently about the biblical view of vocation, which is simply a divine call to God’s service or to the Christian life. From this perspective, your vocation isn’t a career, but how you act in your current career. It is about recognizing that God has called you to your job for this time, in this season, to minister to your coworkers, vendors, bosses, customers, and clients! So remember, you aren’t just working for yourself; you’re working for the Lord! Step into your Kingdom calling this week by inviting God to teach you about your vocation as a workplace missionary.
God formed Adam and Eve on the sixth day of creation… making their first full day in the Garden of Eden the Sabbath – a day of REST. God is gracious so He didn’t start them out on a Monday … instead, God emphasized the importance and holiness of spending time in his presence FIRST, before the work week begins. He asks us to look to him FIRST. Rest in Him FIRST. And only then, after worshiping, resting, and praying, are we to be sent out to do the work that God has for us. The Sabbath is a GIFT. And when we don’t treasure it, we don’t honor God. Remember, Jesus was always busy but NEVER in a hurry. He always made time for people, for rest, and for prayer. So, what about you? Do you consider Monday to be the start of your week? Or Sunday… the day of Rest?
Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light of the world… No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” When you go to work, do you switch off your faith? Do you put your belief under a bowl? Or do you proudly display it, letting it shine so that others can see it? The thing is, nobody benefits from your light if it’s hidden... no one even knows it’s there! But when you let your light - your faith - shine proudly at work, every good deed and kind word will bring glory to God! These regular parts of your day, suddenly become opportunities to share the love of Christ with everyone around you.
The workplace is the largest mission field in the world, yet many Christ-followers don’t engage in their calling as missionaries because they don’t know how to share their faith at work. Fear around rejection, offending someone, or saying the wrong thing are just a few of the barriers that prevent believers from bringing the good news of the Gospel to their coworkers, employees, and clients. But here’s a tip: the most effective way to share your faith is simply to share your own story. Jesus often spoke in stories, called parables, when he was teaching. Why? Because they are a relatable carrier for important truths! Your testimony is no different! When you talk about God’s faithfulness in your life, you are sharing the Gospel. So, who can you share your story of faith with this week at work?
65% of the population will never go into a four walls church – that means that over half of the people in the U.S. will never hear about Jesus from a pastor or dedicated ministry. BUT here’s the good news: almost everyone will be employed during their lifetime, which makes the workplace one of the LARGEST mission fields in the world – a place where we, as ambassadors for Christ, are given free access to the lost and hurting! John 4:35 says, “Wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest… and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life.” Are you treating your workplace like your mission field? If not, WAKE UP! The fields are ripe with people waiting to be brought to eternal life – and Jesus is asking you to be a part of the harvest.
In today’s culture, respect for our elders and wisdom, has been replaced by idolizing youth and outward appearances. As Christians, we believe that ALL human beings are created by God in His image. Therefore every person has inherent dignity and creator-ordained worth. To be created in the likeness of God means that each person bears His image and with it, a value beyond our unique characteristics or individual attributes. Do you treat ALL people at work with the same respect? Do you say hello, and look into the eyes of the janitor or the server at lunch? The FedEx guy? Do you know their names? We challenge you this week to treat everyone you meet with the dignity and respect you previously reserved for only those “who merit it.”
I recently had my concept of “neighbor” challenged. Does neighbor mean only the people in my neighborhood? The ones we live near? Actually, in a broader sense, it is anyone “living or located near another”. That means the folks all around us at work, in the next cubicle. The teacher in the next classroom. The person exercising next to us at the gym. Our neighbors are everywhere and the Lord had a great deal to say about them. Some Hebrew origins of the word, also translate it to mean “fellow man”. Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Today, how will YOU show love to ALL THOSE who you work around all day long?
A company we love, and one you may have heard of, called Dayspring, helps direct their branding by asking the question, “what do we want people to walk away feeling after they’ve encountered a Dayspring product?” Do we want them to feel seen, loved, or encouraged? And what can we do to make customers want to return after an encounter with our products? These kinds of branding questions aren’t just for companies! 2 Corinthians 5:20 says that, “we are Christ’s ambassadors and God is making his appeal through us.” In other words, we are Christ’s BRAND ambassadors! Take a moment and ask yourself the question: how well am I representing God’s brand at work? When people encounter me, do they walk away feeling seen, loved, and encouraged? Think of one thing you can do today that will make those around you want to return to Christ.
We all have a calling, have you heard this before? Some of us get called to the pulpit and some to the foreign mission field but most of us get called to our cubicles, construction sites, care facilities or whatever your job site may be. Your Workplace, It’s your mission field and in that mission field, you and me, we may be the only Jesus our co-workers, employees and bosses may ever meet. That Job that you hold and the work that you do, and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance. The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance. So, as you contemplate the value of your work today, realize this…You don’t need to quit your job in order to go into fulltime ministry. You are already in fulltime ministry, right there where you work.
I heard recently from a retired army guy that he was taught to run TOWARDS the problem, not away from it. .... I wonder how many of us run towards OUR work problems vs. away from them. Perhaps we think “confrontation” is un-Christ-like…but how did Jesus deal with problems?
With the woman at the well, He confronted her, asked and answered questions. In the temple, He confronted with over-turning the tables and admonishing. Did he EVER run away from a problem? Never. His way to address problems were spirit-based AND involved action of some kind. But He never opted out, avoided or ignored the situation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Won’t YOU use Proverbs 3 to run towards YOUR problems at work today?
Have you ever tried to ignore God and His direction in your work or career? Tried to go your own way, and kept running into roadblocks, un-ending NO’s and shut doors? Sometimes in our career, we try to LOGIC our way towards our calling, to where WE want to be, but God has His plans. Remember the Israelites? It took them 40 YEARS to make a 14 day journey. That’s 14, 600 days of blindness, vs. 14 days of obedience. That’s A LOT of resistance. So, the next time you’re being led somewhere you don’t want to go, try praying about it, asking several devoted friends to join you in praying for an answer. If you’re paying attention, God is probably speaking through others to you as well, to guide you. You can fight God every step of the way, but we don’t recommend it! We challenge you today, to PRAY your way through your career options and challenges.
Businesses always seem to be searching for “the magic bullet” that will propel them into the “big leagues”. We’ve heard hundreds of stories of eternally successful companies and their practices and believe we know the secret. It’s excellence. Excellence as unto the Lord. Not being great at what you do, but EXCELLENT. .... It’s the very top level. Consider these synonyms for excellence: high quality · superiority · brilliance · greatness · eminence · supremacy · peerlessness. Remind you of anyone? These words describe Jesus Christ. And since our entire purpose is to conform to His likeness, these words should be describing US, and our work, and our organization. ....the Question is… DO they?
Whether we’re aware of it or not, temptation is all around us at work. It didn’t get left at home when we left for work today. As we take God to work with us, we should also be aware that the enemy will be working there too. Starting our day with the Lord in prayer, and putting on the FULL armor of God (Ephesians 6), are some of the best ways to keep the door shut on temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. And IF you’ve opened the door to temptation at work, speaking and praying bible verses over it is the way to combat it. Today, will YOU fight temptation at work with the presence of the Lord and His word?
Workplace politics. If you’re working, you’re involved in them. And as Christians, we don’t have to disengage just because the term is distasteful. “Workplace politics” are the strategies people use to gain advantage for themselves or to support a cause. What if, we employed biblical wisdom and strategies to deal with the politics? .... such as Matthew 10:16, “I am sending you out like sheep with wolves all around you. Be wise like snakes and gentle like doves. If you’ve chosen to “not participate” or given up trying to, you can’t be an influence in your workplace. .... How about praying today for wisdom at work, and in the politics in your workplace, and then participate, for God’s Glory.
How many times have we said to ourselves. “I wish I had time to go on a mission trip.” Well guess what, you DO! Your workplace IS your mission field. Your daily commute IS your mission travel. And your workplace has been crafted perfectly by God, specifically tailored to you, and your giftings. We can all begin to view our workplace and every co-worker as “the mission”. We can prepare, pray, plan and then serve our colleagues in the same way we would as if we hopped on a plane and flew to another country. Charles Spurgeon the Reformed preacher said “Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor.” So which are YOU? What would it take for you to start tomorrow, to shift your mindset and intentionally serve your workplace as YOUR mission field?
Have you ever encountered a salesperson that wouldn’t stop pushing you to buy an item because they were on commission? It’s obvious in these situations that the salesperson is more interested in reaching their numbers than about meeting the needs of the customer. They have become producers rather than servers. As followers of Christ, we can end up doing the same thing when we focus only on our output at work, rather than caring about the people at work. Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of us look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Are you a producer? Or are you a server? Ask God how you can serve the people around you today – whether in your work, your home, or your neighborhood. Because you may be the only Jesus they ever meet.
Sacrifice. It’s defined as surrender of something for the sake of something else. We are called to do it in our life as a Christ follower, just as He did. 1 Corinthians 13:3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. What does love-based sacrifice look like in our workplace? .... We sacrifice pride, to choose what’s best for the organization, over our own ideas. .... We sacrifice time, when we put a co-worker’s needs before our own. .... We sacrifice “top sales numbers” to do what’s best for the client, not our own paycheck. HOW are YOU willing to be sacrificial in your workplace this week?
When God created Adam, he didn’t place him in the Garden of Eden for an extended vacation – No! God created A JOB for him. In Genesis 2 it says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to WORK it and TAKE CARE of it… and the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them...” Of course, God could’ve easily named the animals He created, but instead He CHOSE to invite Adam into the work He was doing. In the same way, God has created a job for you, and has invited you to work TOGETHER with Him in it! Because when we work in partnership with God, our jobs become more than just hustle… they become holy. How can you invite God into your work today?
Have you ever met a salesperson or a marketer who offered you something that seemed too good to be true… and then it turns out it WAS too good to be true? Although overpromising may increase sales and conversions on the front end, underdelivering on those promises alienates customers and creates a bad reputation. Similarly, overpromising and underdelivering in your relationships at work and at home causes division, disappointment, and distrust. Proverbs 11:3 says, “The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.” Integrity is more than being honest – it’s matching your actions to your words in a way that honors God and those around you. Are there any areas of your life that you are overpromising and underdelivering?
Why is it that the grass always looks greener on the other side? Well, in today’s world it’s because the grass probably has a photo filter on it! Did you know that the average person spends two and a half hours scrolling through social media per day?! That’s more time than it takes to workout, make dinner, and clean the house! This constant access to the edited highlights of our friends’ and coworkers’ lives leads us to compare, compare, compare. But Proverbs 4:27 says, “Do not turn to the right or the left, keep your foot from evil.” PAUSE. Looking too much at the filtered lives of those around us can lead to jealousy, discontentment, resentment, and envy. PAUSE So, instead of going on your phone or tablet and comparing your life to your neighbors’ vacation photos, take a moment today to stop and thank God for the blessings in your own life!
Have you ever been afraid to share the gospel because you might not know all the answers? Well, here’s the good news: we don’t need to argue people into Christ, we just need to invite them to encounter Him! What a relief - God is the one who does the heavy lifting… not us! When you set out to simply do good, work with excellence, and love people… others will be drawn to the light of Christ inside of you naturally… like a moth to a flame. Matthew 5:6 says, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” So, remember today that by working with integrity and honoring those around you, you’re INVITING them to encounter Christ… and it is Christ who will change and soften their hearts – the pressure is off!
1 Corinthians 6:19 says, “do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is IN YOU, whom you have received from God?” Whoa! Think about that for a moment: the Holy Spirit… the very presence of God… lives INSIDE of our bodies! How crazy is THAT! The God of the universe has taken up residence inside of us, where He not only guides us as a wise counselor but also intercedes on our behalf and empowers us to carry out the good works that are prepared in advance for us. If God lives in us, and works through us, then it makes sense that our lives should demand a supernatural explanation! Are you living life in your own power or in God’s power? Take a moment today and pray that the Holy Spirit would do something through you that you couldn’t possibly do on your own! – something that demands a supernatural explanation.
Have you ever felt stuck in a rut? Like all you do is go to work, come home, eat, and sleep, just to go back to work and do it all over again the next morning? This endless cycle can feel maddening! But did you know that God never intended for our work to be a burden? In fact, God gave Adam the job of caretaker of the world as a GIFT – as an opportunity to partner with Himself! And guess what? Jesus is extending the same gift to you today! When you dedicate your work to God, you become a partner with Him. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Jesus wants to take your daily work and make it so much more than toil! He wants to partner with you in the redemption of the world! Invite Jesus into your work today.
Have you ever looked at your current job and wondered, “how did I end up here?” The good news is, you didn’t end up there on accident! God has strategically placed you exactly where you are for a REASON – to share the good news of Jesus Christ with your coworkers, employees, bosses, and clients! 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.” So next time that you feel burnt out or bored with your job, remember that you are an ambassador for Christ – sent to your workplace to make an appeal on God’s behalf! For He created your work, He ordained it, He orchestrated it, and He is the one who will sustain you in it. So, take heart! Your job isn’t an accident…. It’s an anointing.
When I graduated from high school, I had my life all planned out. For years I had felt God calling me into ministry, so naturally I planned to attend Seminary…. But then God asked me to take a right turn in my vocation - He asked me to go into business. At the time I didn’t understand how I could feel called to ministry AND the marketplace, but today I can look back and see that all those years WERE ministry and that he was laying the groundwork for iWork4Him. Isaiah 55:8 says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts…And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” We don’t have the big picture, but GOD DOES! So, how about you? Are you saying NO or NEVER to something that God is asking you to consider? Try removing the word NEVER from your prayer life – and see what God does.
Your work matters to God, and God has strategically placed you in your workplace to be his representative. But what exactly does it mean to be a representative of God? 1 John:4 says, that God IS love. So, when we genuinely love people, we are giving them a taste of who God is – it’s as easy as that! Being a representative of God in the workplace doesn’t mean that you need to be a pastor, an evangelist, or an apologist – all you need to do is love God and love the people around you with authenticity, transparency, and humility. So, when you go to work, remember that you have an opportunity to be a representative of God by showing care and respect to those around you. Pick one way this week to show your coworkers that you genuinely love them, and so does God!
I almost finished a 500 piece puzzle the other day, but one piece was missing. I searched high and low but I couldn’t find it anywhere. In the end, I couldn’t complete the picture with just 499 pieces… I needed the last one. 1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.” YOU are a part of the body of Christ and YOU bring something unique to this world - something only you can bring! Your skills, gifts, and passions help reveal who Jesus is to the world. But… if you aren’t engaging, the puzzle is missing an essential piece and the picture is incomplete! God wants to use you, right where you are, to reflect Himself to your coworkers, bosses, friends and neighbors. Are you using your skills and gifts for the glory of Christ today?
So often, we notice the people we work with are struggling. We can see that they’re down and out and that they sometimes just need a hug. Since hugging isn’t always acceptable at work, the second best thing we can do is ask them how they’re doing. It opens up a door of opportunity for us to listen. But even after that opportunity to listen, comes the opportunity to pray. When someone has shared something significant with me, I always ask if I can pray with them about that right now. When we pray with people, it opens the door to heaven for them. When we pray with people, they see that God is real. When we pray with people, they can experience God right alongside us. Look for those opportunities to pray with people and see the difference it makes in your relationships at work.
When we start to pray, I mean really pray, it changes our lives. When we realize that God isn’t looking for just prayers over meals or on Sunday morning during church, God is looking for a conversation that is ongoing in our minds, souls, and lips all day. When we start to incorporate talking with our heavenly father all day long, our lives will never be the same. That’s what God intended. He intended to walk through life with us, working with us, living with us, and transforming our lives to look more like His son Jesus. Jesus understood this and focused significant time on listening to His Father and talking with Him at length. It led Him to the Cross, and it saved you and me. Remember, Prayer changes lives; it changed mine for sure.
I grew up struggling with bitterness and anger. I don’t know about you, but I never was taught how to process my feelings. Pretty much most men in America have been told not to have feelings. Let alone how to process them. So, I had a lot of bitterness in my heart; then, I was challenged to start praying for the people I was against. The people I had bitterness in my heart towards. Praying for others who had hurt me or I had hurt opened up a whole new door in my heart to let out all that bitterness and anger and bring healing. It also prompted me to seek forgiveness from those I had wronged and those who wronged me. Prayer softened my heart towards those I thought were enemies. Prayer is so powerful in this way. My softened heart is so much more effective in living out my faith at work.
I grew up thinking that prayer was like praying to a genie or putting things on my Christmas list for Santa. I thought that prayer would open the door to getting the things I wanted. Growing up in my faith as a teenager and into my 20s, I realized that my prayer life was pretty weak. But then I started praying for other people. And when I began praying for others, I saw that God opened doors for me to love those people in ways I never thought possible. Prayer opens doors that otherwise would be shut tight. What kind of doors do you need open in your life today? Pray about it. See what God has in store for you today, and let him show you how prayer is a key to unlocking His promises for you.
I think we underestimate the power of prayer. Some of us grew up in churches where prayer was boring, repetitive, used big words, and was often meaningless. However, the disciples saw something different about prayer. They experienced prayer while walking alongside the savior of the world. They saw prayer as a powerful thing. They did not see prayer as a ritual but as an interaction with their Heavenly Father. There is power in prayer because we pray to a powerful God. Remember that today as you pray on your way to and from work. Beginning your work day with prayer leads to life-changing work. Have you invited the power of prayer into your workplace? Whether the answer is yes or no, start today recognizing God wants to be involved with your work and talk with Him about it.
A pastor is a shepherd, and a shepherd/pastor spends time with his sheep, reassuring them with his voice and lending them a sympathetic ear while carrying them when they are weak, sick, in danger, or hurt. What’s great about being a shepherd is that shepherds get to be good listeners. They may be talking to the sheep, but most sheep know they can just hang out with the shepherd without getting a lecture. That’s a super great way for us to minister to the sheep that we’ve been entrusted with. Sit down and listen to people. Having your assigned sheep know you can be a listening ear without judgment is such a great gift. Practice being a shepherd today in the lives of those you work with by listening, and see how your relationship grows in trust and love.
A pastor is a shepherd, and a shepherd/pastor helps his sheep out of difficult situations. We don’t have to wait for our sheep to get into dangerous situations; we can guide them away from danger. Sometimes, it's too late, and our co-workers are already in trouble. Sometimes, the people we work with don’t know they’re flirting with disaster, but you sure can tell. Maybe it’s flirtatious behavior at work or going to the bar after work. Perhaps they just don’t know that the behavior they are deep in could end in disaster. By gently guiding them away or distracting them to something healthier, you are a pastor to them. Shepherd people away from danger before they get there and be there without judgment if they get into trouble before you can stop them. A pastor/shepherd is always willing to put others first and to speak up when he sees a sheep in danger.
A pastor is a shepherd, and a shepherd/pastor protects his sheep from the enemy's attacks. What does this look like in your workplace? The enemy attacks everybody a little differently. Some he attacks with anger and bitterness. Some he attacks with making stupid decisions. Some he attacks with addictions. You can walk alongside those you work with and show them they are heading into enemy territory. That they’re in danger And that you know a solution. You may even get a call on a Friday night from a co-worker who has gotten in over their head, and needs a ride home. That call only comes if a relationship exists. That relationship allows you to be a pastor to them, and a pastor protects his sheep. When you see your sheep in trouble, show them the way to safety.
A pastor is a shepherd, and as a shepherd, a pastor guides his sheep to green pastures. What does that look like in your workplace? Often, we have conversations with those we work with and they are not hanging out in Green pastures. They’re hanging out in mud pits or sewer pits or drainage ditches. Many of them don’t know anything different. They grew up in a drainage ditch, a mud puddle, or a sewer pit. That’s what their life has always looked like. We serve a living savior who wants each one of us to live life to its fullest; as a pastor in your workplace, lead people to the green pastures, where they can eat spiritual food that will replenish, restore, and renew them. Just because someone grew up in a pretty broken place, doesn’t mean our Father can't renew them. Embrace your role as Pastor and lead people to green pastures at work.
This week, we’re going to focus on the role of Pastor in the marketplace. I believe that many of you have been given the gift of being a pastor/Shepherd, and that role is critical in your workplace. Pastors are guides, leaders, protectors, intercessors, and teachers. So often, we’re unaware of the gifting that we’ve been given. For those of you who naturally Shepherd people, loving people right where they’re at, your calling is so important to reaching the lost at work. You may be a CEO, a Supervisor, a Manager, or a team lead, but you know who you are, and you know that you have been given a gift to shepherd and love people. This is an incredible gift. Celebrate the fact that you are a shepherd, and look for ways to use this gift to show others the savior.
This week, we've talked about the shift from iWork4Him to I Work With Him. We've talked about seeing the people God places before you every day. We've talked about involving God in our day-to-day work as we work with Him. We've talked about involving God in our decisions as we work with him. But we also need to remember that by working with God, we also have access to the power of God. Jesus said he never did anything that the Father didn't want Him to do. When Jesus was within God's will, he had all kinds of supernatural power. And he said we would have the same power accessible to us. Do you think about the power of God flowing through you as you work with God? God is performing miraculous things across the globe every day as people allow him to work with them. Are you willing to let him do the miraculous with you today?
How many decisions do you need to make in a day? What time to get up? What clothes to wear? What route should I drive to work? What should I eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner? We make decisions all day long. When was the last time you said, “God what do you want me to wear today?” Or “God, what do you want me to do with you today at work?” I think it's incredible that I lived more than 50 years before I realized that God wanted to be involved in the intimate details of my work every day. God wants to work with me, and He wants me to ask Him questions about what I am dealing with at work. As you make the paradigm shift from iWork4Him to I work with him, ask him questions and see what a difference it makes.
It took me a long time to realize that my workplace was my assigned place of ministry. I didn't need to quit my job to go into full-time ministry. That my life as an insurance guy was the life that God had put me into so that I could touch the people around me. At first, I thought it was just a job, and then I realized that these jobs were a means to an incredible end. I needed to see that I was working with God on His mission that He was allowing me to be a part of. It's humbling to realize that God loves me so much that He wants me to be involved with Him in my work and with the people I work with. Not just the people but also the work that I do. God wants to work with me; will you let Him work with you, too?
Working with God instead of for God involves a paradigm shift. Moses, Joseph, Joshua, David, and Elijah did it, and of course Jesus did too. Each one of them worked with God on the mission He had them on. They were accomplishing things with God and at His direction. God has placed you uniquely in a workplace with people He loves dearly. He is already working on their hearts, and He'd like you to join Him in loving them, too. They might be difficult to love, and some of them might be almost impossible to love. But God has chosen you to be Him in your workplace. God has chosen you to introduce Jesus to these people He's been working on since the day they were born. This year, decide to work with God on loving the people you work around.
iWork4Him, iWork4Him, iWork4Him, this is the mantra we've been speaking into your life for the last 11 years. It's what we needed to learn. It's the reality we needed to be in touch with. We needed to understand that our work matters to God. We need to understand that our workplace is our place of ministry. We need to understand that our workplace is our mission field, full of lost and hopeless people who need to meet Jesus. It's time to take it to the next level. New Year, new challenge. God wants you to go so much deeper with Him. So we need to switch from iWork4Him to i work with Him. God & you are involved in the details of your daily work life. But we have to invite Him in. It's no longer going to work for Him; it's going to work with Him, right where He is involved in the people's lives around you. Don't miss the uniqueness of this calling.
2024 is bound to be filled with awesome adventures with the Lord. There are so many things to look forward to. What is it that the Lord has placed on your heart to look forward to? I have been praying for years that I could just hear my heavenly father‘s voice in my daily interactions and my transactions so that no matter what I’m doing, I’m doing it with him. I spent many years working for God, but in 2024, I want to complete the transition to working with God, to seeing where he is at work And working with him at what he is trying to accomplish. I want to notice people before they notice me. I want to love the least of these and be an example for others of what it means to be a great husband, father, and son. Set your sites on 2024 and what God has in store for you. Happy New Year.
What am I looking forward to in 2024? More adventure, more challenges, more time with my kids and grandkids. More time crafting and more time in my garden. I want more time with my mom and maybe some vacation time with Jim. What I know that I’ll get in 2024 is more stretching by my heavenly father. I know I will get More time with him because that’s what I need. I want 2024 to be the year where I shift my thinking from always completing a to-do list as iWork4Him to resting and abiding in him and listening for his still, small voice as I learn to work with him. What about you? What is your goal for 2024? Will you learn to work with him this next year? Happy New Year!
Coming to the end of 2023, do I have any regrets? No. I learned in 2023 that regrets or shame cannot define my life. Regrets and shame come from the enemy, and that’s not how my heavenly father wants me to view my life. Did I make some mistakes? Absolutely. Did I screw up many things? Absolutely. Did I love my wife like Christ loves the church every day? Nope, but I wanted to. Did I love every person God brought before me? Nope, but I wanted to. Did I live my life in a way that pointed people to Jesus? Most of the time. That, to me, is a victory. 2023 will go down in the annals of “Jim's history” as a year where God showed himself not in my activity but in my obedience. Happy New Year!
As I look back on 2023, I see that God used adversity in my life to take me from who I am to who he can use more effectively. He taught me how to wait, he taught me how to abide, and he kept reminding me that I needed to do more resting. I struggle with all these things as Jim and I tried to learn them together, but 2023 will always go down in our lives as a year when we learned just to be with God. When you look back on 2023, what will it remind you of? What was the one thing God was trying to work on in your life all year long? Whatever it is, make sure you learn it so 2024 can be a whole new adventure. Happy New Year!
We are coming up to the new year. Which means we’re coming to the end of another year. Are we going to celebrate both or just one or the other? I think we need to do both this week. Today, I want to focus on how God has done amazing things in my life this year. He loved me too much to leave me as I was. He stretched me, he taught me, he loved me, and he guided me. As I come to the end of 2023, I recognize that I’ll never be the same guy I was in 2022. I love my Heavenly Father for that, and I can’t wait to see what he has for me in 2024. What about you? Are you grateful for 2023 and looking forward to 2024? I know I am. Happy New Year.
It’s the last workday before Christmas, and all through the house are Christmas presents wrapped and hidden in closets, hanging out with a mouse. Did you know that some people won’t have gifts this Christmas? Not only will they not have presents but they’ll also be alone on Christmas day. As you consider your Christmas plans, do they include someone new? Before leaving your workplace today, make sure that nobody you work with will be alone on Christmas day. If you find out somebody will be alone, would you invite them over for Christmas dinner? It could be the most impactful thing you do for 2023. The greatest gift you can give this year to a co-worker may be the gift of your friendship. Wrap that up with a bow and give someone a very Merry Christmas.
You know, I’m not a very good listener. I mean to be a good listener, but I get distracted pretty easily. I find that when I’m not being a very good listener to my wife Martha, she gets frustrated. She would like me to be a good listener all the time. And I would like to be a good listener all the time. I am working on it, but it sure doesn’t come easy. Do you know why? Cause I like to TALK! Did you know that being a good listener can be a great gift to somebody? Every day, we work alongside people who are hurting. Some of them are lost and hopeless, too. When we ask them how they’re doing, one of the greatest gifts we can give them is to listen to their answer. You can give this gift all year long, but start this week by being a good listener at work. Merry Christmas.
One of the greatest gifts we can give others, is to be present with them. Not give them presents, although everybody loves to get gifts, but to be present with them. So often, we’re so busy this time of year; We are too busy for conversations. We’re too busy to sit down with people. We spend so much time looking for presents for them that we miss the opportunity to be present with them. Jesus taught us to be present with them. That is the gift they need. Take time to sit down over a cup of coffee, hot chocolate, or, in Jim’s case, maybe an eggnog. Being present with people could be one of the greatest Christmas gifts they get this year. Find a way to be present with somebody from work this week, and Merry Christmas.
Christmas is an incredibly influential season in our country. People ramp up and get prepared for Christmas months in advance. But when it comes right down to it, and we’re cramming through the malls to do our shopping, people aren’t always very kind. As a believer in the workplace, can you be exceptionally kind to those you work with? Not everybody is nice this time of year, but we have everything to be excited about as believers. Christmas represents the beginning of God‘s rescue plan—sending his son to earth. We have everything to be grateful for and have every reason to be kind to those we work alongside. What does kindness look like in your workplace? Sometimes it’s just a smile. It may be an encouraging word or some kind of other action. Be kind to those you work with. It says a lot. Merry Christmas!
This Christmas season, we, as believers in the workplace, need to be a gift to the people around us. Today, I want to talk about Love. It’s hard to love everybody, but Jesus told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. So Jesus knew it was hard to love, but He commanded us to do it anyway. Be a gift to those that you work around by loving on them. Some days, it means you might not like them, but if you pray for them, it’ll be much easier for you to love them. Christmas is a celebration of an incredible demonstration of love. The least we can do is love those we work alongside. You shouldn’t have to work too hard to find someone to love on at work. Merry Christmas.
Jesus said that our unity would attract others to Christ because our unity would show that Jesus came from our heavenly father. In other words, when we walk as one in the marketplace, our neighborhoods, our communities, and our country, the message is loud and clear: Jesus has transformed the lives of all these people, and they walk as one in love. It's so important that we, as workplace believers, display our love for Jesus in unity, to attract others into conversations and, eventually, a relationship with Him. Our unity is attractive. That was Jesus's idea all along. For the remainder of this year, look for ways to walk in unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ to solve your community's problems and bring Jesus-sized solutions to those who need it.
Almost 2000 years have passed since Jesus returned to heaven. In the last 500 years, denominational segregation has plagued the body of Christ. We all go to different churches on Sunday. We live in a town of about 2000 people with 15 different churches and 15 different denominations. Very little ministry is coordinated for the ministry to this small town by the leaders of those churches. There is hope because marketplace and political leaders are unifying in Christ to bring flourishing to this town. When we are unified as followers of Jesus, outside our denominational hold, we can impact our cities and communities for good. When we face the problems together, we are so much stronger and more powerful. When Christ followers unite, no weapon of the enemy can stand against us. Those weapons may be poverty, drug addiction, broken families, et cetera. Let's unite as Jesus followers and bring good to our cities.
Do you know what's great about believers? We all experience God differently. I know this because we're all different. Not one of us is the same. Jim and I got to sit down with some friends here in our small town in Missouri just the other day. We go to different churches on Sunday, yet we share a sweet fellowship in Christ. They shared some of their traditions surrounding the giving and taking of communion. While their traditions are very different than ours, the commonality is the communion. As believers in Jesus let us work hard at focusing on the things we have in common despite the efforts of denominations to split us, and focus on the things that the Bible teaches us clearly. The power of a unified church cannot be overcome. Let’s find unity by celebrating the diversity of how others worship Jesus.
What has amazed me most in the last 11 years is the incredible unity in the body of Christ out in the marketplace. On Sunday, we are the most segregated, separated people on the planet. But on Monday morning, when we go to work, nobody cares about Denominations. All they care about is, “I want to hang out with and do business with people who love Jesus. I don't care that you may show your love for Jesus in a different way than I do or sing different songs on Sunday than I do. All I care is that you love Jesus.” Jesus prayed for us in John 17. He prayed that we as believers would be one so that through that oneness, the world would know that God sent Jesus. In the marketplace, I see this unity. For the sake of the people in our communities, let’s lay down our denominational swords and walk in Unity as we minister to their needs in the name of Jesus.
Have you ever wondered where all of the denominations in Christianity come from? I mean really, 2000 years ago, there were the Jews and the Gentiles. Today, we have 43,000 “Christian” denominations around the world. What happened? I'll tell you what happened. People. Instead of focusing on the unity Christ talked about in John 17, Christ followers throughout the centuries have focused on differences in traditions and interpretations that broke Christianity into 43,000 pieces. On Sunday morning, the church is segregated and separated. But denominations have no place in the marketplace, so it's easy to unify on the message of Jesus. Don't let your denominational commitment on Sunday get in the way of you forming solid relationships with other believers in the marketplace on Monday.
When the internet was created, the goal was the free-flowing of shared information for the good of humanity; what resulted was much more sinister than that. How do you love the Lord your God with all your strength if you spend too much time on the internet looking and experiencing things that sap your strength? That fills you with filth, that plagues you with guilt and shame. Living in this world makes it impossible to Love God to the fullest. The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy; Jesus came to bring life so we can live it to the fullest. Does your internet surfing lead to life or death? Stop Ignoring the dangers of the internet at work and home and put some digital armor in place like a safe internet VPN with Web filters and anti-virus and protect your strength.
When the internet was created, the goal was the free-flowing of shared information for the good of humanity; what resulted was much more sinister than that. We are called to love the Lord our God with all our soul. What's creeping around in your soul? Is it scripture, or is it what you watched on TV last night? Is it the latest sermon you read or the pornographic videos you ingested over lunch? Is it your weekly bible study topic, or is it your deep desire to place a bet on the next race at the track? Your soul is a precious place, and our eyes are the windows to our soul. What are they seeing? Choose to protect your soul and those you work with and live with. Stop Ignoring the dangers of the internet at work and home and put some digital armor in place like a safe internet VPN with Web filters and anti-virus and protect your soul.
When the internet was created, the goal was the free-flowing of shared information for the good of humanity; what resulted was much more sinister than that. We are called to love the Lord our God with all our mind. Are you? What do you fill your mind with? It is so easy with the internet everywhere, both in public and private, to fill our minds with EVERYTHING but God and His Love. We stream TV at levels like never before. Because we can binge-watch anything, we fill our minds with murder, horror, and sex. Without being careful, our minds can become a playground for evil. At work and home, protect your mind so you can fill it with HIM and His word. Stop Ignoring the dangers of the internet at work and home and put some digital armor in place like a safe internet VPN with Web filters and anti-virus and protect your mind.
When the internet was created, the goal was the free-flowing of shared information for the good of humanity; what resulted was much more sinister than that. We are called to love the Lord our God with our hearts, but when our hearts are distracted by the evils of the internet, God can't find a place. Do you know if your heart is safe whenever you surf the web? What about your kids, your spouse, or your grandkids when they visit? At work, are the people you work with struggling with a heart addiction to internet sins like pornography and gambling? What are you doing to help protect their hearts? Are there guardrails in place to keep the internet a healthy place at work? Stop ignoring the dangers of the internet at work and home and put some digital armor in place like a safe internet VPN with Web filters and anti-virus and protect your heart.
When the internet was created, the goal was the free-flowing of shared information for the good of humanity; what resulted was much more sinister than that. Every day, we use the internet to do our jobs, complete our shopping, and study our bible. However, if we are not careful, the internet can lead us to pornography, inappropriate relationships, gambling addictions, and more. We think we have the willpower to resist all the daily temptations on the internet, but statistics now prove we do not. Huge percentages of men and women, teens, and children have been exposed to pornography on the internet and find themselves driven to view more and more of it. Create a work and home environment where God can heal and stop this destruction. Put some digital armor in place, because the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Every year, people are elected to the local boards of education in your area. How many of them are believers? Less than 10%. Getting on the local school Board of Education does not require a degree; it requires a willingness and obedience to a call from God. As believers, we have walked away from the public school system for far too long, and it is time to take a stand and get involved where possible. The kids of this next public school generation need you. We celebrate you believers who are on your local school Board of Education. You are not alone, but there are far too few of you. Please consider running for your local school Board of Education and serve on a mission field that desperately needs an intervention from God.
Christ-following Principals, Vice Principals, Guidance Counselors, and office staff within the public school system serve in a massive mission field. So many in their profession have been misguided and deceived to believe that God has no place in the public schools and that in fact, He does not exist. The religion taught in our public schools today is humanism – a religion as old as Noah. We celebrate those believers who venture off to their public school administrative jobs today. Take heart, you are not alone, and God has not been kicked out of the public schools because YOU ARE THERE, and He is there in YOU. Maybe you are listening today and feel called to join your brothers and sisters in this challenging mission field. Great. You are desperately needed on the mission field of the public school system. Never underestimate the power of obedience in a believer's heart to respond to God's call.
We often think of missionaries as people who have graduated from college or seminary and being sent off overseas. I define the word missionary as someone who is a follower of Jesus who has been sent into a field of people who are lost and hopeless and need to meet Jesus. The public school system is such a mission field. Our students who know and love Jesus are the missionaries sent behind enemy lines to bring Jesus to their fellow students. We celebrate these students today and pray for them because their workplace is the education place. Their workplace involves desks and learning and studying. Their mission field surrounds them in every classroom, at every lunch table, and in every gym class. Can you take time today to Encourage a local student missionary?
I know that many of you have been told that in order to serve as a missionary, you need to go overseas. No way. The mission field of the public school system is monstrous. Teachers who enter the classroom every day serve as missionaries and representatives of God at every education level in America. This mission field is under attack. And it's been under attack for over 60 years. Maybe More. There is a desperate need for more believers to set aside their comfort and become public school teachers willingly. Your faith is needed in classrooms of every type and subject. We celebrate those believers who serve as teachers in the public school system today, but we recognize they need more backup. Please consider joining the missionary team at a public school near you. The public school students in your community need to meet Jesus, and you may be their only hope.
What's the definition of a mission field? It is a place where lost and hopeless people live and work. The public school system is one massive mission field. Some incredible believers are teachers, aids, and administrators throughout the public school system, but we need more. God and the Bible have been weaseled out of every corner of our education system. But take heart: those of you serving in the mission field of the public school system are being prayed for today. Don't give up. The fields are ripe for harvest. More of you are desperately needed there to serve as teachers, aides, school board members, and administrators. So please pray for those serving in this battleground mission field and consider joining them in the fight for the souls of our public school students.
We go to work so we have money. We need money to pay our bills and to buy things. Where I spend my money matters to God, especially if I know that those companies are supporting things that are actually anti-God. We work with Inspire Investing to ensure our investments are biblically responsible. We chose a mobile carrier, Patriot Mobile, because they are pro-God, pro-family, and pro-country. We select our retailers, ensuring our dollars are not being spent to support the things we fight against every day. That may mean that sometimes we must go out of our way shopping. It also may mean that sometimes we just don't buy. Christ calls on us to be good stewards. Good stewards of our time. Good stewards of our work. And good stewards of our money. Steward it all well.
In our family, I spend most of the money at retail stores. Jim spends most of the money online. When we have the choice, we choose retailers that we know are either pro-god, pro-family, pro-country, or at least neutral on these subjects. Finding neutral companies is very difficult. Our country is polarized even in our retail environment. Years ago, we took a bullseye to a certain retailer and stopped shopping there because they supported the abortion industry. Today, they are one of the largest retail supporters of alternative lifestyles. When our money walks, our money talks. Recently, a large beverage retailer made a huge marketing blunder. It cost them billions of dollars because they didn't know who their customers were. Those customers walked, and those dollars talked. As a Jesus follower, we can make sure our money is walking and talking to a place that supports our biblical worldview.
Each one of you has a workplace that is your ministry place. A mission field full of lost and hopeless people who need to meet Jesus. The people you work with and for may be blinded to all of the destruction around them to the family and to our country. Yet they may be funding it inadvertently. Many companies support organizations whose sole aim is to destroy the family or our country because of pressure from the outside. Suppose they knew there was pressure from the inside to stop supporting those organizations; that could make a difference. Ask questions. Find out how the owners, shareholders, and stockholders are asking for your company's profits to be spent. Make sure that those in charge know how impactful those dollars can be. Be a proactive voice within your organization, helping them choose places to invest their dollars within the community that supports God, the family, and our country.
How do we know if our company is pro-Christianity, pro-God, pro-family, or pro-US of A? Is it even important for us to know these things? I think it is. Almost every organization has excess dollars that they are investing in other organizations with an agenda. What is the agenda that your company or organization is supporting? Are they supporting your values, neutral on them or working against them? What we are warning about today is making sure you're not supporting companies fighting against the very things that we know and love: God, family, and country. I hope it doesn't surprise you, but there are thousands of companies and organizations in this great country that hate your biblical morality and want to destroy your family. Find out who you really work for.
It's important to know who we work for. I don't mean the name of your boss or the name of your company. I mean, who is your company? What do they stand for? What do they support with their profits? We need to know everything about the company where we invest 40 to 50 hours weekly. I'm just saying you need to be aware of the company you're working for to make sure that they're not taking your hard-earned hours and turning them into a campaign to destroy the biblical worldview that this great country was founded upon. Who do you work for, really? It is a really important question to ask. If you are already in a job with a company that does not honor God, see how you can make a difference. But if you're searching for work, choose wisely because you were called to be a good steward, including where you invest your work time.
What does a normal Thanksgiving dinner look like for you and your family? Does it have all the fixings and smell just like grandma's house when you were growing up? Is it always exclusive to family? There are people you work with and people you live around that will be alone this year; why don't you mess up your normal Thanksgiving and invite some of them to join you? Jim and I would like to challenge you to have your last normal Thanksgiving last year. May last year be the final year when your Thanksgiving celebration didn't include your neighbors. This year we challenge you to invite people into your life and into your Thanksgiving celebration that would otherwise be home alone, probably not even celebrating Thanksgiving. What does a normal Thanksgiving look like? It looks like the power of neighboring in action.
This whole idea of practicing the power of neighboring at Thanksgiving can cause some strife at home. Not everyone wants to open up their Thanksgiving table to strangers, or people that just aren't family. I know in my family growing up we never had anybody who wasn't family over for Thanksgiving. It just wasn't done. But at Martha's house, her parents were great at inviting people who would be alone at Thanksgiving and having them join us for a family Thanksgiving celebration. Gather your family around you and share this idea with them. Share the idea that you want to solve somebody's loneliness at Thanksgiving this year and you need their help. Once you explain this to your family, I can't imagine that they won't be on board. Maybe they can even think of some people that need to be invited. Together you can change somebody's life this Thanksgiving.
What does loneliness look like? Does it have a face? Does it always look the same? You and I have the ability to solve someone's loneliness problem at Thanksgiving this year. All around us are people, our neighbors, who don't have anywhere to go for Thanksgiving. They are either too far away from family or don't have family or they’ve been alienated. Can you imagine being alone at Thanksgiving? It's just a big fat bummer. Look around you. As you leave your neighborhood this morning or drive through your neighborhood this afternoon, think about all the people that you know. Are any of them going to be alone at Thanksgiving? As you walk between the cubicles or sit down for lunch, are any of those people going to be alone at Thanksgiving? Solve loneliness today by inviting a neighbor for Thanksgiving.
The power of neighboring at Thanksgiving looks like this. It begins with compassion, and it continues with intentionality. We all have neighbors, whether they are at work or in our neighborhood. They could even be in the pews sitting near us at church. But how many of those neighbors will be alone at Thanksgiving time? In my opinion, there is nothing worse than being alone during the holidays. My challenge to you today is to institute the power of neighboring right where you live and right where you work. Find out if anyone you know and care about will be alone on Thanksgiving. And then invite them for dinner. You may already have a crowded dinner table, and you may have to cook some more food, but by inviting them to be part of your celebration of Thanksgiving, you could change their life.
One day, a religious leader approached Jesus and asked him who's my neighbor? Jesus responded with the parable of the Good Samaritan. Now we know who the neighbor was in this parable. The Good Samaritan was a powerful neighbor in the wounded man's life. The power of neighboring lies within each of us—the power to transform somebody's life by loving them as we love ourselves. The power of neighboring requires selfless acts and living on the edge of comfortableness. The power of neighboring started with Jesus, and it continues on in you. You have the ability to impact somebody's life for eternity by loving them. Your neighbors, they are at work, and they are in your neighborhood too. The big question I have for you today is who is your neighbor and will any of your neighbors be alone this Thanksgiving.
We've all heard of the five love languages, but have you heard about the five languages of appreciation at work? The final way people feel appreciated at work is through Appropriate Physical Touch. You need to be careful when it comes to touching at work. But expressing appreciation through appropriate physical touch for someone who needs that touch can be as simple as a handshake, a high five, or a pat on the back. In some situations, it might even be a hug of celebration. Any way you look at it, appropriate physical touch must always respect boundaries. Many of those we work alongside have situations that cause them to be very cautious about physical touch. That's why respect is needed. But even hurting people can sometimes appreciate that high five or that meaningful handshake. For more information, check out appreciation at work dot com.
We've all heard of the five love languages, but have you heard about the five languages of appreciation at work? The 4th way people feel appreciated at work is through giving tangible gifts. Giving the gift of words, time, or service is meaningful to many people, but some people just like gifts. And a gift at work could be a simple cup of coffee, a candy bar, or a plaque of appreciation. Sometimes, a gift could be some time off or tickets to a baseball game. When somebody's appreciation language is gifts, all you need to do is find out what's important to them and match the gift. Everyone likes to be appreciated. You can hit a home run every time when their appreciation language is gifts. For more information, check out appreciation at work dot com.
We've all heard of the five love languages, but have you heard about the five languages of appreciation at work? The number three way people feel appreciated at work is through Acts of Service. One of the greatest ways we can show our appreciation for others is by helping others complete a project. It means so much to them when we help somebody at the end of our shift or at the end of our day to finish what they're doing. And sometimes, it's just cleaning the toilet, vacuuming, or helping unload a car full of supplies. Any way you look at it, helping others out of the goodness of your heart with a little act of service can make a real difference in the life of someone you work with. For more information, check out appreciation at work dot com.
We've all heard of the five love languages, but have you heard about the five languages of appreciation at work? The second way people feel appreciated at work is through the gift of Quality Time. Relationships are so important at work. But you can't just build relationships one minute at a time while talking at the water cooler. When you ask somebody how they're doing, mean it. Find out how people are doing. Spend time checking in with them to get to know them. Make sure you have lunch with people and be transparent and authentic with them. If you're a team leader, create time for your team to connect. Make it possible for people to spend time together without a deadline and work hanging over their heads. For more information, check out appreciation at work dot com.
We've all heard of the five love languages, but have you heard about the five languages of appreciation at work? The number one way people feel appreciated at work is through words of affirmation. Words that uplift, words that encourage, words that affirm a person's worth. Words of appreciation spoken by a coworker or a boss mean so much. Almost 50% of the population at work feel that words of affirmation are a gift to them. Are words of affirmation important to you? I bet they are. I also bet they're important to the people you work around. Make sure that those you work with know that words of affirmation build you up and keep you going every day at work And that you could use a few more every day. For more information, check out appreciation at work dot com.
We've talked about it all week. We love to work, period. It brings exhilaration to our lives. We love the thrill of the kill. The completion of a major project. The landing of a major sale. Work brings satisfaction and appreciation in ways that family life rarely can. However, work is demanding. If we let it, work can take control of our lives. If left unchecked work can destroy the relationships with the people we love, the people that we are working so hard to provide for. If we don't keep work under control, it will control us. Nobody on their deathbed has ever said I wish I had worked more and spent less time with my family. If you were lying on your deathbed today, would your life display a love for your family or a love for your work? Protect those you love and get your work under control today.
There have been times in the 37 years of our marriage when one or both of us needed to work a significant amount of extra time to meet a deadline to keep our jobs. The issue comes when that short term becomes all the time. Jim and I started an insurance agency from scratch. We knew that for the first three years, Jim would need to work three nights a week and 4 1/2 days a week to grow the agency's sustainability. We made a point to ensure that we always had a date night and never worked weekends. We agreed together that the investment of time was necessary. But it had a deadline. If your job never stops asking for more and is hurting your family, it may be time to start looking for a new job.
I can't tell you how many times Martha and I have heard this one phrase in a marriage mentoring session. “I work hard so my family can have the things I didn't have when I was a kid.” That's all fine and dandy, but usually, we are given that excuse after the spouse feels neglected. That usually spurns a conversation about not feeling appreciated for how hard one spouse works. It creates an argument about all of the stuff they own, which causes them to work so hard to pay for the stuff they own. It's all a vicious circle. You don't need to create a fairytale experience for your children. They just want you. They don't care about all the stuff. Take a step back today and see if your work is hurting the very ones you want to provide for.
I love to work. I love to jump out of bed, get ready for work, and go to work. I spend all day working and come home, and then after dinner, I like to work some more. Working brings energy to me, and working brings satisfaction. I love to work because I love to see things get accomplished. I love checking things off my list. There's a danger in loving work. It's so easy to get caught up in my work that I don't realize that I'm hurting those around me by working so much. There was a time in my life when my job required me to work 60 hours a week—even time on Sunday. Jim and I had to work through balancing my work life and family life. I love to work, but I also don't want to sacrifice everything I love because I love to work.
I love to work. I love to jump out of bed, get ready for work, and go to work. I spend all day working and come home, and then after dinner, I like to work some more. Working brings energy to me, and working brings satisfaction. I love to work because I love to see things get accomplished. I love checking things off my list. There's a danger in loving work. It's so easy to get caught up in my work that I don't realize that I'm hurting those around me by working so much. There was a time in my life when my job required me to work 60 hours a week—even time on Sunday. Jim and I had to work through balancing my work life and family life. I love to work, but I also don't want to sacrifice everything I love because I love to work.
Retirement can be 30-plus years of unemployment, but what do those 30 years look like? Experts from the Retirement Reformation have determined there are three stages of retirement. The active stage is when you start pursuing life with all your energy. It is a time to be passionate about God's call on your life. Stage 2 is the mentoring stage, where people utilize the experiences and insights they've gained to instruct, inspire, mentor, coach, and impact others. In the final stage of our life, the sharing stage, men and women seek to give their wisdom and their wealth to others around them that they love. I think you can see a commonality throughout all these phases. No matter what we're doing or how healthy our bodies are, we are pouring our lives into others. Start preparing for retirement today by getting used to pouring your life into others.
As we contemplate retirement, the horizon before us is full of immense opportunity. There are so many needs to fulfill and so many things to do; the adventure is exciting. But how do we find out what we're supposed to do in retirement? Well, we need to see where God is working and go and join Him there. There is a dire need for foster grandparents. There's a dire need to be an adoptive grandparent to those families who don't have grandparents around. There's a dire need for mentorship and discipleship for the next generations, using your life experiences and Jesus experiences so that they can learn from you. You are not dead; therefore, you are not done. You are not washed up because you're 65. In fact you are loaded and ready for making an impact without the constraints of working nine to five. Let’s get going.
Does your calling retire when you do? Is our calling just for our years from 20 to 65? Does God have a call on all of our lives or just those predetermined working years? It is so important to recognize that the American government created the age 65 milestone. When we were born, we were born with a call on our lives. We were given a unique set of gifts, talents, and abilities that are ours for a lifetime to serve under the direction of our Lord. I understand you may want something different to do after age 65, but just understand this: whatever you do will utilize those gifts, talents, and abilities along with the wisdom and knowledge you've gained. Your calling does not retire when you do.
It's important to recognize that very few of us think about what God wants us to do during our retirement years. We focus our thoughts on our adventures, the vacations we plan, and how many times we can play golf, tennis, or pickleball. But what does God want us to do? When we retire, our callings do not. How do we know what God wants us to do? We ask Him. This is no small task either, as retirement can be 30 years of our lives. We must spend significant time seeking the Lord for what those retirement years look like. I can give you a clue. Your lifelong experiences, wisdom, and knowledge will be used in whatever God calls you to do during your retirement years. God has a purpose for your retirement years and it involves flourishing, fulfillment, and excitement.
Let's face the reality: every one of us spends a little time dreaming about our retirement. In fact, many of us spend time saving money for retirement, but to be honest with you, almost none of us plan on how we will spend our time in retirement other than going on vacation. God has way bigger plans for you than to just be on vacation during retirement. He wants you to flourish just like you did while you were working. He wants you to live with purpose and fulfillment as you live in your community. He wants you to pour your life into those in the upcoming generations. He wants you to plan for what you're retiring to. Spend some time today asking the Lord what it is He wants you to do in the final phase of your life.
When you retire, does your calling retire too? Does our calling run out when Social Security kicks in? I don't think so. Your mission field assignment may or may not change later on in life. Some of you have a career that could go until very late in life. Just because you're 65 doesn't mean that you're done working. Sure, maybe you need to change things up or perhaps you need to work fewer hours. But it's important to realize that as a Jesus follower, everywhere you go, everyone around you should be benefiting from your faith, whether they believe in Jesus or not. What better place to invest your life than in an industry you have spent your life learning? The American dream of retirement is a lie. 30 years of vacation is not a dream; it's a nightmare. Ask God what He has for you in retirement.
Why are you retiring? Is it because you're too old to work? Is it because you're ready for a break? Is it because you're ready for a change? We need to recognize why we want to retire. Change is OK. But it doesn't mean that retirement is an end to our work. God gave us work as a gift. That gift perpetuates throughout our lives until the very last breath. Our work is meant to glorify God. If you're retiring because you're just tired of the job that you're in or the industry that you're in. Maybe God has something new and fresh for you. Remember this. You have a lifetime of wisdom that the next generations need. The next generations desperately need you to pour your life into them. Retire with a purpose, and pour your life into another.
So many retirees in America have spent a lifetime preparing for retirement. Well, I should say they're preparing their financial means for retirement, but are they preparing for what God has them to do in their retirement? The answer is almost categorically no. How much time have you spent preparing for how God will use you when you retire? Does that planning include how you will use your gifts, talents, and spiritual abilities for God's glory in the community that needs you? Or is most of that time spent dreaming about how you will relax in the sunshine and always have a perpetual tan? You've heard it said that many people who retire with no purpose end up returning to work or dying. Why don't you ask God for His plan for you and your retirement?
The American dream of retirement is a lie. The American dream says that we will retire and live out the remainder of our lives on vacation, enjoying sunsets on the beach where every day is filled with pleasure and deep satisfaction. One problem. It never works out this way. Most of us know what we are going to retire from. We're retiring from a job we just want to be done with. It has paid our bills and provided a living for our family, but we're ready for some change. Does God desire that change to be a 30-year vacation? I don't think so. It's easy to know what you're retiring from, but what are you retiring to? God has been investing in you for a lifetime. You have a hoard of wisdom. God's plan for you is to use that wisdom in your next life stage.
The American Dream of Retirement is a lie. It's also not biblical. God never intended for us to retire from work and then go on a perpetual vacation. Retirement is only mentioned once in the Bible and only for levitical priests. However, when they retired, their next role was to train up the next generation of levitical priests. We can learn a lot from that model. If you are retired or almost retired, God has a plan for the remaining years of your life. That plan is to use your lifetime of experiences wherever you go. Will it involve some vacation time? Absolutely. But as long as you are not dead, God is not done with you. Our Retirement years can be the most fulfilling years of our lives as Jesus Followers because we walk in wisdom and can impact the next generations of our family and our community.
One day a friend of mine called me and said “Jim, I have been trying to mentor and disciple my friend for 2 years now. He is hopeless. Maybe He will listen to you.” That was almost 10 years ago now. My new mentee was not a believer yet, was struggling with issues from the battlefield that impacted his marriage, and was very skeptical of church culture. For 3 years, we wrestled about faith topics in person, by phone, and by text. Finally, he surrendered his life to Jesus, which is hard for war vets to do, and then the real work began. For the next 7 years, we read and studied the bible together, discussing family, work, faith, and parenting issues. Today he is challenging me with things about my faith. God has worked a miracle. Mentoring this young man has made a difference for eternity. Pour your Jesus Life into someone today.
For the first two decades of our marriage, Jim and I did youth ministry as volunteers. We spent thousands of hours with kids from various backgrounds and family structures. I worked with girls who were daughters of pastors and daughters of high-powered executives, some from broken families and some from healthy solid families. These relationships often started when these girls were 11 or 12 and continued until they graduated from high school. However, two special relationships have lasted over 35 years. These two young ladies I invested my Jesus life into are now parents of teenagers. To have lived a lifetime with them has been such a reward to me and my faith. Are you intentionally investing your Jesus life in someone today? You are surrounded by others who need you to live life alongside them.
My husband Jim and I are very different. He has done a lot of formal mentoring, and I tend to do more informal mentoring. Over the years, I have taken the time to live life alongside so many different women. Some older than me, some younger than me. Since Jim and I are involved in marriage mentoring with Christian Entrepreneurial couples, I often spend time with the wives working life out with them. You see, mentoring for me looks like phone calls, drop-in visits, shopping trips, and texting. The women I pour my Jesus life into rarely have time to meet for coffee, but we can share coffee over the phone or Facetime just the same. My mentoring often looks scattered and informal, but I am available when needed and recognize that just stepping out for a call is part of my discipleship ministry. Who do you pour your Jesus Life into?
If there is one thing, I learned from my first mentor, Mike, it is that mentoring and discipleship is something to be done in the context of life and not in a hurry. It was not a box to be checked but time to be set aside. It was an investment of Mike’s life into mine and, honestly, as it turns out, an investment of my life into Mikes. Since I experience God differently than Mike, he learned things from me too. It's important to understand that every time you pour your Jesus life into someone else, you will, in return, have their Jesus Life poured into you. This interchange is part of the process of disciple-making. Mentoring with discipleship takes time, but it is an investment that pays lifelong & eternal rewards. Pour your Jesus life into someone and watch them pour back into you. It will change your life for the better.
As a 16-year-old and a new believer of just 3 years, I needed someone to invest their life in mine. Was that discipleship or mentorship that I needed? Enter - Mike. Many would argue that being a disciple-maker is inherently different than being a mentor. Mentors often help someone become more like the mentor; Disciple makers help someone become more like JESUS. Discipleship invites someone to follow us as we follow Jesus and then step aside so that we can learn directly from the Master Himself. I argue that Mike poured his Jesus life into my life and taught me not just about Jesus but about life and Jesus – no matter what you call it. As believers, everyone needs a Paul figure that will pour their Jesus Life into them and a Timothy to pour their Jesus life into. Being mentored and mentoring others has rapidly deepened my faith. Get a mentor and start mentoring today.
Don’t hang up on God! A friend shared this insight when she realized God wants to be with her at work and all day, not just during her morning quiet time. Imagine that God is right next to you throughout the day as you sit at your desk, meet around the conference room table, deliver that presentation, or make that sales call. Scripture tells us that we are God’s co-workers, and that is true in all of the work we do. Yet, we are more prone to ignore His presence. We neglect to ask for His direction, wisdom, and strength. Jesus told us that apart from Him, we can do nothing, but as we abide in Him, our lives will be fruitful (John 15:5). You’ll have to be intentional. What can you do to remind yourself to turn to God throughout your day, to simply pause, pray, and obey?
Your voice matters. No matter what you’ve experienced or been told, your ideas, creativity, and perspectives are important contributions to your work. Unfortunately, many women have been ignored, overlooked, and had their ideas stolen by others. Someone may have assumed you are more junior than you are. As difficult and discouraging as those experiences can be, other people don’t get the final say about our value or our contribution. We are God’s co-workers, called to partner with Him in our work. Bring those difficult situations before God in prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what He wants you to do and say. Pray for your co-workers and for your organization, then do the next right thing with boldness and courage. The tougher the situation, the more glory God gets. Praise Him and thank Him in advance, then watch God work on your behalf.
We all have two voices speaking to us daily—God's still, small, loving voice and the accusing, fear-ridden, loud voice of the enemy. How can you tell the difference? If it’s encouraging, uplifting, life-affirming, convicting yet loving, aligned with Truth, you can be sure it is from God. If it brings fear, insecurity, anger, condemnation, or confusion, you can be sure it’s from the enemy. Whose voice should you listen to? I recommend choosing God. Every. Time. We all face battles at work that make us vulnerable to a myriad of thoughts. But God gives us the victory. Whether you’re facing unfair treatment, conflict, failure, or just feel stuck, turn to your Father. Pray for that difficult boss or co-worker. Pray for wisdom in that challenging circumstance. Ask God to turn your situation around for good. Listen for His direction and take obedient action. Then anticipate a miracle! Remember, God is for you!
You, dear sister, were created in God’s image. Man and woman were given the same cultural mandate to fill and subdue the earth. Your talents and desire to make an impact through your work are planted in you by your Creator. Your purpose is to steward those talents for His glory by continually leaning on Him. No one else will use your talents in quite the same way you do. You will reach, impact, and connect with people who others never will. God needs every single one of us to work like He is our CEO—Chief Eternal Officer. What you do in partnership with God for His glory will have eternal impact. So today, as you tackle the mundane and struggle to climb the mountains, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and your goal to bring Him glory. Because it doesn’t all depend on you—it depends on you depending on Him!
Who you are is not the sum of your past mistakes, successes, or talents. You are a daughter of the one true King, created in Christ Jesus, to do work that brings glory to God in your own unique way. Even when no one else seems to notice you, God sees everything you do to support others, contribute to the success of your organization, and share His love. God hears every prayer you whisper, cry, or scream. He is working even when you don’t see it. There is nothing He allows that He won’t redeem. Today, through the challenges and hard work, pause and acknowledge God’s presence with you. He’s right there, and He wants to give you strength, joy, peace, and rest, dear sister. All you have to do is ask. He loves you more than you could possibly know.
This week, in collaboration with www.followerofOne.org, we are celebrating the act of going on a marketplace mission trip to your workplace. We recognize that our workplace is our mission field assigned by God. Day Five of our marketplace mission trip focuses on operating excellently while we perform our job duties. If we are committed to hard work, meeting deadlines, and caring for others, it will show. Your boss will appreciate the good example you give, and it will impact others positively. Additionally, when you operate with excellence in your position, combined with love for others, and a servants heart, people you work with will ask what drives you, what motivates you, or what’s different about you. Be the best worker in your position at work today, and join us on our upcoming iWork4Him Marketplace missions trip.
This week, in collaboration with www.followerofOne.org, we are celebrating the act of going on a marketplace mission trip to your workplace. We recognize that our workplace is our mission field assigned by God. Day Four of our marketplace missions trip is focused on learning to Pray with others when you notice they are having a rough day. We spend time with these same people every day. We know when they are in a good mood, a foul mood, or just plain bummed. So the next time you notice someone, just not themselves. Ask them, “How are you doing?” and say, “Really, I want to know.” Then, sit back and listen. Hear from their hearts and ask, “Can I pray about that with you right now?" When someone is hurting, they will rarely say no. Start looking for ways to pray with people today, and join us on our upcoming iWork4Him Marketplace missions trip.
This week, in collaboration with www.followerofOne.org, we are celebrating the act of going on a marketplace mission trip to your workplace. We recognize that our workplace is our mission field assigned by God. Day Three of our marketplace mission trip is focused on learning to befriend those we work alongside by getting to know them outside of work. Sometimes, that may look like having coffee together before or after work, inviting someone from work over for dinner, or going out to dinner with your coworkers. Spending time with those you work with will deepen your friendship and allow you to live out Jesus in front of them. Workplace friendships can be shallow and meaningless. Take them to the next level by befriending those you work alongside. Invite somebody to dinner sometime soon and join us on our upcoming iWork4Him Marketplace missions trip.
This week, in collaboration with www.followerofOne.org, we are celebrating the act of going on a marketplace mission trip to your workplace. We recognize that our workplace is our mission field assigned by God. Day two of our marketplace missions trip is focused on learning to Serve those we work alongside over and above what we are required to do. That may look like helping somebody on their project before you finish yours. It may look like working past closing time in order to help somebody finish the cleaning up at the end of the day. It may look like picking up the phone when it's really busy, even though that's not your job. Jesus did such a great job serving all of those around him. It's his example we follow in our workplace. Practice serving those around you and join us on our upcoming iWork4Him Marketplace mission trip.
This week, in collaboration with www.followerofOne.org, we are celebrating the act of going on a marketplace mission trip to your workplace. We recognize that our workplace is our mission field assigned by God. Day one of our marketplace mission trip focuses on learning to pray for those around you by name daily. When you pray for people your heart changes. When you pray for people, you often see them in a different light. When you commit to praying for those that you work alongside every day, it will change your workplace into a mission field. Who are you praying for? Your bosses, your employees, your coworkers, your vendors, and even your customers. Who do you interact with most each day? Pray for them and join us on our upcoming iWork4Him Marketplace missions trip.
We can spend a whole year preparing for a short-term mission trip. But how much time have you spent preparing for your workplace mission field? We need to prepare our openness to God’s leading as we work. All day long, decisions need to be made. You will also be presented with opportunities for conversations. How often do you stop before you make that decision and say, “God, what do you want me to do here?” How often do you stop before talking with someone and say, " God, what do you want me to say here?” Too often at work, we are so busy checking things off our to-do list that we miss the opportunities to involve God in our daily work. Prepare yourself today to be directed by God in all that you decide and in all your conversations.
We can spend a whole year preparing for a short-term mission trip. But how much time have you spent preparing for your workplace mission field? We need to prepare our strength daily. I'm not sure who said it first, but whoever said it was right. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Exercise isn't a bad idea either. If you never get to eat a decent breakfast and never get a chance to exercise, how can your strength be prepared for your workplace ministry? We need to be ready to battle the enemy who wants to keep the lost souls of our workplace neighbors entrapped in eternal damnation. We need to be at the top of our game every day. We must eat right, grow strong, and keep our face to the Son and our feet on the rock. Are you at your full strength today?
We can spend a whole year preparing for a short-term mission trip. But how much time have you spent preparing for your workplace mission field? We need to prepare our souls daily as we get ready for work. What does that mean? So often, our souls have been hurt and damaged by the people we work with and the people we live with. Preparing our souls means forgiving those who have sinned against us. Remember, forgiving isn't for them it's for you. If you don't forgive others, your soul will never be prepared for your workplace mission field. Do you have people at work that you need to forgive? If our souls are not prepared through forgiving others who have hurt us, we will not be able to prepare others for the soul repairing that Jesus can do for them. Is your soul prepared today?
We can spend a whole year preparing for a short-term mission trip. How much time have you spent preparing for your workplace mission field? We need to prepare our minds daily as we get ready for work. What does that mean? Spending time in God's word, prayer, journaling, and just plain quiet time. If we jump out of bed, get ready for work, and take off down the driveway, our minds will be filled with furious thoughts about everything we want to accomplish in the day. If we prepare our minds, we will focus on the people we work with and how we need to love on them and pray for them. If you don't prepare your mind, your workplace mission field is in danger today. If you do prepare your mind, those people you work with, they're in danger of meeting Jesus.
We can spend a whole year preparing for a short-term mission trip. But how much time have you spent preparing for your workplace mission field? We need to prepare our hearts daily as we get ready for work. What does that mean? It means confessing our sins to our heavenly Father before our day starts. Confessing just means agreeing with God for what He already knows about our attitudes and actions. So often we carry negative attitudes and actions towards those we work with because of frustrations at our jobs. Our hearts need to be prepared with love for those in our workplaces. Whether that be our bosses, our vendors, our customers, or fellow employees, our hearts need to be ready to hear the voice of God and respond lovingly to those around us. Have you prepared your heart for today?
It shouldn’t surprise us. Our God, who is a God of order, design, and truth, knows what our priorities should look like. The number five priority should be our hobbies and volunteer work. God, Spouse, Kids, Work – they all come first. When your church volunteering gets in the way of family, spouse, and even work time, everyone gets disgruntled. If your volunteer work causes you to neglect your kids or spouse, that’s upside down. When something attacks the fabric of society (Marriage and Family), it is out of line with God’s original intent. After a week of evaluating your priorities, did you find things in order or out of order? Submit your priorities to God and He will lead you out of the mess. But you have to let Go and Let God—time for the weekend. Celebrate God and Family and put everything else aside.
It shouldn’t surprise us. Our God, who is a God of order, design, and truth, has a clear answer for our priorities. Our Number 4 priority should be our work. Work is a gift from God, just as our relationships are. Work is necessary to shape our character and pay our bills. Work is designed to have a start and an end every day. Everything unravels when work is a higher priority than our families and God. Marriages struggle, kids struggle, and we become strangers with God. When Work is put in its proper place, it is a blessing that causes flourishing for us, our coworkers, bosses, employees, customers, and vendors. Avodah is the Hebrew word for Work and Worship. That is what God intended- for our work to be worship at the same time. Keep it in check, and life will be good.
It shouldn’t surprise us. Our God, who is a God of order, design, and truth, has a clear answer for our priorities. Our Number 3 priority should be our relationship with our kids. I know that not everyone listening has kids but listen for your friends. When our kids run our priorities list instead of being in 3rd place, the whole family is a mess, especially you. Our lives are not supposed to revolve around our kids. Our kids should clearly be in place behind God and our spouse. When this is done properly, our kids will understand three important things, God is important, marriage is critical, and the world is not all about them. Do your kids a favor today and tell them their priority in your life. Today is a great day to start showing them the truth.
It shouldn’t surprise us. Our God, who is a God of order, design, and truth, has a clear answer for our priorities. Our Number 2 priority should be your relationship with your spouse if you are married. Everything else but God should be prioritized behind your spouse. So often, this gets really messed up. We put work first, and everything else just ends up in a mess. When we get married, we are marrying our best friend—someone we want to spend our lives with – all of our lives. When we neglect time with our spouse and our priorities get out of wack, our marriage and everyone around us suffers. Do you know what usually pushes your spouse's relationship out of order? Your kids. We will talk about them tomorrow. Want to keep your marriage intact and flourishing? Prioritize your spouse over kids and work, and under God.
It shouldn’t surprise us. Our God, who is a God of order, design, and truth, has a clear answer for our priorities. Our Number one priority should be our relationship with Him. Our quiet time, our calendars, our checkbooks and our screen time reflect this. When God doesn’t take first place in our lives, we always seem to be hurried and harried, never getting enough done. When our daily schedule reflects God as our number one priority, with first place in our day, things fall into place, time moves productively, and things just work. When God is number one, your work will reflect your relationship with Him, and others will be attracted. Who’s number one in your life? What’s it going to take to put God back on top? You will benefit the most if you get this done.
What's the purpose of business? God designed business to be a blessing to your community. What does that look like? It means that the service you provide is always done with excellence. It means your product is safe and does exactly what you say it will do. Your community is everybody you serve. But the community also means the area around where your business resides. Being a blessing to your community can look like investing in your city's infrastructure and in ministries that touch the lives of people there. Being a blessing to your community means much more than just writing a check. It means unleashing your employees in the community as volunteers on a regular basis. If you asked the local civic officials if your business was a blessing to the community, what would they say?
What's the purpose of business? God designed business to be a blessing to the employees of the business. What's that look like? It means paying your people well, treating your people nicely, providing a safe work environment, and listening to them. There are so many things you can do to be a blessing to your employees, but number one is they need to be loved… Have you ever asked your employees how you’re doing? Have you ever asked them if they feel blessed to work for you as a business owner? If you haven't, maybe today is the day you start asking those tough questions. If your business isn't being a blessing to your employees, then they're likely not being a blessing to your customers, and eventually, your business will run out of steam and close its doors. Jesus said love your neighbor. Start doing that with your employees today.
What's the purpose of business? God designed business to be a blessing to the vendors that supply your business. What does that look like? It means ordering your supplies well in advance. It means being respectful on the phone when you're making your orders. It means paying your bills on time. It means telling others about the quality of service you receive from the vendors. If your business is blessing your vendors, then they will be a blessing to your business, because you're one of their customers. If your vendors aren't happy with how you treat them, then there's something wrong with your business. As Jesus followers, how we treat others really matters. It's one of the two things Jesus said was most important than anything else. Love God and love people. How are you treating your vendors today?
What's the purpose of business? God designed business to be a blessing to the customers of the business. That may sound oversimplified, but if your customers aren't feeling blessed by your product or service, then you won't have a business for very long. What does it look like to be a blessing to your customers? It means that the product that you provide is well-built, long-lasting, and meets the needs of the customers. It means that the service you provide is done with excellence, on time, and exactly what you told the customer you would do. Do you ever survey your customers to see if they're satisfied? To see if you're a blessing to them? There really is no point in being in business if your business isn't a blessing to your customers. Ask them today how you're doing.
What's the purpose of business? God designed business to be a blessing to the business owner and his/her family. What does that look like? A paycheck, or is it more? Of course, a business needs to provide an income to the owner, but it must also help his/her marriage and family to flourish. If your business is robbing your family of your time, then it's not a blessing. If your business isn't providing consistent income, maybe your business model needs a little work. God designed business to be a blessing, to have purpose in meeting the needs of those the business serves. But first and foremost, if the business isn't a blessing to the business owner and their family, something has to change. Is your business a blessing to your family?
I have never worked a manufacturing line. But I know this. If people don’t do their jobs at the manufacturing plants, then many items we count on wouldn’t be made. If you feel like you're just a manufacturing worker and want to quit your job to go into full-time ministry. Don’t! That's a disaster. Your job is so critical to the lives of thousands of people, perhaps millions. God has gifted you uniquely to be able to build things, fix things, and package things. Without manufacturing, we'd still be in the dark ages. Every day as a worker in a manufacturing environment, you have the unique ability to touch the lives of everyone around you and impact the lives of people you'll never meet. Please stay at your job and keep making a difference. Imagine a world where everybody in a manufacturing environment quit their job to work at a church. That's not a world I want to live in.
I've been in sales before. For 10 years, I worked in Christian retail. I actually worked at a Christian bookstore inside of a church. Every day I had to manage employees, manage stock, keep track of sales, and please the people that owned the store. I loved selling people things they needed. I sold lots of Bibles. I sold lots of books. I sold lots of gifts. I sold a lot of music. I saw the joy of matching the right product with the right customer. I knew I wasn't just a salesperson. I knew I wasn't just a bookstore manager. I knew that I was in full-time ministry in a Christian bookstore. I knew that what I did every day was making a difference. Imagine a world where all the salespeople quit to go into full-time ministry. That's not a world I want to live in.
You might say, All I ever do is clean up after people. As a janitor, I'm sweeping floors day in and day out. I clean them, and other people get them dirty. I clean the bathrooms, and they get dirty again. I just want a job that matters. I'm gonna quit my job and go into full-time ministry. STOP. You are not just a janitor. You have a unique set of gifts, talents, and abilities that God has given you to see dirt and know how to clean. You see a mess and know how to bring order. You know how to fix things. You know how to clean things. You know how to make things safe. All of that stuff is very important. You are gifted, and you are called. Just imagine a world where everyone who is a janitor quits their job to go into full-time ministry. That's not a world I want to live in.
I had a conversation the other day with a friend of mine. She said to me “ I'm a really good accountant but I'm thinking about quitting my job and going to work in a church. I just want my work to make a difference. I want my work to matter to God.” So I said, “ You are not just an accountant. You are someone uniquely gifted by God to work with numbers. You organize those numbers so they make sense. Without your set of unique gifts, talents, and abilities to work with numbers, the entire world would collapse. God designed you right from the start to love working with numbers. Embrace it.” Now just imagine a world where everybody who's an accountant quit their jobs so they could go work in a church. That's not a world I want to live in.
If I hear one more person say that their job doesn't make a difference so they’re going to quit their job and go work in full time ministry - I'm gonna explode. You're not just a plumber. You're a plumber who loves Jesus and who's really good at keeping people's water flowing, their toilets flushing, their drains draining and their hot water hot. You're a blessing to everybody you serve because they depend on you for reliable plumbing. And when you do an excellent job, God is glorified and you have an opportunity to tell people why you do things with excellence. So you're not just a plumber, you're a Jesus follower who is a plumber. You are gifted and you are called. Just imagine a world where everybody who's a plumber quits their job and goes to work in a church. That's not a world I wanna live in.
Jesus routinely met and ate with people who we would refer to today as very, very lost. They were the most despised people of that day. And yet, Jesus had no issue with spending time with them. Our workplace is not only a place to make a living, but also a place God has ordained for us to make relationships, build trust, and grow friendships – especially with pre-believers. Often, the workplace is where we have the greatest opportunity to influence those who don’t know Jesus, and who are struggling or dying without Him. How many people would Jesus have already invited to lunch if He worked at your place. Look with His eyes. Pray for courage to introduce yourself to those He shows you, and don’t forget your/(you’re) light, as His Word works in you, today.
https://hiswordatwork.org/july-18th-work-light/
How about praying for that bad boss or coworker who you struggle with? Most of the reason you likely struggle with them, is that they are not living or leading with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, but how could we ever expect them to, if they don’t know God? Now if you’re like me, it’s still tough to get yourself to pray for bad superiors. But again, like everyone, they have burdens, internal struggles and pain they have to deal with. And considering they’re muscling through on their own steam, with no help of hope from a relationship with Jesus, maybe that thought is enough to lift them up in prayer. In fact, your prayers may be the only ones on their behalf that they ever receive. We need to have mercy on them as the Lord had on us. Pray that they follow the Father’s call into the Kingdom.
https://hiswordatwork.org/june-2nd-pray-for-them/
Unforgiveness can destroy us. God knows our heart of flesh can become hardened and lifeless if the wounds we have received are not allowed to heal. Jesus told all his disciples that we are to forgive others as we would like God to forgive us. In the workplace, there are people who look out for only themselves. Many times, their actions and attitudes can create in us something very unholy. We may find ourselves wishing the worst for them, secretly hoping that “they get theirs”. This mindset of hatred and bitterness is one that can fester and build over the years as more and more people make your “list”. The Word of God is clear – we are not to harbor hate, but we are to love our enemies, and forgive their misdeeds. It’s hard work, but it is what Jesus demonstrated for us; and then commanded us to do likewise.
https://hiswordatwork.org/december-29th-ready-set-forgive/
You are a missionary. You are on a mission. Your Workplace is your mission field. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 & 20 - Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.” There is no question about calling – we are all called to go – wherever that is. You are a missionary to the largest unreached people group in America – Workplace Pre-Believers. Let that settle in. Lost and hopeless people surround you with an unending emptiness. Be Jesus to them today. Let your transformed life impact everything you do, and share Jesus with those you work with as you go.
We haven’t been taught to take advantage of the power of praying while working. I’m here to tell you today that it makes a difference. That it changes things. That it will revolutionize decision-making in your work. Whether you’re the organization’s overall leader or anywhere on the organizational chart, prayer can impact everything you do. Praying with others at work is also powerful. As we finish this week talking about the power of prayer at work, my challenge to you is to start incorporating prayer into all of the minute parts of your life, especially when you’re working. God wants to be involved in all of the details of our life. Talk to him today while you’re writing emails, on the phone with others, in meetings, or even out to lunch. Involve him in every part of your work life and see the change that happens.
When Jim came home one day and said, I think we should hire a prayer intercessor for iWork4Him, I didn’t know what to think. We had heard from and interviewed business leaders and organization leaders from around the country with prayer intercessors on their staff. I thought it was powerful, but I had never considered that someone should be paid to pray. We pay people to do all kinds of other things around our workplaces. Why wouldn’t we pay for them to spend time interceding on our behalf with our heavenly father? It’s a radical idea today, but it totally makes sense. It has changed how we do business each and every day. Consider hiring an intercessor for your business or organization today and see what a difference it makes when you have an additional set of ears listening to Him.
I have this funny thing that I do. When I ask people how they’re doing, I mean it. So if I ask someone, “How are you doing?” and they say, “Fine,” I respond with, “Really? Freaked out, insecure, neurotic, and emotional. No, how are you really doing?” And I mean it. Then I shut up and listen. When someone shares from their heart after you’ve had that exchange, it opens the door for the next step. I say, “Thank you for sharing that with me. I really appreciate you allowing me to see a part of your heart. Can I pray with you about that right now?” I’ve never been told no. Because prayer, in a time when someone is hurting, is meaningful, powerful, and effective. Look for opportunities to overcome the “ I’m fine” response. Because when you pray with people, it changes things.
I grew up in a household where faith and work were lived out daily. My mom and my dad prayed over their business all the time. So it wasn’t new for me to see a connection between faith and work and prayer when Jim and I got married. However, we had never been discipled to understand the relationship between faith and work. I saw it live out in my dad‘s and my mom‘s lives, but JIM had never seen that done. I saw my mom and dad put prayer at the center of all of their major decisions at work. I saw God rescue my parents from financial peril in business and bless them as they took steps of faith in business. Prayer works and is a critical part of everyday business. Can you give it a try today – and pray before you act?
I have to be honest with you. I never thought prayer and work had anything to do with each other. I’m guessing I’m not alone. Prayer seemed like the kind of thing you did at church and around a meal at home, but in a business meeting or around the conference table? Not a chance. I never thought prayer would become an active part of my work life. But that’s been part of the transformation process in my life. Maybe you’re not ready to pray out loud in a meeting, but my challenge to you today is to pray before you go into any meeting or start any formal conversation. Ask God to be a part of it. When you have a busy day with lots to do, ask God to help you concentrate and work with excellence. Involve your heavenly Father in your work. See what happens.
This week we paid special attention to you, the everyday workplace believer, and your role in bringing God's Kingdom here to earth. Just because you're not a pulpit pastor or a foreign missionary doesn't mean that you're not in full-time ministry. Your workplace is your mission field! You might be the only representative of Jesus that your coworker, vendor, supervisor, or client ever comes into contact with. Every work day is an opportunity for you to be the hands and feet of Jesus. So, stop thinking less of yourself if you don't have a job in vocational ministry. Where you work and who you work with – none of it's an accident! Practice being intentional at work, especially with those who would never step foot inside the walls of a church. Your full-time ministry has already begun, and the workplace is the largest mission field in the world.
At some point in our lives, most of us have had at least one job that made us pretty miserable. And even if you haven't, we all have days when we don't feel like clocking in. When we don't want to be at our job, it shows. Our coworkers notice. Our vendors notice. Our customers usually notice. What kind of testimony are we displaying at work? I'll remind you of one of our favorite verses here at iWork4Him: Colossians 3:23 – "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." You have a critical role in reaching pre-believers in your workplace for Christ! Your attitude, actions, and words all matter. You're not working for you or your boss. You're working for God! Transform your workplace by living out this life-changing truth!
Do you act differently around your pastor than you do around your family or friends? Most people do – even those who don't go to church. We feel like we have to be on our best behavior. We can't be our authentic selves. On the other hand, how do coworkers act around each other? It's usually easier to speak freely with the people we work with, especially if we've taken time to invest in a relationship with them. As believers, that puts us in an ideal position to minister to our coworkers – a position that most pastors just don't have. Don't lose sight of this incredible opportunity you have. You might not speak from a pulpit, but neither did Jesus. As Matthew 5:16 instructs: let your light shine bright so that those around you will have no choice but to praise God! You have more exposure to pre-believers than most pastors ever will
Modern church culture emphasizes the importance and prestige of working in full-time ministry as a pastor, foreign missionary, or the like. But here at iWork4Him, we want to help resurrect the original idea behind the idea of ministry. There's a theological misunderstanding that the top jobs in the Kingdom are missionary and pastor, but that's simply not true! There are no tiers in the kingdom. No 1st tier jobs and then 2nd tier jobs supporting 1st tier ministers. We should be ministering wherever we go and in whatever we do. Call to mind the familiar Bible verse 1 Corinthians 10:31: "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." That means that our work should be worship – and that's awesome! Take a few minutes to reflect on how you can glorify God today through your full-time ministry at work, at home, and in your community.
The body of Christ is made up of many parts; none is more important than the other. Do you ever feel unimportant in the Kingdom of God? Like who you are and what you do is on a lower tier while others are on a higher one? In 1 Corinthians 12, God lets us know that each of us plays an important role in the body of Christ. Verse 18 says, "Our bodies have many parts, but God has put each part just where He wants it." Are you letting God use you right where you are, or are you too busy comparing your talents, resources, and position with others? Stop scrolling through social media, thinking you're not enough. You are an essential part of God's plan, and He desires to use you! So, when you're feeling unimportant, remember – there are no tiers in the Kingdom!
God taught me how to shift the paradigm of work into a place of work interlaced with ministry, a workplace mission field. I prayed for those I worked with, I served them over and above, I befriended them, and I prayed with them. But I realized, none of these actions mattered if my work wasn’t excellent. If I wasn’t a great employee, with great work production, and great work relationships, no one would care about my faith. Others needed to see that my faith was real and that it applied to all of my life. Excellence needs to define who we are at work. Looking back, I made mistakes but I prayed with tons of people, made lifelong friends and even participated in leading one of my bosses to Jesus and another to rededication. iWork4Him was born out of this story, can you say iwork4Him?
In praying for those I worked with, serving them above what my job required me to do and in developing real relationships with them outside of “Work”, I began to notice when their demeanor changed and they were having a bad day. I learned to ask, “How are you doing today?” I really wanted to know the answer. They would respond with “I’m Fine”, then I would respond, really? Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional? Really, how are you doing? Then I would be quiet and let them share what was really going on because they knew I genuinely cared. When they were done sharing, I learned to say, “Thanks for sharing that with me, can I pray about that with you right now?” I never got turned down. Mind you this took a couple of years to develop but you can do it too. You can start by simply asking “How are you doing today?”
During my morning commute to my new job, I began praying for the people I worked with and then serving them above what I was required to do but I knew that more was needed to shift my faith paradigm at work. I needed to really know these people I worked with. My wife and I started creating ways to get to know people outside of work to develop real relationships. We had people over for dinner, we went out after work, and ate lunch together. My intention was to know more about them as individuals, not just co-workers. I learned their spouses’ names, their kids’ names. I learned what bothered them and what encouraged them. At the same time, I let them know who I was. I shared about my family, my dreams, my struggles. We just shared life. I started to see the real people I worked with. Do you know your co-workers personally?
With the new reality that my work was in fact my place of ministry, my workplace mission field, I modified my workplace commute prayer time. I still prayed for my family, but I added my bosses, my coworkers, and eventually my employees. I noticed a funny thing happening. I started to see these people differently - the way God saw them. I grew in empathy and love for them, and I really started seeing myself as a minister in my workplace. In addition to the demands of my new job, I started to serve my co-workers over and above what I was required to do. This selfless serving of others caused them to see that something was different about me. I started to see my faith relevant to my work. My paradigm was shifting, and my heart was encouraged. Who can you start praying for today? And then watch what God does to your heart.
It all started with my new job. Commuting 90 miles to work. I made a commitment to not turn on the radio for the morning commute. I wanted to learn how to pray. My new job had so much adventure built in, but I wanted this job to be different. I prayed for my family on the way to work and others who had specific prayer requests but then God rocked my world. One day, in my email in box, my friend Bob sent me the Today God is First devotional from Os Hillman. For the first time, I learned that God loved my work and that my workplace was my mission field. I was floored. For years I had tried to go into full-time ministry in a church, but this devotional told me that I was already in ministry at my work. You are in your mission field at work. Let that sink in today.
As you woke up today, did you find yourself celebrating the end of the work week?
We have all been trained to celebrate weekends and to dread our work.
But is that the way God feels?
I grew up thinking that work was a result of original sin. That the reason work was evil was that it came from evil.
But that was a lie. God created work long before Adam and Eve sinned. God gave us work to be fulfilled and for us to flourish.
Now work did get more difficult after Adam and Eve Sinned, but God still wants to walk alongside us in our work. Want proof? Read the biblical history on Abraham and his corporate empire or Joseph and Daniel on their government jobs.
God wants to join us in our work, and that is worth celebrating. God has a purpose for your work too. So TGIF today, that’s okay but prepare yourself for TGIM come Monday.
During your commute today, whether it's walking down the hallway or driving down the highway, what will you think about?
Will you be caught up in the stress of the day or will you be preparing your heart for what God is going to do today, alongside you in your work?
God set the workplace standard before evil entered our world. He gave Adam a job to name all the animals. An almost impossible task, except that God brought all the animals to him.
You see, God doesn’t expect us to get the job done without helping us.
What if today, on your “way” to work, you spend that time asking God to reveal His purpose in your work and your placement in your workplace. Neither are by accident.
How we spend our first moments of the day makes a huge impact on the rest of the day, especially our work. Spend your “commute” wisely today.
When Jim & I were 13 we committed our lives to full-time Christian Ministry. So naturally I thought I would be a pastor’s wife or a missionary.
I thought I was going to be a youth pastor.
When we got married, I naturally thought that ministry was in our future.
Martha was right about that. But we were both wrong about the location of our ministry. We kept thinking we were headed for church ministry.
But Jim and I are both good at business and we ran an insurance agency. We didn’t know our ministry was right there in front of us. We treated people well.
But we never saw it as a ministry. In fact, no one ever spoke into our lives that we could have a ministry in our workplace.
But we were in ministry and our workplace ministry calling perfectly matched our God given gifts, talents, and abilities.
So, are you committed to full-time Christian Ministry? You’ll find it at your workplace today!
Do you ever feel like quitting your job? Even though it’s a good job and it pays well.
We mean quit your perfectly good job so you can go into full time ministry. Have you ever had that thought?
If you are like us, you feel the need for significance in your work and you feel like a job in a church or a Christian non-profit is the only way to go.
We are here to help stop the madness. The job that you hold, the work that you do and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance.
The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance.
Try this thought on for size. Your workplace is your mission field. Pay attention today at work and see if you meet any people who need to meet Jesus – and don’t quit your job.
When you woke up today did you find yourself celebrating the first day of the work week or did you find yourself dreading it?
It seems that most of us suffer from TGIF syndrome instead of adopting the TGIM revolution. We need to start Thanking God its Monday.
You see, God designed our work to have purpose and fulfillment. He also designed it so that He could work alongside us, bringing us His wisdom along the way.
What is it going to take for you to switch from dreading Monday to celebrating it?
If you are like me, it is going to take a Romans 12:2 Paradigm Shift. We have to stop copying the Behavior and Customs of this world and allow ourselves to be transformed and allow God to change the way we think.
Every Day your work matters to God. Let’s start celebrating Mondays.
In 2006 I started a new job commuting 90 miles each way to work. I made a commitment to not turn on the radio on my way into work. I wanted to dedicate that time to pray for my family, my bosses and their families, my co-workers, and my employees. I learned to be quiet and I learned to make notes when I heard things from the Lord in my prayer time. I like to say that it Changed my life. Over the 4 years of this commute, I watched one of my Bosses come to be a Jesus follower and one rededicate his life to Christ. I was able to pray many times with my employees and I was able to demonstrate through service and friendship that my life was changed by Jesus. iWork4Him was launched through this prayer time and the iWork4Him Nation Covenant was birthed out of the process God took me through.
Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.
What do you do when you’re faced with a problem at work? If you’re like me, you probably go about trying to find a solution, usually starting with Google! We met and interviewed a remarkable woman named Susan. She went to God first, not google. She asked HIM for the answer to the problem. And kept praying in earnest expectation until He answered. She said to us “God has the answer to every problem, if we’d just ask Him.” So, how about you? Are you depending on yourself, Google or asking others first? Or are you praying to the one who has ALL the answers? We invite you, the very next time you’re faced with a work challenge, to stop, pray and ask God to give you the answer.
Are you unemployable? The other Day we were talking with Tom and Julie. They own a commercial cleaning franchise. Tom said he is unemployable, so he has to work for himself. Julie said it was true. Some of us are just wired to work in our own business and some of us are built to support those who run their own business. Either way its probably how you were wired. So how about you? Do you celebrate the differences between yourself and the others around you? Some own businesses and some don’t. Doesn’t make it wrong just different. God has designed us all with our unique set of Gifts Talents and Abilities. All to be used by Him for His glory in our Work. Don’t wish you were someone else, celebrate who God made you to be, just like Tom.
Have you ever thought about what you want to be known for? Stephen, an executive we interviewed, says it starts with your personal brand. And your personal brand starts with asking yourself “What do I want to be known for?” So how about you? If your co-workers were asked about you, and who you are, what would they say?
We challenge you today, to take this question “What do I want to be known for?” and pen and paper and sit with it until you have an answer. And then, start intentionally beginning to LIVE IT OUT, consistently where you live, work and play. Ephesians 5:15 exhorts us “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Changing the world. We all have that secret desire, don’t we? Changing the world in Kingdom terms is not measured in the BIG, the BIGGER and the BIGGEST actions in our life and work. It’s the opposite. Changing the world happens, one person, one word and one action at a time. It can be as small as a smile, a kind word, or a self-less act of service. It’s counter-intuitive, just like the work of Christ. So how about you? Would you like to change the world? Would you be willing to start today, changing the corner of the world where God has placed YOU? We invite you to start changing the world RIGHT NOW, with ONE smile, ONE kind word, and ONE kind action.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. There is brokenness in us, in our world, work, and community. There is healing in Jesus. Today as you have zoom calls, meetings, sales calls, service calls, or power lunches, look for the broken around you through God's eyes. See people the way He sees them… as Image bearers. In following Jesus, we are to be like Him. He brought healing wherever he went. Sometimes it was physical, and sometimes it was emotional. Either way, He was a healer, and he wants you to heal too. You first, then others. By loving God and loving people, God will heal wounds through us. You are in your workplace on purpose because there is healing to be done. Remember, Jesus is a healer, and since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. Frederick Buechner said, "Pay attention to the things that bring a tear to your eye or a lump in your throat because they are signs that the Holy is drawing near." What injustice in your community brings you to tears? Homelessness, poverty, joblessness, sexual exploitation? What can you do about it? God provided you with a job and an income. What is that income for? For providing for your family and for bringing healing to your community. God asks that you Consider 10% of your income for ministering to the needs of the lost and broken. Sometimes those lost and broken are right next to you at work. Remember, Jesus is a healer, and since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. Frederick Buechner once said, "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." I believe the greatest need is the healing of the lost and broken. Likely you have noticed brokenness in your workplace that needs to be healed. What are you doing about it? Praying about it? Seeking to understand it? Trying to find the person who is causing the brokenness? In our workplaces, we often find broken people bring their brokenness to work with them, and it multiplies. It's one reason you as a Jesus-follower are there. That brokenness needs healing, and you know the best healer in the world. Remember, since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. You may be saying to yourself, but how do I bring healing to my workplace when I am so broken myself? As a Jesus-follower, you serve the ultimate healer. For the woman at the well, he didn't just give her water; he gave her healing from the inside out. She was a broken woman who had been married five times. No matter what is broken inside of you, Jesus can handle it. In Luke 4:18, Jesus says, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free. Remember, Jesus is a healer, and since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
Life/work balance. How many of us have fallen for that myth and tried to make it happen? Only to fail over and over…a business coach we interviewed has a better concept. How about living an INTEGRATED LIFE? One that brings Christ into each aspect of our life and work, so that we are putting The Lord, not our futile “balance” efforts, first. So how about you? Are you ready to live ONE INTEGRATED LIFE, where you represent the Lord, you listen to the Lord, and let Him show you your priorities every day? Join us in this prayer: Father, today, I submit my day, my plans to you. Please show me YOUR PRIORITIES for my day. In Jesus’s Name, Amen
Are you stuck in a rut or comfortably nestled in there? Have you been “doing your Christianity the same way, with the same people, in the same ministry, in the same church? In the same type of work? With the same company?” When’s the last time you stopped, poked your head UP OUT OF THE daily rut and asked “Lord, am I doing your will? Am I doing ministry and my work YOUR WAY? Where do YOU want me?” So how about you? When’s the last time you considered re-thinking how you’re walking out your faith? And who you’re working or ministering with? When’s the last time you got UNCOMFORTABLE, in order to follow The Lord? We invite you TODAY, to ask in prayer “Lord, where do you want me?”
Do you need to be removed? Sometimes, we start something and think we are supposed to stay in it, lead it, and serve it. And, we stay IN IT…sometimes too long. We no longer seek the Lord’s counsel about IF we should still BE where He placed us. Sometimes He just wants us to START something, sometimes He wants us to “help get it off the ground”, NOT stay and lead it or serve it. Sometimes, the BEST thing we can do for the work He asked us to start is to leave. So how about you? Are you staying in some work or ministry too long? When’s the last time you prayed about what God would have you do next? We invite you today, to take your work to the cross and ask “Lord where do you want me? And what would you have me do?”
I try to keep my heart pure and intimate with Christ, so I can be a source of light and encouragement to the people I work with. That’s the faith at work philosophy of a millennial professional we interviewed. What a beautiful philosophy of how we can really prepare and BE Christ at work. So how about you? Is your heart pure and intimate with Christ so YOU can be a source of light and encouragement to YOUR co-workers? How about today, before stepping into work, you prayed this prayer: Father, purify my heart, that may I BE Christ to everyone I work with today. Use me Father, to be a source of light and encouragement to everyone I work with. In Jesus’s name.
Heard this great reminder from a manager of a Christian Retail company “The biggest challenges in my life and work have been when I have forgotten WHO God is, or WHO I AM in Christ.” So how about you? Are you in the midst of a challenge at work? If so, CLING to the words of God. Remind yourself right now who you are IN HIM, not the words of what the world tells you. Here are just a few:
I am a child of God, I am Jesus’s friend, I am a NEW creation, I am an heir with Christ, I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God and I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
What’s the fastest way to get what you DON’T want? Tell the Lord “I will NEVER _________________” Yep, just ask any other Christ follower who’s made the mistake of saying something like that. You WILL end up being exactly where YOU said you would NEVER be or DOING something you said you would never do. Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and His ways are NOT our ways. We don’t have the big picture, but God does. So how about YOU? We’re challenging you to remove the word NEVER from your vocabulary and to replace it with scripture, such as Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Have you ever considered that God wants to use YOUR business influence, the position He’s put you in, as a “platform” for Him? A stage on which to do your work while others watch and see HOW you work? If you lead just ONE person or have interact with groups of people inside OR outside your business, like vendors or, contractors, then you have a platform. A platform designed by GOD for you, for such a time as this. That you would work for His glory, show His characteristics of caring, courage, diligence, fairness, integrity, respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness. So how about you? When they watch you work do, they see YOU, or do they see Christ?
72% of people who get up and go to work every day think “nobody cares about me”. That’s a WHOLE LOT of hurting people that will never experience God’s love. So, what if we just took God’s love to them? What if there was a chaplain in the workplace that looks just like them, that meets them where they are; to just listen, pray and love them? Workplace chaplains DO exist and are more and more common in today’s workplaces! And THAT is the gospel! Echoing Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9, “When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” So, we challenge you, look into finding a chaplain for your people and transform your workplace into a place where people are loved.
Have you ever met someone that lives one integrated life? They seem to flow seamlessly between their work and personal life without pause or care. What is this? It’s authenticity. And its attraction is unparalleled. How is it possible? It’s living a life based on Godly values. I’d hazard a guess a person like this lives their values in this order: God, Family, and Service. When we LIVE BY our values, decisions are easier, relationships are easier, and knowing where to invest our time, talent and treasure is easier. Because our values ARE our priority. And our heart lines up with our values, and those line up with our thoughts, our thoughts then direct our words and actions. How are YOU living your values at work today?
Culture. Webster’s defines it in the corporate realm as: the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization. How aware are YOU of YOUR COMPANY’S culture? When’s the last time you really stopped and took a look at it? How does it align with your OWN personal values as a Christ follower? And if you’re a leader, what are you doing to ensure your culture aligns with God’s word and will? Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” What is ONE ACTION you will take THIS WEEK, to align YOUR CULTURE with God’s will?
Generosity. Is it an action, a state of the heart, or a mind-set? I heard recently that generosity is BEST when it includes all three and we compare it with IMPACT. Have you ever thought about your giving in this way? That your giving could possibly be leveraged for the highest impact for eternity? What if we all stopped and looked and prayed over the resources we have, and re-committed the 10% tithe of all our income, to MAXIMIZE impact for the Kingdom? Isaiah 32:8 says “But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.” What will you do today, to put on this new “eternal” mindset of generosity?
Ecclesiastes 4:12 says A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Are you a Christian standing alone in your work or professional life? Are YOU standing alone in OTHER areas of your life? What if you prayed and asked for a group that you could “do life and work” together with? We, as God’s creation, were BUILT for community. IF you have no community, you may be operating out of God’s will or, slogging or surviving, vs. thriving. We challenge you today, to ask a trusted Christian friend, or to go online and search for a Christ-honoring community to be a part of.
It comes as no surprise that less than 20 percent of Americans regularly attend church. But just about all Americans have a job. So, we COULD say that not everybody has a pastor, but just about everybody has a boss. So how will the other 80% of Americans find out about Jesus Christ if they are not stepping into a church? The current population of the US is about 330 million. So that’s 264 Million people that WE can witness to through our daily interactions in our jobs. You are the one that has been chosen. You ARE CHRIST’S AMBASSADOR, for such a time as this. Today, won’t YOU PRAY AND COMMIT to BE Christ-like at work, to everyone you work with?
In the past couple of months, I’ve heard one word repeatedly out of the mouths of followers of Christ who bring their faith into the workplace. INTENTIONALITY. Intentionality is a concept defined as "the power of a mind to stand for things, properties and states of affairs". WAS and IS Jesus intentional? You bet. Should WE be intentional? You bet. HOW DO we shift to this state of intentionality? By starting with the Lord and asking what His intention is for OUR DAY? For OUR WORK? For OUR TEAM and the clients we serve. By the way, the opposite of intentionality is unconsciously or unknowingly. How will YOU shift the mindset of YOUR work from unconscious to INTENTIONAL, for HIS glory?
What do you think would happen to our economy, our country, if all the working Christians decided to “go into ministry”? There would be no “marketplace”, our economy would collapse and we would be thrown into chaos. Could it be that is NOT God’s plan or design for us? What if each of us were CALLED TO MINISTRY IN OUR WORK, right where we’re planted? And that OUR JOB IS our pulpit, our work performance then becomes our Christ-like message and our co-workers our “congregation”. Now THAT’S a powerful realistic vision for building the Kingdom. James 2:14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? How will YOU SHIFT your work to be a ministry TODAY?
Relationship. Relational. Is there any better word to describe Christianity that sets our “religion” apart from all others? Our faith is based solely on relationship. And is there any better model for us to follow? In our life, in our work? And the basis of this relationship model is LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. Are you a NOISY GONG in YOUR workplace? We invite you to SHIFT to LOVE in your workplace today.
Humility. The term "humility" comes from the Latin word humilitas, a noun related to the adjective humilis, which can be translated as "humble", but also as "grounded", or "from the earth", since it derives from HUmus (earth). The greatest leaders, including our Lord have it. CS Lewis said: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of YOURSELF LESS.” What if TODAY, you and I, thought of ourselves less at work, and started to think MORE about others. James 4:10 says it best: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. And how about Psalm 149:4 For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. How will YOU work from a place of humility today?
What’s the difference between a career and a vocation? Career is defined as an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life with opportunities for progress. A VOCATION, on the other hand, is defined as a person's main occupation, especially regarded as particularly worthy and requiring great dedication. WOW. That’s a big difference. We heard recently that as a Christ-follower, we should seek to have a VOCATION vs. a career. Because having a vocation keeps us focused on building the Kingdom and living and working FOR the Kingdom of God. Which one do YOU have? What could you do this month, to shift YOUR CAREER into a VOCATION?
We spend more than one-third of our life at work. Yet sadly, Barna research shows nearly two-thirds of churched adults say it has been at least three years or more since they heard church teachings on work and career, and yet, the workplace is where most Americans spend the biggest share of their waking hours. What can YOU do, to introduce your church to the importance of faith and work? Invite your pastor to your office and ask him or her to pray for your team, your clients and your year for maximum impact for the Kingdom. What day this month will YOU invite YOUR pastor to work? For more recommended resources and ideas, go to our Resources page on iwork4him.com
There is a word that defines the bible, defines Christ, and defines leadership. That word is LOVE. But isn’t love seemingly contrary to business and how it operates? Or IS IT? Did you ever have a bad boss? What quality of work did you do for them? Did you ever have a great boss? One that got the absolute best work from you? What was the difference in those two bosses? I’ll bet it was LOVE. Love that respects, listens, appreciates and builds up. 1 John 3:11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Said another way, control disconnects. Love connects. This connection (which is actually LOVE) translates to the bottom line. We invite you to pick ONE DAY AT WORK THIS WEEK, and TRY IT.
Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.
Money. We all need it to live. Is your view of money healthy and in alignment with biblical principles? Is the WAY you use it serving man, or God and His Kingdom. 1 John 3:17 says If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? How about your income? How about your company’s revenue? Are you tithing from your corporate revenue stream? Have you ever considered it? We challenge you today, to pray about your personal and corporate tithing. And ask God HOW YOU should be using the income He’s blessed YOU WITH to serve your fellow man, God and His Kingdom.
There is a truth about work that has been lost to much of our culture since the creation of the world. It is that GOD CREATED WORK. He created work for us, to do together and for HIS glory. Genesis 2: 19 So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. Work is NOT a PUNISHMENT, it’s a GIFT. And God wants to JOIN US in it. Every day. He DELIGHTS in it. He is our team-mate, just as He was with Adam. He brought the animals TO Adam to name. So how about YOU? Won’t you invite God to work WITH YOU today? WHEREVER He has placed you?
What if our WORK WAS our WORSHIP? The Hebrew word avodah means work, worship, and service, altogether! Work: being productive, worship: praising and glorifying God and service: a form of service to the world and our community. We are MEANT to be of service, to be PARTNERS with God in the ongoing creation of the world. The various usages of this Hebrew word that is first found in Genesis 2:15 shows us it was God’s ORIGINAL DESIGN and DESIRE that our work and our worship would be a SEAMLESS WAY of living, as it was thousands of years ago. What about YOU? Are you making the work of YOUR hands every day AVODAH? You’re invited today to start worshiping God with your work.
When’s the last time you were UNCOMFORTABLE, OR PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE in your work? Discomfort = growth, and comfort = stagnation. The people doing the most growing are the ones that submit to spiritual and personal growth, like having a group of fellow Christ followers, who challenge them and hold them accountable, in their professional life, their leadership and business. You know what they say, if you’re not growing, you’re dying. The wisdom of Proverbs 27:17 says As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. John Maxwell said it best: If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone. What will YOU do this week, in your professional life, to be challenged and GROW?
After years of meeting with and interviewing people from all types of work and all organizational levels, there is one major truth that keeps bubbling up to the surface. The investment IN PEOPLE, above all else, pays not only Kingdom dividends, but business dividends as well. This is what Christ did, and it is the ultimate example of Christ’s holy character: Matthew 20:28 says “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” When we invest in our employees, the next generation, or future leaders in our workplace, we are giving away our life as a true Christ follower. What is ONE commitment you will make today, to start investing in the life of another in YOUR workplace?
Per a 2015 Barna Group study, only 20 percent of Christian adults are involved in some sort of discipleship activity. And, less than one-quarter of Christian adults (23%) are currently being discipled by someone one-on-one. Discipleship in the context of work is known as “mentorship”. How about YOU? Are you allowing someone to mentor you as a Christ follower in your work? And if you are a “seasoned” professional, Are YOU making it a priority to intentionally mentor a next generation co-worker? We encourage you to pray about mentorship this week and ask the Lord “Who would you like me to mentor Lord?” and “Would you provide a God-honoring mentor for me?”
I think it’s safe to say that the media focuses on, and provides negative news these days. Should we just take it, and keep feeding ourselves this negativity? How does this affect your work? Do you take it with you? What are you chatting with your co-workers about? And are you feeding the beast of “all that’s wrong with world”? Or are you speaking life at work. We can, and should consciously choose what we WILL and WILL NOT listen to. Philippians 4:8 exhorts us: And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. We invite you today, to observe WHAT you speak at work, and shift it to glorifying God.
I heard a clever quip the other day about trying to take control from God’s hands. God is writing the story of your life: so STOP TRYING TO GRAB THE PEN FROM HIS HAND! This applies to our work as well. Sometimes we think we are living God’s plan for us in our work when we are actually just “taking Jesus with us”. And only praying to Him to ask for blessings on what we are doing at work. How can we know when we’ve succeeded in FOLLOWING Christ in our work? By changing our mindset to one of FOLLOWING, vs. LEADING. Why not start your work day with a prayer like this: Father, today, I commit my hands to YOUR work. As you lead me, may YOUR will be done and may YOU be glorified in all I do. Amen.
Have you ever experienced a major upheaval in your business or work life? Something that looked like it was taking you in the opposite direction of where you were headed? Or was (you thought) the next logical step? It’s highly possible that God is using this to move you to exactly where HE wants you to be. For HIS work, in HIS time, for THIS season. Let Romans 8:28 encourage you today, and we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. God is orchestrating it all, for His glory. This week, as you experience upheaval in your work life, why not turn to Romans 8:28? And even place a copy of it on your desk?
Being intentional seems to be a consistent hallmark of followers of Christ. Because Christ is our best example of intentionality. Intentionality is defined as being deliberate or purposeful. How about you? How are you working with intentionality today? In the office, with your co-workers, intentionally representing Christ and showing His love and patience to everyone you come in contact with? Most days we may just be unconsciously going through our work day. We invite you to begin today by going before the father and asking Him: "Here's all I have, what do YOU want me to do with it today? What is YOUR priority today, Lord?" And then living that out as we step into our work, and every other place our feet may wander.
What if today, we committed to operate our businesses from a philosophy of “It’s not about WHAT we sell or HOW MUCH we sell, it’s about the LIVES we TOUCH and CHANGE.” That’s “God’s way of doing business”. And it’s the exact OPPOSITE of everything we have been taught as professional business people. But isn’t that always God’s way? This counter-cultural philosophy is rooted in Matthew 6:33: But seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. What is the Lord asking YOU TO DO as a next step in seeking first HIS Kingdom in YOUR workplace?
As a business leader, if you turned your business over to God, what would that look like? What would be the result? Hundreds of business owners we’ve interviewed over the past eight years have done it. They say the result is a DEEP sense of peace vs. stress, pressure, and tension. And a new, deepening understanding of their role as a STEWARD of God’s business, vs. “being the OWNER of it”. What would it take for YOU to be ready to turn YOUR organization over to the Lord’s ownership today? We invite you to place Christ in your org. chart as CEO, and commit right now, to shift your mindset from ”OWNER to STEWARD”.
Every one of us in ministry. What? No, you say, I’m a CPA, I’m an engineer, I manage people at a construction company. Yes, and you are called to be an Ambassador for Christ there. The Apostle Paul agrees, as he wrote to the Ephesians, in Chapter 6 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should. If Paul can be an ambassador in chains in prison, then we (without chains) can too….wherever He placed us. And God placed YOU in YOUR SPECIFIC WORKPLACE for a reason. For HIS REASONS, not our own.
I learned something new talking with a Physical Fitness company owner in Nashville. The only gift God has given us that we can control 100% is our body. What we eat, how we take care of it, what we feed it, if we are exercising it. Reminds me of Luke 11:36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you. Never thought of that. That we have an obligation to glorify God with our body, and that body is the vehicle that either enables us to work with excellence or not. What will YOU do today, ensure your body is primed to work in excellence unto the Lord?
For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. So how about you? Are you resting from your work? Are you taking a day off every week and keeping it holy? Are you honoring God with your business and keeping the Sabbath, not only for yourself, but for your employees and customers? Two of the giants in retail, Hobby Lobby and Chick-Fil-A are closed on Sunday, and their profits are up! The world says “you’re crazy to close on Sunday”, but God says differently. If you’re working on Sunday, or asking your employees to, we challenge you to go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him “How can I honor you by keeping the Sabbath holy?”
If you are like me you jump up out of bed, check for emergency text messages, check the weather, rush through your morning devotional time so you can get on to the real work of the day. Just recently Martha and I were reading a book by Kim Avery “The Prayer Powered Entrepreneur” and she suggests a different approach. Kim suggests that when we have our morning quiet time, be quiet and ask our Lord what His priorities are for us today. Instead of letting distractions rule our day, ask the Lord to prioritize our day so His will is done. I’m going to try this from now on, and maybe you would like to do the same. Lord, what is at the top of your priority list for today? I pray that I can do this the rest of my life, what about you?
The wonder-woman complex. It’s an unrealistic belief that we as women need to be everything to everybody. Where did that come from? And what’s it doing to us? What if instead of trying to BE wonder-woman, we commit to be who God created us to be. .... To get to know our spiritual gifts, talents, strengths, and then went in search of God’s heart, to find our true calling? .... What if every woman of faith lived and worked their calling? How much different would our world, our nation, our state, our city, our community, our home, our workplace be? So how about you? Are you tired of being something other than what God created you to be? Visit us online to find resources to change your wonder-woman complex into your true calling.
When’s the last time you really saw your co-workers? .... Saw them as real three-dimensional people? Not just a co-worker, workplace mate or just an employee? When’s the last time you remembered, that they’re a son or daughter of God? .... That they were created, like you, by God, for a purpose. That they are worthy. That they have a life, and that life is just as important as yours. That they’re on a journey, their own journey, just like we all are. .... So how about you? We invite you today, to put on God’s view of each person you work with, and to see Christ in each of them. And then watch the supernatural transform your work relationships and your workplace.
Are you dreading Monday? Do you start to lose your joy come Sunday evening? .... What if instead of dreading Monday, you LOOKED FORWARD TO IT? What if instead of moaning about Monday, you prayed away your dread, and replaced it with thanks, and joy and intention? .... To pray that come Monday morning, you would FEEL GOD in your work, as you work. That your work would glorify God, that you would be the best Ambassador for God your workplace has ever seen? .... So how about you? Are you ready to be used by God in your work? To see Monday as a tremendous opportunity, to enjoy your work and to glorify God, and maybe even give your co-workers a glimpse of our Heavenly Father.
Are you feeling as though you’re just going to work on auto-pilot? That you can do your work now, with your eyes closed, with one arm tied behind your back? When’s the last time you asked God to stretch YOU, in your work? Comfort is not a place Christ-followers should be camping out in. .... So how about you? Are you brave enough, to ask “Lord, will you stretch me today? Will you put me to better use, in the place where you would have me be? Will you bless me today with the work you have chosen for me, at this time in my life? .... Hebrews 11:6: And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Some things in life are more challenging than others. Like finances. And even more challenging: How do we glorify God with our finances? If you think you’ve mastered your finances, there’s a next step, a better way to glorify God with them. To transform the money we make from working for the Lord, and seeing that it is invested in Kingdom building. It’s called Biblically Responsible Investing and it’s transforming the way Christians look at the money they invest, and where they invest it. So how about you and your finances? .... Are you willing to look at every dollar and steward it even more for God’s Kingdom? If you are, we invite you to pray about it, and go to our website for next steps on how to transform your finances into the ultimate Kingdom resource.
Are you a leader in your organization? If so, what are you doing to care for your team members? Your employees? Are you ignoring the big stresses in their lives? If you are, it could be costing you in a big way. For example: The divorce of a $60,000 a year employee will cost $86,000 in lost productivity. There are legal, low cost remedies to helping your employees get the help they need to calm the sometimes raging seas of their lives. So how about YOU? Are you turning a blind eye to the pain in your workplace? Wake up! Look and listen, and seek to put benefits and programs in place that make employees lives easier. And commit today, to start being the good shepherd. The one who sacrifices his life for the sheep.
At work, sometimes we walk away from a meeting or conversation and think to ourselves “Boy, that person sure needs some fixing.” But, in reality, if we took a moment, and thought more carefully about it, maybe even looked a little deeper, we may just see what needs to be fixed is US, not them. Leaders know this. They know that the organization is a reflection of WHO they are and WHO they are being. A leader knows that before their “team needs fixing”, THEY need fixing first. So how about YOU? Are you a leader that leads knowing they need to fix themselves first? Or are you the leader that looks at all the fixing everyone else needs to do? We challenge you today, if you have a thought about someone else, to first look at yourself, and see what needs to change.
Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.
I wonder how much of our life is lived from a place of “taking”. Not consciously, but just getting up and living our life, as we go to work and just delve in. I’ve found my unconscious self is pretty selfish. If I don’t pray first, submit in obedience, my day, my hands, my mouth, eyes and ears, to serve all those I come in contact with, I’ll just spend all day at work taking what I need and want. .... So how about you? Are you living your life and work day taking? .... We challenge you today, to stop unconsciously working, and living as a taker. But to set up your day from a place of “How can I be a giver today? How can I contribute to everyone I come in contact with?”
Is God building another testimony for you, through your workplace? Often, hard times come in our work, and we’re called to respond as a Christ-follower. Not react with fear, self-pity, anger, resentment or push-back. But with a keen sense and trust that God is sovereign in our work. That He may have brought something to an end, for His Glory, not our punishment. So how about YOU? .... Are YOU going through a hard time at work? And if you are, how are you responding? We recommend first taking it to prayer, and asking the Lord what He wants you to know about the situation, how you can grow from it, and what does he want you to do next, for His glory? Then take some time and pray for those you work alongside for the tough time they are going through too
How do you measure your work success? We’re referring to eternal success in your work. One way is to ask yourself: Is my workplace better off because of having me work there? Have I changed it for the better? Would my co-workers say that I am a blessing to work with? A roofing business owner in Florida told us he takes an inventory every year, looks back at the year to see what benefit or good he has added: to his customers, his employees, his community and his family. So how about you? WE invite YOU to incorporate this “taking inventory” process by adding it onto your calendar once a month. David Jeremiah said, “If we don’t take inventory every once in a while, and give thanks to God for the great things He has done for us, we get totally out of perspective.” Make sure you take time to ask the question of yourself today “IS my workplace blessed because I work there “
Kathy Branzell, President of the National Day of Prayer says: there’s the idea that when I work, I work, but when I pray, God works. So how about YOU? Are you working, when you should be praying? Are you starting work first, before you pray? Are you taking God’s place for the results by over-working? There’s a beautiful balance we can obtain between work and prayer. We can choose to pray first, then work. And then pray, staying in constant contact with the Lord to guide and direct our work, vs. all that extra-efforting stuff. Psalm 127 says: It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” We challenge you today, to incorporate prayer INTO your work, and trust God for the results and experience a little of His rest
Are there ROCKS in YOUR schedule? ROCKS are IMMOVABLE commitments. Those priorities that are unchangeable. As a working Christ-follower, what are some of YOUR ROCKS? Here are some of mine: Time with the Lord. Family commitments. And anything I have given my word to, to be there. Is WORK one of YOUR ROCKS? If it is, maybe it’s time to look at that rock, and decrease its size, or the amount of space it’s taking on your calendar. Don’t’ let Luke 20:18 define how you live and manage your life. “Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.” So how about YOU? Is work a stone YOU’RE stumbling over? How about crushing that rock and use it to make a path to more time with family?
We all have a calling, have you heard this before? Some of us get called to the pulpit and some to the foreign mission field but most of us get called to our cubicles, construction sites, care facilities or whatever your job site may be. Your Workplace, It’s your mission field and in that mission field, you and me, we may be the only Jesus our co-workers, employees and bosses may ever meet. That Job that you hold and the work that you do, and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance. The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance. So, as you contemplate the value of your work today, realize this…You don’t need to quit your job in order to go into fulltime ministry. You are already in fulltime ministry, right there where you work.
As Christians everything about us should be changing. When we were born again, it wasn’t just a one-time event. We are to be changing daily…remember the word “sanctified”? We are being “set apart” to be dedicated to God’s use. And to that end, we’re to be changing and growing more Christ-like every day, to be conformed to His image. So how about you? Would those you work with say you’re a better co-worker today than you were 6 months ago? Would your manager say you’re a better team member today than you were last month? Would your CEO say you’re a better executive this year than you were last year? 2 Timothy reminds us: If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. We challenge you to pray to be conformed and changed today so that someone may notice and ask about it tomorrow.
Ahhh rebellion. Its’ the sickness of youth but perhaps, there’s still some rebellion in our hearts as adults. Is there some ONE or some THING that you’re rebelling against at work?...You may be doing it unknowingly… “under the table”…undermining, backbiting, using sarcasm or pushing against another’s ideas or leadership in subtle ways. Romans 13:1 and 2 is clear: Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. So how about you? Won’t you commit to glorify God, by submitting to YOUR authorities at work?
After a conversation with Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, of Love & Respect, I’m rethinking the way I go about being a peace-keeper. Here’s what he said: Sometimes, as peace keepers we hedge on the truth, or just lie, to keep the peace. .... So let’s apply that to our workplace. Are you unknowingly hedging on speaking the truth in work situations, to keep the peace? How can you know? You’ll probably have a niggling in your spirit, an unsettledness. So what can we do to know when to speak the truth: We can check in with the Holy Spirit in the moment, before conversing, and pray for wisdom for how and when to speak. Keeping the peace may not be what best serves the organization. But speaking the truth is. So how about you?
After a conversation with Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, of Love & Respect, I’m rethinking the way I go about being a peace-keeper. Here’s what he said: Sometimes, as peace keepers we hedge on the truth, or just lie, to keep the peace. .... So let’s apply that to our workplace. Are you unknowingly hedging on speaking the truth in work situations, to keep the peace? How can you know? You’ll probably have a niggling in your spirit, an unsettledness. So what can we do to know when to speak the truth: We can check in with the Holy Spirit in the moment, before conversing, and pray for wisdom for how and when to speak. Keeping the peace may not be what best serves the organization. But speaking the truth is. So how about you?
As we start our work week, let’s remind ourselves of our calling to our work and God’s plan for our work. Declare this now as you head to work today, walk to your office, or sit down to do your devotions. … “My workplace is my mission field, a place of full-time ministry… My workplace ministry manual is my Bible. …My calling to my workplace is not a second-class calling…. I dedicate my workplace as a mission field for God, and because of Jesus in my life, I am committed to celebrating the work that God gave me….AMEN”
Mutual respect. It’s when two people show respect for each other. .... Respect is defined as the process of honoring someone by exhibiting care, concern, or consideration for their needs or feelings. This should be a HALLMARK of us as Christ followers. And even more apparent at work, with our colleagues. To respect them as co-laborers AND as fellow sons and daughters of God. .... Author Dina Dwyer-Owens says it’s been her experience that When we hold ourselves accountable and show mutual respect to others, it’s amazing the respect that comes back. So how about you? Are you living mutual respect in your work today?
Heard this the other day: The principles never change, but the methods always do. What a solid management philosophy this makes for us Christ followers. Principles are defined as: fundamental truths that serve as the foundation for a system of beliefs. Our biblical core beliefs are the basis of who we are and what we do. And that applies to how we work, lead and manage. But the methods, those change, based on the circumstances, and the people involved. So we need to be flexible, not rigid. Deeply rooted, but like the branches of a tree, sway with the wind. So how about you? Are your principles well rooted but flexible enough for change?
Is God leading your work? How do you get the point where you can say YES, He is. Here’re a couple of ideas to get you started. First, read a book or listen to faith at work podcasts that introduce you to the concept of working for the Lord. Second, pray and ask God to show you how and where He is at work in your work today. Three, take a faith at work devotional and put it on your desk. Before you turn on your PC, read the devotional and pray that God lead you in your work. This might take some consistent practice, like changing a habit, to shift your mindset. So how about you? Colossians 3:23 is a GREAT verse to put on your desk, so it reminds you WHO you work for: 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people
When people around you at work succeed, do you find yourself happy for them or feeling bad for yourself? It can be easy to compare our career path to someone else’s and come out feeling like we missed our chance at moving up - but the truth is that everyone’s journey will look different. Galatians 6:4 says, “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.” So next time the temptation to compare yourself to a coworker comes up, take the focus off of others and put it back on the work God has given you to do today. Because when you work with excellence, you bring honor to God… and that’s the measure of TRUE success!
65% of the population will never go into a four walls church – that means that over half of the people in the U.S. will never hear about Jesus from a pastor or dedicated ministry. BUT here’s the good news: almost everyone will be employed during their lifetime, which makes the workplace one of the LARGEST mission fields in the world – a place where we, as ambassadors for Christ, are given free access to the lost and hurting! John 4:35 says, “Wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest… and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life.” Are you treating your workplace like your mission field? If not, WAKE UP! The fields are ripe with people waiting to be brought to eternal life – and Jesus is asking you to be a part of the harvest.
It’s Holy Week – the week leading up to Easter. And today, Friday, is when Jesus was crucified. Traditionally, we call this day Good Friday, and it has often been observed as a time of sorrow, repentance, and fasting in the Church. Accordingly, I always thought the name “Good Friday” was a weird choice. “Bad Friday” seemed more fitting for the day Jesus died. And that would be true – if not for this fact: That it is because of Christ’s death, because of his sacrifice on that Friday so long ago, that we are able to be made right with God. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” THAT is the good news of the gospel. Without his death, there would be no salvation. Who can you tell about the good news of Good Friday today?
It’s Holy Week – the week leading up to Easter. Thursday marked the Passover Feast in Jerusalem, and Jesus met with the disciples in the upper room for a final meal. Before they began to eat, Jesus knelt down and began to wash the disciples’ feet. This task was usually something the lowliest servants did – so the disciples cried out “You shall never wash my feet!” but Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s.” Jesus wasn’t just talking about washing feet – he was talking about what true love and service looks like. He was giving us an example of how we are to live. How can you serve those around you at work this week? What task or chore can you take on as a sign of Christ’s love for your coworkers?
It’s Holy Week – the week leading up to Easter. Sunday through Tuesday, Jesus had been busy teaching and prophesying in Jerusalem, so on Wednesday, most scholars believe that he and his disciples spent the day resting in Bethany in anticipation of the Passover. The fact that the Bible doesn’t say exactly what the Lord did on Wednesday can serve as a lesson in itself. Knowing that his death was approaching, Jesus took time to rest and spend quality time with those close to him. Sometimes, we become so busy with work, that we forget what really matters… and it isn’t a paycheck or promotions; it’s PEOPLE. When was the last time you took a day to simply rest and spend time with your family or friends? Do they know that you value them? Do they feel like they are a priority, even when your time is limited? Carve out a space in your schedule for relationship this week.
It’s Holy Week – the week leading up to Easter. On the Tuesday before his crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples the story of a man who left his servants in charge of his finances while he went on a journey. When he returned, one of the servants gave him back double the amount, having worked to grow the sum. Upon receiving the new amount, the Master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.” Jesus told this parable to teach his disciples about good stewardship. God wants you to build up and increase the resources that he has given you for HIS purposes and glory. And not just financially – but also your gifts and talents. How are you using what God has given you to further His Kingdom at work?
Yesterday was Palm Sunday – the day where we remember Jesus riding into Jerusalem and being met with crowds waving palm branches and exclaiming, “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” You see, the Jewish people had spent thousands of years waiting for the Messiah, the true king, to come and deliver them – and there he was! But instead of a conqueror on a white horse with an army of soldiers, Jesus came slowly, and humbly on the back of a donkey with twelve dirty men. God’s idea of success and leadership looks a lot different than the world’s. He values a servant’s heart over a conqueror’s. What kind of success are you seeking in your job? A big promotion, a certain title, a larger office? Or do you seek to humbly serve those around you just like Jesus?
If you’re someone who watches or reads the news, then you know that there are a lot of bad things going on in the world today. From pandemics and civil wars to inflation and genocides, there is no shortage of darkness in the twenty-first century. How does all this sorrow and hardship affect your life? How about your work? Do you take it with you to the office? Do you chat with your co-workers about it? Do you live in fear or frustration? Bad news was going on during Jesus’s day as well, but the Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:8, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Today, I invite you to fix your mind on what is GOOD and then speak about it to your co-workers, who desperately need the hope of Christ.
Do you find ever yourself scrolling through social media and feeling bad about yourself or your life? Or how about, looking over at your coworker and wondering why they got the promotion you feel you should have had? Sound familiar? Comparison is an ugly emotion… one that Mark Twain calls “the death of joy.” When Simon Peter, one of Jesus’s closest disciples, was told that he would be martyred for his faith, he looked over at his friend John and asked how he would die. Jesus responded, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.” Jesus’s answer to Peter holds true for us as well! Next time you find yourself comparing your life, achievements, or appearance to that of a coworker or friend - stop looking at them, and instead, follow Jesus.
Wisdom. It’s defined as knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action. Wisdom goes beyond KNOWING what is right and into DOING what is right. God calls us to be wise in everything that we do – constantly seeking out what is true and right in his eyes and then acting on it. James 3:17 says, “The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” Are you living out the wisdom from above in your workplace? Before you speak or act this week, consider if what you are about to do is carrying forward peace, mercy, fairness, and sincerity. If it isn’t, pause and ask the Holy Spirit to give you His wisdom before you move forward!
Our country is more divided today than in almost any other time in history. All you have to do is turn on the television or log in to social media, to be bombarded by anger, hatred, accusations, and arguments. Everyone has an opinion and they are all shouting to be heard! But as Followers of Christ, we are called to live differently. We are called to be counter-cultural. In Ephesians 4:1-3 the Apostle Paul says, “I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” What is your attitude towards others? Are you patient and gentle or are you rude, harsh, and condescending? We challenge you to bear with one another in love this week. Be kind to those you find difficult at work. Act in a manner worthy of your calling in Christ.
Mary Magdalene stood outside the empty tomb crying. She thought that someone had stolen the body of Jesus, the only thing she had left of him. But Jesus himself – very much alive – said from behind her, “Woman, why are you weeping? … I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Have you ever been in a position like Mary’s - mourning the loss of a friend, family member, job, relationship, or dream? Maybe you are in that position today. In these desolate moments beside the tomb of something lost, Jesus wants to meet you. And in your grief, he reassures you that you are a child of God, seen and loved and heard. No matter what you are facing this week, remember that Jesus is alive and because of that, you are a child of the Most High!
Do you ever feel like a hamster on a wheel - stuck in a monotonous, repetitive, and unfulfilling pattern of going to work, eating, sleeping, and paying bills? When every day feels the same it can be difficult to live with a sense of significance… but here’s some good news: our significance is not determined by our position or plans but by God working out His plans through our current position. Psalm 57:2 says, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” God has a purpose for you, RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE. The job that you hold, the people that you work with, none of that is an accident. Jesus wants to use you to bring His light to everyone that you encounter. Next time you feel stuck on the hamster wheel, pray that God would open your eyes to His eternal purposes for you today at work.
Have you ever felt like your life is an endless cycle of waking up, going to work, making dinner, paying bills, and then going back to work again? King Solomon could relate. Even though he was an extremely wealthy and successful ruler, he still struggled with feeling like everything in life was meaningless, a striving after the wind. But God gave Solomon supernatural wisdom, and after some consideration, Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 2:24, “So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?” You see, Solomon knew that the only true source of joy is God – and with God, even our work can be filled with satisfaction. Next time you feel exhausted by the cycle of work and life, ask God to give you joy in your work.
When unexpected things happen, when crises come, when you are let go, or passed over, or disappointed, or get a bad diagnosis… where do you put your faith? The phrase “do not be afraid” can be found in the Bible 365 times; one time for each day of the year! It is the most repeated command in Scripture, and for good reason: life can be difficult. In fact, before his ascension to heaven in John 16, Jesus says “In this world you WILL have trouble” as in… it’s a certainty. BUT, he says, “take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus is bigger than our troubles and he knows in advance everything that will happen to us. If you find yourself in an anxiety producing situation today, remember that God goes before you. His promises are new every morning, so do not be afraid.
In John 17:17, Jesus prays for his followers saying, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” But what does Jesus mean by sanctify? The Greek word used for sanctify in this verse is hagiazo and it means to separate something – to set it apart – for an intended purpose or mission. In other words, Jesus intended that all those who follow after him would be set apart for a unique purpose and mission: to spread the good news of the gospel to the world. And guess, what? This same mission extends to you today! You have been strategically placed in your workplace for a reason. There are people there who need to hear about the truth of who Jesus is, and you may be their only chance! So, how can you carry out the mission of Christ at work today?
If you have a job, chances are you have a job description - you know, that piece of paper that lists out what duties you are responsible for performing at work. Take a moment to consider your performance at work over the last 6 months. Are you meeting the requirements of your job description or are you exceeding them? Do you do the bare minimum or do you look for ways to improve your workplace? Are you someone who helps your coworkers or who shirks your duties? Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human men.” Here’s the thing: your job performance matters to God! And when you work with excellence, going above and beyond the expectations of your employer, you honor Him! Put in a little extra effort this week, and see what God does!
Have you ever felt unsure about your future or about a big decision in your life? Maybe you’re feeling that way right now – confused, uncertain, and discontent. Perhaps you feel paralyzed by fear of making the wrong move or wrong choice. In these seasons, when everything seems dark and foggy, how do you move forward with confidence? James 1:5 in The Passion Translation says, “If anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace.” Did you catch that? God doesn’t want you to fail – He WANTS to guide you! Ask Him for wisdom and trust He will give it. Then take the pressure off yourself, leave the rest… and rest in His generous grace!
1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.” I love it when the Apostle Paul talks about all the different parts of the body of Christ because so often, we get caught up in comparing ourselves to someone who was designed to function differently. But the truth is, no matter which part of the body of Christ you are, you are essential, and your role is significant! Every part of the human body must be in working order for it to be healthy. Similarly, every believer must be participating in their unique calling for the whole body of Christ to function well! When you understand who God created you to be and what He created you to be doing comparison disappears. So, lean into your work today, because God placed you there for a reason!
65% of the population will never go into a four walls church – that means that over half of the people in the U.S. will never hear about Jesus from a pastor or dedicated ministry. BUT here’s the good news: almost everyone will be employed during their lifetime, which makes the workplace one of the LARGEST mission fields in the world – a place where we, as ambassadors for Christ, are given free access to the lost and hurting! John 4:35 says, “Wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest… and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life.” Are you treating your workplace like your mission field? If not, WAKE UP! The fields are ripe with people waiting to be brought to eternal life – and Jesus is asking you to be a part of the harvest.
There is a trick that some realtors use when they are showing a property or doing an open house: they put a batch of cookies in the oven right before the potential buyer comes through the door. The buyer is then met with the comforting aroma of warm, gooey cookies which give them a sensation of home. Good smells draw people in and invite them to stay awhile. 2 Corinthians 2:16 in the Passion Translation says, “Through our yielded lives he spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere we go. We have become the unmistakable aroma of the victory of the Anointed One to God – a perfume of life to those being saved.” What aroma is your life giving off to the people you work with? Not sure? Here’s a trick. Spend some time praying before work each day, and the aroma of Christ will fill your life.
God loves our work! Why? I’ll give you a hint – it’s not because He’s a workaholic. It’s because work is an opportunity for God to partner with us for the salvation of souls! When we head to our jobs each day, we have an opportunity to not only make a paycheck but to engage in Kingdom purposes! 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “So we are Christ’s Ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ...” What does it mean to be Christ’s ambassadors and to speak on his behalf? Simply this: that we represent Christ and his purposes wherever we go, including work. Because when our faith is put into action people notice something is different and it becomes a catalyst for conversation. How can you partner with God at work this week as His ambassador?
Why do you go to work? Something gets you out of bed and on the clock. Is it for a paycheck, to get experience, or to feel like you’re making a difference? All of us have a reason. If you paused and assessed yours, what would the answer be? For nine years we have opened the iWork4Him radio show and podcast by asking: Who do you work for, really? This simple question gets at the heart of the matter because when it comes down to it, there are only two people you can be working for: yourself or God. Either you are laboring for the things of this world – your comfort, wealth, status, and pride. Or you are laboring for the things of eternity – a harvest of righteousness and the fruit of the gospel. Your work matters to God – invite Him in!
Have you ever had a coworker who seems to get all the breaks and suddenly, the green-eyed monster of envy rears its ugly head? Envy is birthed out of comparing our lives to someone else’s and being dissatisfied with the difference. But here’s the thing: comparison is a dangerous game. When you become preoccupied with watching someone else’s life, you miss the things that God wants to do in your life. Proverbs 14:30 says, “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.” You see, jealousy and envy will slowly destroy you and destroy the good and gracious plans that God has in store for your life. So, next time you find yourself silently judging, critiquing, or being envious of someone at work, try what Paul suggests in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.”
Have you ever heard the old adage, “you have two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you speak?” Well, it’s true! Nobody likes to be run over with somebody else’s words! James 1:19 says it this way, “Everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak.” What is your speaking to listening ratio? Do you tend to overrun the conversation, or do you wait to hear what other people have to say? When we take the time to ask thoughtful questions and genuinely listen to the answer, the person we are talking to feels valued and understood. Find one coworker or client at your job today and ask them how they are really doing. Then wait for the real answer… the one that goes deeper than just “fine.” You may be surprised by what you find out!
God is up to something. He is not idly sitting by up in the Heavens, uninterested and uncaring about the matters of earth. He is intimately involved. Luke 12:7 says that “He even counts every hair on your head!” And as if it isn’t already crazy enough that the Lord of All cares about our day-to-day lives, He doesn’t stop there. He asks us to join Him in His work! Let me say that again: the Maker of Heaven and Earth wants to partner with YOU! What an invitation! You have the chance to be part of what God is doing in your workplace, neighborhood, and friend group. Have you said ‘yes’? Or have you left God knocking on the door with the invitation in his hand? Don’t miss out on this opportunity. Don’t let another day pass you by without asking Jesus what he wants to accomplish through you today.
When was the last time you pushed yourself to do something that made you uncomfortable at work - whether volunteering to learn a task outside of your usual job duties, offering to take on a new project, or making friends with another employee? Moving outside of your comfort zone may feel awkward or stressful at first, but it is also the best way to grow! And in order to become a mature person – personally, professionally, and spiritually – we absolutely MUST grow! William S. Burroughs once said, “When you stop growing, you start dying.” So, ask yourself, is your work ethic alive and growing? How about your family life? How about your spiritual life? This week, challenge yourself to find one thing that you can do to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and into your growth zone!
We live in a busy world. If we aren’t in a meeting, or working on a project, or going to an appointment – we are looking at our phones, or answering emails, or hopping on a video conference. Technology has made work accessible ALL. THE. TIME. Not just from nine to five. But as Mahatma Gandhi once said, “there is more to life than increasing its speed.” So, how about you? Are you running so fast that you are missing the things God has in store for your day? Try intentionally slowing down and scheduling in blank space on your calendar. When you do, you may be surprised by the connections and conversations you are able to have. When we make time for people, the Lord opens incredible ministry opportunities. Who does God want you to speak to today?
When you have a major decision to make or a faced with a “fork in the road” in your career, whose opinion do you seek out first? Do you ask your friends? Your partner? Do you make a list of pros and cons? Do you just avoid it? Although we’ve all probably done each of these things, there is a BETTER way: ask the one who already knows everything about your past, present, and future. When we get on our knees and seek God’s opinion first, He leads us towards the best decision. So, next time you are faced with a tough choice, pray, read God’s word, and pay attention to the confirmations and affirmations that come through Christ Followers in your life. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” So, stop worrying, and start praying – He will take care of you.
How do you define success? Being promoted? Achieving a certain number of social media followers? Reaching a particular income level? Well, Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines it simply as, “a favorable or desired outcome.” Take a moment today and consider how God’s desired outcome looks different than the world’s. In Matthew 22, Jesus tells a lawyer there are two main things we should desire in life… and they have nothing to do with financial status, power, or position! He said, “you shall love the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… and shall love your neighbor as yourself.” What kind of desired outcome are you pursuing at work: the world’s version of success that centers on personal gain? Or God’s, which is about honoring Him and loving those around you?
Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light of the world… No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” When you go to work, do you switch off your faith? Do you put your belief under a bowl? Or do you proudly display it, letting it shine so that others can see it? The thing is, nobody benefits from your light if it’s hidden... no one even knows it’s there! But when you let your light - your faith - shine proudly at work, every good deed and kind word will bring glory to God! These regular parts of your day, suddenly become opportunities to share the love of Christ with everyone around you.
The workplace is the largest mission field in the world, yet many Christ-followers don’t engage in their calling as missionaries because they don’t know how to share their faith at work. Fear around rejection, offending someone, or saying the wrong thing are just a few of the barriers that prevent believers from bringing the good news of the Gospel to their coworkers, employees, and clients. But here’s a tip: the most effective way to share your faith is simply to share your own story. Jesus often spoke in stories, called parables, when he was teaching. Why? Because they are a relatable carrier for important truths! Your testimony is no different! When you talk about God’s faithfulness in your life, you are sharing the Gospel. So, who can you share your story of faith with this week at work?
If I had one hundred dollars for every time someone said, “I want my life to have a purpose, so I am thinking about quitting my job to go work in a church or Christian nonprofit” I would be a very, very rich man. There is a myth that has been circulating through theological communities for decades: that in order to have a Kingdom impact, you have to work in a four-walls church, a ministry, or a foreign mission field. But Psalm 139 in the Message translation says, “Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? To be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there!” The Holy Spirit resides inside of YOU, and that means that wherever you are – THAT is your mission field. So where you work, doesn’t matter nearly as much as WHY you work. How can you work for the Lord today?
Most people consider a vocation to be a career that they feel a strong draw towards or that they are particularly suited to. But as Christ-followers, we look at vocation a little bit differently. Dr. Chip Roper from the Voca Center in New York talked with us recently about the biblical view of vocation, which is simply a divine call to God’s service or to the Christian life. From this perspective, your vocation isn’t a career, but how you act in your current career. It is about recognizing that God has called you to your job for this time, in this season, to minister to your coworkers, vendors, bosses, customers, and clients! So remember, you aren’t just working for yourself; you’re working for the Lord! Step into your Kingdom calling this week by inviting God to teach you about your vocation as a workplace missionary.
65% of the population will never go into a four walls church – that means that over half of the people in the U.S. will never hear about Jesus from a pastor or dedicated ministry. BUT here’s the good news: almost everyone will be employed during their lifetime, which makes the workplace one of the LARGEST mission fields in the world – a place where we, as ambassadors for Christ, are given free access to the lost and hurting! John 4:35 says, “Wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest… and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life.” Are you treating your workplace like your mission field? If not, WAKE UP! The fields are ripe with people waiting to be brought to eternal life – and Jesus is asking you to be a part of the harvest.
Have you had a performance review in the last year or two? If you have, how did you do? Did you need improvement? Did you meet expectations? OR did you EXCEED expectations? Because here’s the thing: when you do good at work, people notice. Your quality of work is, in itself a witness to who God is… a God of goodness, of care, and of EXCELLENCE. Colossians 3:23 says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Because the thing is, God is interested in good business, good profit, good attitudes, good character development, and meeting your employee needs. And when we connect God’s passion for people with God’s passion for quality and excellence the line between the sacred and the secular dissolves and the secular BECOMES sacred. How are you going to pursue excellence for the Lord at work this week?
Every paycheck you’ve been putting a little away for retirement. But once that money enters your 401K, what happens to it? Well, usually it gets invested into a whole bunch of companies. But did you know that many of the companies you may be investing in are actually supporting activities that blatantly go against Scripture! Proverbs 16:8 warns against this by saying, “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.” So, while you may be trying to steward your money well, you could actually be supporting businesses who work AGAINST everything you, and God, stand for! So, what can you do about it? Three words: Biblically. Responsible. Investing. Organizations like Inspire Investing can help you use your money to honor God and support companies whose values align with God’s purposes. This week, take a look at where your money and investments are REALLY going.
God formed Adam and Eve on the sixth day of creation… making their first full day in the Garden of Eden the Sabbath – a day of REST. God is gracious so He didn’t start them out on a Monday … instead, God emphasized the importance and holiness of spending time in his presence FIRST, before the work week begins. He asks us to look to him FIRST. Rest in Him FIRST. And only then, after worshiping, resting, and praying, are we to be sent out to do the work that God has for us. The Sabbath is a GIFT. And when we don’t treasure it, we don’t honor God. Remember, Jesus was always busy but NEVER in a hurry. He always made time for people, for rest, and for prayer. So, what about you? Do you consider Monday to be the start of your week? Or Sunday… the day of Rest?
What is the first question someone asks you after an introduction? I’d be willing to bet that 9 times out of 10 its “So… What do you do for work?” That question may feel fine and dandy when you are in a high-powered position or working your dream job – but for most people it’s uncomfortable to be instantly framed by their employment OR lack of employment. We live in a society that equates our value with our job title. But the TRUTH is that your identity is NEVER going to be found in the things you do or how impressive your resume is. Psalm 139: 14 says, “I give thanks to you God because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.” So remember, your value and identity are based on the fact that God designed, made, and loves you… just as you are!
Have you ever tried to ignore God’s direction in your work or career? Tried to follow your own plans and run into constant obstacles, closed doors, and un-ending rejections? The truth is that sometimes we try to LOGIC our way towards our calling instead of entrusting the creator of our calling with the journey to it. Remember the account of the Israelites in Exodus? It took them 40 YEARS of wandering to arrive at a destination that would have taken two weeks if they had simply obeyed God. So, the next time that you feel like God is leading you down a path that you don’t want to go… pause before walking away. Try praying about it and asking several trusted friends for their prayers as well. God WANTS to show you the way forward – if you’re paying attention, he will give you the next right step!
A company we love, and one you may have heard of, called Dayspring, helps direct their branding by asking the question, “what do we want people to walk away feeling after they’ve encountered a Dayspring product?” Do we want them to feel seen, loved, or encouraged? And what can we do to make customers want to return after an encounter with our products? These kinds of branding questions aren’t just for companies! 2 Corinthians 5:20 says that, “we are Christ’s ambassadors and God is making his appeal through us.” In other words, we are Christ’s BRAND ambassadors! Take a moment and ask yourself the question: how well am I representing God’s brand at work? When people encounter me, do they walk away feeling seen, loved, and encouraged? Think of one thing you can do today that will make those around you want to return to Christ.
We all have a calling, have you heard this before? Some of us get called to the pulpit and some to the foreign mission field but most of us get called to our cubicles, construction sites, care facilities or whatever your job site may be. Your Workplace, It’s your mission field and in that mission field, you and me, we may be the only Jesus our co-workers, employees and bosses may ever meet. That Job that you hold and the work that you do, and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance. The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance. So, as you contemplate the value of your work today, realize this…You don’t need to quit your job in order to go into fulltime ministry. You are already in fulltime ministry, right there where you work.
All of us need to feel appreciated, especially at work. But not everyone feels appreciated in the same ways… So how do we value our coworkers, employees, and bosses in ways that are meaningful to THEM? According to the book, the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, one way is through acts of service. You may be thinking, “I work all day, isn’t that enough?” But let’s be honest – you get PAID to work all day. Acts of service happen when we do something above and beyond what is expected of us. Nothing conveys care like lightening the load of someone in a crunch. Has someone shown you appreciation through an act of service recently? Have you shown appreciation in this way? Pay attention at work this week to ways that you can help out and go above and beyond.
All of us need to feel appreciated, especially at work. But not everyone feels appreciated in the same ways… So how do we value our coworkers, employees, and bosses in ways that are meaningful to THEM? According to the book, the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, one way is through appropriate physical touch… emphasis on the APPROPRIATE. Physical touch in the workplace is a “touchy” subject these days, and one that should always be handled with care. Remember, you want to convey appreciation, not cause offense. That said, there are many gestures of physical touch that are workplace appropriate such as high fives, fist bumps, or firm handshakes. These gestures communicate connection, respect, and celebration in a tangible way! So go high-five someone in your office today (but ask first)!
All of us need to feel appreciated, especially at work. But not everyone feels appreciated in the same ways… So how do we value our coworkers, employees, and bosses in ways that are meaningful to THEM? According to the book, the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, one way is through spending quality time with the people you work with! But what exactly IS quality time? It’s as simple as giving your employees and coworkers your full and focused attention when you’re with them… whether that is paying attention in a meeting, asking about how their day is going and waiting for the real answer, or Inviting them over for dinner at your house. Quality time is a way of saying you care! So, this week try putting away your phone and genuinely engaging with the people in your workplace!
All of us need to feel appreciated, especially at work. But not everyone feels appreciated in the same ways… So how do we value our coworkers, employees, and bosses in ways that are meaningful to THEM? According to the book, the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, one way is through giving them gifts that show they are a valued and seen member of the team! And before you freak out about budget constraints, remember that gifts don’t have to be big to be impactful. In fact, sometimes it is the smallest gestures that make the largest impact. For example, bring in donuts and coffee on a Monday morning, or purchase your coworker who is always writing things on post-it notes a fun new pad of paper. Remember, it’s the thought that counts!
All of us need to feel appreciated, especially at work. But not everyone feels appreciated in the same ways… So how do we value our coworkers, employees, and bosses in ways that are meaningful to THEM? According to the the book, the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, one way is through words of affirmation. And I’m not just talking about saying, “nice job so-and-so”. PAUSE Instead, try giving out compliments to those you work with that are specific, and detailed. Pay attention to the little things people do well in the office or the positive things about their personality and then acknowledge them regularly! Proverbs 16:24 says, “Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Are your words acting as honey in the workplace? Challenge yourself to genuinely affirm someone you work with today!
In today’s culture, respect for our elders and wisdom, has been replaced by idolizing youth and outward appearances. As Christians, we believe that ALL human beings are created by God in His image. Therefore every person has inherent dignity and creator-ordained worth. To be created in the likeness of God means that each person bears His image and with it, a value beyond our unique characteristics or individual attributes. Do you treat ALL people at work with the same respect? Do you say hello, and look into the eyes of the janitor or the server at lunch? The FedEx guy? Do you know their names? We challenge you this week to treat everyone you meet with the dignity and respect you previously reserved for only those “who merit it.”
I heard recently from a retired army guy that he was taught to run TOWARDS the problem, not away from it. .... I wonder how many of us run towards OUR work problems vs. away from them. Perhaps we think “confrontation” is un-Christ-like…but how did Jesus deal with problems?
With the woman at the well, He confronted her, asked and answered questions. In the temple, He confronted with over-turning the tables and admonishing. Did he EVER run away from a problem? Never. His way to address problems were spirit-based AND involved action of some kind. But He never opted out, avoided or ignored the situation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Won’t YOU use Proverbs 3 to run towards YOUR problems at work today?
I recently had my concept of “neighbor” challenged. Does neighbor mean only the people in my neighborhood? The ones we live near? Actually, in a broader sense, it is anyone “living or located near another”. That means the folks all around us at work, in the next cubicle. The teacher in the next classroom. The person exercising next to us at the gym. Our neighbors are everywhere and the Lord had a great deal to say about them. Some Hebrew origins of the word, also translate it to mean “fellow man”. Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Today, how will YOU show love to ALL THOSE who you work around all day long?
Workplace politics. If you’re working, you’re involved in them. And as Christians, we don’t have to disengage just because the term is distasteful. “Workplace politics” are the strategies people use to gain advantage for themselves or to support a cause. What if, we employed biblical wisdom and strategies to deal with the politics? .... such as Matthew 10:16 “I am sending you out like sheep with wolves all around you. Be wise like snakes and gentle like doves. If you’ve chosen to “not participate” or given up trying to, you can’t be an influence in your workplace. .... How about praying today for wisdom at work, and in the politics in your workplace, and then participate, for God’s Glory.
How many times have we said to ourselves. “I wish I had time to go on a mission trip.” Well guess what, you DO! Your workplace IS your mission field. Your daily commute IS your mission travel. And your workplace has been crafted perfectly by God, specifically tailored to you, and your giftings. We can all begin to view our workplace and every co-worker as “the mission”. We can prepare, pray, plan and then serve our colleagues in the same way we would as if we hopped on a plane and flew to another country. Charles Spurgeon the Reformed preacher said “Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor.” So which are YOU? What would it take for you to start tomorrow, to shift your mindset and intentionally serve your workplace as YOUR mission field?
Businesses always seem to be searching for “the magic bullet” that will propel them into the “big leagues”. We’ve heard hundreds of stories of eternally successful companies and their practices and believe we know the secret. It’s excellence. Excellence as unto the Lord. Not being great at what you do, but EXCELLENT. .... It’s the very top level. Consider these synonyms for excellence: high quality · superiority · brilliance · greatness · eminence · supremacy · peerlessness. Remind you of anyone? These words describe Jesus Christ. And since our entire purpose is to conform to His likeness, these words should be describing US, and our work, and our organization. .... DO they?
Have you ever tried to ignore God and His direction in your work or career? Tried to go your own way, and kept running into roadblocks, un-ending NO’s and shut doors? Sometimes in our career, we try to LOGIC our way towards our calling, to where WE want to be, but God has His plans. Remember the Israelites? It took them 40 YEARS to make a 14 day journey. That’s 14, 600 days of blindness, vs. 14 days of obedience. That’s A LOT of resistance. So, the next time you’re being led somewhere you don’t want to go, try praying about it, asking several devote friends to join you in praying for an answer. If you’re paying attention, God is probably speaking through others to you as well, to guide you. You can fight God every step of the way, but we don’t recommend it! We challenge you today, to PRAY your way through your career options and challenges.
Sacrifice. It’s defined as surrender of something for the sake of something else. We are called to do it in our life as a Christ follower, just as He did. 1 Corinthians 13:3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. What does love-based sacrifice look like in our workplace? .... We sacrifice pride, to choose what’s best for the organization, over our own ideas. .... We sacrifice time, when we put a co-worker’s needs before our own. .... We sacrifice “top sales numbers” to do what’s best for the client, not our own paycheck. HOW are YOU willing to be sacrificial in your workplace this week?
Whether we’re aware of it or not, temptation is all around us at work. It didn’t get left at home when we left for work today. As we take God to work with us, we should also be aware that the enemy will be working there too. Starting our day with the Lord in prayer, and putting on the FULL armor of God (Ephesians 6), are some of the best ways to keep the door shut on temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. And IF you’ve opened the door to temptation at work, speaking and praying bible verses over it is the way to combat it. Today, will YOU fight temptation at work with the presence of the Lord and His word?
When God created Adam, he didn’t place him in the Garden of Eden for an extended vacation – No! God created A JOB for him. In Genesis 2 it says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to WORK it and TAKE CARE of it… and the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them...” Of course, God could’ve easily named the animals He created, but instead He CHOSE to invite Adam into the work He was doing. In the same way, God has created a job for you, and has invited you to work TOGETHER with Him in it! Because when we work in partnership with God, our jobs become more than just hustle… they become holy. How can you invite God into your work today?
Have you ever encountered a salesperson that wouldn’t stop pushing you to buy an item because they were on commission? It’s obvious in these situations that the salesperson is more interested in reaching their numbers than about meeting the needs of the customer. They have become producers rather than servers. PAUSE As followers of Christ, we can end up doing the same thing when we focus only on our output at work, rather than caring about the people at work. Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of us look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” PAUSE Are you a producer? Or are you a server? Ask God how you can serve the people around you today – whether in your work, your home, or your neighborhood. Because you may be the only Jesus they ever meet.
Have you ever met a salesperson or a marketer who offered you something that seemed too good to be true… and then it turns out it WAS too good to be true? Although overpromising may increase sales and conversions on the front end, underdelivering on those promises alienates customers and creates a bad reputation. Similarly, overpromising and underdelivering in your relationships at work and at home causes division, disappointment, and distrust. Proverbs 11:3 says, “The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.” Integrity is more than being honest – it’s matching your actions to your words in a way that honors God and those around you. Are there any areas of your life that you are overpromising and underdelivering?
Have you ever been afraid to share the gospel because you might not know all the answers? Well, here’s the good news: we don’t need to argue people into Christ, we just need to invite them to encounter Him! What a relief - God is the one who does the heavy lifting… not us! When you set out to simply do good, work with excellence, and love people… others will be drawn to the light of Christ inside of you naturally… like a moth to a flame. Matthew 5:6 says, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” So, remember today that by working with integrity and honoring those around you, you’re INVITING them to encounter Christ… and it is Christ who will change and soften their hearts – the pressure is off!
Why is it that the grass always looks greener on the other side? Well, in today’s world it’s because the grass probably has a photo filter on it! Did you know that the average person spends two and a half hours scrolling through social media per day?! That’s more time than it takes to workout, make dinner, and clean the house! This constant access to the edited highlights of our friends’ and coworkers’ lives leads us to compare, compare, compare. But Proverbs 4:27 says, “Do not turn to the right or the left, keep your foot from evil.” Looking too much at the filtered lives of those around us can lead to jealousy, discontentment, resentment, and envy. So, instead of going on your phone or tablet and comparing your life to your neighbors’ vacation photos, take a moment today to stop and thank God for the blessings in your own life!
Your work matters to God, and God has strategically placed you in your workplace to be his representative. But what exactly does it mean to be a representative of God? 1 John:4 says, that God IS Love. So, when we genuinely love people, we are giving them a taste of who God is – it’s as easy as that! Being a representative of God in the workplace doesn’t mean that you need to be a pastor, an evangelist, or an apologist – all you need to do is love God and love the people around you with authenticity, transparency, and humility. So, when you go to work, remember that you have an opportunity to be a representative of God by showing care and respect to those around you. Pick one way this week to show your coworkers that you genuinely love them, and so does God!
Do you want God to unlock His purpose for you in your work? As you execute the first 4 steps of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant: Praying for, serving, befriending, and praying with others, remember your work behavior is important. The final step of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is to be someone of excellence in your work. Be the best and brightest example of a worker in your workplace position. Excellence makes your behavior believable and your faith real. Excellence gives you a platform for sharing your faith. As a Jesus Follower, everything about us should be changing, and everyone around you should be benefiting from your faith, whether they believe in Jesus yet, or not. Colossians 3:23 says, “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Does God care for the people you work with? Of course, He does. In step 4 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, look for opportunities to pray with others. When you continually work alongside the same people, you know their typical manners and facial expressions. When you notice someone having an off day, ask them, “How are you doing?” when they say “I’m Fine,” keep asking, “No really, how are you doing? I noticed you looked a little down today” then wait and be QUIET. When they have shared what is on their heart, ask, “Can I pray with you about that, right now?” I have never had someone say “No” when I followed these steps. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” When you pray, you are opening the door for them to meet your savior.
Do you want to see your workplace as a mission field? In step 3 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, we encourage you to befriend your co-workers or employees outside of the office. Why? Our work relationships are work focused and can be shallow. When you build friendships on your own turf, outside of work, real relationships develop. When you let someone into your world, it breaks down walls. Breaking down walls builds trust. Eventually, they will trust you when you share your Jesus story, the work He has done in your life. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble”….Be a real friend to someone today.
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? Step two of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant helps transform your workplace mindset into a mission-focused workplace ministry mindset. Start looking for ways to serve your co-workers, bosses, and/or employees outside your job requirements. Why? Anyone can do a job that meets expectations, but how many people help others meet or exceed expectations? When you go out of the way to help others at work with a stressful project or a mundane responsibility, you open up a door of ministry opportunity. Galatians 5:13-14 says For you have been called to live in freedom… use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? I thought so. Step one of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is the most powerful step you can take at work to transform your workplace and your heart. Prayer - Start praying for those you work alongside every day. Pray for your co-workers, bosses, and employees by name. You can even pray for their spouses and kids. After you have done this for a few months, have a conversation like this “Hey, I have been praying for you, is there anything I can pray about specifically?” 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. “Start Praying today and watch the transformation begin.
Have you ever felt stuck in a rut? Like all you do is go to work, come home, eat, and sleep, just to go back to work and do it all over again the next morning? This endless cycle can feel maddening! But did you know that God never intended for our work to be a burden? In fact, God gave Adam the job of caretaker of the world as a GIFT – as an opportunity to partner with Himself! And guess what? Jesus is extending the same gift to you today! When you dedicate your work to God, you become a partner with Him. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Jesus wants to take your daily work and make it so much more than toil! He wants to partner with you in the redemption of the world! Invite Jesus into your work today.
When I graduated from high school, I had my life all planned out. For years I had felt God calling me into ministry, so naturally I planned to attend Seminary…. But then God asked me to take a right turn in my vocation - He asked me to go into business. At the time I didn’t understand how I could feel called to ministry AND the marketplace, but today I can look back and see that all those years WERE ministry and that he was laying the groundwork for iWork4Him. Isaiah 55:8 says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts…And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” We don’t have the big picture, but GOD DOES! So, how about you? Are you saying NO or NEVER to something that God is asking you to consider? Try removing the word NEVER from your prayer life – and see what God does.
Have you ever looked at your current job and wondered, “how did I end up here?” The good news is, you didn’t end up there on accident! God has strategically placed you exactly where you are for a REASON – to share the good news of Jesus Christ with your coworkers, employees, bosses, and clients! 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.” So next time that you feel burnt out or bored with your job, remember that you are an ambassador for Christ – sent to your workplace to make an appeal on God’s behalf! For He created your work, He ordained it, He orchestrated it, and He is the one who will sustain you in it. So, take heart! Your job isn’t an accident…. It’s an anointing.
1 Corinthians 6:19 says, “do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is IN YOU, whom you have received from God?” Whoa! Think about that for a moment: the Holy Spirit… the very presence of God… lives INSIDE of our bodies! How crazy is THAT! The God of the universe has taken up residence inside of us, where He not only guides us as a wise counselor but also intercedes on our behalf and empowers us to carry out the good works that are prepared in advance for us. If God lives in us, and works through us, then it makes sense that our lives should demand a supernatural explanation! Are you living life in your own power or in God’s power? Take a moment today and pray that the Holy Spirit would do something through you that you couldn’t possibly do on your own! – something that demands a supernatural explanation.
I almost finished a 500 piece puzzle the other day, but one piece was missing. I searched high and low but I couldn’t find it anywhere. In the end, I couldn’t complete the picture with just 499 pieces… I needed the last one. 1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.” YOU are a part of the body of Christ and YOU bring something unique to this world - something only you can bring! Your skills, gifts, and passions help reveal who Jesus is to the world. But… if you aren’t engaging, the puzzle is missing an essential piece and the picture is incomplete! God wants to use you, right where you are, to reflect Himself to your coworkers, bosses, friends and neighbors. Are you using your skills and gifts for the glory of Christ today?
Let's start today with some biblical encouragement about work. Ephesians 2 10 says, "For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” Imagine with me for a moment that your focus as a Jesus-follower is to deeply integrate your faith into the work you deliver. Continue imagining. You're not contributing…you cannot contribute anything to God's plan that He hasn't prepared ahead of time for you. But you're participating in full, in the plan by WALKING through His plan. So, ask yourself these 3 questions:
- What does maximum involvement in God's plan look like for me at work?
- How do I see God using me at work?
- How can I express myself as His masterpiece?
When you start every day with these three questions as your focus, God will do amazing things through you.
When I began working, I fell into a trap. I searched for meaning in the kind of work I was doing. Jeremiah 9:23 tells us “…the world defines greatness by wealth, wisdom, and power.” That's where I thought my focus should be…to find significance at work. And you know what? I was continually let down and discouraged until I realized Jeremiah 9:24 said this, "…the one who boasts should boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth for I delight in these things." Is your personal value and significance linked to the kind of work you do? NO. You have value because He declares you valuable…valuable enough for Christ to die for you. How can you show your value in your work today?
Do you think your work and your faith are separate considerations? There's always a divine reason God has us at work. When we understand that, we have the right focus. In John 4, the disciples challenged Jesus for talking to the woman at the well after they got back from town buying food. Jesus says: "Don't you say, ‘There are still four months, then comes the harvest: I say open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest.’" The disciples dutifully went to town but overlooked sharing their faith. This woman was saved with one kind encounter, and she wanted to share it with everyone! There's nothing wrong with having your head down at your job, doing great work. But our faith does not end on Sunday. It continues every day, sometimes with the slightest kind gestures and conversations with those around us. Now that's faith and work.
What's God want from us at work? Some think WHAT we produce at work is PRIORITY ONE. No matter your job, consider this from 2 Peter 3:10, "But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief, on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be totally destroyed." So, if our work-product will one day burn up, where should my focus be at work? Ask the Lord this each day: "Why do you have me here?" Does someone at work need me to listen without judgment? Does a co-worker having a hard day need a lending hand? If you focus on the people in your workplace and not just your work, both your work-product and workplace will improve.
Have you ever said, "I go to work just to earn a living"? Most of us will work more than 100,000 hours in a lifetime. That's more than a third of your life! Sadly, stats show that at least 7 in 10 people don't like their job. And, three in seven HATES it. If our Christianity is going to be relevant, it must address how our work week will be used for the glory of God. We also need to understand God's truth about Work. If you believe you go to work just to earn a living, consider this verse about your job: Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." This is just one of God's truths about why we go to work. I pray it re-shapes your thinking and appreciation for the work God has given you. Watch God provide for your needs today.
Christmas is coming – just 2 days away. This week has focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. Are you a gift to the people you live near? Outside of work, we come in contact with a lot of people. You might be involved in a small group from church. How are you a gift to your small group? Are you a gift in the way you serve others in your community? Are you a gift in the way you love others when they’re going through a struggle? Are you a gift in the way you pray for people or the way you help out with projects that others just can’t do alone? As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. This week, be that gift to those you love.
It’s the week of Christmas. A week focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. Are you a gift to the people you work with? What does that look like? Is it the work you do, or how you do your work? Is it your attitude at work, or is it the excellence you demonstrate as you do your work? When your coworkers, employees, or bosses look at you, do they see you as a gift to the organization? What can you do today to be a gift to those that you work alongside? You can ask the Holy Spirit to help you figure this out. As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. This week, be that gift to those you love.
It’s the week of Christmas. A week focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. Are you a gift to the people you work with? We all love to get gifts, but what kind of gift do you love to give. For Martha and I, we love to give the gift of entertainment. Not a song and dance routine, but hosting people for dinner. We love to cook a meal and share our kitchen table to build relationships. What kind of gift do you love to give to those you work with? Is it your friendship, a smile, or extra hard work? Do those you work with see you as a gift? As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. This week, be that gift to those you love.
It’s the week of Christmas. A week focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. Are you a gift to the people you work with? What is the most memorable gift you have ever received on Christmas morning? Was it a doll or a train set or a bicycle? Maybe it was memorable because of who you spent it with, like the last time you were with your grandmother or grandfather. One day when you leave your work to start a new job or retire, Will the people you leave behind remember you as a gift to them? Will they mourn the day you leave? As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. This week, be that gift to those you love.
Hebrews 11 says, “By faith Abel brought an offering.” What is an offering? Jesus said that while the bridegroom is with us, we want to feast, but when he is gone, then we look at fasting. We don’t earn God’s favor when we go without or by bringing him an offering. Faith grows when it is expressed in sacrifice when it’s not easy. When I “bring my sacrifice of praise” God is honored and my faith in Him grows because “God dwells in the praises of His people.” When God gives the entrepreneur an idea, that does not mean the idea will automatically happen, even if we put some effort into it. The Venture Capital firm that you approach for financial help is more interested in your track record of executing an idea than the idea itself. Abel brought an offering. What are we bringing to God?
When we face uncertainly in life, there is one thing to remember, none of what is happening is a surprise to God… It's been a long week. It's always a long week. Each week draws attention to the reality of the broken world we live in. Here’s a thought. Nothing that happened this week changed your position in eternity. You can be the solid, dependable one for those around you. Pray for healing the divide that the enemy is working so hard to create in our country and our workplaces. Get your strength From the Rock. The Cornerstone. It's time for Jesus followers to recognize our role in bringing hope and healing to a society that is reeling. Remember, you are here on this planet to reassure everyone you meet, Christ-follower, and pre-believer that no matter what, God is on the throne.
When we face uncertainly in life, there is one thing to remember, none of what is happening is a surprise to God. Someone around you is Hurting, Frustrated, Angry and Worried. What is your role as a Jesus follower in the workplace? Your role is to not get caught up in political rhetoric or petty grievances. Your role is to start up and get caught up in bringing the healing of Jesus to the hurting and hopeless around you at work. There is no question, our nation needs healing, and we who follow Jesus are the ones responsible for bringing that healing. IT is the role of the believer to introduce those lost and hopeless to the only healing available that lasts. No politician will ever do that. Just remember that no matter what happens, God is on the throne.
When we face uncertainty in life, there is one thing to remember, none of what is happening is a surprise to God. As a Jesus-follower, working and living around people who don't know Jesus, what is your role today? Be a purveyor of peace. You don't have the luxury to respond to anyone in anger. Don't get uptight worrying about the effect of the latest news cycle and problems around this world. Don’t use your social media to fuel arguments over things that have zero eternal significance. Use your time and your conversations to draw people to Jesus and remember, your role is to be Jesus to those around you, ministering to their hurts and uplifting their hope by reminding them that no matter what, God is on the throne and Jesus is there to save them and bring them life.
When we face uncertainty in life, there is one thing to remember, none of what is happening is a surprise to God. One thing this world needs is a people group that is not ruffled by the winds of change, a people of peace in the storms of uncertainty. The Body of Christ is just that group of people. In the early church, they were so NOT rattled that eventually the entire Roman empire was transformed by faith in Jesus. So, its not a matter of who wins and who loses, in the greater scheme of things, your role at work hasn't changed. You are to minister unto the least of these. You are to remind those around you that Jesus brings you peace and that no matter what happens, God is on the throne.
When we face uncertainty in life, there is one thing to remember, none of what is happening is a surprise to God. People are so polarized, going left, going right, or just sitting out. As a Christ Follower living out your faith at work, what is your role in this? Your role is to represent our Heavenly Father by bringing peace and truth. Your role is to remind whoever you run into that you are not uptight about tomorrow because God is in control. Your role is to remind those around you that no matter what happens, God is on the throne. So today, when you enter your workplace, whether that is in person or online, try to see the people around you with God’s eyes and God’s heart and love them no matter what.
- Martha: As you woke up today, did you find yourself celebrating the end of the work week?
- Jim: We have all been trained to celebrate weekends and to dread our work.
- Martha: But is that the way God feels?
- Jim: I grew up thinking that work was a result of original sin. That the reason work was evil was that it came from evil.
- Martha: But that was a lie. God created work long before Adam and Eve sinned. God gave us work to be fulfilled and for us to flourish.
- Jim: Now work did get more difficult after Adam and Eve Sinned, but God still wants to walk alongside us in our work. Want proof? Read the biblical history on Abraham and his corporate empire or Joseph and Daniel on their government jobs.
- Martha: God wants to join us in our work, and that is worth celebrating. God has a purpose for your work too. So TGIF today, that’s okay but prepare yourself for TGIM come Monday.
- Jim: During your commute today, whether its walking down the hallway or driving down the highway, what will you think about?
- Martha: Will you be caught up in the stress of the day or will you be preparing your heart for what God is going to do today, alongside you in your work?
- Jim: God set the workplace standard before evil entered our world. He gave Adam a job to name all the animals. An almost impossible task, except that God brought all the animals to him.
- Martha: You see, God doesn’t expect us to get the job done without helping us.
- Jim: What if today, on your “way” to work, you spend that time asking God to reveal His purpose in your work and your placement in your workplace. Neither are by accident.
- Martha: How we spend our first moments of the day makes a huge impact on the rest of the day, especially our work. Spend your “commute” wisely today.
- Martha: When Jim & I were 13 we committed our lives to full-time Christian Ministry. So naturally I thought I would be a pastor’s wife or a missionary.
- Jim: I thought I was going to be a youth pastor.
- Martha: When we got married, I naturally thought that ministry was in our future.
- Jim: Martha was right about that. But we were both wrong about the location of our ministry. We kept thinking we were headed for church ministry.
- Martha: But Jim and I are both good at business and we ran an insurance agency. We didn’t know our ministry was right there in front of us. We treated people well.
- Jim: But we never saw it as a ministry. In fact, no one ever spoke into our lives that we could have a ministry in our workplace.
- Martha: But we were in ministry and our workplace ministry calling perfectly matched our God given gifts, talents, and abilities.
- Jim: So, are you committed to full-time Christian Ministry? You’ll find it at your workplace today!
- Martha: Do you ever feel like quitting your job? Even though it’s a good job and it pays well.
- Jim: We mean quit your perfectly good job so you can go into full time ministry. Have you ever had that thought?
- Martha: If you are like us, you feel the need for significance in your work and you feel like a job in a church or a Christian non-profit is the only way to go.
- Jim: We are here to help stop the madness. The job that you hold, the work that you do and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance.
- Martha: The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance.
- Jim: Try this thought on for size. Your workplace is your mission field. Pay attention today at work and see if you meet any people who need to meet Jesus – and don’t quit your job.
- Jim: When you woke up today did you find yourself celebrating the first day of the work week or did you find yourself dreading it?
- Martha: It seems that most of us suffer from TGIF syndrome instead of adopting the TGIM revolution. We need to start Thanking God its Monday.
- Jim: you see, God designed our work to have purpose and fulfillment. He also designed it so that He could work alongside us, bringing us His wisdom along the way.
- Martha: What is it going to take for you to switch from dreading Monday to celebrating it?
- Jim: If you are like me, it is going to take a Romans 12:2 Paradigm Shift. We have to stop copying the Behavior and Customs of this world and allow ourselves to be transformed and allow God to change the way we think.
- Martha: Every Day your work matters to God. Let’s start celebrating Mondays.
People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. I have a tendency to listen to the first few words of someone expressing a thought or idea or feeling to me, and then I am busy contemplating a response. I often miss my chance to listen because I want so badly to be heard. I never realized that behavior was so hurtful until I got married. Martha is a great communicator and says so many incredible things. I have had to learn to just listen to her when she speaks without responding. Then she knows I love her. We work together every day, so this is a really important skill. When we listen, we communicate care and love and acceptance. And you know that Jesus is the best listener ever. As Jesus-followers, we can be just like Him. Practice listening today.
People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. We spend a lot of time with our co-workers—lots of time. We grow to like our co-workers, and some we even grow to love and cherish. But do the people you love know that you listen to them? Do people at work and frankly at home, know that you love them by how you demonstrate your listening skills? Listening is the most powerful communicator of love. Jesus is the best listener ever, and everybody who met him knew He loved them. As Jesus-followers, we can be just like Him. Practice listening to those you love in your work and your home today – listening will show them that you care.
People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. When I get in my car, I put on the radio. I love to listen to talk radio. It passes the time in traffic, and I get entertained. About 15 years ago, I realized I had an addiction to noise in my car. I needed to learn to be quiet and listen to God. I committed my morning commutes to work to be my listening/praying time. No matter how long or short, my morning time in the car was committed to learning to be a listener…and to be quiet. It changed my life. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” If I learned to be still, you can too. Listening is a Jesus quality. Practice listening to God in your car on your way to work today.
People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. When you are in trouble or need advice, who do you listen to first? Do you rush right to your bible and get on your knees in prayer? Or do you tend to call a friend or post your trouble on Facebook? I get it. It is easier to connect with humans than to seek the Lord. But if our tendency is to go to people for answers and not our Heavenly Father, how will we attract others to Jesus. Jeremiah 29:11 says “He knows the plans for us” It’s good to have sounding boards for advice, but who do you listen to first? Jesus is the best listener ever. Practice listening to your Lord today.
People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. Are you a good listener? I am a much better talker than a listener. When we listen to others, we are like Jesus. He listened so well. Today you may be on multiple zoom calls or in-person meetings, be the best listener in the crowd, not just listening for your job but listening for what isn’t said, things spoken without words. Listening is the best way to open doors to conversations about your faith in Jesus. When we hear people’s words, they feel valued. Psalm 34:15 says, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry.” Jesus is the best listener ever. As Jesus-followers, we can be like Him. Practice listening in your work today.
It’s the week of Thanksgiving and we all have so much to be thankful for. Whether you are working today or off, are you thankful for your work? So often we find ourselves complaining about our work. I am guilty of it often. Our work is given to us by God on purpose for a purpose. We work with people who need to meet Jesus and you may be the one who gets to do that. However, if we are walking around grumbling about our work, we won’t attract too many people to Jesus. Let’s be thankful. Thankful for the work that uses our minds and bodies and pays our bills. Thankful for the work that nourishes our soul. Spend today focusing on being thankful for your work.
It’s the week of Thanksgiving and we all have so much to be thankful for. It’s hard to fathom but some people in our country will wake up today with NO FOOD. None. It may even be someone you work with that is struggling financially and they don’t have enough food either. There may be people in your church or neighborhood that will not have enough food today to celebrate thanksgiving. People all over this country have had to learn to live with not enough. We can share from our enough but start with being thankful for the food set before you today. Also, be aware of those around you who are in need of food, clothing and financial help. It’s what Jesus-followers do. Be thankful and share. It’s the difference that Jesus makes in our lives that can make the difference in someone else’s life. Be thankful.
It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and we all have so much to be thankful for. I spent a week in the Dominican Republic a few years back. I saw a level of contentment and thankfulness in every person I met. Most had only a tin roof over their head and a couple pairs of clothing, but they were thankful. Thankful for a meal to eat and a place to sleep. What about you? Are you thankful for your clothes, your car, your home, and your bed? The people we work with are looking to you to demonstrate the advantage of being a Jesus-follower. Showing them, you are content and thankful will attract them to Jesus. So, this week spend your time focusing on being thankful and see how it impacts the attitudes of those around you.
It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and we all have so much to be thankful for. Yet when many of us think about our time with family later this week, we struggle to be thankful. Many of you have indeed suffered at the hands of family. I am sorry for that. However, for most of you, you have been blessed with a family that loves you, but still get under your skin and irritate you. How do we shift our attitude to be thankful for our family? We remember that God is our Father, and you are surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ who love you. Those at work may not be so blessed, so show them some love this week and invite them to be part of your family Thanksgiving celebration. When you focus on being thankful, it impacts the attitudes of all those around you.
It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and we all have so much to be thankful for. Yet, some days, I struggle to be thankful. Work can be overwhelming, and deadlines are looming. Some days I am just outright un-thankful. When we lack a thankful attitude, it impacts our spirit and the spirits of others around us. We don’t realize the impact we have on others. 1st Thessalonians 5 18 says, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Without Jesus, I know this would be impossible for me, but we know that all things are possible with Jesus. So, this week spend your time focusing on being thankful, see how it affects your attitude, and see how it impacts the attitudes of those around you.
As a Christ-follower in the workplace, you are likely to mess up once in a while. What you do next is the key to helping others see the difference Jesus is making in you. Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership has developed the 6-step Apology. We are going to cover the final step today. Up to this point, we have confessed and apologized. We have asked for forgiveness and permitted accountability. Our final step is to say, “Is there anything else I’ve done in our relationship that I need to apologize for?” This gives your relationship a chance to start with a clean slate. It could also lead to another 6-step apology. When we are quick to admit our wrong and ask for forgiveness when we make a mistake at work, it is an excellent opportunity to show the world what it looks like to love our neighbor.
As a Christ-follower in the workplace, you are likely to mess up once in a while. What you do next is the key to helping others see the difference Jesus is making in you. Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership has developed the 6-step Apology. Today is step 5. Step 5 involves accountability. You say to the person you have wronged, “I give you permission to hold me accountable for not behaving this way anymore.” You are not making them hold you accountable. You are permitting them. When we open the door to accountability, we are opening the door to change in our life. When we are quick to admit our wrong and ask for forgiveness when we make a mistake at work, it is an excellent opportunity to show the world what it looks like to love our neighbor.
As a Christ-follower in the workplace, you are likely to mess up once in a while. What you do next is the key to helping others see the difference Jesus is making in you. Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership has developed the 6-step Apology. We are going to cover step 4 today. Step 4 involves asking for forgiveness. Say, “when you can, will you forgive me?” Forgiveness is a gift to both parties, but it must be given, not taken. Asking the offended to forgive you actually frees them from any bitterness that can build up inside them, but it must be a choice on their own and in their own time. When we are quick to admit our wrong and ask forgiveness when we make a mistake at work, it is an excellent opportunity to show the world what it looks like to love our neighbor.
As a Christ-follower in the workplace, you are likely to mess up once in a while. What you do next is the key to helping others see the difference Jesus is making in you. Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership has developed the 6-step Apology. We are going to cover step 3 today. Step 3 is simply to apologize. Saying I am sorry means so much when you have hurt someone. Be careful not to say, “I want to apologize for…” because that isn’t an apology. “I am sorry” is a statement of humility and honor, and it opens the door to relationship healing. When we are quick to admit our wrong and ask forgiveness when we make a mistake at work, it is an excellent opportunity to show the world what it looks like to love our neighbor.
As a Christ-follower in the workplace, you are likely to mess up once in a while. What you do next is the key to helping others see the difference Jesus is making in you. Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership has developed the 6-step Apology. Step 1 is to State the Offense. “You are right. I did it.” Step two is acknowledging that you are wrong. So, you say something like, “I was wrong to…or I apologize for.” It may be humbling to regurgitate what we did wrong and then admit it, but your humility will touch their soul. When we are quick to admit our wrong and ask forgiveness when we make a mistake at work, it is an excellent opportunity to show the world what it looks like to love our neighbor.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. Today is Veterans Day, a day we celebrate the service of men and women who serve and have served our country. These families had to seek healing after the wars. Over the centuries, wars have been fought, and millions of people have died. How do you bring about healing when your neighbor caused the death of your son? Today the United States have allies that were once sworn enemies. Japan and Germany tried to rule the world, yet today, they are peaceful nations. If our world can heal, your family can too. Wars often erupt in our families. Words are spoken, atrocities are done, relationships are severed. Can God heal it? Yes, he can. Sometimes war breaks out at work too. God can heal there also. Remember, Jesus is a healer, and since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. There is brokenness in us, in our world, work, and community. There is healing in Jesus. Today as you have zoom calls, meetings, sales calls, service calls, or power lunches, look for the broken around you through God's eyes. See people the way He sees them… as Image bearers. In following Jesus, we are to be like Him. He brought healing wherever he went. Sometimes it was physical, and sometimes it was emotional. Either way, He was a healer, and he wants you to heal too. You first, then others. By loving God and loving people, God will heal wounds through us. You are in your workplace on purpose because there is healing to be done. Remember, Jesus is a healer, and since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. Frederick Buechner said, "Pay attention to the things that bring a tear to your eye or a lump in your throat because they are signs that the Holy is drawing near." What injustice in your community brings you to tears? Homelessness, poverty, joblessness, sexual exploitation? What can you do about it? God provided you with a job and an income. What is that income for? For providing for your family and for bringing healing to your community. God asks that you Consider10% of your income for ministering to the needs of the lost and broken. Sometimes those lost and broken are right next to you at work. Remember, Jesus is a healer, and since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. Frederick Buechner once said, "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." I believe the greatest need is the healing of the lost and broken. Likely you have noticed brokenness in your workplace that needs to be healed. What are you doing about it? Praying about it? Seeking to understand it? Trying to find the person who is causing the brokenness? In our workplaces, we often find broken people bring their brokenness to work with them, and it multiplies. It's one reason you as a Jesus-follower are there. That brokenness needs healing, and you know the best healer in the world. Remember, since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. You may be saying to yourself, but how do I bring healing to my workplace when I am so broken myself? As a Jesus-follower, you serve the ultimate healer. For the woman at the well, he didn't just give her water; he gave her healing from the inside out. She was a broken woman who had been married five times. No matter what is broken inside of you, Jesus can handle it. In Luke 4:18, Jesus says, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free. Remember, Jesus is a healer, and since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
In 2006 I started a new job commuting 90 miles each way to work. I made a commitment to not turn on the radio on my way into work. I wanted to dedicate that time to pray for my family, my bosses and their families, my co-workers, and my employees. I learned to be quiet and I learned to make notes when I heard things from the Lord in my prayer time. I like to say that it Changed my life. Over the 4 years of this commute, I watched one of my Bosses come to be a Jesus follower and one rededicate his life to Christ. I was able to pray many times with my employees and I was able to demonstrate through service and friendship that my life was changed by Jesus. iWork4Him was launched through this prayer time and the iWork4Him Nation Covenant was birthed out of the process God took me through.
Changing the world. We all have that secret desire, don’t we? Changing the world in Kingdom terms is not measured in the BIG, the BIGGER and the BIGGEST actions in our life and work. It’s the opposite. Changing the world happens, one person, one word and one action at a time. It can be as small as a smile, a kind word, or a self-less act of service. It’s counter-intuitive, just like the work of Christ. So how about you? Would you like to change the world? Would you be willing to start today, changing the corner of the world where God has placed YOU? We invite you to start changing the world RIGHT NOW, with ONE smile, ONE kind word, and ONE kind action.
Life/work balance. How many of us have fallen for that myth and tried to make it happen? Only to fail over and over… a business coach we interviewed has a better concept. How about living an INTEGRATED LIFE? One that brings Christ into each aspect of our life and work, so that we are putting The Lord, not our futile “balance” efforts, first. So how about you? Are you ready to live ONE INTEGRATED LIFE, where you represent the Lord, you listen to the Lord, and let Him show you your priorities every day? Join us in this prayer: Father, today, I submit my day, my plans to you. Please show me YOUR PRIORITIES for my day. In Jesus’s Name, Amen
Are you stuck in a rut or comfortably nestled in there? Have you been “doing your Christianity the same way, with the same people, in the same ministry, in the same church? In the same type of work? With the same company?” When’s the last time you stopped, poked your head UP OUT OF THE daily rut and asked “Lord, am I doing your will? Am I doing ministry and my work YOUR WAY? Where do YOU want me?” So how about you? When’s the last time you considered re-thinking how you’re walking out your faith? And who you’re working or ministering with? When’s the last time you got UNCOMFORTABLE, in order to follow The Lord? We invite you TODAY, to ask in prayer “Lord, where do you want me?”
I’m not sure why Christians celebrate Halloween, but for some reason, we love to be scared. Do you know what's really scary? Christians who turn off their faith at work. For some reason, when we go to work, many of us switch off our faith. Did Jesus only die for your Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights? No, he died for all of you, especially your work life. When we bring Jesus to work with us, everyone around us will benefit from Him living in us, whether they believe in Him or not. Flip your faith back on and throw away the switch. The people you work with are counting on it. Romans 12:2 reminds us to let God transform you by changing the way you think…about work. Don’t be scary leave your light on at work.
Do you need to be removed? Sometimes, we start something and think we are supposed to stay in it, lead it, and serve it. And, we stay IN IT…sometimes too long. We no longer seek the Lord’s counsel about IF we should still BE where He placed us. Sometimes He just wants us to START something, sometimes He wants us to “help get it off the ground”, NOT stay and lead it or serve it. Sometimes, the BEST thing we can do for the work He asked us to start is to leave. So how about you? Are you staying in some work or ministry too long? When’s the last time you prayed about what God would have you do next? We invite you today, to take your work to the cross and ask “Lord where do you want me? And what would you have me do?”
I try to keep my heart pure and intimate with Christ, so I can be a source of light and encouragement to the people I work with. That’s the faith at work philosophy of a millennial professional we interviewed. What a beautiful philosophy of how we can really prepare and BE Christ at work. So how about you? Is your heart pure and intimate with Christ so YOU can be a source of light and encouragement to YOUR co-workers? How about today, before stepping into work, you prayed this prayer: Father, purify my heart, that may I BE Christ to everyone I work with today. Use me Father, to be a source of light and encouragement to everyone I work with. In Jesus’s name.
Heard this great reminder from a manager of a Christian Retail company “The biggest challenges in my life and work have been when I have forgotten WHO God is, or WHO I AM in Christ.” So how about you? Are you in the midst of a challenge at work? If so, CLING to the words of God. Remind yourself right now who you are IN HIM, not the words of what the world tells you. Here are just a few: I am a child of God, I am Jesus’ friend, I am a NEW creation, I am an heir with Christ, I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God and I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
What’s the fastest way to get what you DON’T want? Tell the Lord “I will NEVER _________________” Yep, just ask any other Christ follower who’s made the mistake of saying something like that. You WILL end up being exactly where YOU said you would NEVER be or DOING something you said you would never do. Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and His ways are NOT our ways. We don’t have the big picture, but God does. So how about YOU? We’re challenging you to remove the word NEVER from your vocabulary and to replace it with scripture, such as Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Have you ever considered that God wants to use YOUR business influence, the position He’s put you in, as a “platform” for Him? A stage on which to do your work while others watch and see HOW you work? If you lead just ONE person or have interact with groups of people inside OR outside your business, like vendors or, contractors, then you have a platform. A platform designed by GOD for you, for such a time as this. That you would work for His glory, show His characteristics of caring, courage, diligence, fairness, integrity, respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness. So how about you? When they watch you work do, they see YOU, or do they see Christ?
Have you ever met someone that lives one integrated life? They seem to flow seamlessly between their work and personal life without pause or care. What is this? It’s authenticity. And its attraction is unparalleled. How is it possible? It’s living a life based on Godly values. I’d hazard a guess a person like this lives their values in this order: God, Family, and Service. When we LIVE BY our values, decisions are easier, relationships are easier, and knowing where to invest our time, talent and treasure is easier. Because our values ARE our priority. And our heart lines up with our values, and those line up with our thoughts, our thoughts then direct our words and actions. How are YOU living your values at work today?
Culture. Webster’s defines it in the corporate realm as: the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization. How aware are YOU of YOUR COMPANY’S culture? When’s the last time you really stopped and took a look at it? How does it align with your OWN personal values as a Christ follower? And if you’re a leader, what are you doing to ensure your culture aligns with God’s word and will? Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” What is ONE ACTION you will take THIS WEEK, to align YOUR CULTURE with God’s will?
72% of people who get up and go to work every day think “nobody cares about me”. That’s a WHOLE LOT of hurting people that will never experience God’s love. So, what if we just took God’s love to them? What if there was a chaplain in the workplace that looks just like them, that meets them where they are; to just listen, pray and love them? Workplace chaplains DO exist and are more and more common in today’s workplaces! And THAT is the gospel! Echoing Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9, “When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” So, we challenge you, look into finding a chaplain for your people and transform your workplace into a place where people are loved.
Generosity. Is it an action, a state of the heart, or a mind-set? I heard recently that generosity is BEST when it includes all three and we compare it with IMPACT. Have you ever thought about your giving in this way? That your giving could possibly be leveraged for the highest impact for eternity? What if we all stopped and looked and prayed over the resources we have, and re-committed the 10% tithe of all our income, to MAXIMIZE impact for the Kingdom? Isaiah 32:8 says “But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.” What will you do today, to put on this new “eternal” mindset of generosity?
Ecclesiastes 4:12 says A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Are you a Christian standing alone in your work or professional life? Are YOU standing alone in OTHER areas of your life? What if you prayed and asked for a group that you could “do life and work” together with? We, as God’s creation, were BUILT for community. IF you have no community, you may be operating out of God’s will or, slogging or surviving, vs. thriving. We challenge you today, to ask a trusted Christian friend, or to go online and search for a Christ-honoring community to be a part of.
I can’t stand getting up any earlier than 6am. Who are these people who love to get up at 4:30am and work out? I find myself resenting them. I have never had the motivation to do anything before 6am, but I do try to make the most of the time from 6am to 7am. This is my quiet time, the time I use to center myself on God by praying for others, studying my bible, and writing in my prayer journal. The days I start with God, are the best days of the week. The days I sleep in and rush into my home office, never go as well. God wants our first hour of the day to remind us of His love for us and to remind us that He wants to be present in our work. 1 Corinthians 14:33 says “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace”. If you find your morning anything but peaceful, include God in your routine. Just not before 6am.
Do you sit all day long like I do? I find that somedays, the only exercise I get is walking to the mailbox or the kitchen. I sit in front of this computer and I work. I have come to realize that my body craves exercise. IT craves moving around and getting outside, and when I give my body this activity, my mind seems to settle in, and my work seems to flow easier. My soul needs exercise too. When I exercise my soul through prayer, bible reading and journaling, that exercise prepares me for my workday. God designed our bodies for exercise, Physical movement for our joints, muscles and ligaments and spiritual movement of our heart’s minds soul and strength. Proverbs 31:17 says, “She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.” Are you working out your body or your mind? Take time in your morning prep for some spiritual exercise too.
What is the first thing you do in the morning when you get up? Do you look at your phone and check emails before you get out of bed? I find that my best mornings start when I ignore my phone and pop open my bible and my journal instead. Since we really don’t know what is ahead in our work today, its important that we spend time with the One who knows what is ahead. When my mind is racing, thinking of my full calendar and the emails I need to return, I find that I push my Father aside. I say I will get back to Him when I have gotten my day in order, but I never do. Psalm 127: 1 says “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” I think that House is you. Start building your days with Him as your foundation and see the difference it makes as you walk together with God in your work.
Did you wake up tired today or press that snooze bar? Did you find yourself scrambling to get ready for that first zoom call of the day? Life and work can be exhausting. What is the best way to prepare your heart for what God has in store for you today at work? I don’t think rushing around and running late is helping prepare your heart. For me, it’s the still, quiet time, that feeds my soul and prepares me for the unknown ahead in my day. My best days start with quiet time, reading my bible, a devotional and writing in my prayer journal. Mark 1:35 says … “Jesus got up long before daylight, left the house while it was dark, and made his way to a secluded place to give himself to prayer.” Jesus made prayer a priority and so should we. Tomorrow, lets get up a few minutes earlier and spend our first moments with Him and feel the difference it makes as we prepare for work.
Preparing to go to work these days looks and feels different. What does that look like for you? Is it showering and getting dressed or throwing on a robe? Maybe, for you, it’s having that first shot of caffeine or perhaps its eating that healthy meal or drinking a vitamin filled smoothie. Maybe it involves getting your kids ready or helping your live-in parent get their day started. Whatever your routine, it’s that routine that prepares you for your work. As you prep for your day, where does God fit in? You may look good on the outside, and be well fed, but is your soul well fed and prepared. Psalm 5:3 says, “Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on the altar and wait for your fire to fall upon my heart.” If you missed God in your prep this morning, stop right now and invite Him into your day because He loves you and wants you to be prepared for your work.
It comes as no surprise that less than 20 percent of Americans regularly attend church. But just about all Americans have a job. So, we COULD say that not everybody has a pastor, but just about everybody has a boss. So how will the other 80% of Americans find out about Jesus Christ if they are not stepping into a church? The current population of the US is about 330 million. So that’s 264 Million people that WE can witness to through our daily interactions in our jobs. You are the one that has been chosen. You ARE CHRIST’S AMBASSADOR, for such a time as this. Today, won’t YOU PRAY AND COMMIT to BE Christ-like at work, to everyone you work with?
In the past couple of months, I’ve heard one word repeatedly out of the mouths of followers of Christ who bring their faith into the workplace: INTENTIONALITY. Intentionality is a concept defined as "the power of a mind to stand for things, properties and states of affairs". WAS and IS Jesus intentional? You bet. Should WE be intentional? You bet. HOW DO we shift to this state of intentionality? By starting with the Lord and asking what His intention is for OUR DAY? For OUR WORK? For OUR TEAM and the clients we serve. By the way, the opposite of intentionality is unconsciously or unknowingly. How will YOU shift the mindset of YOUR work from unconscious to INTENTIONAL, for HIS glory?
What do you think would happen to our economy, our country, if all the working Christians decided to “go into ministry”? There would be no “marketplace”, our economy would collapse and we would be thrown into chaos. Could it be that is NOT God’s plan or design for us? What if each of us were CALLED TO MINISTRY IN OUR WORK, right where we’re planted? And that OUR JOB IS our pulpit, our work performance then becomes our Christ-like message and our co-workers our “congregation”. Now THAT’S a powerful realistic vision for building the Kingdom. James 2:14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? How will YOU SHIFT your work to be a ministry TODAY?
Humility. The term "humility" comes from the Latin word humilitas, a noun related to the adjective humilis, which can be translated as "humble", but also as "grounded", or "from the earth", since it derives from HUmus (earth). The greatest leaders, including our Lord have it. CS Lewis said: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of YOURSELF LESS.” What if TODAY, you and I, thought of ourselves less at work, and started to think MORE about others. James 4:10 says it best: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. And how about Psalm 149:4 For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. How will YOU work from a place of humility today?
What’s the difference between a career and a vocation? Career is defined as an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life with opportunities for progress. A VOCATION, on the other hand, is defined as a person's main occupation, especially regarded as particularly worthy and requiring great dedication. WOW. That’s a big difference. We heard recently that as a Christ-follower, we should seek to have a VOCATION vs. a Career. Because having a vocation keeps us focused on building the Kingdom and living and working FOR the Kingdom of God. Which one do YOU have? What could you do this month, to shift YOUR CAREER into a VOCATION?
In our 2021 book, iWork4Him, I wrote a chapter about the four lies we’ve swallowed that shape how we live out our faith at work – some of which I personally believed for many years. Over the last week, we have touched on each of these lies, and all of them have one thing in common: they strangle our faith. When we relegate Jesus to one day a week, we cut the world off from what it needs most: hope. Every single person you encounter at work desperately needs the gospel - it’s literally a matter of life and death! God has placed you right where you are so that you can be his messenger of mercy and truth. Matthew 5 says, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven!” Don’t let the lies of the enemy keep your faith contained – go out and shine!
In our 2021 book, iWork4Him, Jim wrote a chapter about the lies we’ve swallowed that shape how we live out our faith at work. The fourth lie he wrote about was that the American Dream is biblical truth for Christians. Because the truth is, it’s not. And more than that, it’s not guaranteed! Material things will never bring true happiness or fulfillment and they should never be our end goal. After all, you can’t take it with you! And when we focus on giving just 10% back to God and keeping 90% for ourselves, we can quickly forget that EVERYTHING belongs to God! What would happen if all the Christ-followers in America began to pursue Jesus instead of the American Dream? What would happen if you submitted your dreams and desires to the God who gives all good things?
In our 2021 book, iWork4Him, I wrote a chapter about the lies we’ve swallowed that shape how we live out our faith at work – some of which I personally believed for many years. This third lie, I believed until I was 40! The lie was that you are a second-tier citizen in the Kingdom of God if you aren’t s pastor or missionary. That somehow your life has less impact for God’s glory if you aren’t in traditional ministry. But here is the thing: The Kingdom of God doesn’t have a ranking system. Every single person has a calling and a purpose to share the gospel – and you are called to share it right where you are! So if you have been looking for your place on the mission field, what about your workplace? It is filled with people who need the saving love of Christ!
In our 2021 book, iWork4Him, Jim wrote a chapter about the lies we’ve swallowed that shape how we live out our faith at work. The second lie he wrote about was that you should keep your faith at home because of the separation of church and state. This is one I hear all the time, but the truth is that when Thomas Jefferson wrote about this separation in 1802 it was intended to help protect the church from the state, not the state from the church. Freedom of religion is one of the founding principles of our country, and you have every right to bring your core beliefs with you to work! In fact, when you do, everyone around you should benefit from your relationship with Christ! Are you bringing Jesus with you to work or leaving Him at home?
In our 2021 book, iWork4Him, I wrote a chapter about the lies we’ve swallowed that shape how we live out our faith at work – some of which I personally believed for many years. The first lie I wrote about was that work is work and church is church. They have nothing to do with each other. When we live under this lie, we start to believe that living a life of faith at work will keep us from achieving success or accomplishing all we set out to do in our career. But this couldn’t be further from the truth! When we bring our faith into our work, everything about our lives gets richer because we are investing in what matters ETERNALLY. Have you fallen into the lie that living with no compromises means settling for less in life? Kick this falsehood to the curb and invite Jesus into the workplace with you this week!
Let’s be honest – we’re all guilty of gossip at one time or another. This sneaky little sin often creeps in as grumbling, complaining, ranting, or venting- especially if we’ve had a hard day at work. Although gossip may seem small, but the truth is, it’s not. I read an article by Erik Raymond the other day where he writes, “Gossip is the Devil’s Ponzi scheme to get rich quickly on disunity.” And guess what? His scheme works! Gossip hurts the speaker, the hearer, and the one being spoken about. It throws wood on the fire of division. Proverbs 26:20 says, “Without wood, a fire will go out, and without gossip, quarreling will stop.” Don’t fall into the Devil’s scheme! Before you open your mouth at work today, consider if your words are throwing wood or water on the fire of disunity.
What is the number one goal of most businesses? I’ll give you a hint: it starts with a “P” and it ends with “-ofit.” That’s right, the marketplace is built on profit - on financial gain. But God calls us to a different kind of business: the business of people. Kingdom minded businesses are founded not on a bottom line, but on a bottomless faith. They are all about ETERNAL profit. In Matthew 16:26 Jesus said, “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” You are a one of kind commodity – and guess what? So are your bosses, employees, coworkers, and clients! Start investing in the people around you because when you share your faith, you reap a heavenly profit that can never be taken away!
We recently talked with Brenda Long, the Former Director of Infrastructure Operations at Food for the Hungry, about what it takes to end an issue as large as global poverty – her answer: partnership and cooperation. When we face enormous tasks - like ending hunger or bringing the gospel to every tribe, tongue, and nation - we must remember that we are simply a part of the solution, not the whole thing. None of us can do it alone! We each have a small part to play. Luke 6:10 says, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large things.” So, as God entrusts you with small opportunities to partner with him and other believers for His Kingdom’s glory, how will you respond? Remember, you are a part of Jesus’s missions team in the workforce!
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “actions speak louder than words.” And as true as that may be, our words are still a vital part of our testimony! What we say and how we say it can either build up the people around us or tear them down; draw them to Christ or push them away. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” What kind of words are coming out of your mouth at work? Do you swear? Do you gossip? Do you complain? Do you make sarcastic jokes? Or do you inspire, compliment, and motivate the people around you? I want to challenge you to add three positive and uplifting comments into your workplace conversation each day this week and see what kind of response you get!
The other day I heard about an easy conversational tip to help build quick relationships with new people no matter what situation you’re in – from the office to the bus to the breakroom! It’s called the FORD Method. The FORD Method is an acronym where the “F” stands for Family, “O” for Occupation, “R” for Recreation, and “D” for Dreams. By asking the other person questions in each of these four categories, there is no reason why you can’t turn coworkers into friends, strangers into clients, and customers into regulars. So, who do you want to connect with on a deeper level this week? I challenge you to ask them more about their family, their feelings about their position or job, what they like to do in their free time, and their real dreams - then pray for open doors to share the gospel!
Have you ever found yourself caught up in petty workplace rivalries? If you have, then you know that they can get ugly – fast! When we play the comparison game, it’s easy to spend more time looking over at our neighbor’s desk and critiquing their work than actually focusing on doing our own work with excellence. In 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 the Apostle Paul writes, “We hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work...” Nothing good comes from jealousy, gossip, idleness, or comparison. So next time you find yourself tempted to peek over at your coworker’s progress or lack of progress and decide to make a comment, stop and remember Paul’s command to settle down and get to work!
What do you see when you look at your boss, coworkers, or employees? Do you see annoyances and frustrations, or do you see the image of God? As Christians, we believe that God creates all people in His own likeness, each one worthy and inherently valuable. And what’s more, each person is also loved by God! Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Take that in for a second: Jesus loves your boss, coworkers, and employees so much that he was willing to die for them! Do your words and actions at work reflect Christ’s love to those around you? Or do you find yourself slipping into judgment and anger? This week, I want to challenge you to treat everyone you meet with the love, dignity, and respect of Christ!
In our book, iWork4Him, Bob Willbanks writes about how he was "miserably saved." A condition where one is focused more on a life guided by the American Dream than on a life guided by Jesus. This mindset may have brought Bob worldly success and riches, but it also led him down the road of alcoholism, cost him his first marriage, and almost cost him his second. He was on the fast track to disaster until Jesus met him there. So, what about you? Are you miserably saved? Do you feel like your faith gets in the way of your dreams and ambitions? Or are your dreams and ambitions guided and set by your faith? Remember, true faith will direct you to set aside yourself and your selfish ambitions to seek God's purposes. When you rest in the promises of God and value the type of success that bears eternal fruits, you will cultivate a flourishing faith and abundant life.
In Matthew 10:27, a lawyer asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. The answer: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself." God wants your whole life; He isn't interested in just a part of it. He doesn't just want your Sunday mornings. He wants it all. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, three hundred and sixty-five days a year (and three hundred and sixty-six on leap years). And guess what? That includes the hours you spend at work! Following Jesus is not a part-time gig. It’s all the time. So take a second and ask yourself if you have invited Jesus to come to work with you or if have you relegated Him to your private life.
During the work week, most people spend 40 hours at their job, 40 hours sleeping, and 40 hours for everything else – including commute time, chores, eating, hobbies, relaxation, and family time. This means, the greatest sphere of interpersonal influence you have is probably your job. Tracy Matthews from Attune said in a recent interview that, “Time spent at work typically consumes the largest share of waking hours and is one of our greatest arenas of character formation and external influence.” In other words, your job is not just a job… it’s an opportunity to impact the lives of others for Christ. The workplace is the largest mission field in the world and you are already deployed there! Don’t waste a second of it! God wants to use you to reach your coworkers, employees, clients, and bosses with the love of Christ! How can you engage in your workplace mission field today?
Too often, when we hear the word “generous” we think only of financial giving. But what if God is calling us to be generous with our whole lives – not just our bank accounts? Proverbs 11:25 says, “Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” What if we redefined generosity as anything that refreshes those around us? In other words, taking time to listen, being lavish with our compliments, leaving room in our schedule to build relationships, using our influence to lift others up, and applying our talents to lighten the workload of our coworkers? Imagine the kind of cultural change our workplaces would have if we made a habit of refreshing others instead of draining them with negativity or exhaustion! Ask the Holy Spirit to redefine your idea of generosity this week!
If I had a quarter for every time I’m talking with someone about work and they say, “I just wish I knew what my purpose was,” I would be a very rich man. We have been fed a lie in America that there is one exact job that God is calling us to, and if we miss that career path, we have somehow missed His purpose for us. But in Matthew 28:16 Jesus gives us the ultimate calling. He says, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Period. That is our purpose – our calling. To make disciples of all nations… including that grumpy coworker or difficult boss. In a recent interview, Pete Ochs said, “Your job or platform is really just the venue that God’s given you to live out your purpose… to honor God.” So remember, no matter what job you hold, your unchanging purpose is to share the good news of Jesus with everyone around you!
In Luke 9:23 Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” In other words, if you are going to follow after Jesus, you have to be willing for faith to cost you something. Drew Crandall from North East Christians at Work told us in a recent interview that, “It’s relatively easy to be a Christ-follower at church on the weekend. But exporting, or integrating, your faith into the workplace is a challenge!” In other words, it’s easy to be a one-day a week Christian… it’s a whole other thing to invite Christ into your everyday. But trust me when I say the effort is worth it! Are you ready to take the challenge and commit to being a workplace missionary? Check out the iWork4Him Nation Covenant on our website, at iWork4Him.com/jointhenation.
When you are faced with a difficult person, a disagreement with your spouse, an unfair situation at work, or a complaining coworker – what is your initial response? Is it to open your mouth? Or is it to open your Bible? Too often we speak out of anger, frustration, or even a misguided sense of justice, without first seeking out the heart of our Heavenly Father. This type of response – more often than not - leads to broken relationships and unwise choices. However, when we take the time to consult with God FIRST about the challenging situations in our lives, he is faithful to answer in a way that brings life, goodness, and restoration to everyone around us. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Next time you’re frustrated, try opening your Bible before your mouth.
The International Encyclopedia of Human Geography defines Worldview as, “a set of beliefs or a mental model of reality that influences the way people perceive, think, know, and act in the world.” When was the last time that you really considered how you view the world? What are the things that influence how you think and act in the workplace on a daily basis? This week, we want to invite you to recalibrate your heart and mind to a biblical worldview. The Apostle Paul says in Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Before your feet hit the floor in the morning, pray that the Holy Spirit would give you his eyes, heart, and mind for those you work with, and see how He changes your perspective!
Have you ever left a conversation where you felt like the other person really understood you and cared about your life? If you have, chances are good that the reason you felt this way was because they genuinely listened to you. The truth is, it’s impossible to get to know someone when we do all the talking. Instead, we have to ask questions, pause, and listen to the answer without interrupting or turning the conversation back to us and our interests. James 1:19 says, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” How well do you listen to the people you work with? How about the customer or client that has a lot of complaints? Or the coworker who does things differently than you? I want to challenge you to speak less and listen more today.
Most companies are run with one thing in mind: the bottom line. According to the world, the most important measurement of a truly successful business is profit. But what if money and profit margin aren’t how God defines success? Almost every Kingdom-minded company that we’ve interviewed over the last nine years has said that, in the end, successful and healthy business is all about people over profit. This may be contrary to what we are normally taught… but isn’t that so like Jesus?! In the upside-down Kingdom of God, service and souls are the real measure of success. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” So, stop worrying solely about the bottom line and instead concern yourself with the eternal souls that walk through your door today!
We spend more than one-third of our life at work. Yet sadly, Barna research shows nearly two-thirds of churched adults say it has been at least three years or more since they heard church teachings on work and career, and yet, the workplace is where most Americans spend the biggest share of their waking hours. What can YOU do, to introduce your church to the importance of faith and work? Invite your pastor to your office, and ask him or her to pray for your team, your clients and your year for maximum impact for the Kingdom. What day this month will YOU invite YOUR pastor to work? For more recommended resources and ideas, go to our Resources page on iwork4him.com.
Relationship. Relational. Is there any better word to describe Christianity that sets our “religion” apart from all others? Our faith is based solely on relationship. And is there any better model for us to follow? In our life, in our work? And the basis of this relationship model is LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. Are you a NOISY GONG in YOUR workplace? We invite you to SHIFT to LOVE in your workplace today.
Money. We all need it to live. Is your view of money healthy and in alignment with biblical principles? Is the WAY you use it serving man, or God and His Kingdom. 1 John 3:17 says If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? How about your income? How about your company’s revenue? Are you tithing from your corporate revenue stream? Have you ever considered it? We challenge you today, to pray about your personal and corporate tithing. And ask God HOW YOU should be using the income He’s blessed YOU WITH to serve your fellow man, God and His Kingdom.
There is a word that defines the bible, defines Christ, and defines leadership. That word is LOVE. But isn’t love seemingly contrary to business and how it operates? Or IS IT? Did you ever have a bad boss? What quality of work did you do for them? Did you ever have a great boss? One that got the absolute best work from you? What was the difference in those two bosses? I’ll bet it was LOVE. Love that respects, listens, appreciates and builds up. 1 John 3:11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Said another way, control disconnects. Love connects. This connection (which is actually LOVE) translates to the bottom line. We invite you to pick ONE DAY AT WORK THIS WEEK, and TRY IT.
“Why is it important for all Christians in every area of culture to rise up in their calling? Because biblical truth is the highest love for human beings.” That’s a quote from Kelly Monroe Kullberg, Founder of the Harvard Veritas Forum. So, we’re wondering…Are you living YOUR calling where you’re working? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate YOUR WORK in terms of “a calling”? Are you enabling others in YOUR place of work, to RISE UP in THEIR calling? There’s nothing so miserable than when we feel trapped in our job, due to perceived circumstances. Or a job that doesn’t utilize our God-given gifts and talents. If you scored less than a 7, we invite you to go do some work on “what your calling is”. And start working it!
There is a truth about work that has been lost to much of our culture since the creation of the world. It is that GOD CREATED WORK. He created work for us, to do together and for HIS glory. Genesis 2: 19 So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. Work is NOT a PUNISHMENT, it’s a GIFT. And God wants to JOIN US in it. Every day. He DELIGHTS in it. He is our team-mate, just as He was with Adam. He brought the animals TO Adam to name. So how about YOU? Won’t you invite God to work WITH YOU today? WHEREVER He has place you?
Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.
What if our WORK WAS our WORSHIP? The Hebrew word avodah means work, worship, and service, altogether! Work: being productive, worship: praising and glorifying God and service: a form of service to the world and our community. We are MEANT to be of service, to be PARTNERS with God in the ongoing creation of the world. The various usages of this Hebrew word that is first found in Genesis 2:15 shows us it was God’s ORIGINAL DESIGN and DESIRE that our work and our worship would be a SEAMLESS WAY of living, as it was thousands of years ago. What about YOU? Are you making the work of YOUR hands every day AVODAH? You’re invited today to start worshiping God with your work.
How do you make a decision when faced with a MAJOR WORK LIFE CHANGE? Do you do it alone? Do you ask a bunch of friends? Do you list out the pros and cons? Is there a biblical model for seeking and knowing God’s will? There is. Here’s the way a CEO and his wife used to decide whether to leave their business OR go into ministry in another state. They prayed together on their knees and fasted over several months. They sought no other council, only God’s. They read the bible and then paid attention to God’s answers and direction. They received many confirmations and affirmations through this process, that led them to HIS answer. This is a great example of GOD-LED, GOD-FEARING decision making. How could you use THIS decision making model in a decision YOU need to make today?
When’s the last time you were UNCOMFORTABLE, OR PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE in your work? Discomfort = growth, and comfort = stagnation. The people doing the most growing are the ones that submit to spiritual and personal growth, like having a group of fellow Christ followers, who challenge them and hold them accountable, in their professional life, their leadership and business. You know what they say, if you’re not growing, you’re dying. The wisdom of Proverbs 27:17 says As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. John Maxwell said it best: If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone. What will YOU do this week, in your professional life, to be challenged and GROW?
After years of meeting with and interviewing people from all types of work and all organizational levels, there is one major truth that keeps bubbling up to the surface. The investment IN PEOPLE, above all else, pays not only Kingdom dividends, but business dividends as well. This is what Christ did, and it is the ultimate example of Christ’s holy character: Matthew 20:28 says “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” When we invest in our employees, the next generation, or future leaders in our workplace, we are giving away our life as a true Christ follower. What is ONE commitment you will make today, to start investing in the life of another in YOUR workplace?
Per a 2015 Barna Group study, only 20 percent of Christian adults are involved in some sort of discipleship activity. And, less than one-quarter of Christian adults (23%) are currently being discipled by someone one-on-one.
Discipleship in the context of work is known as “mentorship”. How about YOU? Are you allowing someone to mentor you as a Christ follower in your work? And if you are a “seasoned” professional, Are YOU making it a priority to intentionally mentor a next generation co-worker? We encourage you to pray about mentorship this week and ask the Lord “Who would you like me to mentor Lord?” and “Would you provide a God-honoring mentor for me?”
I think it’s safe to say that the media focuses on, and provides negative news these days. Should we just take it, and keep feeding ourselves this negativity? How does this affect your work? Do you take it with you? What are you chatting with your co-workers about? And are you feeding the beast of “all that’s wrong with world”? Or are you speaking life at work. We can, and should consciously choose what we WILL and WILL NOT listen to. Philippians 4:8 exhorts us: And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. We invite you today, to observe WHAT you speak at work, and shift it to glorifying God.
I heard a clever quip the other day about trying to take control from God’s hands. God is writing the story of your life: so STOP TRYING TO GRAB THE PEN FROM HIS HAND! This applies to our work as well. Sometimes we think we are living God’s plan for us in our work when we are actually just “taking Jesus with us”. And only praying to Him to ask for blessings on what we are doing at work. How can we know when we’ve succeeded in FOLLOWING Christ in our work? By changing our mindset to one of FOLLOWING, vs. LEADING. Why not start your work day with a prayer like this: Father, today, I commit my hands to YOUR work. As you lead me, may YOUR will be done and may YOU be glorified in all I do. Amen.
Being intentional seems to be a consistent hallmark of followers of Christ. Because Christ is our best example of intentionality. Intentionality is defined as being deliberate or purposeful. How about you? How are you working with intentionality today? In the office, with your co-workers, intentionally representing Christ and showing His love and patience to everyone you come in contact with? Most days we may just be unconsciously going through our work day. We invite you to begin today by going before the father and asking Him: "Here's all I have, what do YOU want me to do with it today? What is YOUR priority today, Lord?" And then living that out as we step into our work, and every other place our feet may wander.
Have you ever wondered what the benefits would be, if you turned your company over to God? Would the profits fly out the window and productivity take a nose-dive? We’ve polled Christ-following employers and their employees and here’s what THEY say the benefits are: Increasingly happier and more stress free employees (which leads to increasing productivity, less absenteeism and much higher retention rates)… All of which make for a great business! WOW! What are YOU waiting for? No excuses! We challenge you today, to start making a list of what you would need to do, to turn your company over to God, and then do ONE of those items this week!
Have you ever experienced a major upheaval in your business or work life? Something that looked like it was taking you in the opposite direction of where you were headed? Or was (you thought) the next logical step? It’s highly possible that God is using this to move you to exactly where HE wants you to be. For HIS work, in HIS time, for THIS season. Let Romans 8:28 encourage you today, and we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. God is orchestrating it all, for His glory. This week, as you experience upheaval in your work life, why not turn to Romans 8:28? And even place a copy of it on your desk?
What if today, we committed to operate our businesses from a philosophy of “It’s not about WHAT we sell or HOW MUCH we sell, it’s about the LIVES we TOUCH and CHANGE.” That’s “God’s way of doing business”. And it’s the exact OPPOSITE of everything we have been taught as professional business people. But isn’t that always God’s way? This counter-cultural philosophy is rooted in Matthew 6:33: But seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. What is the Lord asking YOU TO DO as a next step in seeking first HIS Kingdom in YOUR workplace?
You know, as Martha and I have met, and interviewed hundreds of Christian business leaders over the past eight years, the best one sentence that sums up “faith at work”, comes from the team at Kingdom at Work. It’s this: ”When a kingdom leader engages in a kingdom style, then a kingdom culture within the company emerges and the kingdom of God is advanced.” God’s process of transformation starts with one person, with one person’s faith and obedience. That one person is YOU. And in God’s economy, He will take your one act of faith and obedience and multiply for the Kingdom. What one act of faith at work will YOU do today?
As a business leader, if you turned your business over to God, what would that look like? What would be the result? Hundreds of business owners we’ve interviewed over the past eight years have done it. They say the result is a DEEP sense of peace vs. stress, pressure, and tension. And a new, deepening understanding of their role as a STEWARD of God’s business, vs. “being the OWNER of it”. What would it take for YOU to be ready to turn YOUR organization over to the Lord’s ownership today? We invite you to place Christ in your org. chart as CEO, and commit right now, to shift your mindset from ”OWNER to STEWARD”.
Every one of us in ministry. What? No, you say, I’m a CPA, I’m an engineer, I manage people at a construction company. Yes, and you are called to be an Ambassador for Christ there. The Apostle Paul agrees, as he wrote to the Ephesians, in Chapter 6 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should. If Paul can be an ambassador in chains in prison, then we (without chains) can too….wherever He placed us. And God placed YOU in YOUR SPECIFIC WORKPLACE for a reason. For HIS REASONS, not our own.
I learned something new talking with a Physical Fitness company owner in Nashville. The only gift God has given us that we can control 100% is our body. What we eat, how we take care of it, what we feed it, if we are exercising it. Reminds me of Luke 11:36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you. Never thought of that. That we have an obligation to glorify God with our body, and that body is the vehicle that either enables us to work with excellence or not. What will YOU do today, ensure your body is primed to work in excellence unto the Lord?
If you are like me you jump up out of bed, check for emergency text messages, check the weather, rush through your morning devotional time so you can get on to the real work of the day. Just recently Martha and I were reading a book by Kim Avery “The Prayer Powered Entrepreneur” and she suggests a different approach. Kim suggests that when we have our morning quiet time, be quiet and ask our Lord what His priorities are for us today. Instead of letting distractions rule our day, ask the Lord to prioritize our day so His will is done. I’m going to try this from now on, and maybe you would like to do the same. Lord, what is at the top of your priority list for today? I pray that I can do this the rest of my life, what about you?
The wonder-woman complex. It’s an unrealistic belief that we as women need to be everything to everybody. Where did that come from? And what’s it doing to us? What if instead of trying to BE wonder-woman, we commit to be who God created us to be. .... To get to know our spiritual gifts, talents, strengths, and then went in search of God’s heart, to find our true calling? .... What if every woman of faith lived and worked their calling? How much different would our world, our nation, our state, our city, our community, our home, our workplace be? So how about you? Are you tired of being something other than what God created you to be? Visit us online to find resources to change your wonder-woman complex into your true calling.
Darren Shearer, founder of High Bridge Media said recently: A disciple making company disciples the people in it, the industry it’s in, and even the community around it. WOW, now that is a tall order. It sounds IMPOSSIBLE. But God….If God is truly behind your company, if He is IN your company, than that statement is supernaturally possible. So how about you? Is your company making disciples of the people in it? Is it making disciples in your industry? Is it making disciples in the community in which your company lives? .... Jesus said to his disciples “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” We challenge you today, to RE-THINK , and RE-COMMIT your company, and it’s reason for existence, to glorify God in making disciples with every person it touches.
Are you dreading Monday? Do you start to lose your joy come Sunday evening? .... What if instead of dreading Monday, you LOOKED FORWARD TO IT? What if instead of moaning about Monday, you prayed away your dread, and replaced it with thanks, and joy and intention? .... To pray that come Monday morning, you would FEEL GOD in your work, as you work. That your work would glorify God, that you would be the best Ambassador for God your workplace has ever seen? .... So how about you? Are you ready to be used by God in your work? To see Monday as a tremendous opportunity, to enjoy your work and to glorify God, and maybe even give your co-workers a glimpse of our Heavenly Father. ....
When’s the last time you really saw your co-workers? .... Saw them as real three-dimensional people? Not just a co-worker, workplace mate or just an employee? When’s the last time you remembered, that they’re a son or daughter of God? .... That they were created, like you, by God, for a purpose. That they are worthy. That they have a life, and that life is just as important as yours. That they’re on a journey, their own journey, just like we all are. .... So how about you? We invite you today, to put on God’s view of each person you work with, and to see Christ in each of them. And then watch the supernatural transform your work relationships and your workplace.
For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. So how about you? Are you resting from your work? Are you taking a day off every week and keeping it holy? Are you honoring God with your business and keeping the Sabbath, not only for yourself, but for your employees and customers? Two of the giants in retail, Hobby Lobby and Chick-Fil-A are closed on Sunday, and their profits are up! The world says “you’re crazy to close on Sunday”, but God says differently. If you’re working on Sunday, or asking your employees to, we challenge you to go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him “How can I honor you by keeping the Sabbath holy?”
Are you feeling as though you’re just going to work on auto-pilot? That you can do your work now, with your eyes closed, with one arm tied behind your back? When’s the last time you asked God to stretch YOU, in your work? Comfort is not a place Christ-followers should be camping out in. .... So how about you? Are you brave enough, to ask “Lord, will you stretch me today? Will you put me to better use, in the place where you would have me be? Will you bless me today with the work you have chosen for me, at this time in my life? .... Hebrews 11:6: And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Are you a leader in your organization? If so, what are you doing to care for your team members? Your employees? Are you ignoring the big stresses in their lives? If you are, it could be costing you in a big way. For example: The divorce of a $60,000 a year employee will cost $86,000 in lost productivity. There are legal, low cost remedies to helping your employees get the help they need to calm the sometimes raging seas of their lives. So how about YOU? Are you turning a blind eye to the pain in your workplace? Wake up! Look and listen, and seek to put benefits and programs in place that make employees lives easier. And commit today, to start being the good shepherd. The one who sacrifices his life for the sheep. For more about iWork4Him and our vision to transform the workplace of every Christian into a mission field, go to iWork4Him.com That’s iWork the number 4 Him dot com**
At work, sometimes we walk away from a meeting or conversation and think to ourselves “Boy, that person sure needs some fixing.” But, in reality, if we took a moment, and thought more carefully about it, maybe even looked a little deeper, we may just see what needs to be fixed is US, not them. Leaders know this. They know that the organization is a reflection of WHO they are and WHO they are being. A leader knows that before their “team needs fixing”, THEY need fixing first. So how about YOU? Are you a leader that leads knowing they need to fix themselves first? Or are you the leader that looks at all the fixing everyone else needs to do? We challenge you today, if you have a thought about someone else, to first look at yourself, and see what needs to change.
Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.
Some things in life are more challenging than others. Like finances. And even more challenging: How do we glorify God with our finances? If you think you’ve mastered your finances, there’s a next step, a better way to glorify God with them. To transform the money we make from working for the Lord, and seeing that it is invested in Kingdom building. It’s called Biblically Responsible Investing and it’s transforming the way Christians look at the money they invest, and where they invest it. So how about you and your finances? .... Are you willing to look at every dollar and steward it even more for God’s Kingdom? If you are, we invite you to pray about it, and go to our website for next steps on how to transform your finances into the ultimate Kingdom resource.
I wonder how much of our life is lived from a place of “taking”. Not consciously, but just getting up and living our life, as we go to work and just delve in. I’ve found my unconscious self is pretty selfish. If I don’t pray first, submit in obedience, my day, my hands, my mouth, eyes and ears, to serve all those I come in contact with, I’ll just spend all day at work taking what I need and want. .... So how about you? Are you living your life and work day taking? .... We challenge you today, to stop unconsciously working, and living as a taker. But to set up your day from a place of “How can I be a giver today? How can I contribute to everyone I come in contact with?”
Is God building another testimony for you, through your workplace? Often, hard times come in our work, and we’re called to respond as a Christ-follower. Not react with fear, self-pity, anger, resentment or push-back. But with a keen sense and trust that God is sovereign in our work. That He may have brought something to an end, for His Glory, not our punishment. So how about YOU? .... Are YOU going through a hard time at work? And if you are, how are you responding? We recommend first taking it to prayer, and asking the Lord what He wants you to know about the situation, how you can grow from it, and what does he want you to do next, for His glory? Then take some time and pray for those you work alongside for the tough time they are going through too
How do you measure your work success? We’re referring to eternal success in your work. One way is to ask yourself: Is my workplace better off because of having me work there? Have I changed it for the better? Would my co-workers say that I am a blessing to work with? A roofing business owner in Florida told us he takes an inventory every year, looks back at the year to see what benefit or good he has added: to his customers, his employees, his community and his family. So how about you? WE invite YOU to incorporate this “taking inventory” process by adding it onto your calendar once a month. David Jeremiah said, “If we don’t take inventory every once in a while, and give thanks to God for the great things He has done for us, we get totally out of perspective.” Make sure you take time to ask the question of yourself today “IS my workplace blessed because I work there “
Jon Dengler, a ministering bicycle business owner in Tampa, said this about his business and its ministry: By doing our work, we’re rehearsing a reality that we’re dreaming of. We’re trying to usher in the coming Kingdom. Phenomenal. He is using all of his gifts… daily… and working as if his current work is representing the Kingdom. He is re-creating the Kingdom today, in his city, in all he does as he works on bikes. As he teaches others to fix bikes. As he gives them away. As he develops relationship with each person he comes in contact with. All those things john does restores a piece of the Kingdom on earth. So how about YOU? Are you ushering in the coming Kingdom with your work? With every person you meet? We invite you tomorrow morning, to pray and commit that your work would be ushering in the coming Kingdom
Do you want God to unlock His purpose for you in your work? As you execute the first 4 steps of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant: Praying for, serving, befriending, and praying with others, remember your work behavior is important. The final step of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is to be someone of excellence in your work. Be the best and brightest example of a worker in your workplace position. Excellence makes your behavior believable and your faith real. Excellence gives you a platform for sharing your faith. As a Jesus Follower, everything about us should be changing, and everyone around you should be benefiting from your faith, whether they believe in Jesus yet, or not. Colossians 3:23 says, “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Does God care for the people you work with? Of course, He does. In step 4 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, look for opportunities to pray with others. When you continually work alongside the same people, you know their typical manners and facial expressions. When you notice someone having an off day, ask them, “How are you doing?” when they say “I’m Fine,” keep asking, “ No really, how are you doing? I noticed you looked a little down today” then wait and be QUIET. When they have shared what is on their heart, ask, “Can I pray with you about that, right now?” I have never had someone say “No” when I followed these steps. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” When you pray, you are opening the door for them to meet your savior.
Do you want to see your workplace as a mission field? In step 3 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, we encourage you to befriend your co-workers or employees outside of the office. Why? Our work relationships are work focused and can be shallow. When you build friendships on your own turf, outside of work, real relationships develop. When you let someone into your world, it breaks down walls. Breaking down walls builds trust. Eventually, they will trust you when you share your Jesus story, the work He has done in your life. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble”….Be a real friend to someone today.
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? Step two of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant helps transform your workplace mindset into a mission-focused workplace ministry mindset. Start looking for ways to serve your co-workers, bosses, and/or employees outside your job requirements. Why? Anyone can do a job that meets expectations, but how many people help others meet or exceed expectations? When you go out of the way to help others at work with a stressful project or a mundane responsibility, you open up a door of ministry opportunity. Galatians 5:13-14 says For you have been called to live in freedom… use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? I thought so. Step one of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is the most powerful step you can take at work to transform your workplace and your heart. Prayer - Start praying for those you work alongside every day. Pray for your co-workers, bosses, and employees by name. You can even pray for their spouses and kids. After you have done this for a few months, have a conversation like this “Hey, I have been praying for you, is there anything I can pray about specifically?” 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. “ Start Praying today and watch the transformation begin.
Kathy Branzell, President of the National Day of Prayer says: there’s the idea that when I work, I work, but when I pray, God works. So how about YOU? Are you working, when you should be praying? Are you starting work first, before you pray? Are you taking God’s place for the results by over-working? There’s a beautiful balance we can obtain between work and prayer. We can choose to pray first, then work. And then pray, staying in constant contact with the Lord to guide and direct our work, vs. all that extra-efforting stuff. Psalm 127 says: It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” We challenge you today, to incorporate prayer INTO your work, and trust God for the results and experience a little of His rest
Are there ROCKS in YOUR schedule? ROCKS are IMMOVABLE commitments. Those priorities that are unchangeable. As a working Christ-follower, what are some of YOUR ROCKS? Here are some of mine: Time with the Lord. Family commitments. And anything I have given my word to, to be there. Is WORK one of YOUR ROCKS? If it is, maybe it’s time to look at that rock, and decrease its size, or the amount of space it’s taking on your calendar. Don’t’ let Luke 20:18 define how you live and manage your life. “Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.” So how about YOU? Is work a stone YOU’RE stumbling over? How about crushing that rock and use it to make a path to more time with family?**
We all have a calling, have you heard this before? Some of us get called to the pulpit and some to the foreign mission field but most of us get called to our cubicles, construction sites, care facilities or whatever your job site may be. Your Workplace, It’s your mission field and in that mission field, you and me, we may be the only Jesus our co-workers, employees and bosses may ever meet. That Job that you hold and the work that you do, and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance. The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance. So, as you contemplate the value of your work today, realize this…You don’t need to quit your job in order to go into fulltime ministry. You are already in fulltime ministry, right there where you work.
Had a chance to interview Dr. Dan Middlebrooks, a chaplain to first responders. He shared this: What you hold onto is either going to help you or harm you. It’s either going to be a tombstone or a steppingstone, the choice is yours. Wow. .... And that got me thinking. Perhaps I’m holding onto something, something that is affecting my work. Something that is affecting my work relationships. Or my work environment. Ecclesiastes 3:6 exhorts us: a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away…
So how about you? what are you hanging on to? Are you willing to take that something you’re hanging on to, to the foot of the cross…right now? Pray that the Lord would show you how to take what your holding and make it a steppingstone
Decision making. We do it hundreds of times a day. What if, as Dr. Jim Harris advises us, we drop our decision making 18 inches from our head, down to our spirit? .... What if, instead of thinking about the decision, we checked in with the Holy Spirit and asked what He wants us to do? In that exact moment? .... Being spirit-led involves being connected to the Holy Spirit, and seeking His answer first, as our chief advisor. .... Our head is subject to our spirit. NOT the other way around. Romans 8:14 says For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So how about you? Are you working as a child of God? With the wisdom and power and direction of the Holy Spirit? We challenge you to start and live your workday tomorrow, being LED all day in every way by the Holy Spirit.
As Christians everything about us should be changing. When we were born again, it wasn’t just a one-time event. We are to be changing daily…remember the word “sanctified”? We are being “set apart” to be dedicated to God’s use. And to that end, we’re to be changing and growing more Christ-like every day, to be conformed to His image. So how about you? Would those you work with say you’re a better co-worker today than you were 6 months ago? Would your manager say you’re a better team member today than you were last month? Would your CEO say you’re a better executive this year than you were last year? 2 Timothy reminds us: If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. We challenge you to pray to be conformed and changed today so that someone may notice and ask about it tomorrow.
Rebekah King, founder and director of Hope Works, a southside Chicago non-profit, said: To be invested in a community is to know its people and to know their needs. And that got me thinking, to grow my “community” which is my team, within my company, does that same idea apply? Do I need to know my people and know their needs to invest in them? Absolutely - YES! So how about YOU? How well do YOU know YOUR team members? How well do you know THEIR needs? How much are YOU invested in YOUR work community? Mother Teresa said: “Prayer in action is love, and love in action is service. Try to give unconditionally whatever a person needs in the moment. The point is to do something, however small, and show you care through your actions by giving your time.” Take some time today and figure out the best way to invest in your community.
Identity. It’s the fact of being who or what a person is. As Christ followers, our identity is clear: We are sons and daughters of God, and ambassadors of Christ. The question is, are you working from that identity? .... How do you do that exactly? .... There are many books and courses today, that can lead you through the process of knowing exactly HOW God wired you, your giftings, your talents, and strengths, and then guiding you through the process of asking God to show you the calling He has designed for YOU. Tim Keller says: The Bible says that our real problem is that every one of us is building our identity on something besides Jesus. So how about you? What are you building YOUR identity on? And what identity are you working FROM? You can check out Identity and Destiny dot com to find out more about who God designed you to be and what He designed you to be doing
Can a company thrive by saying NO? .... YES! John DeAngelis, CEO of a Florida construction company says: Sometimes, we found the most profitable job is the one we DON’T do. Here’s what he means. They have seven criteria for taking on a new project. If it doesn’t meet all the criteria, they don’t take it on. It’s as simple as that. The criteria are based on their values, employee life balance, and honoring God. So how about you? Do YOU take on projects that are out of alignment with your company’s values or culture? Do you say yes to every project? Proverbs 16:9 advises: We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. We challenge YOU TODAY, to define God-honoring criteria to help you to say YES to the right projects and NO to the wrong ones. Then see how this move impacts your profitability
Ahhh rebellion. Its’ the sickness of youth but perhaps, there’s still some rebellion in our hearts as adults. Is there some ONE or some THING that you’re rebelling against at work?...You may be doing it unknowingly… “under the table”…undermining, backbiting, using sarcasm or pushing against another’s ideas or leadership in subtle ways. Romans 13:1 and 2 is clear: Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. So how about you? Won’t you commit to glorify God, by submitting to YOUR authorities at work?
After a conversation with Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, of Love & Respect, I’m rethinking the way I go about being a peace-keeper. Here’s what he said: Sometimes, as peace keepers we hedge on the truth, or just lie, to keep the peace. .... So let’s apply that to our workplace. Are you unknowingly hedging on speaking the truth in work situations, to keep the peace? How can you know? You’ll probably have a niggling in your spirit, an unsettledness. So what can we do to know when to speak the truth: We can check in with the Holy Spirit in the moment, before conversing, and pray for wisdom for how and when to speak. Keeping the peace may not be what best serves the organization. But speaking the truth is. So how about you?
Mutual respect. It’s when two people show respect for each other. .... Respect is defined as the process of honoring someone by exhibiting care, concern, or consideration for their needs or feelings. This should be a HALLMARK of us as Christ followers. And even more apparent at work, with our colleagues. To respect them as co-laborers AND as fellow sons and daughters of God. .... Author Dina Dwyer-Owens says it’s been her experience that When we hold ourselves accountable and show mutual respect to others, it’s amazing the respect that comes back. So how about you? Are you living mutual respect in your work today?
One day Christ will come back and restore ALL things. For now, Dr. Amy Sherman tells us: A successful marriage of faith and vocation has the capacity to bring a foretaste of God's Kingdom to earth. .... She says that our WORK is INSTRUMENTAL to God’s mission in the world, and it’s not an accident. .... Each of us, doing our thing – our work in our workplace, with our unique giftings. And if we are doing it for God’s glory, with joy and peace and excellence, it brings a taste of heaven into our workplace. .... That’s God’s design and plan for our work. .... So how about you? Are you bringing a Kingdom foretaste into your work and workplace every day?
Rick Betenbough says this of his company Betenbough Homes: Our business exists to reveal God and His Kingdom to everyone who comes near. .... .... What a perfect summation of what the faith and work movement is all about. So how about YOU? Can you say this as the leader in your workplace? That you exist to reveal God and His Kingdom to everyone who comes near? Can you say that about your team at work? That your team exists to reveal God and His Kingdom to everyone who comes near to me? .... Betenbough says it took TEN YEARS for God to transform them, their leadership and board to rebuild their business into a KINGDOM business. What will you do today, to start on the journey to transform YOUR ORGANIZATION?
As we start our work week, let’s remind ourselves of our calling to our work and God’s plan for our work. Declare this now as you head to work today, walk to your office, or sit down to do your devotions. … “My workplace is my mission field, a place of full-time ministry… My workplace ministry manual is my Bible. …My calling to my workplace is not a second-class calling…. I dedicate my workplace as a mission field for God, and because of Jesus in my life, I am committed to celebrating the work that God gave me….AMEN”
Do you want God to unlock His purpose for you in your work? As you execute the first 4 steps of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant: Praying for, serving, befriending, and praying with others, remember your work behavior is important. The final step of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is to be someone of excellence in your work. Be the best and brightest example of a worker in your workplace position. Excellence makes your behavior believable and your faith real. Excellence gives you a platform for sharing your faith. As a Jesus Follower, everything about us should be changing, and everyone around you should be benefiting from your faith, whether they believe in Jesus yet, or not. Colossians 3:23 says, “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Does God care for the people you work with? Of course, He does. In step 4 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, look for opportunities to pray with others. When you continually work alongside the same people, you know their typical manners and facial expressions. When you notice someone having an off day, ask them, “How are you doing?” when they say “I’m Fine,” keep asking, “ No really, how are you doing? I noticed you looked a little down today” then wait and be QUIET. When they have shared what is on their heart, ask, “Can I pray with you about that, right now?” I have never had someone say “No” when I followed these steps. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” When you pray, you are opening the door for them to meet your savior.
Do you want to see your workplace as a mission field? In step 3 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, we encourage you to befriend your co-workers or employees outside of the office. Why? Our work relationships are work focused and can be shallow. When you build friendships on your own turf, outside of work, real relationships develop. When you let someone into your world, it breaks down walls. Breaking down walls builds trust. Eventually, they will trust you when you share your Jesus story, the work He has done in your life. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble”….Be a real friend to someone today.
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? Step two of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant helps transform your workplace mindset into a mission-focused workplace ministry mindset. Start looking for ways to serve your co-workers, bosses, and/or employees outside your job requirements. Why? Anyone can do a job that meets expectations, but how many people help others meet or exceed expectations? When you go out of the way to help others at work with a stressful project or a mundane responsibility, you open up a door of ministry opportunity. Galatians 5:13-14 says For you have been called to live in freedom… use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? I thought so. Step one of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is the most powerful step you can take at work to transform your workplace and your heart. Prayer - Start praying for those you work alongside every day. Pray for your co-workers, bosses, and employees by name. You can even pray for their spouses and kids. After you have done this for a few months, have a conversation like this “Hey, I have been praying for you, is there anything I can pray about specifically?” 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. “ Start Praying today and watch the transformation begin.
There’s a war going on. Carmen LaBerge recently said: The current culture war is actually being waged in all of our hearts and minds. Until all of us Christ followers allow our hearts and minds to be transformed, we cannot represent Christ in today’s culture. That means in all conversations, all day long at work, we’re to bring Christ, as His ambassador, into our daily interactions. So how about you? .... Are you bringing a transformed heart and mind into YOUR work every day? Is the source of the words coming out of your mouth a renewed heart? Bringing God’s perspective to ALL conversations, whatever the topic? Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think
Heard this the other day: The principles never change, but the methods always do. What a solid management philosophy this makes for us Christ followers. Principles are defined as: fundamental truths that serve as the foundation for a system of beliefs. Our biblical core beliefs are the basis of who we are and what we do. And that applies to how we work, lead and manage. But the methods, those change, based on the circumstances, and the people involved. So we need to be flexible, not rigid. Deeply rooted, but like the branches of a tree, sway with the wind. So how about you? Are your principles well rooted but flexible enough for change?
Is God leading your work? How do you get the point where you can say YES, He is. Here’re a couple of ideas to get you started. First, read a book or listen to faith at work podcasts that introduce you to the concept of working for the Lord. Second, pray and ask God to show you how and where He is at work in your work today. Three, take a faith at work devotional and put it on your desk. Before you turn on your PC, read the devotional and pray that God lead you in your work. This might take some consistent practice, like changing a habit, to shift your mindset. So how about you? Colossians 3:23 is a GREAT verse to put on your desk, so it reminds you WHO you work for: 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people
If you are a local church pastor then you have a pretty tough work environment. You work all week but you only hear from your boss on Sunday. So how do you deal with the stress of your work? I think we all have stress but very few jobs have the stress of the pastor in the pulpit with the 400 of us bosses in the pews every Sunday. I think we deal with the stress, the way we deal with everything else having to do with work. We come to the realization that we work for God ultimately and He is the boss we are trying to impress. IF that is our focus, then our work is bound to be excellent. In case you haven’t done this lately, let your pastor know how much you appreciate them this week. How about you? does your work reflect the fact that your ultimate boss is God?
If you’re someone who watches or reads the news, then you know that there are a lot of bad things going on in the world today. From pandemics and civil wars to inflation and genocides, there is no shortage of darkness in the twenty-first century. How does all this sorrow and hardship affect your life? How about your work? Do you take it with you to the office? Do you chat with your co-workers about it? Do you live in fear or frustration? Bad news was going on during Jesus’s day as well, but the Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:8, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Today, I invite you to fix your mind on what is GOOD and then speak about it to your co-workers, who desperately need the hope of Christ.
When people around you at work succeed, do you find yourself happy for them or feeling bad for yourself? It can be easy to compare our career path to someone else’s and come out feeling like we missed our chance at moving up - but the truth is that everyone’s journey will look different. Galatians 6:4 says, “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.” So next time the temptation to compare yourself to a coworker comes up, take the focus off of others and put it back on the work God has given you to do today. Because when you work with excellence, you bring honor to God… and that’s the measure of TRUE success!
Do you find ever yourself scrolling through social media and feeling bad about yourself or your life? Or how about, looking over at your coworker and wondering why they got the promotion you feel you should have had? Sound familiar? Comparison is an ugly emotion… one that Mark Twain calls “the death of joy.” When Simon Peter, one of Jesus’s closest disciples, was told that he would be martyred for his faith, he looked over at his friend John and asked how he would die. Jesus responded, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.” Jesus’s answer to Peter holds true for us as well! Next time you find yourself comparing your life, achievements, or appearance to that of a coworker or friend - stop looking at them, and instead, follow Jesus.
Wisdom. It’s defined as knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action. Wisdom goes beyond KNOWING what is right and into DOING what is right. God calls us to be wise in everything that we do – constantly seeking out what is true and right in his eyes and then acting on it. James 3:17 says, “The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” Are you living out the wisdom from above in your workplace? Before you speak or act this week, consider if what you are about to do is carrying forward peace, mercy, fairness, and sincerity. If it isn’t, pause and ask the Holy Spirit to give you His wisdom before you move forward!
Our country is more divided today than in almost any other time in history. All you have to do is turn on the television or log in to social media, to be bombarded by anger, hatred, accusations, and arguments. Everyone has an opinion and they are all shouting to be heard! But as Followers of Christ, we are called to live differently. We are called to be counter-cultural. In Ephesians 4:1-3 the Apostle Paul says, “I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” What is your attitude towards others? Are you patient and gentle or are you rude, harsh, and condescending? We challenge you to bear with one another in love this week. Be kind to those you find difficult at work. Act in a manner worthy of your calling in Christ.
Mary Magdalene stood outside the empty tomb crying. She thought that someone had stolen the body of Jesus, the only thing she had left of him. But Jesus himself – very much alive – said from behind her, “Woman, why are you weeping? … I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Have you ever been in a position like Mary’s - mourning the loss of a friend, family member, job, relationship, or dream? Maybe you are in that position today. In these desolate moments beside the tomb of something lost, Jesus wants to meet you. And in your grief, he reassures you that you are a child of God, seen and loved and heard. No matter what you are facing this week, remember that Jesus is alive and because of that, you are a child of the Most High!
Have you ever felt like your life is an endless cycle of waking up, going to work, making dinner, paying bills, and then going back to work again? King Solomon could relate. Even though he was an extremely wealthy and successful ruler, he still struggled with feeling like everything in life was meaningless, a striving after the wind. But God gave Solomon supernatural wisdom, and after some consideration, Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 2:24, “So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?” You see, Solomon knew that the only true source of joy is God – and with God, even our work can be filled with satisfaction. Next time you feel exhausted by the cycle of work and life, ask God to give you joy in your work.
When unexpected things happen, when crises come, when you are let go, or passed over, or disappointed, or get a bad diagnosis… where do you put your faith? The phrase “do not be afraid” can be found in the Bible 365 times; one time for each day of the year! It is the most repeated command in Scripture, and for good reason: life can be difficult. In fact, before his ascension to heaven in John 16, Jesus says “In this world you WILL have trouble” as in… it’s a certainty. BUT, he says, “take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus is bigger than our troubles and he knows in advance everything that will happen to us. If you find yourself in an anxiety producing situation today, remember that God goes before you. His promises are new every morning, so do not be afraid.
Do you ever feel like a hamster on a wheel - stuck in a monotonous, repetitive, and unfulfilling pattern of going to work, eating, sleeping, and paying bills? When every day feels the same it can be difficult to live with a sense of significance… but here’s some good news: our significance is not determined by our position or plans but by God working out His plans through our current position. Psalm 57:2 says, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” God has a purpose for you, RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE. The job that you hold, the people that you work with, none of that is an accident. Jesus wants to use you to bring His light to everyone that you encounter. Next time you feel stuck on the hamster wheel, pray that God would open your eyes to His eternal purposes for you today at work.
In John 17:17, Jesus prays for his followers saying, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” But what does Jesus mean by sanctify? The Greek word used for sanctify in this verse is hagiazo and it means to separate something – to set it apart – for an intended purpose or mission. In other words, Jesus intended that all those who follow after him would be set apart for a unique purpose and mission: to spread the good news of the gospel to the world. And guess, what? This same mission extends to you today! You have been strategically placed in your workplace for a reason. There are people there who need to hear about the truth of who Jesus is, and you may be their only chance! So, how can you carry out the mission of Christ at work today?
There is a trick that some realtors use when they are showing a property or doing an open house: they put a batch of cookies in the oven right before the potential buyer comes through the door. The buyer is then met with the comforting aroma of warm, gooey cookies which give them a sensation of home. Good smells draw people in and invite them to stay awhile. 2 Corinthians 2:16 in the Passion Translation says, “Through our yielded lives he spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere we go. We have become the unmistakable aroma of the victory of the Anointed One to God – a perfume of life to those being saved.” What aroma is your life giving off to the people you work with? Not sure? Here’s a trick. Spend some time praying before work each day, and the aroma of Christ will fill your life.
Have you ever felt unsure about your future or about a big decision in your life? Maybe you’re feeling that way right now – confused, uncertain, and discontent. Perhaps you feel paralyzed by fear of making the wrong move or wrong choice. In these seasons, when everything seems dark and foggy, how do you move forward with confidence? James 1:5 in The Passion Translation says, “If anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace.” Did you catch that? God doesn’t want you to fail – He WANTS to guide you! Ask Him for wisdom and trust He will give it. Then take the pressure off yourself, leave the rest… and rest in His generous grace!
Do you want God to unlock His purpose for you in your work? As you execute the first four steps of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant: Praying for, serving, befriending, and praying with others, remember your work behavior is important. The final step of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is to be someone of excellence in your work. Be the best and brightest example of a worker in your workplace position. Excellence makes your behavior believable and your faith real. Excellence gives you a platform for sharing your faith. As a Jesus Follower, everything about us should be changing, and everyone around you should be benefiting from your faith, whether they believe in Jesus yet, or not. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Does God care for the people you work with? Of course, He does. In step four of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, look for opportunities to pray with others. When you continually work alongside the same people, you know their typical manners and facial expressions. When you notice someone having an off day, ask them, “How are you doing?” when they say “I’m Fine,” keep asking, “No really, how are you doing? I noticed you looked a little down today” then wait and be QUIET. When they have shared what is on their heart, ask, “Can I pray with you about that, right now?” I have never had someone say “No” when I followed these steps. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” When you pray, you are opening the door for them to meet your savior.
Do you want to see your workplace as a mission field? In step three of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, we encourage you to befriend your co-workers or employees outside of the office. Why? Our work relationships are work focused and can be shallow. When you build friendships on your own turf, outside of work, real relationships develop. When you let someone into your world, it breaks down walls. Breaking down walls builds trust. Eventually, they will trust you when you share your Jesus story, the work He has done in your life. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Be a real friend to someone today.
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? Step two of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant helps transform your workplace mindset into a mission-focused workplace ministry mindset. Start looking for ways to serve your co-workers, bosses, and/or employees outside your job requirements. Why? Because anyone can do a job that meets expectations, but how many people help others meet or exceed expectations? When you go out of the way to help others at work with a stressful project or a mundane responsibility, you open up the door to a ministry opportunity. Galatians 5:13-14 says, “For you have been called to live in freedom… use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? I thought so. Step one of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is the most powerful step you can take to transform your workplace and your heart. Prayer. Start praying for those you work alongside every day. Pray for your co-workers, bosses, and employees by name. You can even pray for their spouses and kids. After you have done this for a few months, have a conversation like this “Hey, I have been praying for you, is there anything I can pray about specifically?” 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.” Start Praying today and watch the transformation begin.
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inspired from PowerPod #58
Every paycheck you’ve been putting a little bit of money away for retirement. But once that money enters your 401K, what exactly happens to it? Well, usually it gets invested into a whole bunch of companies. But did you know that many of the companies you may be investing in are actually supporting activities that blatantly go against Scripture! Proverbs 16:8 warns against this by saying, “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.” So, while you may be trying to steward your money well, you could actually be supporting businesses who work AGAINST everything you, and God, stand for! So, what can you do about it? Three words: Biblically. Responsible. Investing. Organizations like Inspire Investing can help you use your money to honor God and support companies whose values align with God’s purposes. This week, take a look at where your money and investments are REALLY going.
A company we love, and one you may have heard of, called Dayspring, helps direct their branding by asking the question, “what do we want people to walk away feeling after they’ve encountered a Dayspring product?” Do we want them to feel seen, loved, or encouraged? And what can we do to make customers want to return after an encounter with our products? These kinds of branding questions aren’t just for companies! 2 Corinthians 5:20 says that, “we are Christ’s ambassadors and God is making his appeal through us.” In other words, we are Christ’s BRAND ambassadors! Take a moment and ask yourself the question: how well am I representing God’s brand at work? When people encounter me, do they walk away feeling seen, loved, and encouraged? Think of one thing you can do today that will make those around you want to return to Christ.
If you have a job, chances are you have a job description - you know, that piece of paper that lists out what duties you are responsible for performing at work. Take a moment to consider your performance at work over the last 6 months. Are you meeting the requirements of your job description or are you exceeding them? Do you do the bare minimum or do you look for ways to improve your workplace? Are you someone who helps your coworkers or who shirks your duties? Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human men.” Here’s the thing: your job performance matters to God! And when you work with excellence, going above and beyond the expectations of your employer, you honor Him! Put in a little extra effort this week, and see what God does!
65% of the population will never go into a four walls church – that means that over half of the people in the U.S. will never hear about Jesus from a pastor or dedicated ministry. BUT here’s the good news: almost everyone will be employed during their lifetime, which makes the workplace one of the LARGEST mission fields in the world – a place where we, as ambassadors for Christ, are given free access to the lost and hurting! John 4:35 says, “Wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest… and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life.” Are you treating your workplace like your mission field? If not, WAKE UP! The fields are ripe with people waiting to be brought to eternal life – and Jesus is asking you to be a part of the harvest.
God loves our work! Why? I’ll give you a hint – it’s not because He’s a workaholic. It’s because work is an opportunity for God to partner with us for the salvation of souls! When we head to our jobs each day, we have an opportunity to not only make a paycheck but to engage in Kingdom purposes! 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “So we are Christ’s Ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ...” What does it mean to be Christ’s ambassadors and to speak on his behalf? Simply this: that we represent Christ and his purposes wherever we go, including work. Because when our faith is put into action people notice something is different and it becomes a catalyst for conversation. How can you partner with God at work this week as His ambassador?
1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.” I love it when the Apostle Paul talks about all the different parts of the body of Christ because so often, we get caught up in comparing ourselves to someone who was designed to function differently. But the truth is, no matter which part of the body of Christ you are, you are essential, and your role is significant! Every part of the human body must be in working order for it to be healthy. Similarly, every believer must be participating in their unique calling for the whole body of Christ to function well! When you understand who God created you to be and what He created you to be doing comparison disappears. So, lean into your work today, because God placed you there for a reason!
Why do you go to work? Something gets you out of bed and on the clock. Is it for a paycheck, to get experience, or to feel like you’re making a difference? All of us have a reason. If you paused and assessed yours, what would the answer be? For nine years we have opened the iWork4Him radio show and podcast by asking: Who do you work for, really? This simple question gets at the heart of the matter because when it comes down to it, there are only two people you can be working for: yourself or God. Either you are laboring for the things of this world – your comfort, wealth, status, and pride. Or you are laboring for the things of eternity – a harvest of righteousness and the fruit of the gospel. Your work matters to God – invite Him in!
Have you ever had a coworker who seems to get all the breaks and suddenly, the green-eyed monster of envy rears its ugly head? Envy is birthed out of comparing our lives to someone else’s and being dissatisfied with the difference. But here’s the thing: comparison is a dangerous game. When you become preoccupied with watching someone else’s life, you miss the things that God wants to do in your life. Proverbs 14:30 says, “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.” You see, jealousy and envy will slowly destroy you and destroy the good and gracious plans that God has in store for your life. So, next time you find yourself silently judging, critiquing, or being envious of someone at work, try what Paul suggests in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.”
Have you ever heard the old adage, “you have two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you speak?” Well, it’s true! Nobody likes to be run over with somebody else’s words! James 1:19 says it this way, “Everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak.” What is your speaking to listening ratio? Do you tend to overrun the conversation, or do you wait to hear what other people have to say? When we take the time to ask thoughtful questions and genuinely listen to the answer, the person we are talking to feels valued and understood. Find one coworker or client at your job today and ask them how they are really doing. Then wait for the real answer… the one that goes deeper than just “fine.” You may be surprised by what you find out!
God is up to something. He is not idly sitting by up in the Heavens, uninterested and uncaring about the matters of earth. He is intimately involved. Luke 12:7 says that “He even counts every hair on your head!” And as if it isn’t already crazy enough that the Lord of All cares about our day-to-day lives, He doesn’t stop there. He asks us to join Him in His work! Let me say that again: the Maker of Heaven and Earth wants to partner with YOU! What an invitation! You have the chance to be part of what God is doing in your workplace, neighborhood, and friend group. Have you said ‘yes’? Or have you left God knocking on the door with the invitation in his hand? Don’t miss out on this opportunity. Don’t let another day pass you by without asking Jesus what he wants to accomplish through you today.
We live in a busy world. If we aren’t in a meeting, or working on a project, or going to an appointment – we are looking at our phones, or answering emails, or hopping on a video conference. Technology has made work accessible ALL. THE. TIME. Not just from nine to five. But as Mahatma Gandhi once said, “there is more to life than increasing its speed.” So, how about you? Are you running so fast that you are missing the things God has in store for your day? Try intentionally slowing down and scheduling in blank space on your calendar. When you do, you may be surprised by the connections and conversations you are able to have. When we make time for people, the Lord opens incredible ministry opportunities. Who does God want you to speak to today?
When you have a major decision to make or a faced with a “fork in the road” in your career, whose opinion do you seek out first? Do you ask your friends? Your partner? Do you make a list of pros and cons? Do you just avoid it? Although we’ve all probably done each of these things, there is a BETTER way: ask the one who already knows everything about your past, present, and future. When we get on our knees and seek God’s opinion first, He leads us towards the best decision. So, next time you are faced with a tough choice, pray, read God’s word, and pay attention to the confirmations and affirmations that come through Christ Followers in your life. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” So, stop worrying, and start praying – He will take care of you.
Jesus gave His followers a clear mission: to make disciples of all nations. But in order to fulfill this mission, we cannot be focused only on our personal gain. Rather, we must constantly be pouring into and raising up those around us. In the book She Works His Way, Michelle Myers writes, “Limiting your kingdom impact to what you can do marginalizes the legacy it’s possible to leave behind. Make it your mission to believe in others…” In the business world, discipleship is often called mentorship, and it’s all about helping someone else up instead of stepping on them to get yourself a little higher. Are you making it a priority to intentionally mentor a next-generation co-worker? We challenge you to pray this week and ask the Lord, “who would you like me to mentor in the workplace and disciple in faith?”
If I had one hundred dollars for every time someone said, “I want my life to have a purpose, so I am thinking about quitting my job to go work in a church or Christian nonprofit” I would be a very, very rich man. There is a myth that has been circulating through theological communities for decades: that in order to have a Kingdom impact, you have to work in a four-walls church, a ministry, or a foreign mission field. But Psalm 139 in the Message translation says, “Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? To be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there!” The Holy Spirit resides inside of YOU, and that means that wherever you are – THAT is your mission field. So where you work, doesn’t matter nearly as much as WHY you work. How can you work for the Lord today?
How do you define success? Being promoted? Achieving a certain number of social media followers? Reaching a particular income level? Well, Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines it simply as, “a favorable or desired outcome.” Take a moment today and consider how God’s desired outcome looks different than the world’s. In Matthew 22, Jesus tells a lawyer there are two main things we should desire in life… and they have nothing to do with financial status, power, or position! He said, “you shall love the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… and shall love your neighbor as yourself.” What kind of desired outcome are you pursuing at work: the world’s version of success that centers on personal gain? Or God’s, which is about honoring Him and loving those around you?
It’s Holy Week – the week leading up to Easter. And today, Friday, is when Jesus was crucified. Traditionally, we call this day Good Friday, and it has often been observed as a time of sorrow, repentance, and fasting in the Church. Accordingly, I always thought the name “Good Friday” was a weird choice. “Bad Friday” seemed more fitting for the day Jesus died. And that would be true – if not for this fact: That it is because of Christ’s death, because of his sacrifice on that Friday so long ago, that we are able to be made right with God. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” THAT is the good news of the gospel. Without his death, there would be no salvation. Who can you tell about the good news of Good Friday today?
It’s Holy Week – the week leading up to Easter. Thursday marked the Passover Feast in Jerusalem, and Jesus met with the disciples in the upper room for a final meal. Before they began to eat, Jesus knelt down and began to wash the disciples’ feet. This task was usually something the lowliest servants did – so the disciples cried out “You shall never wash my feet!” but Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s.” Jesus wasn’t just talking about washing feet – he was talking about what true love and service looks like. He was giving us an example of how we are to live. How can you serve those around you at work this week? What task or chore can you take on as a sign of Christ’s love for your coworkers?
It’s Holy Week – the week leading up to Easter. Sunday through Tuesday, Jesus had been busy teaching and prophesying in Jerusalem, so on Wednesday, most scholars believe that he and his disciples spent the day resting in Bethany in anticipation of the Passover. The fact that the Bible doesn’t say exactly what the Lord did on Wednesday can serve as a lesson in itself. Knowing that his death was approaching, Jesus took time to rest and spend quality time with those close to him. Sometimes, we become so busy with work, that we forget what really matters… and it isn’t a paycheck or promotions; it’s PEOPLE. When was the last time you took a day to simply rest and spend time with your family or friends? Do they know that you value them? Do they feel like they are a priority, even when your time is limited? Carve out a space in your schedule for relationship this week.
It’s Holy Week – the week leading up to Easter. On the Tuesday before his crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples the story of a man who left his servants in charge of his finances while he went on a journey. When he returned, one of the servants gave him back double the amount, having worked to grow the sum. Upon receiving the new amount, the Master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.” Jesus told this parable to teach his disciples about good stewardship. God wants you to build up and increase the resources that he has given you for HIS purposes and glory. And not just financially – but also your gifts and talents. How are you using what God has given you to further His Kingdom at work?
Yesterday was Palm Sunday – the day where we remember Jesus riding into Jerusalem and being met with crowds waving palm branches and exclaiming, “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” You see, the Jewish people had spent thousands of years waiting for the Messiah, the true king, to come and deliver them – and there he was! But instead of a conqueror on a white horse with an army of soldiers, Jesus came slowly, and humbly on the back of a donkey with twelve dirty men. God’s idea of success and leadership looks a lot different than the world’s. He values a servant’s heart over a conqueror’s. What kind of success are you seeking in your job? A big promotion, a certain title, a larger office? Or do you seek to humbly serve those around you just like Jesus?
When was the last time you pushed yourself to do something that made you uncomfortable at work - whether volunteering to learn a task outside of your usual job duties, offering to take on a new project, or making friends with another employee? Moving outside of your comfort zone may feel awkward or stressful at first, but it is also the best way to grow! And in order to become a mature person – personally, professionally, and spiritually – we absolutely MUST grow! William S. Burroughs once said, “When you stop growing, you start dying.” So, ask yourself, is your work ethic alive and growing? How about your family life? How about your spiritual life? This week, challenge yourself to find one thing that you can do to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and into your growth zone!
Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light of the world… No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” When you go to work, do you switch off your faith? Do you put your belief under a bowl? Or do you proudly display it, letting it shine so that others can see it? The thing is, nobody benefits from your light if it’s hidden... no one even knows it’s there! But when you let your light - your faith - shine proudly at work, every good deed and kind word will bring glory to God! These regular parts of your day, suddenly become opportunities to share the love of Christ with everyone around you.
The workplace is the largest mission field in the world, yet many Christ-followers don’t engage in their calling as missionaries because they don’t know how to share their faith at work. Fear around rejection, offending someone, or saying the wrong thing are just a few of the barriers that prevent believers from bringing the good news of the Gospel to their coworkers, employees, and clients. But here’s a tip: the most effective way to share your faith is simply to share your own story. Jesus often spoke in stories, called parables, when he was teaching. Why? Because they are a relatable carrier for important truths! Your testimony is no different! When you talk about God’s faithfulness in your life, you are sharing the Gospel. So, who can you share your story of faith with this week at work?
Most people consider a vocation to be a career that they feel a strong draw towards or that they are particularly suited to. But as Christ-followers, we look at vocation a little bit differently. Dr. Chip Roper from the Voca Center in New York talked with us recently about the biblical view of vocation, which is simply a divine call to God’s service or to the Christian life. From this perspective, your vocation isn’t a career, but how you act in your current career. It is about recognizing that God has called you to your job for this time, in this season, to minister to your coworkers, vendors, bosses, customers, and clients! So remember, you aren’t just working for yourself; you’re working for the Lord! Step into your Kingdom calling this week by inviting God to teach you about your vocation as a workplace missionary.
Most companies are run with one thing in mind: the bottom line. According to the world, the most important measurement of a successful business is profit. But what if money and profit margin aren’t how God defines success? Almost every Kingdom-minded company that we have interviewed has said that, in the end, successful and healthy business is all about people over profit. This may be contrary to what we are normally taught… but isn’t that so like Jesus?! In the upside-down Kingdom of God, service and souls are the real measure of success. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” So, stop worrying solely about the bottom line and instead concern yourself with the eternal souls that walk through your door today!
Imagine coming to the end of your life, and standing before the judgement seat of God. He looks at you and says that if you have ever lied, had an impure thought, stole a stick of gum from your mom’s purse, or hated someone that you will be condemned to Hell. Of course, you have done those things… and worse. But just as you are about to be judged, a man steps forward from the right hand of the judgement seat and says, “April Fools.” Now, that’s not EXACTLY how the Gospel works, but it gets at an important reality. We all deserve to be condemned! None of us is perfect! But through Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross, our debt is paid and we are made right with God. Now that’s some good news! Who can you tell at work about the good news of salvation through Jesus today?
Growing up, I lived in Minnesota. During spring, we had this phrase that, "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb" meaning it would start cold and snowy and transition gently into spring... but usually it was the opposite. "In like a frozen lamb and out like a roaring lion." Life can be like that too. The transition from a cold winter period of our lives – in other words some dark and cold experiences - into a period of new life and growth and perhaps a new assignment can be trying... but God is with you. He has you right where He wants you and He is preparing you for something great. Your life - right where you are, right at your current job, is critical to God's plan for the redemption of this world. He is shaping you to be more effective. Embrace the cold, for spring is coming!
65% of the population will never go into a four walls church – that means that over half of the people in the U.S. will never hear about Jesus from a pastor or dedicated ministry. BUT here’s the good news: almost everyone will be employed during their lifetime, which makes the workplace one of the LARGEST mission fields in the world – a place where we, as ambassadors for Christ, are given free access to the lost and hurting! John 4:35 says, “Wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest… and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life.” Are you treating your workplace like your mission field? If not, WAKE UP! The fields are ripe with people waiting to be brought to eternal life – and Jesus is asking you to be a part of the harvest.
inspired from: PowerPod “Redeeming Business Itself”
Have you had a performance review in the last year or two? If you have, how did you do? Did you need improvement? Did you meet expectations? OR did you EXCEED expectations? Because here’s the thing: when you do good at work, people notice. Your quality of work is, in itself a witness to who God is… a God of goodness, of care, and of EXCELLENCE. Colossians 3:23 says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Because the thing is, God is interested in good business, good profit, good attitudes, good character development, and meeting your employee needs. And when we connect God’s passion for people with God’s passion for quality and excellence the line between the sacred and the secular dissolves and the secular BECOMES sacred. How are you going to pursue excellence for the Lord at work this week?
inspired from PowerPod #58
Every paycheck you’ve been putting a little away for retirement. But once that money enters your 401K, what happens to it? Well, usually it gets invested into a whole bunch of companies. But did you know that many of the companies you may be investing in are actually supporting activities that blatantly go against Scripture! Proverbs 16:8 warns against this by saying, “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.” So, while you may be trying to steward your money well, you could actually be supporting businesses who work AGAINST everything you, and God, stand for! So, what can you do about it? Three words: Biblically. Responsible. Investing. Organizations like Inspire Investing can help you use your money to honor God and support companies whose values align with God’s purposes. This week, take a look at where your money and investments are REALLY going.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Life is full of seasons and activities. With so many things begging for our attention, how do we find balance? Dave Zillig from Equilibrium breaks it down into five core areas that must be healthy for our lives to truly thrive. The fifth of which is Finances, and it’s no surprise it made the list. Money is mentioned in the Bible more than 800 times! Why? Because it can be used for good and is also a source of temptation and sin. Mismanaging or seeking after money can cause all sorts of issues in EVERY area of life. BUT healthy money management is spoken about in Scripture as part of being a good steward of your resources. What role does money play in your life? Is it an idol? Or a resource for the Kingdom of God?
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Life is full of seasons and activities. With so many things begging for our attention, how do we find balance? Dave Zillig from Equilibrium breaks it down into five core areas that must be healthy for our lives to truly thrive. The fourth of which is Fitness. In 1 Corinthians Paul writes that our bodies are a temple for the Holy Spirit within us and thus are precious. What does that mean? That we should take care of ourselves by eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Because when we care for our physical body – our whole life benefits. Are you taking care of your temple OR are you treating it like it’s disposable? Think of one healthy habit to incorporate into your work week!
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Life is full of seasons and activities. With so many things begging for our attention, how do we find balance? Dave Zillig from Equilibrium breaks it down into five core areas that must be healthy for our lives to truly thrive. The third of which is Friends. God designed us to function within a community of people, and friendships are an integral part of that. Even Jesus had friends, 12 of them! The Psalmist wrote that a good friend is more precious than gold – and it’s true - good friends are hard to find! And sometimes being a good friend is just as hard! Do you take the time to invest in and pray for friends? How about to befriend and pray for your coworkers? Take time to be a good friend this week.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Life is full of seasons and activities. With so many things begging for our attention, how do we find balance? Dave Zillig from Equilibrium breaks it down into five core areas that must be healthy for our lives to truly thrive. The second of which is Family. Because here is the thing - true success starts in the home. Having strong relationships with your spouse, your children, your parents, and your siblings is a part of God’s particular calling on your life. While your earthly work, money, and success will pass away, your family is made up of eternal souls – souls that God has given you to help shepherd and grow. Is your family a priority? Take time to show them this week.
WEEK OF BALANCE inspired from: iwork4him.com/podcast/2014/12/reaching-millennials
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Life is full of seasons and activities. With so many things begging for our attention, how do we find balance? Dave Zillig from Equilibrium breaks it down into five core areas that must be healthy for our lives to truly thrive. The first of which is Faith… and there’s a reason that Faith is first– because when it isn’t, EVERYTHING else in life will be out of balance. Our number one priority – before marriage, family, or work - has to be Jesus or every area suffers. Matthew chapter 6 says, “But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” What are you seeking first? Take stock this week on where Jesus falls in your priorities, and then move him to the top!
What is the first question someone asks you after an introduction? I’d be willing to bet that 9 times out of 10 its “So… What do you do for work?” That question may feel fine and dandy when you are in a high-powered position or working your dream job – but for most people it’s uncomfortable to be instantly framed by their employment OR lack of employment. We live in a society that equates our value with our job title. But the TRUTH is that your identity is NEVER going to be found in the things you do or how impressive your resume is. Psalm 139: 14 says, “I give thanks to you God because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.” PAUSE. So remember, your value and identity are based on the fact that God designed, made, and loves you… just as you are!
inspired from - www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2017/5/business-for-his-glory
A guy named David Foster Wallace once said, “Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.” Now Wallace may have had a lot of things wrong, but he had this right… every day – you and me and every other person on this earth - worships something. We worship whatever it is that absorbs our heart, imagination, and mind to such an extent that it gains PRIORITY over everything else. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” PAUSE Everything that we do in our day to day lives can be an act of worship to God when He is our number one priority – even work! Would you say you’re using your work to worship God? Or have you slipped into worshiping your work?
Have you ever tried to ignore God’s direction in your work or career? Tried to follow your own plans and run into constant obstacles, closed doors, and un-ending rejections? The truth is that sometimes we try to LOGIC our way towards our calling instead of entrusting the creator of our calling with the journey to it. Remember the account of the Israelites in Exodus? It took them 40 YEARS of wandering to arrive at a destination that would have taken two weeks if they had simply obeyed God. So, the next time that you feel like God is leading you down a path that you don’t want to go… pause before walking away. Try praying about it and asking several trusted friends for their prayers as well. God WANTS to show you the way forward – if you’re paying attention, he will give you the next right step!
I recently heard the phrase “mental load” for the first time. If you aren’t familiar with it, “mental load” is the largely invisible work of noticing and remembering. For example: I need to schedule a dental cleaning; we are out of lightbulbs; and my kid needs snacks for soccer practice. In other words, It’s the running list of everyday responsibilities that tend to fall on women to remember and carry out. The issue of mental Load can be especially applicable for career women or women with a side hustle as they try to carry out their duties at home and work. So, what can you do when your mental load is out of control? The biggest thing is to name it, explain it, and ask for help. Next time you’re exhausted, articulate your mental load and ask for help!
Do you ever feel like you are juggling 50 balls at once and sooner or later you are bound to drop one? Well, you’re right, you probably will! So instead of trying to keep everything perfectly in the air, take the time to ask yourself which responsibilities are a RUBBER ball and which are a GLASS ball? What I mean by that is, what things could you drop that will bounce back and not be affected, and which would shatter or be irrevocably damaged? A guest on a recent podcast episode talked about identifying and prioritizing the glass balls of life – things like taking care of your marriage, your relationship with Jesus, your kids, and yourself… rather than getting caught up on things that can bounce back - like a promotion, a perfectly clean home, or keeping up with the Jones’s. Which responsibilities in your life are glass, and which are rubber?
A company we love, and one you may have heard of, called Dayspring, helps direct their branding by asking the question, “what do we want people to walk away feeling after they’ve encountered a Dayspring product?” Do we want them to feel seen, loved, or encouraged? And what can we do to make customers want to return after an encounter with our products? These kinds of branding questions aren’t just for companies! 2 Corinthians 5:20 says that, “we are Christ’s ambassadors and God is making his appeal through us.” In other words, we are Christ’s BRAND ambassadors! Take a moment and ask yourself the question: how well am I representing God’s brand at work? When people encounter me, do they walk away feeling seen, loved, and encouraged? Think of one thing you can do today that will make those around you want to return to Christ.
There is this great TV gameshow called “Wipeout” where contestants go through a ridiculous obstacle course that is designed for them to inevitably WIPEOUT and fall into the water below the course. Life sometimes can feel like the show Wipeout… riddled with challenges that will eventually make you fall on your face. And it’s true, none of us are perfect and we’re all going to make mistakes and fail, BUT the way that we handle those mistakes is what sets us apart as followers of Christ. Proverbs 24:16 says, “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.” How do you respond to failure, missteps, and disasters? Do you get back with a renewed sense of determination and joy in Christ? Or do you let yourself become defined by your losses? Let God help you up today.
inspired from powerpod #54
Have you ever heard the 70s song, “Message in a Bottle”? The lyrics say, “Only hope can keep me together… I hope that someone gets my message in a bottle.” Well – someone did! We recently got to hear the story of a man who is sharing the hope through a LITERAL message in a bottle. In John chapter 4, Jesus tells the woman at the well that to those who asks, he gives living water so they may never thirst again. This story inspired cyclist David Bailey to create what he calls “Living water bottles”. David puts the Gospel of John into a water bottle and then hands them out to other cyclists on the road – Brilliant, right! Take a moment today to think about your own hobbies and activities. How can you bring a message of hope with you into those spaces?
inspired from: iwork4him.com/podcast/2020/4/trading-with-god
God formed Adam and Eve on the sixth day of creation… making their first full day in the Garden of Eden the Sabbath – a day of REST. God is gracious so He didn’t start them out on a Monday … instead, God emphasized the importance and holiness of spending time in his presence FIRST, before the work week begins. He asks us to look to him FIRST. Rest in Him FIRST. And only then, after worshiping, resting, and praying, are we to be sent out to do the work that God has for us. The Sabbath is a GIFT. And when we don’t treasure it, we don’t honor God. Remember, Jesus was always busy but NEVER in a hurry. He always made time for people, for rest, and for prayer. So, what about you? Do you consider Monday to be the start of your week? Or Sunday… the day of Rest?
inspired from: iwork4him.com/podcast/2018/11/words-on-the-millennial-generation
When speaking about mentorship, a friend of mine said, “You should always have a hand forward and a hand back.” In other words, as Christ-followers we should constantly be in relationship with someone who is spiritually a step ahead of us and with someone who is spiritually a step behind us that we can help bring forward. By doing this, we are creating a beautiful chain of ongoing discipleship – one where we are each always being mentored AND mentoring someone else. If that kind of commitment sounds scary of overwhelming, just remember that Jesus discipled 12 guys – and the primary way he did it was by living life ALONGSIDE them. Mentorship doesn’t need to be formal or stuffy, it can be as simple as having dinner or taking a walk. Ask yourself this question, do you have a hand forward AND a hand back?
inspired from - https://www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2014/07/the-languages-of-appreciation
All of us need to feel appreciated, especially at work. But not everyone feels appreciated in the same ways… So how do we value our coworkers, employees, and bosses in ways that are meaningful to THEM? According to the book, the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, one way is through acts of service. You may be thinking, “I work all day, isn’t that enough?” But let’s be honest – you get PAID to work all day. Acts of service happen when we do something above and beyond what is expected of us. Nothing conveys care like lightening the load of someone in a crunch. Has someone shown you appreciation through an act of service recently? Have you shown appreciation in this way? Pay attention at work this week to ways that you can help out and go above and beyond.
inspired from - https://www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2014/07/the-languages-of-appreciation
All of us need to feel appreciated, especially at work. But not everyone feels appreciated in the same ways… So how do we value our coworkers, employees, and bosses in ways that are meaningful to THEM? According to the book, the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, one way is through appropriate physical touch… emphasis on the APPROPRIATE. Physical touch in the workplace is a “touchy” subject these days, and one that should always be handled with care. Remember, you want to convey appreciation, not cause offense. That said, there are many gestures of physical touch that are workplace appropriate such as high fives, fist bumps, or firm handshakes. These gestures communicate connection, respect, and celebration in a tangible way! So go high-five someone in your office today (but ask first)!
inspired from - https://www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2014/07/the-languages-of-appreciation
All of us need to feel appreciated, especially at work. But not everyone feels appreciated in the same ways… So how do we value our coworkers, employees, and bosses in ways that are meaningful to THEM? According to the book, the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, one way is through spending quality time with the people you work with! But what exactly IS quality time? PAUSE. It’s as simple as giving your employees and coworkers your full and focused attention when you’re with them… whether that is paying attention in a meeting, asking about how their day is going and waiting for the real answer, or Inviting them over for dinner at your house. Quality time is a way of saying you care! So, this week try putting away your phone and genuinely engaging with the people in your workplace!
inspired from - https://www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2014/07/the-languages-of-appreciation
All of us need to feel appreciated, especially at work. But not everyone feels appreciated in the same ways… So how do we value our coworkers, employees, and bosses in ways that are meaningful to THEM? According to the book, the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, one way is through giving them gifts that show they are a valued and seen member of the team! And before you freak out about budget constraints, remember that gifts don’t have to be big to be impactful. In fact, sometimes it is the smallest gestures that make the largest impact. For example, bring in donuts and coffee on a Monday morning, or purchase your coworker who is always writing things on post-it notes a fun new pad of paper. Remember, it’s the thought that counts!
inspired from - https://www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2014/07/the-languages-of-appreciation
All of us need to feel appreciated, especially at work. But not everyone feels appreciated in the same ways… So how do we value our coworkers, employees, and bosses in ways that are meaningful to THEM? According to the the book, the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, one way is through words of affirmation. And I’m not just talking about saying, “nice job so-and-so”. PAUSE Instead, try giving out compliments to those you work with that are specific, and detailed. Pay attention to the little things people do well in the office or the positive things about their personality and then acknowledge them regularly! Proverbs 16:24 says, “Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Are your words acting as honey in the workplace? Challenge yourself to genuinely affirm someone you work with today!
We all have a calling, have you heard this before? Some of us get called to the pulpit and some to the foreign mission field but most of us get called to our cubicles, construction sites, care facilities or whatever your job site may be. Your Workplace, It’s your mission field and in that mission field, you and me, we may be the only Jesus our co-workers, employees and bosses may ever meet. That Job that you hold and the work that you do, and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance. The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance. So, as you contemplate the value of your work today, realize this…You don’t need to quit your job in order to go into fulltime ministry. You are already in fulltime ministry, right there where you work.
It is a known tenant of organizational leadership, that as the leader goes, so goes the organization. Simon Sinek tweaked it for today’s culture by saying “So goes the leader, so goes the culture. So goes the culture, so goes the company.” .... Anyone who has tried to change the culture of a team, an organization, or a company can testify to the truth of this. The top leadership and WHO they are being, and their INTEGRITY will dictate the success** of the organization. .... C.S. Lewis said it best: “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” If the leaders lack integrity, the organization’s ability to succeed is small to none. How’s YOUR integrity? How’s the integrity of YOUR organization’s leadership?
How many times have we said to ourselves. “I wish I had time to go on a mission trip.” Well guess what, you DO! Your workplace IS your mission field. Your daily commute IS your mission travel. And your workplace has been crafted perfectly by God, specifically tailored to you, and your giftings. We can all begin to view our workplace and every co-worker as “the mission”. We can prepare, pray, plan and then serve our colleagues in the same way we would as if we hopped on a plane and flew to another country. Charles Spurgeon the Reformed preacher said “Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor.” So which are YOU? What would it take for you to start tomorrow, to shift your mindset and intentionally serve your workplace as YOUR mission field?
Workplace politics. If you’re working, you’re involved in them. And as Christians, we don’t have to disengage just because the term is distasteful. “Workplace politics” are the strategies people use to gain advantage for themselves or to support a cause. What if, we employed biblical wisdom and strategies to deal with the politics? .... such as Matthew 10:16 “I am sending you out like sheep with wolves all around you. Be wise like snakes and gentle like doves. If you’ve chosen to “not participate” or given up trying to, you can’t be an influence in your workplace. .... How about praying today for wisdom at work, and in the politics in your workplace, and then participate, for God’s Glory
In today’s culture, respect for our elders and wisdom, has been replaced by idolizing youth and outward appearances. As Christians, we believe that ALL human beings are created by God in His image. Therefore, every person has inherent dignity and creator-ordained worth. To be created in the likeness of God means that each person bears His image and with it, a value beyond our unique characteristics or individual attributes. Do you treat ALL people at work with the same respect? Do you say hello, and look into the eyes of the janitor or the server at lunch? The FedEx guy? Do you know their names? We challenge you this week to treat everyone you meet with the dignity and respect you previously reserved for only those “who merit it.”
I heard recently from a retired army guy that he was taught to run TOWARDS the problem, not away from it. .... I wonder how many of us run towards OUR work problems vs. away from them. Perhaps we think “confrontation” is un-Christ-like…but how did Jesus deal with problems?
With the woman at the well, He confronted her, asked and answered questions. In the temple, He confronted with over-turning the tables and admonishing. Did he EVER run away from a problem? Never. His way to address problems were spirit-based AND involved action of some kind. But He never opted out, avoided or ignored the situation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Won’t YOU use Proverbs 3 to run towards YOUR problems at work today?
Businesses always seem to be searching for “the magic bullet” that will propel them into the “big leagues”. We’ve heard hundreds of stories of eternally successful companies and their practices and believe we know the secret. It’s excellence. Excellence as unto the Lord. Not being great at what you do, but EXCELLENT. .... It’s the very top level. Consider these synonyms for excellence: high quality · superiority · brilliance · greatness · eminence · supremacy · peerlessness. Remind you of anyone? These words describe Jesus Christ. And since our entire purpose is to conform to His likeness, these words should be describing US, and our work, and our organization. .... DO they?
Have you ever tried to ignore God and His direction in your work or career? Tried to go your own way, and kept running into roadblocks, un-ending NO’s and shut doors? Sometimes in our career, we try to LOGIC our way towards our calling, to where WE want to be, but God has His plans. Remember the Israelites? It took them 40 YEARS to make a 14 day journey. That’s 14, 600 days of blindness, vs. 14 days of obedience. That’s A LOT of resistance. So, the next time you’re being led somewhere you don’t want to go, try praying about it, asking several devote friends to join you in praying for an answer. If you’re paying attention, God is probably speaking through others to you as well, to guide you. You can fight God every step of the way, but we don’t recommend it! We challenge you today, to PRAY your way through your career options and challenges.
I recently had my concept of “neighbor” challenged. Does neighbor mean only the people in my neighborhood? The ones we live near? Actually, in a broader sense, it is anyone “living or located near another”. That means the folks all around us at work, in the next cubicle. The teacher in the next classroom. The person exercising next to us at the gym. Our neighbors are everywhere and the Lord had a great deal to say about them. Some Hebrew origins of the word, also translate it to mean “fellow man”. Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Today, how will YOU show love to ALL THOSE who you work around all day long?
Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.
There is a common phrase that many people, especially working moms use. It’s “stretched too thin”. In the shadow of that statement is the often ignored concept of “self-care”. Many people have been taught growing up to put themselves last, after their spouse, children, their home and their work. So it’s no wonder many of us fail to take care of anything having to do with our own health and well-being. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. The word of God says we are to care for ourselves, so we can THEN care for others. What will you do today, this week, to take better care of yourself?
Sacrifice. It’s defined as surrender of something for the sake of something else. We are called to do it in our life as a Christ follower, just as He did. 1 Corinthians 13:3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. What does love-based sacrifice look like in our workplace? .... We sacrifice pride, to choose what’s best for the organization, over our own ideas. .... We sacrifice time, when we put a co-worker’s needs before our own. .... We sacrifice “top sales numbers” to do what’s best for the client, not our own paycheck. HOW are YOU willing to be sacrificial in your workplace this week?
Sometimes we wonder, do the little things I do even matter to God? How can I, just one person, make a difference? In 1893, a teenage girl named Helen Cadbury, daughter of the president of Cadbury Chocolates, was so excited about sharing her faith that she organized a group of girls who sewed pockets onto their dresses to carry the small New Testaments her father had printed. The girls called their group "The Pocket Testament League." Today, more than 110 MILLION gospels have been shared, and the PTL membership is now 662,000+ strong. What an AMAZING story of how God uses our tiny act of faith to move a mountain. .... What small act of faith will YOU do today, that God can multiply?
Whether we’re aware of it or not, temptation is all around us at work. It didn’t get left at home when we left for work today. As we take God to work with us, we should also be aware that the enemy will be working there too. Starting our day with the Lord in prayer, and putting on the FULL armor of God (Ephesians 6), are some of the best ways to keep the door shut on temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. And IF you’ve opened the door to temptation at work, speaking and praying bible verses over it is the way to combat it. Today, will YOU fight temptation at work with the presence of the Lord and His word?
A businessman and book author recently told me: In my search for leadership knowledge, I kept coming back to the bible and realized that Proverbs is a practical business book. I don’t need much more. The bible IS a source of wise counsel for us in all aspects of our life and that includes our work. .... Many Kingdom workplace leaders hold to the belief that the bible is THE BEST BUSINESS BOOK ever written. Psalms provides wisdom during challenges, to give words to our lamenting and petitions to the Lord. The leaders in the bible, such as Moses, Deborah, Abraham and Queen Esther, provide real examples of what it looks like to BE a Godly leader. When’s the last time YOU went to THE WORD, for business wisdom?
Do you want God to unlock His purpose for you in your work? As you execute the first 4 steps of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant: Praying for, serving, befriending, and praying with others, remember your work behavior is important. The final step of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is to be someone of excellence in your work. Be the best and brightest example of a worker in your workplace position. Excellence makes your behavior believable and your faith real. Excellence gives you a platform for sharing your faith. As a Jesus Follower, everything about us should be changing, and everyone around you should be benefiting from your faith, whether they believe in Jesus yet, or not. Colossians 3:23 says, “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Does God care for the people you work with? Of course, He does. In step 4 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, look for opportunities to pray with others. When you continually work alongside the same people, you know their typical manners and facial expressions. When you notice someone having an off day, ask them, “How are you doing?” when they say “I’m Fine,” keep asking, “ No really, how are you doing? I noticed you looked a little down today” then wait and be QUIET. When they have shared what is on their heart, ask, “Can I pray with you about that, right now?” I have never had someone say “No” when I followed these steps. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” When you pray, you are opening the door for them to meet your savior.
Do you want to see your workplace as a mission field? In step 3 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, we encourage you to befriend your co-workers or employees outside of the office. Why? Our work relationships are work focused and can be shallow. When you build friendships on your own turf, outside of work, real relationships develop. When you let someone into your world, it breaks down walls. Breaking down walls builds trust. Eventually, they will trust you when you share your Jesus story, the work He has done in your life. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble”….Be a real friend to someone today.
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? Step two of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant helps transform your workplace mindset into a mission-focused workplace ministry mindset. Start looking for ways to serve your co-workers, bosses, and/or employees outside your job requirements. Why? Anyone can do a job that meets expectations, but how many people help others meet or exceed expectations? When you go out of the way to help others at work with a stressful project or a mundane responsibility, you open up a door of ministry opportunity. Galatians 5:13-14 says For you have been called to live in freedom… use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? I thought so. Step one of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is the most powerful step you can take at work to transform your workplace and your heart. Prayer - Start praying for those you work alongside every day. Pray for your co-workers, bosses, and employees by name. You can even pray for their spouses and kids. After you have done this for a few months, have a conversation like this “Hey, I have been praying for you, is there anything I can pray about specifically?” 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. “ Start Praying today and watch the transformation begin.
When I graduated from high school, I had my life all planned out. For years I had felt God calling me into ministry, so naturally I planned to attend Seminary…. But then God asked me to take a right turn in my vocation - He asked me to go into business. At the time I didn’t understand how I could feel called to ministry AND the marketplace, but today I can look back and see that all those years WERE ministry and that he was laying the groundwork for iWork4Him. Isaiah 55:8 says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts…And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” We don’t have the big picture, but GOD DOES! So, how about you? Are you saying NO or NEVER to something that God is asking you to consider? Try removing the word NEVER from your prayer life – and see what God does.
Have you ever looked at your current job and wondered, “how did I end up here?” The good news is, you didn’t end up there on accident! God has strategically placed you exactly where you are for a REASON – to share the good news of Jesus Christ with your coworkers, employees, bosses, and clients! 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.” So next time that you feel burnt out or bored with your job, remember that you are an ambassador for Christ – sent to your workplace to make an appeal on God’s behalf! For He created your work, He ordained it, He orchestrated it, and He is the one who will sustain you in it. So, take heart! Your job isn’t an accident…. It’s an anointing.
Inspired from - www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2019/11/workmatters-at-the-harvest-group
Have you ever met a salesperson or a marketer who offered you something that seemed too good to be true… and then it turns out it WAS too good to be true? Although overpromising may increase sales and conversions on the front end, underdelivering on those promises alienates customers and creates a bad reputation. Similarly, overpromising and underdelivering in your relationships at work and at home causes division, disappointment, and distrust. Proverbs 11:3 says, “The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.” Integrity is more than being honest – it’s matching your actions to your words in a way that honors God and those around you. Are there any areas of your life that you are overpromising and underdelivering?
Inspired from - www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2016/2/bill-wolf-works-4-him
1 Corinthians 6:19 says, “do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is IN YOU, whom you have received from God?” Whoa! Think about that for a moment: the Holy Spirit… the very presence of God… lives INSIDE of our bodies! How crazy is THAT! The God of the universe has taken up residence inside of us, where He not only guides us as a wise counselor but also intercedes on our behalf and empowers us to carry out the good works that are prepared in advance for us. If God lives in us, and works through us, then it makes sense that our lives should demand a supernatural explanation! Are you living life in your own power or in God’s power? Take a moment today and pray that the Holy Spirit would do something through you that you couldn’t possibly do on your own! – something that demands a supernatural explanation.
Inspired from: www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2019/11/ryan-haley-offers-a-better-way
When God created Adam, he didn’t place him in the Garden of Eden for an extended vacation – No! God created A JOB for him. In Genesis 2 it says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to WORK it and TAKE CARE of it… and the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them...” Of course, God could’ve easily named the animals He created, but instead He CHOSE to invite Adam into the work He was doing. In the same way, God has created a job for you, and has invited you to work TOGETHER with Him in it! Because when we work in partnership with God, our jobs become more than just hustle… they become holy. How can you invite God into your work today?
Inspired from - www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2019/2/entrepreneurship-for-the-kingdom
Have you ever encountered a salesperson that wouldn’t stop pushing you to buy an item because they were on commission? It’s obvious in these situations that the salesperson is more interested in reaching their numbers than about meeting the needs of the customer. They have become producers rather than servers. As followers of Christ, we can end up doing the same thing when we focus only on our output at work, rather than caring about the people at work. Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of us look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Are you a producer? Or are you a server? Ask God how you can serve the people around you today – whether in your work, your home, or your neighborhood. Because you may be the only Jesus they ever meet.
Inspired from - www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2019/8/faith-work-women
I almost finished a 500 piece puzzle the other day, but one piece was missing. I searched high and low but I couldn’t find it anywhere. In the end, I couldn’t complete the picture with just 499 pieces… I needed the last one. 1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.” YOU are a part of the body of Christ and YOU bring something unique to this world - something only you can bring! Your skills, gifts, and passions help reveal who Jesus is to the world. But… if you aren’t engaging, the puzzle is missing an essential piece and the picture is incomplete! God wants to use you, right where you are, to reflect Himself to your coworkers, bosses, friends and neighbors. Are you using your skills and gifts for the glory of Christ today?
Have you ever been afraid to share the gospel because you might not know all the answers? Well, here’s the good news: we don’t need to argue people into Christ, we just need to invite them to encounter Him! What a relief - God is the one who does the heavy lifting… not us! When you set out to simply do good, work with excellence, and love people… others will be drawn to the light of Christ inside of you naturally… like a moth to a flame. Matthew 5:6 says, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” So, remember today that by working with integrity and honoring those around you, you’re INVITING them to encounter Christ… and it is Christ who will change and soften their hearts – the pressure is off!
Why is it that the grass always looks greener on the other side? Well, in today’s world it’s because the grass probably has a photo filter on it! Did you know that the average person spends two and a half hours scrolling through social media per day?! That’s more time than it takes to workout, make dinner, and clean the house! This constant access to the edited highlights of our friends’ and coworkers’ lives leads us to compare, compare, compare. But Proverbs 4:27 says, “Do not turn to the right or the left, keep your foot from evil.” Looking too much at the filtered lives of those around us can lead to jealousy, discontentment, resentment, and envy. So, instead of going on your phone or tablet and comparing your life to your neighbors’ vacation photos, take a moment today to stop and thank God for the blessings in your own life!
Inspired from - www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2016/2/bill-wolf-works-4-him
We are all making disciples… but are we all making disciples of Jesus? This question was posed by Darren Shearer on one of our recent podcasts, and it’s one that’s really stuck with me. Our lives, our relationships, and our priorities are all pointing people to something -- what is your life pointing to? Is it Jesus? Or is it professional success, gaining influence through social media, or keeping up with the Joneses? In the Gospel of Matthew it says, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” In other words, what you invest in and value the MOST is what you model to the world as being worthy of worship. Take a moment today and consider who, or what, your lifestyle is worshiping and thus making disciples of.
Inspired from: https://www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2020/4/connect-your-faith-and-your-work
Have you ever worked for a company or organization with a toxic workplace culture – the kind that not only made it unpleasant for the employees but also for customers and clients? On the flipside, have you ever worked for a place where the culture was so positive that employees stayed for years and customers and clients became friends and partners? Dee Ann Turner, an expert on stewarding talent, says that “culture is the soul of the organization.” And incredible culture is built through core values that are demonstrated – not just stated. Like the old adage says: actions speak louder than words. As Christ-followers we already have a given set of core values! BUT are you demonstrating those core values at work? Remember, the WAY that you work is equally as influential to your testimony as what you say you believe!
Have you ever worked for a company or organization with a toxic workplace culture – the kind that not only made it unpleasant for the employees but also for customers and clients? On the flipside, have you ever worked for a place where the culture was so positive that employees stayed for years and customers and clients became friends and partners? Dee Ann Turner, an expert on stewarding talent, says that “culture is the soul of the organization.” And incredible culture is fostered by a sense of purpose. In other words, a healthy workplace culture requires a “why.” Why do we go to work? Why do we do what we do? And what value is it to the people we are doing it for? As Christ-followers we already have a purpose, no matter what job or position we hold! Our purpose is to share Jesus with the world – including the people we work with!
Have you ever worked for a company or organization with a toxic workplace culture – the kind that not only made it unpleasant for the employees but also for customers and clients? On the flipside, have you ever worked for a place where the culture was so positive that employees stayed for years and customers and clients became friends and partners? Dee Ann Turner, an expert on stewarding talent, says that “culture is the soul of the organization.” And incredible culture is built through a challenging mission. This is the “what.” What are we trying to achieve? What is the end goal? Whatever the mission of our current team or department, we also have an ultimate mission as Christ-followers! God has commissioned us to bring the lost and hurting to Him – including your bosses, coworkers, and employees. How are you living out your God-given mission at work?
Have you ever worked for a company or organization with a toxic workplace culture – the kind that not only made it unpleasant for the employees but also for customers and clients? On the flipside, have you ever worked for a place where the culture was so positive that employees stayed for years and customers and clients became friends and partners? Dee Ann Turner, an expert on stewarding talent, says that “culture is the soul of the organization.” And incredible culture begins with individual care of those within the organization. One way to begin caring for the people you work with is to start simply praying for them by name. When you pray for someone, God changes your heart TOWARDS them and opens the door for you to show His love TO them. I challenge you to pray for your coworkers, employees, and bosses by name this week – it’ll change everything.
Have you ever worked for a company or organization with a toxic workplace culture – the kind that not only made it unpleasant for the employees but also for customers and clients? On the flipside, have you ever worked for a place where the culture was so positive that employees stayed for years and customers and clients became friends and partners? Dee Ann Turner, an expert on stewarding talent, says that “culture is the soul of the organization.” What does the soul of your current workplace look like and how can you become a force for positive change within it? If you’re a manager, CEO, or leader – think of ways to foster a Christ-like culture in your area of impact. If you’re an employee – think of one way to be a positive light to your coworkers and clients today.
Chuck Proudfit -- founder of the ministry At Work on Purpose -- told us on a recent show, “to start thinking like a journalist...” What does that mean? And what exactly do journalists do? Well, they find where the story is, and then they join it! And like journalists, we, as Christ-followers, have the opportunity to find what God is doing and join him! Ephesians 2:10 in the Message Translation says, “God creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” Are you a spiritual journalist - seeking out God’s story? Take a moment today and ask the LORD what he is up to in your office, in your home, or in your neighborhood. Then pray about how you how you can join in His good works!
Inspired from - https://www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2018/4/work-on-purpose
Your work matters to God, and God has strategically placed you in your workplace to be his representative. But what exactly does it mean to be a representative of God? 1 John:4 says, that God IS love. So, when we genuinely love people, we are giving them a taste of who God is – it’s as easy as that! Being a representative of God in the workplace doesn’t mean that you need to be a pastor, an evangelist, or an apologist – all you need to do is love God and love the people around you with authenticity, transparency, and humility. So, when you go to work, remember that you have an opportunity to be a representative of God by showing care and respect to those around you. Pick one way this week to show your coworkers that you genuinely love them, and so does God!
Inspired from - www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2019/8/vop-is-a-way-of-life
Have you ever felt stuck in a rut? Like all you do is go to work, come home, eat, and sleep, just to go back to work and do it all over again the next morning? This endless cycle can feel maddening! But did you know that God never intended for our work to be a burden? In fact, God gave Adam the job of caretaker of the world as a GIFT – as an opportunity to partner with Himself! And guess what? Jesus is extending the same gift to you today! When you dedicate your work to God, you become a partner with Him. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Jesus wants to take your daily work and make it so much more than toil! He wants to partner with you in the redemption of the world! Invite Jesus into your work today.
Inspired from - https://www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2020/8/women-in-the-marketplace
If you invest, do you know exactly where your money is going? How about where your return is coming from? Do you know the core values of the companies that your investments are funding? If your answer is no, you’re in the majority because the fact is, that many of us put money into investment funds without ever paying attention to where it goes afterwards. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, that “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – and guess what? That includes investing! If you are interested in learning more about connecting your values to your investments, ask your financial advisor about biblically responsible investing or check out iinvest4him.com. Stop following the ways of the world and let God transform you by changing the way you think, even when it comes to retirement and investing!
Inspired from https://www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2020/6/let-god-transform-your-mind-even-with-investing
As Christ-followers, our witness can become compromised when we act or speak out of a place of anger and frustration that leads us to wrongfully blame, shame, or hurt someone else. Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you THINK. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” But how do we change the way we think when we are cut off in traffic, passed over for a promotion, or hurt by someone’s words? Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership suggests this practice: when you’re angry, pause and write down your thoughts. Then, write next to them what kind of thoughts God wants you to have for the situation or person. This puts GOD back in control rather than your circumstances or the people around you.
Inspired from https://www.iwork4him.com/podcast/2017/6/be-a-transformational-leader
It’s the last day of the year, and this has been a tough year for everybody. I don’t know many people that will look back at 2021 and mourn its passing. It’s time for a fresh start. It’s New Year’s Eve and the last day of 2021. Goodbye, 2021! A fresh start begins tomorrow! How will you begin your fresh start? Do you even know where to begin? We can ask our friends or coworkers, bosses or employees, family, or neighbors. They likely have some ideas. We can read the Bible and ask God to direct our paths for 2022 It’s essential to surround yourself with people willing to help you make a fresh start in 2022 Any day can be a fresh start, but with the new year coming, it’s as good a time as any.
It’s the last week of the year, and this has been a tough year for everybody. I don’t know many people that will look back at 2021 and mourn its passing. As we close out the year let’s renew our commitment to see our workplaces as a place to live out our faith. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. Let’s start the new year fresh with the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.
It’s the last week of the year, and this has been a tough year for everybody. I don’t know that anybody is going to look at 2021 and mourn its passing. It’s time for a fresh start. I grew up in Minnesota, where a new, beautiful snowfall covers the ground and hides the mess. But eventually, the snow melts and leaves behind the mess that was there before the snow fell. The beauty of following Jesus is that we get a fresh start, and all our mess is left behind for good. As we head into 2022, what kind of mess are you going to leave behind? Will you allow God to give you a fresh start? Can you leave the past in the past, forgive yourself, and start all over again? Any day can be a fresh start, but with the new year coming, it’s as good a time as any.
It’s the last week of the year, and this has been a tough year for everybody. I don’t know that anybody is going to look at 2021 and mourn its passing. It’s time for a fresh start. So, what will a fresh start look like for you in 2022? Will it be getting up a little earlier and reading your Bible and spending time with God every day? Will it be a new exercise routine or new eating habits? Maybe it’ll be a new attitude at work or intentionality to start new friendships. Whatever your fresh start looks like for you in 2022, how will it impact those you live alongside, both at work and home? Any day can be a fresh start, but with the new year coming, it’s as good a time as any.
It’s the last week of the year, and this has been a tough year for everybody. I don’t know that anybody is going to look at 2021 and mourn its passing. It’s time for a fresh start. When I became a believer, I got a fresh start. Since that day, over 40 years ago, I’ve gotten a lot of fresh starts. The Bible says that God‘s mercies are new every morning. I have taken advantage of those new mercies a whole bunch in my life. What’s great about a new year is we get an entire new year of fresh starts. God doesn’t look back. He is looking forward to 2022. Are you ready for a fresh start in your life? What will that look like in 2022? Any day can be a fresh start, but with the new year coming, it’s as good a time as any.
It’s Christmas Eve. Tomorrow is a day focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. The day that you were born, your parents saw you as a gift. How will you be a gift to your family today, to the parents that gave you birth? Is it with your frequent phone calls or notes dropped in the mail? Is it helping around the house with projects that they just can’t do on their own anymore? Sometimes it takes a high level of intentionality to be a gift to the family that isn’t always easy to be around. As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. Today, be that gift to those you love.
Christmas is coming – just 2 days away. This week has focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. Are you a gift to the people you live near? Outside of work, we come in contact with a lot of people. You might be involved in a small group from church. How are you a gift to your small group? Are you a gift in the way you serve others in your community? Are you a gift in the way you love others when they’re going through a struggle? Are you a gift in the way you pray for people or the way you help out with projects that others just can’t do alone? As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. This week, be that gift to those you love.
It’s the week of Christmas. A week focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. Are you a gift to the people you work with? What does that look like? Is it the work you do, or how you do your work? Is it your attitude at work, or is it the excellence you demonstrate as you do your work? When your coworkers, employees, or bosses look at you, do they see you as a gift to the organization? What can you do today to be a gift to those that you work alongside? You can ask the Holy Spirit to help you figure this out. As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. This week, be that gift to those you love.
It’s the week of Christmas. A week focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. Are you a gift to the people you work with? We all love to get gifts, but what kind of gift do you love to give. For Martha and I, we love to give the gift of entertainment. Not a song and dance routine, but hosting people for dinner. We love to cook a meal and share our kitchen table to build relationships. What kind of gift do you love to give to those you work with? Is it your friendship, a smile, or extra hard work? Do those you work with see you as a gift? As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. This week, be that gift to those you love.
It’s the week of Christmas. A week focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. Are you a gift to the people you work with? What is the most memorable gift you have ever received on Christmas morning? Was it a doll or a train set or a bicycle? Maybe it was memorable because of who you spent it with, like the last time you were with your grandmother or grandfather. One day when you leave your work to start a new job or retire, Will the people you leave behind remember you as a gift to them? Will they mourn the day you leave? As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. This week, be that gift to those you love.
As a Christ-follower in the workplace, you are likely to mess up once in a while. What you do next is the key to helping others see the difference Jesus is making in you. Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership has developed the 6-step Apology. We are going to cover the final step today. Up to this point, we have confessed and apologized. We have asked for forgiveness and permitted accountability. Our final step is to say, “Is there anything else I’ve done in our relationship that I need to apologize for?” This gives your relationship a chance to start with a clean slate. It could also lead to another 6 step apology. When we are quick to admit our wrong and ask for forgiveness when we make a mistake at work, it is an excellent opportunity to show the world what it looks like to love our neighbor.
As a Christ-follower in the workplace, you are likely to mess up once in a while. What you do next is the key to helping others see the difference Jesus is making in you. Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership has developed the 6-step Apology. Today is step 5. Step 5 involves accountability. You say to the person you have wronged, “I give you permission to hold me accountable for not behaving this way anymore.” You are not making them hold you accountable. You are permitting them. When we open the door to accountability, we are opening the door to change in our life. When we are quick to admit our wrong and ask for forgiveness when we make a mistake at work, it is an excellent opportunity to show the world what it looks like to love our neighbor.
As a Christ-follower in the workplace, you are likely to mess up once in a while. What you do next is the key to helping others see the difference Jesus is making in you. Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership has developed the 6-step Apology. We are going to cover step 4 today. Step 4 involves asking for forgiveness. Say, “when you can, will you forgive me?” Forgiveness is a gift to both parties, but it must be given, not taken. Asking the offended to forgive you actually frees them from any bitterness that can build up inside them, but it must be a choice on their own and in their own time. When we are quick to admit our wrong and ask forgiveness when we make a mistake at work, it is an excellent opportunity to show the world what it looks like to love our neighbor.
As a Christ-follower in the workplace, you are likely to mess up once in a while. What you do next is the key to helping others see the difference Jesus is making in you. Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership has developed the 6-step Apology. We are going to cover step 3 today. Step 3 is simply to apologize. Saying I am sorry means so much when you have hurt someone. Be careful not to say, “I want to apologize for…” because that isn’t an apology. “I am sorry” is a statement of humility and honor, and it opens the door to relationship healing. When we are quick to admit our wrong and ask forgiveness when we make a mistake at work, it is an excellent opportunity to show the world what it looks like to love our neighbor.
As a Christ-follower in the workplace, you are likely to mess up once in a while. What you do next is the key to helping others see the difference Jesus is making in you. Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership has developed the 6-step Apology. Step 1 is to State the Offense. “You are right. I did it.” Step two is acknowledging that you are wrong. So, you say something like, “I was wrong to…or I apologize for.” It may be humbling to regurgitate what we did wrong and then admit it, but your humility will touch their soul. When we are quick to admit our wrong and ask forgiveness when we make a mistake at work, it is an excellent opportunity to show the world what it looks like to love our neighbor.
Hebrews 11 says, “By faith Abel brought an offering.” What is an offering? Jesus said that while the bridegroom is with us, we want to feast, but when he is gone, then we look at fasting. We don’t earn God’s favor when we go without or by bringing him an offering. Faith grows when it is expressed in sacrifice when it’s not easy. When I “bring my sacrifice of praise” God is honored and my faith in Him grows because “God dwells in the praises of His people.” When God gives the entrepreneur an idea, that does not mean the idea will automatically happen, even if we put some effort into it. The Venture Capital firm that you approach for financial help is more interested in your track record of executing an idea than the idea itself. Abel brought an offering. What are we bringing to God?
Hebrews 11 says, “By faith we understand. . . that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” Stephen Covey says, “Begin with the end in mind.” Entrepreneurs start with ideas of something that doesn’t exist yet, to form the foundation of what is to come. No wonder the context of Hebrews 11:3 is “by faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command.” Why do we struggle with creation when it is self-evident that everything begins as an idea, including the things we create? The essence of the entrepreneur’s work is to see a gap in the market, that needs to be fixed. Something from nothing or at least nothing that we could see! God is “able to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
Hebrews 11 says, “Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.” The prophet Jeremiah reminds his listeners to “Stand by the road, and look, and ask for the ancient paths.” Moses, in speaking to the Israelites in Deuteronomy says, “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” Paul quotes this to the new Christians in Rome to then go on to say, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord. . .you are saved.” This is equally true in business. What you have done in the past, becomes your scorecard and your reputation. If you have a reputation of always doing what you promise to do, you will find a way through the challenges to the success that the Lord plans for you.
Hebrews 11 says, “Faith. . . is the evidence of things not seen…” Faith is holding on even when you can’t see the answer. That’s how Daniel and his friends must have felt when the King decreed that all of his senior advisors would die if no one could answer the riddle posed by the King’s terrifying dream. But The King wouldn’t tell anyone what he had seen in his dream. They had to tell him the dream and its interpretation. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Daniel urged his three friends to ask God to show them the secret because God knew the answer. How does this apply in our work? No matter our job, we have strategic planning sessions to help chart the course forward. The planning is our “evidence” that we are believing for what is “not yet seen.” But in the end God knows the answer you need.
Hebrews 11 says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for…” Hope is not the absence of doubt. We all have doubts. Faith has substance when we hold on to it despite our doubts. When Job said in his book that “Though He slay me I will hope in Him” Job is essentially saying what any of us have said when we declare, “Even if God doesn’t come through in the way that I expect and am praying for, I still trust He is in charge.” The essence of entrepreneurship is “things hoped for.” The challenge of business is “hoping” until you succeed, not giving up when the challenges and setbacks come. Hope is collected over time through experience and study. You are surrounded by many at work who have no hope. Will you share some today?
People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. I have a tendency to listen to the first few words of someone expressing a thought or idea or feeling to me, and then I am busy contemplating a response. I often miss my chance to listen because I want so badly to be heard. I never realized that behavior was so hurtful until I got married. Martha is a great communicator and says so many incredible things. I have had to learn to just listen to her when she speaks without responding. Then she knows I love her. We work together every day, so this is a really important skill. When we listen, we communicate care and love and acceptance. And you know that Jesus is the best listener ever. As Jesus-followers, we can be just like Him. Practice listening today.
People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. We spend a lot of time with our co-workers—lots of time. We grow to like our co-workers, and some we even grow to love and cherish. But do the people you love know that you listen to them? Do people at work and frankly at home, know that you love them by how you demonstrate your listening skills? Listening is the most powerful communicator of love. Jesus is the best listener ever, and everybody who met him knew He loved them. As Jesus-followers, we can be just like Him. Practice listening to those you love in your work and your home today – listening will show them that you care.
People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. When I get in my car, I put on the radio. I love to listen to talk radio. It passes the time in traffic, and I get entertained. About 15 years ago, I realized I had an addiction to noise in my car. I needed to learn to be quiet and listen to God. I committed my morning commutes to work to be my listening/praying time. No matter how long or short, my morning time in the car was committed to learning to be a listener…and to be quiet. It changed my life. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” If I learned to be still, you can too. Listening is a Jesus quality. Practice listening to God in your car on your way to work today.
People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. When you are in trouble or need advice, who do you listen to first? Do you rush right to your bible and get on your knees in prayer? Or do you tend to call a friend or post your trouble on Facebook? I get it. It is easier to connect with humans than to seek the Lord. But if our tendency is to go to people for answers and not our Heavenly Father, how will we attract others to Jesus. Jeremiah 29:11 says “He knows the plans for us” It’s good to have sounding boards for advice, but who do you listen to first? Jesus is the best listener ever. Practice listening to your Lord today.
People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. Are you a good listener? I am a much better talker than a listener. When we listen to others, we are like Jesus. He listened so well. Today you may be on multiple zoom calls or in-person meetings, be the best listener in the crowd, not just listening for your job but listening for what isn’t said, things spoken without words. Listening is the best way to open doors to conversations about your faith in Jesus. When we hear people’s words, they feel valued. Psalm 34:15 says, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry.” Jesus is the best listener ever. As Jesus-followers, we can be like Him. Practice listening in your work today.
It’s the week of Thanksgiving and we all have so much to be thankful for. Whether you are working today or off, are you thankful for your work? So often we find ourselves complaining about our work. I am guilty of it often. Our work is given to us by God on purpose for a purpose. We work with people who need to meet Jesus and you may be the one who gets to do that. However, if we are walking around grumbling about our work, we won’t attract too many people to Jesus. Let’s be thankful. Thankful for the work that uses our minds and bodies and pays our bills. Thankful for the work that nourishes our soul. Spend today focusing on being thankful for your work.
It’s the week of Thanksgiving and we all have so much to be thankful for. It’s hard to fathom but some people in our country will wake up today with NO FOOD. None. IT may even be someone you work with that is struggling financially and they don’t have enough food either. There may be people in your church or neighborhood that will not have enough food today to celebrate thanksgiving. People all over this country have had to learn to live with not enough. We can share from our enough but start with being thankful for the food set before you today. Also, be aware of those around you who are in need of food, clothing and financial help. It’s what Jesus-followers do. Be thankful and share. It’s the difference that Jesus makes in our lives that can make the difference in someone else’s life. Be thankful.
It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and we all have so much to be thankful for. I spent a week in the Dominican Republic a few years back. I saw a level of contentment and thankfulness in every person I met. Most had only a tin roof over their head and a couple pairs of clothing, but they were thankful. Thankful for a meal to eat and a place to sleep. What about you? Are you thankful for your clothes, your car, your home, and your bed? The people we work with are looking to you to demonstrate the advantage of being a Jesus-follower. Showing them, you are content and thankful will attract them to Jesus. So, this week spend your time focusing on being thankful and see how it impacts the attitudes of those around you.
It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and we all have so much to be thankful for. Yet when many of us think about our time with family later this week, we struggle to be thankful. Many of you have indeed suffered at the hands of family. I am sorry for that. However, for most of you, you have been blessed with a family that loves you, but still get under your skin and irritate you. How do we shift our attitude to be thankful for our family? We remember that God is our Father, and you are surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ who love you. Those at work may not be so blessed, so show them some love this week and invite them to be part of your family Thanksgiving celebration. When you focus on being thankful, it impacts the attitudes of all those around you.
It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and we all have so much to be thankful for. Yet, some days, I struggle to be thankful. Work can be overwhelming, and deadlines are looming. Some days I am just outright un-thankful. When we lack a thankful attitude, it impacts our spirit and the spirits of others around us. We don’t realize the impact we have on others. 1st Thessalonians 5 18 says, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Without Jesus, I know this would be impossible for me, but we know that all things are possible with Jesus. So, this week spend your time focusing on being thankful, see how it affects your attitude, and see how it impacts the attitudes of those around you.
Let's start today with some biblical encouragement about work. Ephesians 2 10 says, "For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” Imagine with me for a moment that your focus as a Jesus-follower is to deeply integrate your faith into the work you deliver. Continue imagining. You're not contributing…you cannot contribute anything to God's plan that He hasn't prepared ahead of time for you. But you're participating in full, in the plan by WALKING through His plan. So, ask yourself these 3 questions:
- What does maximum involvement in God's plan look like for me at work?
- How do I see God using me at work?
- How can I express myself as His masterpiece?
When you start every day with these three questions as your focus, God will do amazing things through you.
When I began working, I fell into a trap. I searched for meaning in the kind of work I was doing. Jeremiah 9:23 tells us “…the world defines greatness by wealth, wisdom, and power.” That's where I thought my focus should be…to find significance at work. And you know what? I was continually let down and discouraged until I realized Jeremiah 9:24 said this, "…the one who boasts should boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth for I delight in these things."
Is your personal value and significance linked to the kind of work you do? NO. You have value because He declares you valuable…valuable enough for Christ to die for you. How can you show your value in your work today?
Do you think your work and your faith are separate considerations? There's always a divine reason God has us at work. When we understand that, we have the right focus. In John 4, the disciples challenged Jesus for talking to the woman at the well after they got back from town buying food. Jesus says: "Don't you say, ‘There are still four months, then comes the harvest: I say open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest.’" The disciples dutifully went to town but overlooked sharing their faith. This woman was saved with one kind encounter, and she wanted to share it with everyone! There's nothing wrong with having your head down at your job, doing great work. But our faith does not end on Sunday. It continues every day, sometimes with the slightest kind gestures and conversations with those around us. Now that's faith and work.
What's God want from us at work? Some think WHAT we produce at work is PRIORITY ONE. No matter your job, consider this from 2 Peter 3:10, "But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief, on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be totally destroyed." So, if our work-product will one day burn up, where should my focus be at work? Ask the Lord this each day: "Why do you have me here?" Does someone at work need me to listen without judgment? Does a co-worker having a hard day need a lending hand? If you focus on the people in your workplace and not just your work, both your work-product and workplace will improve.
Have you ever said, "I go to work just to earn a living"? Most of us will work more than 100,000 hours in a lifetime. That's more than a third of your life! Sadly, stats show that at least 7 in 10 people don't like their job. And, three in seven HATES it. If our Christianity is going to be relevant, it must address how our work week will be used for the glory of God. We also need to understand God's truth about Work. If you believe you go to work just to earn a living, consider this verse about your job: Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." This is just one of God's truths about why we go to work. I pray it re-shapes your thinking and appreciation for the work God has given you. Watch God provide for your needs today.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. There is brokenness in us, in our world, work, and community. There is healing in Jesus. Today as you have zoom calls, meetings, sales calls, service calls, or power lunches, look for the broken around you through God's eyes. See people the way He sees them… as Image bearers. In following Jesus, we are to be like Him. He brought healing wherever he went. Sometimes it was physical, and sometimes it was emotional. Either way, He was a healer, and he wants you to heal too. You first, then others. By loving God and loving people, God will heal wounds through us. You are in your workplace on purpose because there is healing to be done. Remember, Jesus is a healer, and since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. Today is Veterans Day, a day we celebrate the service of men and women who serve and have served our country. These families had to seek healing after the wars. Over the centuries, wars have been fought, and millions of people have died. How do you bring about healing when your neighbor caused the death of your son? Today the United States have allies that were once sworn enemies. Japan and Germany tried to rule the world, yet today, they are peaceful nations. If our world can heal, your family can too. Wars often erupt in our families. Words are spoken, atrocities are done, relationships are severed. Can God heal it? Yes, he can. Sometimes war breaks out at work too. God can heal there also. Remember, Jesus is a healer, and since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. Frederick Buechner said, "Pay attention to the things that bring a tear to your eye or a lump in your throat because they are signs that the Holy is drawing near." What injustice in your community brings you to tears? Homelessness, poverty, joblessness, sexual exploitation? What can you do about it? God provided you with a job and an income. What is that income for? For providing for your family and for bringing healing to your community. God asks that you Consider 10% of your income for ministering to the needs of the lost and broken. Sometimes those lost and broken are right next to you at work. Remember, Jesus is a healer, and since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. Frederick Buechner once said, "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." I believe the greatest need is the healing of the lost and broken. Likely you have noticed brokenness in your workplace that needs to be healed. What are you doing about it? Praying about it? Seeking to understand it? Trying to find the person who is causing the brokenness? In our workplaces, we often find broken people bring their brokenness to work with them, and it multiplies. It's one reason you as a Jesus-follower are there. That brokenness needs healing, and you know the best healer in the world. Remember, since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace. You may be saying to yourself, but how do I bring healing to my workplace when I am so broken myself? As a Jesus-follower, you serve the ultimate healer. For the woman at the well, he didn't just give her water; he gave her healing from the inside out. She was a broken woman who had been married five times. No matter what is broken inside of you, Jesus can handle it. In Luke 4:18, Jesus says, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free. Remember, Jesus is a healer, and since we follow Jesus, we are healers too.
When we face uncertainly in life, there is one thing to remember, none of what is happening is a surprise to God… It's been a long week. It's always a long week. Each week draws attention to the reality of the broken world we live in. Here’s a thought. Nothing that happened this week changed your position in eternity. You can be the solid, dependable one for those around you. Pray for healing the divide that the enemy is working so hard to create in our country and our workplaces. Get your strength From the Rock. The Cornerstone. It's time for Jesus followers to recognize our role in bringing hope and healing to a society that is reeling. Remember, you are here on this planet to reassure everyone you meet, Christ-follower, and pre-believer that no matter what, God is on the throne.
When we face uncertainly in life, there is one thing to remember, none of what is happening is a surprise to God. Someone around you is Hurting, Frustrated, Angry and Worried. What is your role as a Jesus follower in the workplace? Your role is to not get caught up in political rhetoric or petty grievances. Your role is to start up and get caught up in bringing the healing of Jesus to the hurting and hopeless around you at work. There is no question, our nation needs healing, and we who follow Jesus are the ones responsible for bringing that healing. IT is the role of the believer to introduce those lost and hopeless to the only healing available that lasts. No politician will ever do that. Just remember that no matter what happens, God is on the throne.
When we face uncertainty in life, there is one thing to remember, none of what is happening is a surprise to God. As a Jesus-follower, working and living around people who don't know Jesus, what is your role today? Be a purveyor of peace. You don't have the luxury to respond to anyone in anger. Don't get uptight worrying about the effect of the latest news cycle and problems around this world. Don’t use your social media to fuel arguments over things that have zero eternal significance. Use your time and your conversations to draw people to Jesus and remember, your role is to be Jesus to those around you, ministering to their hurts and uplifting their hope by reminding them that no matter what, God is on the throne and Jesus is there to save them and bring them life.
When we face uncertainty in life, there is one thing to remember, none of what is happening is a surprise to God. One thing this world needs is a people group that is not ruffled by the winds of change, a people of peace in the storms of uncertainty. The Body of Christ is just that group of people. In the early church, they were so NOT rattled that eventually the entire Roman empire was transformed by faith in Jesus. So, it’s not a matter of who wins and who loses, in the greater scheme of things, your role at work hasn't changed. You are to minister unto the least of these. You are to remind those around you that Jesus brings you peace and that no matter what happens, God is on the throne.
When we face uncertainty in life, there is one thing to remember, none of what is happening is a surprise to God. People are so polarized, going left, going right, or just sitting out. As a Christ Follower living out your faith at work, what is your role in this? Your role is to represent our Heavenly Father by bringing peace and truth. Your role is to remind whoever you run into that you are not uptight about tomorrow because God is in control. Your role is to remind those around you that no matter what happens, God is on the throne. So today, when you enter your workplace, whether that is in person or online, try to see the people around you with God’s eyes and God’s heart and love them no matter what.
I’m not sure why Christians celebrate Halloween, but for some reason, we love to be scared. Do you know what's really scary? People who need to know Jesus, who are surrounded by people who know Jesus, and nobody's talking about Jesus. That is really scary. Jesus gave up everything for you and me. Why? So that He could give up everything for everyone you work with too. If we don't tell the people we work with the reason for the hope we have in Jesus, they may remain lost forever. No one needs to preach at your coworkers, you just need to love them and bring prayer, hope and Truth with you wherever you go. This will open up conversations about Jesus and give you a chance to eliminate the scary in someone else's life.
I’m not sure why Christians celebrate Halloween, but for some reason, we love to be scared. Do you know what's really scary? Christians who turn off their faith at work. For some reason, when we go to work, many of us switch off our faith. Did Jesus only die for your Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights? No, he died for all of you, especially your work life. When we bring Jesus to work with us, everyone around us will benefit from Him living in us, whether they believe in Him or not. Flip your faith back on and throw away the switch. The people you work with are counting on it. Romans 12:2 reminds us to let God transform you by changing the way you think…about work. Don’t be scary leave your light on at work.
I’m not sure why Christians celebrate Halloween, but for some reason, we love to be scared. Do you know what's really scary? Work without purpose. I often thought about quitting my job to go into full-time ministry because I fought the purposelessness of my job. For those pre-believers in your workplace, it is the opposite. They find all their purpose in their work. It is all that matters to them. They have nothing else to pin their identity on. It is important for all of us to realize that God gave us work as a gift. Not to define us but to bring flourishing in our lives and to bring flourishing in the lives of those we work around. Today, see purpose in your work based on the people you have influence over every day. Don’t be scary see purpose.
I’m not sure why Christians celebrate Halloween, but for some reason, we love to be scared. Do you know what's really scary? Living life without loving relationships. As a Christ-follower, you have your church friends and small group as places where you get dependable, loving relationships. For those you work around, that may not be true. In Christ, we have loving relationships based on the commonality of forgiveness and the Truth. When you don't have Christ, you are always trying to prove yourself and earn favor. You are worried there is something you can do to lose a friend. Today at work, start talking to the unlovable, the shy, the hurting, and the lonely. When you minister unto the least of these, Jesus says you are ministering to Him. Don’t be scary be loving.
I’m not sure why Christians celebrate Halloween, but for some reason, we love to be scared. Do you know what's really scary? Life without meaning. Imagine living a life without purpose, without hope, without access to the Truth. As a Jesus follower, you don't live that life anymore, but the people you work with do. So many of the people you work with live the Halloween reality every day. They don't know what's around the corner, and darkness is trying to claim them. You are the light of the world—a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. You bring life. You bring hope. You bring light to the darkness. Eliminate the scariness of life today for someone you work with by bringing hope, light, and life into your conversations.
As you woke up today, did you find yourself celebrating the end of the work week? We have all been trained to celebrate weekends and to dread our work. But is that the way God feels? I grew up thinking that work was a result of original sin. That the reason work was evil was that it came from evil. But that was a lie. God created work long before Adam and Eve sinned. God gave us work to be fulfilled and for us to flourish. Now work did get more difficult after Adam and Eve Sinned, but God still wants to walk alongside us in our work. Want proof? Read the biblical history on Abraham and his corporate empire or Joseph and Daniel on their government jobs. God wants to join us in our work, and that is worth celebrating. God has a purpose for your work too. So TGIF today, that’s okay but prepare yourself for TGIM come Monday.
During your commute today, whether its walking down the hallway or driving down the highway, what will you think about? Will you be caught up in the stress of the day or will you be preparing your heart for what God is going to do today, alongside you in your work? God set the workplace standard before evil entered our world. He gave Adam a job to name all the animals. An almost impossible task, except that God brought all the animals to him. You see, God doesn’t expect us to get the job done without helping us. What if today, on your “way” to work, you spend that time asking God to reveal His purpose in your work and your placement in your workplace. Neither are by accident. How we spend our first moments of the day makes a huge impact on the rest of the day, especially our work. Spend your “commute” wisely today.
When Jim & I were 13 we committed our lives to full-time Christian Ministry. So naturally I thought I would be a pastor’s wife or a missionary.
I thought I was going to be a youth pastor.
When we got married, I naturally thought that ministry was in our future.
Martha was right about that. But we were both wrong about the location of our ministry. We kept thinking we were headed for church ministry.
But Jim and I are both good at business and we ran an insurance agency. We didn’t know our ministry was right there in front of us. We treated people well.
But we never saw it as a ministry. In fact, no one ever spoke into our lives that we could have a ministry in our workplace.
But we were in ministry and our workplace ministry calling perfectly matched our God given gifts, talents, and abilities.
So, are you committed to full-time Christian Ministry? You’ll find it at your workplace today!
Do you ever feel like quitting your job? Even though it’s a good job and it pays well. We mean quit your perfectly good job so you can go into full time ministry. Have you ever had that thought? If you are like us, you feel the need for significance in your work and you feel like a job in a Church or a Christian non-profit is the only way to go. We are here to help stop the madness. The job that you hold, the work that you do and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance. The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance. Try this thought on for size. Your workplace is your mission field. Pay attention today at work and see if you meet any people who need to meet Jesus – and don’t quit your job.
When you woke up today did you find yourself celebrating the first day of the work week or did you find yourself dreading it? It seems that most of us suffer from TGIF syndrome instead of adopting the TGIM revolution. We need to start Thanking God its Monday. You see, God designed our work to have purpose and fulfillment. He also designed it so that He could work alongside us, bringing us His wisdom along the way. What is it going to take for you to switch from dreading Monday to celebrating it? If you are like me, it is going to take a Romans 12:2 Paradigm Shift. We have to stop copying the Behavior and Customs of this world and allow ourselves to be transformed and allow God to change the way we think. Every Day your work matters to God. Let’s start celebrating Mondays.
In 2006 I started a new job commuting 90 miles each way to work. I made a commitment to not turn on the radio on my way into work. I wanted to dedicate that time to pray for my family, my bosses and their families, my co-workers, and my employees. I learned to be quiet and I learned to make notes when I heard things from the Lord in my prayer time. I like to say that it Changed my life. Over the 4 years of this commute, I watched one of my Bosses come to be a Jesus follower and one rededicate his life to Christ. I was able to pray many times with my employees and I was able to demonstrate through service and friendship that my life was changed by Jesus. iWork4Him was launched through this prayer time and the iWork4Him Nation Covenant was birthed out of the process God took me through.
Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.
I can’t stand getting up any earlier than 6am. Who are these people who love to get up at 4:30am and work out? I find myself resenting them. I have never had the motivation to do anything before 6am, but I do try to make the most of the time from 6am to 7am. This is my quiet time, the time I use to center myself on God by praying for others, studying my bible, and writing in my prayer journal. The days I start with God, are the best days of the week. The days I sleep in and rush into my home office, never go as well. God wants our first hour of the day to remind us of His love for us and to remind us that He wants to be present in our work. 1 Corinthians 14:33 says “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace”. If you find your morning anything but peaceful, include God in your routine. Just not before 6am.
Do you sit all day long like I do? I find that somedays, the only exercise I get is walking to the mailbox or the kitchen. I sit in front of this computer and I work. I have come to realize that my body craves exercise. IT craves moving around and getting outside, and when I give my body this activity, my mind seems to settle in, and my work seems to flow easier. My soul needs exercise too. When I exercise my soul through prayer, bible reading and journaling, that exercise prepares me for my workday. God designed our bodies for exercise, Physical movement for our joints, muscles and ligaments and spiritual movement of our heart’s minds soul and strength. Proverbs 31:17 says, “She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.” Are you working out your body or your mind? Take time in your morning prep for some spiritual exercise too.
What is the first thing you do in the morning when you get up? Do you look at your phone and check emails before you get out of bed? I find that my best mornings start when I ignore my phone and pop open my bible and my journal instead. Since we really don’t know what is ahead in our work today, its important that we spend time with the One who knows what is ahead. When my mind is racing, thinking of my full calendar and the emails I need to return, I find that I push my Father aside. I say I will get back to Him when I have gotten my day in order, but I never do. Psalm 127: 1 says “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” I think that House is you. Start building your days with Him as your foundation and see the difference it makes as you walk together with God in your work.
Did you wake up tired today or press that snooze bar? Did you find yourself scrambling to get ready for that first zoom call of the day? Life and work can be exhausting. What is the best way to prepare your heart for what God has in store for you today at work? I don’t think rushing around and running late is helping prepare your heart. For me, it’s the still, quiet time, that feeds my soul and prepares me for the unknown ahead in my day. My best days start with quiet time, reading my bible, a devotional and writing in my prayer journal. Mark 1:35 says … “Jesus got up long before daylight, left the house while it was dark, and made his way to a secluded place to give himself to prayer.” Jesus made prayer a priority and so should we. Tomorrow, lets get up a few minutes earlier and spend our first moments with Him and feel the difference it makes as we prepare for work.
1 week of PowerThoughts: Topic Preparing your Head, Heart, Mind, Soul and Mouth for Work
Preparing to go to work these days looks and feels different. What does that look like for you? Is it showering and getting dressed or throwing on a robe? Maybe, for you, it’s having that first shot of caffeine or perhaps its eating that healthy meal or drinking a vitamin filled smoothie. Maybe it involves getting your kids ready or helping your live-in parent get their day started. Whatever your routine, it’s that routine that prepares you for your work. As you prep for your day, where does God fit in? You may look good on the outside, and be well fed, but is your soul well fed and prepared. Psalm 5:3 says “Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on the altar and wait for your fire to fall upon my heart.” If you missed God in your prep this morning, stop right now and invite Him into your day because He loves you and wants you to be prepared for your work.
What do you do when you’re faced with a problem at work? If you’re like me, you probably go about trying to find a solution, usually starting with Google! We met and interviewed a remarkable woman named Susan. She went to God first, not google. She asked HIM for the answer to the problem. And kept praying in earnest expectation until He answered. She said to us “God has the answer to every problem, if we’d just ask Him.” So, how about you? Are you depending on yourself, Google or asking others first? Or are you praying to the one who has ALL the answers? We invite you, the very next time you’re faced with a work challenge, to stop, pray and ask God to give you the answer.
Are you unemployable? The other Day we were talking with Tom and Julie. They own a commercial cleaning franchise. Tom said he is unemployable, so he has to work for himself. Julie said it was true. Some of us are just wired to work in our own business and some of us are built to support those who run their own business. Either way its probably how you were wired. So how about you? Do you celebrate the differences between yourself and the others around you? Some own businesses and some don’t. Doesn’t make it wrong just different. God has designed us all with our unique set of Gifts Talents and Abilities. All to be used by Him for His glory in our Work. Don’t wish you were someone else, celebrate who God made you to be, just like Tom.
Have you ever thought about what you want to be known for? Stephen, an executive we interviewed, says it starts with your personal brand. And your personal brand starts with asking yourself “What do I want to be known for?” So how about you? If your co-workers were asked about you, and who you are, what would they say?
We challenge you today, to take this question “What do I want to be known for?” and pen and paper and sit with it until you have an answer. And then, start intentionally beginning to LIVE IT OUT, consistently where you live, work and play. Ephesians 5:15 exhorts us “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Changing the world. We all have that secret desire, don’t we? Changing the world in Kingdom terms is not measured in the BIG, the BIGGER and the BIGGEST actions in our life and work. It’s the opposite. Changing the world happens, one person, one word and one action at a time. It can be as small as a smile, a kind word, or a self-less act of service. It’s counter-intuitive, just like the work of Christ. So how about you? Would you like to change the world? Would you be willing to start today, changing the corner of the world where God has placed YOU? We invite you to start changing the world RIGHT NOW, with ONE smile, ONE kind word, and ONE kind action.
Life/work balance. How many of us have fallen for that myth and tried to make it happen? Only to fail over and over…a business coach we interviewed has a better concept. How about living an INTEGRATED LIFE? One that brings Christ into each aspect of our life and work, so that we are putting The Lord, not our futile “balance” efforts, first. So how about you? Are you ready to live ONE INTEGRATED LIFE, where you represent the Lord, you listen to the Lord, and let Him show you your priorities every day? Join us in this prayer: Father, today, I submit my day, my plans to you. Please show me YOUR PRIORITIES for my day. In Jesus’s Name, Amen
Heard this talking with a long-time radio guy: The ability to be with people unlike you, creates strength. The more we are with people unlike us, the better we become. What a unique thought to ponder. I wonder how many of us ever considered the affect or even the benefit of mixing with a different crowd of people? Going to lunch with someone at “another level” in the company, or in another department? Going to an event you’ve been invited to but know NO ONE. So how about you? When’s the last time you mixed it up with people or colleagues unlike you? We challenge you today, to go get uncomfortable, and be around a group of people that are unlike you.
Are you stuck in a rut or comfortably nestled in there? Have you been “doing your Christianity the same way, with the same people, in the same ministry, in the same church? In the same type of work? With the same company?” When’s the last time you stopped, poked your head UP OUT OF THE daily rut and asked “Lord, am I doing your will? Am I doing ministry and my work YOUR WAY? Where do YOU want me?” So how about you? When’s the last time you considered re-thinking how your walking out your faith? And who you’re working or ministering with? When’s the last time you got UNCOMFORTABLE, in order to follow The Lord? We invite you TODAY, to ask in prayer “Lord, where do you want me?”
Do you need to be removed? Sometimes, we start something and think we are supposed to stay in it, lead it, and serve it. And, we stay IN IT…sometimes too long. We no longer seek the Lord’s counsel about IF we should still BE where He placed us. Sometimes He just wants us to START something, sometimes He wants us to “help get it off the ground”, NOT stay and lead it or serve it. Sometimes, the BEST thing we can do for the work He asked us to start is to leave. So how about you? Are you staying in some work or ministry too long? When’s the last time you prayed about what God would have you do next? We invite you today, to take your work to the cross and ask “Lord where do you want me? And what would you have me do?”
I try to keep my heart pure and intimate with Christ, so I can be a source of light and encouragement to the people I work with. That’s the faith at work philosophy of a millennial professional we interviewed. What a beautiful philosophy of how we can really prepare and BE Christ at work. So how about you? Is your heart pure and intimate with Christ so YOU can be a source of light and encouragement to YOUR co-workers? How about today, before stepping into work, you prayed this prayer: Father, purify my heart, that may I BE Christ to everyone I work with today. Use me Father, to be a source of light and encouragement to everyone I work with. In Jesus’s name.
Heard this great reminder from a manager of a Christian Retail company “The biggest challenges in my life and work have been when I have forgotten WHO God is, or WHO I AM in Christ.” So how about you? Are you in the midst of a challenge at work? If so, CLING to the words of God. Remind yourself right now who you are IN HIM, not the words of what the world tells you. Here are just a few: I am a child of God, I am Jesus’s friend, I am a NEW creation, I am an heir with Christ, I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God and I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
The other day we were talking with Gilbert and MaryAnn. Both had marketplace Miracles in their lives. Gilbert was invited to a bible study meeting by someone at work. He went, heard the gospel, and responded and became a Christ follower. All his co-worker did was ask him. So often that is all it takes. MaryAnn is a singer and has been a Jesus Follower for decades. She was told that she wasn’t good enough for country music and that she would never have a country music hit. She kept her eyes and her music on Jesus and had a number 1 hit in the last couple of years. So how about you? Is your life defined by the impossible or improbable? IF not, find a way to let God’s power shine through your life today by asking Him to do the impossible in your work.
What’s the fastest way to get what you DON’T want? Tell the Lord “I will NEVER _________________” Yep, just ask any other Christ follower who’s made the mistake of saying something like that. You WILL end up being exactly where YOU said you would NEVER be or DOING something you said you would never do. Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and His ways are NOT our ways. We don’t have the big picture, but God does. So how about YOU? We’re challenging you to remove the word NEVER from your vocabulary and to replace it with scripture, such as Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
The concept of FOLLOWING is all the rage these days. And the concept of following started with Jesus. He was the original “person to follow”. So, who are YOU following? If you’re following someone, you’re listening to them, and they are speaking INTO YOU. And do you know who THEY are following and listening to? So how about YOU? If you’re following someone other than Jesus, as a “Christian”, you may want to take a harder look at who you’re following, who that person is and why. How deep is their character and what is their character based on? Perhaps, you’ll find they’re not following the original. And therefore, neither are you. As our friend Mike Henry says: Be a follower of one.
The art of appreciation. It’s a choice. Chuck Swindoll says “Gratitude is a decision of the will, and if a decision of the will, the choice resides squarely with us. Deciding to be thankful is no easy task. It takes work.” Using appreciation with others, using it as a tool in you work, for most of us, takes practice. It’s a mindset AND a heart-set shift. Most of us WANT and NEED appreciation, regardless of what form it comes in. So how about you? Is the art of appreciation a part of your work style? Your leadership style? We invite you to read one of any number of books, like the 5 Love Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace and start to use appreciation today!
Have you ever considered that God wants to use YOUR business influence, the position He’s put you in, as a “platform” for Him? A stage on which to do your work while others watch and see HOW you work? If you lead just ONE person or have interact with groups of people inside OR outside your business, like vendors or, contractors, then you have a platform. A platform designed by GOD for you, for such a time as this. That you would work for His glory, show His characteristics of caring, courage, diligence, fairness, integrity, respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness. So how about you? When they watch you work do, they see YOU, or do they see Christ?
Have you ever met someone that lives one integrated life? They seem to flow seamlessly between their work and personal life without pause or care. What is this? It’s authenticity. And its attraction is unparalleled. How is it possible? It’s living a life based on Godly values. I’d hazard a guess a person like this lives their values in this order: God, Family, and Service. When we LIVE BY our values, decisions are easier, relationships are easier, and knowing where to invest our time, talent and treasure is easier. Because our values ARE our priority. And our heart lines up with our values, and those line up with our thoughts, our thoughts then direct our words and actions. How are YOU living your values at work today?
Sir Isaac Newton once said: If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants. The modern-day faith at work movement, is owed to a handful of willing and sacrificial giants over the past century, beginning in about 1930: R.G. LeTourneau, Dr. Stanley Tam, Bobby Mitchell and Os Hillman, just to name a few. These men have loved the Lord with their entire being, listened to the Lord, obeyed, and then collaborated with LIKE-MINDED people and sought council with fellow Christians. Their life’s work laid the foundation for our current Faith at Work theology and practices. They sacrificed their lives, for those of us who are enjoying the freedom to stand for Christ in our work. How are YOU standing for Christ in YOUR work today?
Culture. Webster’s defines it in the corporate realm as: the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization. How aware are YOU of YOUR COMPANY’S culture? When’s the last time you really stopped and took a look at it? How does it align with your OWN personal values as a Christ follower? And if you’re a leader, what are you doing to ensure your culture aligns with God’s word and will? Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” What is ONE ACTION you will take THIS WEEK, to align YOUR CULTURE with God’s will?
72% of people who get up and go to work every day think “nobody cares about me”. That’s a WHOLE LOT of hurting people that will never experience God’s love. So, what if we just took God’s love to them? What if there was a chaplain in the workplace that looks just like them, that meets them where they are; to just listen, pray and love them? Workplace chaplains DO exist and are more and more common in today’s workplaces! And THAT is the gospel! Echoing Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9, “When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” So, we challenge you, look into finding a chaplain for your people and transform your workplace into a place where people are loved.
Generosity. Is it an action, a state of the heart, or a mind-set? I heard recently that generosity is BEST when it includes all three and we compare it with IMPACT. Have you ever thought about your giving in this way? That your giving could possibly be leveraged for the highest impact for eternity? What if we all stopped and looked and prayed over the resources we have, and re-committed the 10% tithe of all our income, to MAXIMIZE impact for the Kingdom? Isaiah 32:8 says, “But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.” What will you do today, to put on this new “eternal” mindset of generosity?
Ecclesiastes 4:12 says "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Are you a Christian standing alone in your work or professional life? Are YOU standing alone in OTHER areas of your life? What if you prayed and asked for a group that you could “do life and work” together with? We, as God’s creation, were BUILT for community. IF you have no community, you may be operating out of God’s will or, slogging or surviving, vs. thriving. We challenge you today, to ask a trusted Christian friend, or to go online and search for a Christ-honoring community to be a part of.
It comes as no surprise that less than 20 percent of Americans regularly attend church. But just about all Americans have a job. So, we COULD say that not everybody has a pastor, but just about everybody has a boss. So how will the other 80% of Americans find out about Jesus Christ if they are not stepping into a church? The current population of the US is about 330 million. So that’s 264 Million people that WE can witness to through our daily interactions in our jobs. You are the one that has been chosen. You ARE CHRIST’S AMBASSADOR, for such a time as this. Today, won’t YOU PRAY AND COMMIT to BE Christ-like at work, to everyone you work with?
In the past couple of months, I’ve heard one word repeatedly out of the mouths of followers of Christ who bring their faith into the workplace. INTENTIONALITY. Intentionality is a concept defined as "the power of a mind to stand for things, properties and states of affairs". WAS and IS Jesus intentional? You bet. Should WE be intentional? You bet. HOW DO we shift to this state of intentionality? By starting with the Lord and asking what His intention is for OUR DAY? For OUR WORK? For OUR TEAM and the clients we serve. By the way, the opposite of intentionality is unconsciously or unknowingly. How will YOU shift the mindset of YOUR work from unconscious to INTENTIONAL, for HIS glory?
What do you think would happen to our economy, our country, if all the working Christians decided to “go into ministry”? There would be no “marketplace”, our economy would collapse and we would be thrown into chaos. Could it be that is NOT God’s plan or design for us? What if each of us were CALLED TO MINISTRY IN OUR WORK, right where we’re planted? And that OUR JOB IS our pulpit, our work performance then becomes our Christ-like message and our co-workers our “congregation”. Now THAT’S a powerful realistic vision for building the Kingdom. James 2:14 “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions?” Can that kind of faith save anyone? How will YOU SHIFT your work to be a ministry TODAY?
Humility. The term "humility" comes from the Latin word humilitas, a noun related to the adjective humilis, which can be translated as "humble", but also as "grounded", or "from the earth", since it derives from HUmus (earth). The greatest leaders, including our Lord have it. CS Lewis said: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of YOURSELF LESS.” What if TODAY, you and I, thought of ourselves less at work, and started to think MORE about others. James 4:10 says it best: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. And how about Psalm 149:4 For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. How will YOU work from a place of humility today?
What’s the difference between a career and a vocation? Career is defined as an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life with opportunities for progress. A VOCATION, on the other hand, is defined as a person's main occupation, especially regarded as particularly worthy and requiring great dedication. WOW. That’s a big difference. We heard recently that as a Christ-follower, we should seek to have a VOCATION vs. a career. Because having a vocation keeps us focused on building the Kingdom and living and working FOR the Kingdom of God. Which one do YOU have? What could you do this month, to shift YOUR CAREER into a VOCATION?
We spend more than one-third of our life at work. Yet sadly, Barna research shows nearly two-thirds of churched adults say it has been at least three years or more since they heard church teachings on work and career, and yet, the workplace is where most Americans spend the biggest share of their waking hours. What can YOU do, to introduce your church to the importance of faith and work? Invite your pastor to your office, and ask him or her to pray for your team, your clients and your year for maximum impact for the Kingdom. What day this month will YOU invite YOUR pastor to work? For more recommended resources and ideas, go to our Resources page on iwork4him.com.
Relationship. RelationAL. Is there any better word to describe Christianity that sets our “religion” apart from all others? Our faith is based solely on relationship. And is there any better model for us to follow? In our life, in our work? And the basis of this relationship model is LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. Are you a NOISY GONG in YOUR workplace? We invite you to SHIFT to LOVE in your workplace today.
Money. We all need it to live. Is your view of money healthy and in alignment with biblical principles? Is the WAY you use it serving man, or God and His Kingdom. 1 John 3:17 says If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? How about your income? How about your company’s revenue? Are you tithing from your corporate revenue stream? Have you ever considered it? We challenge you today, to pray about your personal and corporate tithing. And ask God HOW YOU should be using the income He’s blessed YOU WITH to serve your fellow man, God and His Kingdom.
There is a word that defines the bible, defines Christ, and defines leadership. That word is LOVE. But isn’t love seemingly contrary to business and how it operates? Or IS IT? Did you ever have a bad boss? What quality of work did you do for them? Did you ever have a great boss? One that got the absolute best work from you? What was the difference in those two bosses? I’ll bet it was LOVE. Love that respects, listens, appreciates and builds up. 1 John 3:11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Said another way, control disconnects. Love connects. This connection (which is actually LOVE) translates to the bottom line. We invite you to pick ONE DAY AT WORK THIS WEEK, and TRY IT.
“Why is it important for all Christians in every area of culture to rise up in their calling? Because biblical truth is the highest love for human beings.” That’s a quote from Kelly Monroe Kullberg, Founder of the Harvard Veritas Forum. So, we’re wondering…Are you living YOUR calling where you’re working? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate YOUR WORK in terms of “a calling”? Are you enabling others in YOUR place of work, to RISE UP in THEIR calling? There’s nothing so miserable than when we feel trapped in our job, due to perceived circumstances. Or a job that doesn’t utilize our God-given gifts and talents. If you scored less than a 7, we invite you to go do some work on “what your calling is”. And start working it!
There is a truth about work that has been lost to much of our culture since the creation of the world. It is that GOD CREATED WORK. He created work for us, to do together and for HIS glory. Genesis 2: 19 So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. Work is NOT a PUNISHMENT, it’s a GIFT. And God wants to JOIN US in it. Every day. He DELIGHTS in it. He is our team-mate, just as He was with Adam. He brought the animals TO Adam to name. So how about YOU? Won’t you invite God to work WITH YOU today? WHEREVER He has place you?
Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.
What if our WORK WAS our WORSHIP? The Hebrew word Avodah means work, worship, and service, altogether! Work: being productive, worship: praising and glorifying God and service: a form of service to the world and our community. We are MEANT to be of service, to be PARTNERS with God in the ongoing creation of the world. The various usages of this Hebrew word that is first found in Genesis 2:15 shows us it was God’s ORIGINAL DESIGN and DESIRE that our work and our worship would be a SEAMLESS WAY of living, as it was thousands of years ago. What about YOU? Are you making the work of YOUR hands every day AVODAH? You’re invited today to start worshiping God with your work.
How do you make a decision when faced with a MAJOR WORK LIFE CHANGE? Do you do it alone? Do you ask a bunch of friends? Do you list out the pros and cons? Is there a biblical model for seeking and knowing God’s will? There is. Here’s the way a CEO and his wife used to decide whether to leave their business OR go into ministry in another state. They prayed together on their knees and fasted over several months. They sought no other council, only God’s. They read the bible and then paid attention to God’s answers and direction. They received many confirmations and affirmations through this process, that led them to HIS answer. This is a great example of GOD-LED, GOD-FEARING decision making. How could you use THIS decision making model in a decision YOU need to make today?
When’s the last time you were UNCOMFORTABLE, OR PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE in your work? Discomfort = growth, and comfort = stagnation. The people doing the most growing are the ones that submit to spiritual and personal growth, like having a group of fellow Christ followers, who challenge them and hold them accountable, in their professional life, their leadership and business. You know what they say, if you’re not growing, you’re dying. The wisdom of Proverbs 27:17 says As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. John Maxwell said it best: If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone. What will YOU do this week, in your professional life, to be challenged and GROW?
After years of meeting with and interviewing people from all types of work and all organizational levels, there is one major truth that keeps bubbling up to the surface. The investment IN PEOPLE, above all else, pays not only Kingdom dividends, but business dividends as well. This is what Christ did, and it is the ultimate example of Christ’s holy character: Matthew 20:28 says “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” When we invest in our employees, the next generation or future leaders in our workplace, we are giving away our life as a true Christ follower. What is ONE commitment you will make today, to start investing in the life of another in YOUR workplace?
Per a 2015 Barna Group study, only 20 percent of Christian adults are involved in some sort of discipleship activity. And, less than one-quarter of Christian adults (23%) are currently being discipled by someone one-on-one.
Discipleship in the context of work is known as “mentorship”. How about YOU? Are you allowing someone to mentor you as a Christ follower in your work? And if you are a “seasoned” professional, Are YOU making it a priority to intentionally mentor a next generation co-worker? We encourage you to pray about mentorship this week and ask the Lord “Who would you like me to mentor Lord?” and “Would you provide a God-honoring mentor for me?”
I think it’s safe to say that the media focuses on, and provides negative news these days. Should we just take it, and keep feeding ourselves this negativity? How does this affect your work? Do you take it with you? What are you chatting with your co-workers about? And are you feeding the beast of “all that’s wrong with world”? Or are you speaking life at work. We can, and should consciously choose what we WILL and WILL NOT listen to. Philippians 4:8 exhorts us: And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. We invite you today, to observe WHAT you speak at work, and shift it to glorifying God.
I heard a clever quip the other day about trying to take control from God’s hands. God is writing the story of your life: so STOP TRYING TO GRAB THE PEN FROM HIS HAND! This applies to our work as well. Sometimes we think we are living God’s plan for us in our work, when we are actually just “taking Jesus with us”. And only praying to Him to ask for blessings on what we are doing at work. How can we know when we’ve succeeded in FOLLOWING Christ in our work? By changing our mindset to one of FOLLOWING, vs. LEADING. Why not start your work day with a prayer like this: Father, today, I commit my hands to YOUR work. As you lead me, may YOUR will be done and may YOU be glorified in all I do. Amen.
Being intentional seems to be a consistent hallmark of followers of Christ. Because Christ is our best example of intentionality. Intentionality is defined as being deliberate or purposeful. How about you? How are you working with intentionality today? In the office, with your co-workers, intentionally representing Christ and showing His love and patience to everyone you come in contact with? Most days we may just be unconsciously going through our work day. We invite you to begin today by going before the father and asking Him: "Here's all I have, what do YOU want me to do with it today? What is YOUR priority today, Lord?" And then living that out as we step into our work, and every other place our feet may wander.
Have you ever wondered what the benefits would be, if you turned your company over to God? Would the profits fly out the window and productivity take a nose-dive? We’ve polled Christ-following employers and their employees and here’s what THEY say the benefits are: Increasingly happier and more stress free employees (which leads to increasing productivity, less absenteeism and much higher retention rates)… All of which make for a great business! WOW! What are YOU waiting for? No excuses! We challenge you today, to start making a list of what you would need to do, to turn your company over to God, and then do ONE of those items this week!
Have you ever experienced a major upheaval in your business or work life? Something that looked like it was taking you in the opposite direction of where you were headed? Or was (you thought) the next logical step? It’s highly possible that God is using this to move you to exactly where HE wants you to be. For HIS work, in HIS time, for THIS season. Let Romans 8:28 encourage you today, and we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. God is orchestrating it all, for His glory. This week, as you experience upheaval in your work life, why not turn to Romans 8:28? And even place a copy of it on your desk?
What if today, we committed to operate our businesses from a philosophy of “It’s not about WHAT we sell or HOW MUCH we sell, it’s about the LIVES we TOUCH and CHANGE.” That’s “God’s way of doing business”. And it’s the exact OPPOSITE of everything we have been taught as professional business people. But isn’t that always God’s way? This counter-cultural philosophy is rooted in Matthew 6:33: But seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. What is the Lord asking YOU TO DO as a next step in seeking first HIS Kingdom in YOUR workplace?
You know, as Martha and I have met, and interviewed hundreds of Christian business leaders over the past eight years, the best one sentence that sums up “faith at work”, comes from the team at Kingdom at Work. It’s this: ”When a kingdom leader engages in a kingdom style, then a kingdom culture within the company emerges and the kingdom of God is advanced.” God’s process of transformation starts with one person, with one person’s faith and obedience. That one person is YOU. And in God’s economy, He will take your one act of faith and obedience and multiply for the Kingdom. What one act of faith at work will YOU do today?
As a business leader, if you turned your business over to God, what would that look like? What would be the result? Hundreds of business owners we’ve interviewed over the past eight years have done it. They say the result is a DEEP sense of peace vs. stress, pressure and tension. And a new, deepening understanding of their role as a STEWARD of God’s business, vs. “being the OWNER of it”. What would it take for YOU to be ready to turn YOUR organization over to the Lord’s ownership today? We invite you to place Christ in your org. chart as CEO, and commit right now, to shift your mindset from ”OWNER to STEWARD”.
Every one of us in ministry. What? No, you say, I’m a CPA, I’m an engineer, I manage people at a construction company. Yes, and you are called to be an Ambassador for Christ there. The Apostle Paul agrees, as he wrote to the Ephesians, in Chapter 6 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should. If Paul can be an ambassador in chains in prison, then we (without chains) can too….wherever He placed us. And God placed YOU in YOUR SPECIFIC WORKPLACE for a reason. For HIS REASONS, not our own.
I learned something new talking with a Physical Fitness company owner in Nashville. The only gift God has given us that we can control 100% is our body. What we eat, how we take care of it, what we feed it, if we are exercising it. Reminds me of Luke 11:36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you. Never thought of that. That we have an obligation to glorify God with our body, and that body is the vehicle that either enables us to work with excellence or not. What will YOU do today, ensure your body is primed to work in excellence unto the Lord?
If you are like me you jump up out of bed, check for emergency text messages, check the weather, rush through your morning devotional time so you can get on to the real work of the day. Just recently Martha and I were reading a book by Kim Avery “The Prayer Powered Entrepreneur” and she suggests a different approach. Kim suggests that when we have our morning quiet time, be quiet and ask our Lord what His priorities are for us today. Instead of letting distractions rule our day, ask the Lord to prioritize our day so His will is done. I’m going to try this from now on, and maybe you would like to do the same. Lord, what is at the top of your priority list for today? I pray that I can do this the rest of my life, what about you?
The wonder-woman complex. It’s an unrealistic belief that we as women need to be everything to everybody. Where did that come from? And what’s it doing to us? What if instead of trying to BE wonder-woman, we commit to be who God created us to be. .... To get to know our spiritual gifts, talents, strengths, and then went in search of God’s heart, to find our true calling? .... What if every woman of faith lived and worked their calling? How much different would our world, our nation, our state, our city, our community, our home, our workplace be? So how about you? Are you tired of being something other than what God created you to be? Visit us online to find resources to change your wonder-woman complex into your true calling.
Darren Shearer, founder of High Bridge Media said recently: A disciple making company disciples the people in it, the industry it’s in, and even the community around it. WOW, now that is a tall order. It sounds IMPOSSIBLE. But God….If God is truly behind your company, if He is IN your company, than that statement is supernaturally possible. So how about you? Is your company making disciples of the people in it? Is it making disciples in your industry? Is it making disciples in the community in which your company lives? .... Jesus said to his disciples “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” We challenge you today, to RE-THINK , and RE-COMMIT your company, and it’s reason for existence, to glorify God in making disciples with every person it touches.
Are you dreading Monday? Do you start to lose your joy come Sunday evening? .... What if instead of dreading Monday, you LOOKED FORWARD TO IT? What if instead of moaning about Monday, you prayed away your dread, and replaced it with thanks, and joy and intention? .... To pray that come Monday morning, you would FEEL GOD in your work, as you work. That your work would glorify God, that you would be the best Ambassador for God your workplace has ever seen? .... So how about you? Are you ready to be used by God in your work? To see Monday as a tremendous opportunity, to enjoy your work and to glorify God, and maybe even give your co-workers a glimpse of our Heavenly Father.
When’s the last time you really saw your co-workers? .... Saw them as real three-dimensional people? Not just a co-worker, workplace mate or just an employee? When’s the last time you remembered, that they’re a son or daughter of God? .... That they were created, like you, by God, for a purpose. That they are worthy. That they have a life, and that life is just as important as yours. That they’re on a journey, their own journey, just like we all are. .... So how about you? We invite you today, to put on God’s view of each person you work with, and to see Christ in each of them. And then watch the supernatural transform your work relationships and your workplace.
For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. So how about you? Are you resting from your work? Are you taking a day off every week and keeping it holy? Are you honoring God with your business and keeping the Sabbath, not only for yourself, but for your employees and customers? Two of the giants in retail, Hobby Lobby and Chick-Fil-A are closed on Sunday, and their profits are up! The world says “you’re crazy to close on Sunday”, but God says differently. If you’re working on Sunday, or asking your employees to, we challenge you to go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him “How can I honor you by keeping the Sabbath holy?”
Are you feeling as though you’re just going to work on auto-pilot? That you can do your work now, with your eyes closed, with one arm tied behind your back? When’s the last time you asked God to stretch YOU, in your work? Comfort is not a place Christ-followers should be camping out in. .... So how about you? Are you brave enough, to ask “Lord, will you stretch me today? Will you put me to better use, in the place where you would have me be? Will you bless me today with the work you have chosen for me, at this time in my life? .... Hebrews 11:6: And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Are you a leader in your organization? If so, what are you doing to care for your team members? Your employees? Are you ignoring the big stresses in their lives? If you are, it could be costing you in a big way. For example: The divorce of a $60,000 a year employee will cost $86,000 in lost productivity. There are legal, low cost remedies to helping your employees get the help they need to calm the sometimes raging seas of their lives. So how about YOU? Are you turning a blind eye to the pain in your workplace? Wake up! Look and listen, and seek to put benefits and programs in place that make employees lives easier. And commit today, to start being the good shepherd. The one who sacrifices his life for the sheep. For more about iWork4Him and our vision to transform the workplace of every Christian into a mission field, go to iWork4Him.com That’s iWork the number 4 Him dot com**
At work, sometimes we walk away from a meeting or conversation and think to ourselves “Boy, that person sure needs some fixing.” But, in reality, if we took a moment, and thought more carefully about it, maybe even looked a little deeper, we may just see what needs to be fixed is US, not them. Leaders know this. They know that the organization is a reflection of WHO they are and WHO they are being. A leader knows that before their “team needs fixing”, THEY need fixing first. So how about YOU? Are you a leader that leads knowing they need to fix themselves first? Or are you the leader that looks at all the fixing everyone else needs to do? We challenge you today, if you have a thought about someone else, to first look at yourself, and see what needs to change.
Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.
Some things in life are more challenging than others. Like finances. And even more challenging: How do we glorify God with our finances? If you think you’ve mastered your finances, there’s a next step, a better way to glorify God with them. To transform the money we make from working for the Lord, and seeing that it is invested in Kingdom building. It’s called Biblically Responsible Investing and it’s transforming the way Christians look at the money they invest, and where they invest it. So how about you and your finances? .... Are you willing to look at every dollar and steward it even more for God’s Kingdom? If you are, we invite you to pray about it, and go to our website for next steps on how to transform your finances into the ultimate Kingdom resource.
I wonder how much of our life is lived from a place of “taking”. Not consciously, but just getting up and living our life, as we go to work and just delve in. I’ve found my unconscious self is pretty selfish. If I don’t pray first, submit in obedience, my day, my hands, my mouth, eyes and ears, to serve all those I come in contact with, I’ll just spend all day at work taking what I need and want. .... So how about you? Are you living your life and work day taking? .... We challenge you today, to stop unconsciously working, and living as a taker. But to set up your day from a place of “How can I be a giver today? How can I contribute to everyone I come in contact with?”
Is God building another testimony for you, through your workplace? Often, hard times come in our work, and we’re called to respond as a Christ-follower. Not react with fear, self-pity, anger, resentment or push-back. But with a keen sense and trust that God is sovereign in our work. That He may have brought something to an end, for His Glory, not our punishment. So how about YOU? .... Are YOU going through a hard time at work? And if you are, how are you responding? We recommend first taking it to prayer, and asking the Lord what He wants you to know about the situation, how you can grow from it, and what does he want you to do next, for His glory? Then take some time and pray for those you work alongside for the tough time they are going through too
How do you measure your work success? We’re referring to eternal success in your work. One way is to ask yourself: Is my workplace better off because of having me work there? Have I changed it for the better? Would my co-workers say that I am a blessing to work with? A roofing business owner in Florida told us he takes an inventory every year, looks back at the year to see what benefit or good he has added: to his customers, his employees, his community and his family. So how about you? WE invite YOU to incorporate this “taking inventory” process by adding it onto your calendar once a month. David Jeremiah said, “If we don’t take inventory every once in a while, and give thanks to God for the great things He has done for us, we get totally out of perspective.” Make sure you take time to ask the question of yourself today “IS my workplace blessed because I work there “
Jon Dengler, a ministering bicycle business owner in Tampa, said this about his business and its ministry: By doing our work, we’re rehearsing a reality that we’re dreaming of. We’re trying to usher in the coming Kingdom. Phenomenal. He is using all of his gifts… daily… and working as if his current work is representing the Kingdom. He is re-creating the Kingdom today, in his city, in all he does as he works on bikes. As he teaches others to fix bikes. As he gives them away. As he develops relationship with each person he comes in contact with. All those things john does restores a piece of the Kingdom on earth. So how about YOU? Are you ushering in the coming Kingdom with your work? With every person you meet? We invite you tomorrow morning, to pray and commit that your work would be ushering in the coming Kingdom
Do you want God to unlock His purpose for you in your work? As you execute the first 4 steps of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant: Praying for, serving, befriending, and praying with others, remember your work behavior is important. The final step of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is to be someone of excellence in your work. Be the best and brightest example of a worker in your workplace position. Excellence makes your behavior believable and your faith real. Excellence gives you a platform for sharing your faith. As a Jesus Follower, everything about us should be changing, and everyone around you should be benefiting from your faith, whether they believe in Jesus yet, or not. Colossians 3:23 says, “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Does God care for the people you work with? Of course, He does. In step 4 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, look for opportunities to pray with others. When you continually work alongside the same people, you know their typical manners and facial expressions. When you notice someone having an off day, ask them, “How are you doing?” when they say “I’m Fine,” keep asking, “ No really, how are you doing? I noticed you looked a little down today” then wait and be QUIET. When they have shared what is on their heart, ask, “Can I pray with you about that, right now?” I have never had someone say “No” when I followed these steps. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” When you pray, you are opening the door for them to meet your savior.
Do you want to see your workplace as a mission field? In step 3 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, we encourage you to befriend your co-workers or employees outside of the office. Why? Our work relationships are work focused and can be shallow. When you build friendships on your own turf, outside of work, real relationships develop. When you let someone into your world, it breaks down walls. Breaking down walls builds trust. Eventually, they will trust you when you share your Jesus story, the work He has done in your life. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble”….Be a real friend to someone today.
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? Step two of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant helps transform your workplace mindset into a mission-focused workplace ministry mindset. Start looking for ways to serve your co-workers, bosses, and/or employees outside your job requirements. Why? Anyone can do a job that meets expectations, but how many people help others meet or exceed expectations? When you go out of the way to help others at work with a stressful project or a mundane responsibility, you open up a door of ministry opportunity. Galatians 5:13-14 says For you have been called to live in freedom… use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? I thought so. Step one of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is the most powerful step you can take at work to transform your workplace and your heart. Prayer - Start praying for those you work alongside every day. Pray for your co-workers, bosses, and employees by name. You can even pray for their spouses and kids. After you have done this for a few months, have a conversation like this “Hey, I have been praying for you, is there anything I can pray about specifically?” 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them. “Start Praying today and watch the transformation begin.
Kathy Branzell, President of the National Day of Prayer says: there’s the idea that when I work, I work, but when I pray, God works. So how about YOU? Are you working, when you should be praying? Are you starting work first, before you pray? Are you taking God’s place for the results by over-working? There’s a beautiful balance we can obtain between work and prayer. We can choose to pray first, then work. And then pray, staying in constant contact with the Lord to guide and direct our work, vs. all that extra-efforting stuff. Psalm 127 says: It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” We challenge you today, to incorporate prayer INTO your work, and trust God for the results and experience a little of His rest
Are there ROCKS in YOUR schedule? ROCKS are IMMOVABLE commitments. Those priorities that are unchangeable. As a working Christ-follower, what are some of YOUR ROCKS? Here are some of mine: Time with the Lord. Family commitments. And anything I have given my word to, to be there. Is WORK one of YOUR ROCKS? If it is, maybe it’s time to look at that rock, and decrease its size, or the amount of space it’s taking on your calendar. Don’t’ let Luke 20:18 define how you live and manage your life. “Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.” So how about YOU? Is work a stone YOU’RE stumbling over? How about crushing that rock and use it to make a path to more time with family?**
We all have a calling, have you heard this before? Some of us get called to the pulpit and some to the foreign mission field but most of us get called to our cubicles, construction sites, care facilities or whatever your job site may be. Your Workplace, It’s your mission field and in that mission field, you and me, we may be the only Jesus our co-workers, employees and bosses may ever meet. That Job that you hold and the work that you do, and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance. The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance. So, as you contemplate the value of your work today, realize this…You don’t need to quit your job in order to go into fulltime ministry. You are already in fulltime ministry, right there where you work.
Had a chance to interview Dr. Dan Middlebrooks, a chaplain to first responders. He shared this: What you hold onto is either going to help you or harm you. It’s either going to be a tombstone or a steppingstone, the choice is yours. Wow. .... And that got me thinking. Perhaps I’m holding onto something, something that is affecting my work. Something that is affecting my work relationships. Or my work environment. Ecclesiastes 3:6 exhorts us: a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away…
So how about you? what are you hanging on to? Are you willing to take that something you’re hanging on to, to the foot of the cross…right now? Pray that the Lord would show you how to take what your holding and make it a steppingstone
Decision making. We do it hundreds of times a day. What if, as Dr. Jim Harris advises us, we drop our decision making 18 inches from our head, down to our spirit? .... What if, instead of thinking about the decision, we checked in with the Holy Spirit and asked what He wants us to do? In that exact moment? .... Being spirit-led involves being connected to the Holy Spirit, and seeking His answer first, as our chief advisor. .... Our head is subject to our spirit. NOT the other way around. Romans 8:14 says For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So how about you? Are you working as a child of God? With the wisdom and power and direction of the Holy Spirit? We challenge you to start and live your workday tomorrow, being LED all day in every way by the Holy Spirit.
As Christians everything about us should be changing. When we were born again, it wasn’t just a one-time event. We are to be changing daily…remember the word “sanctified”? We are being “set apart” to be dedicated to God’s use. And to that end, we’re to be changing and growing more Christ-like every day, to be conformed to His image. So how about you? Would those you work with say you’re a better co-worker today than you were 6 months ago? Would your manager say you’re a better team member today than you were last month? Would your CEO say you’re a better executive this year than you were last year? 2 Timothy reminds us: If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. We challenge you to pray to be conformed and changed today so that someone may notice and ask about it tomorrow
Rebekah King, founder and director of Hope Works, a southside Chicago non-profit, said: To be invested in a community is to know its people and to know their needs. And that got me thinking, to grow my “community” which is my team, within my company, does that same idea apply? Do I need to know my people and know their needs to invest in them? Absolutely - YES! So how about YOU? How well do YOU know YOUR team members? How well do you know THEIR needs? How much are YOU invested in YOUR work community? Mother Teresa said: “Prayer in action is love, and love in action is service. Try to give unconditionally whatever a person needs in the moment. The point is to do something, however small, and show you care through your actions by giving your time.” Take some time today and figure out the best way to invest in your community.
Identity. It’s the fact of being who or what a person is. As Christ followers, our identity is clear: We are sons and daughters of God, and ambassadors of Christ. The question is, are you working from that identity? .... How do you do that exactly? .... There are many books and courses today, that can lead you through the process of knowing exactly HOW God wired you, your giftings, your talents, and strengths, and then guiding you through the process of asking God to show you the calling He has designed for YOU. Tim Keller says: The Bible says that our real problem is that every one of us is building our identity on something besides Jesus. So how about you? What are you building YOUR identity on? And what identity are you working FROM? You can check out Identity and Destiny dot com to find out more about who God designed you to be and what He designed you to be doing
Can a company thrive by saying NO? .... YES! John DeAngelis, CEO of a Florida construction company says: Sometimes, we found the most profitable job is the one we DON’T do. Here’s what he means. They have seven criteria for taking on a new project. If it doesn’t meet all the criteria, they don’t take it on. It’s as simple as that. The criteria are based on their values, employee life balance, and honoring God. So how about you? Do YOU take on projects that are out of alignment with your company’s values or culture? Do you say yes to every project? Proverbs 16:9 advises: We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. We challenge YOU TODAY, to define God-honoring criteria to help you to say YES to the right projects and NO to the wrong ones. Then see how this move impacts your profitability
Ahhh rebellion. Its’ the sickness of youth but perhaps, there’s still some rebellion in our hearts as adults. Is there some ONE or some THING that you’re rebelling against at work?...You may be doing it unknowingly… “under the table”…undermining, backbiting, using sarcasm or pushing against another’s ideas or leadership in subtle ways. Romans 13:1 and 2 is clear: Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. So how about you? Won’t you commit to glorify God, by submitting to YOUR authorities at work?
After a conversation with Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, of Love & Respect, I’m rethinking the way I go about being a peace-keeper. Here’s what he said: Sometimes, as peace keepers we hedge on the truth, or just lie, to keep the peace. .... So let’s apply that to our workplace. Are you unknowingly hedging on speaking the truth in work situations, to keep the peace? How can you know? You’ll probably have a niggling in your spirit, an unsettledness. So what can we do to know when to speak the truth: We can check in with the Holy Spirit in the moment, before conversing, and pray for wisdom for how and when to speak. Keeping the peace may not be what best serves the organization. But speaking the truth is. So how about you?
Mutual respect. It’s when two people show respect for each other. .... Respect is defined as the process of honoring someone by exhibiting care, concern, or consideration for their needs or feelings. This should be a HALLMARK of us as Christ followers. And even more apparent at work, with our colleagues. To respect them as co-laborers AND as fellow sons and daughters of God. .... Author Dina Dwyer-Owens says it’s been her experience that When we hold ourselves accountable and show mutual respect to others, it’s amazing the respect that comes back. So how about you? Are you living mutual respect in your work today?
One day Christ will come back and restore ALL things. For now, Dr. Amy Sherman tells us: A successful marriage of faith and vocation has the capacity to bring a foretaste of God's Kingdom to earth. .... She says that our WORK is INSTRUMENTAL to God’s mission in the world, and it’s not an accident. .... Each of us, doing our thing – our work in our workplace, with our unique giftings. And if we are doing it for God’s glory, with joy and peace and excellence, it brings a taste of heaven into our workplace. .... That’s God’s design and plan for our work. .... So how about you? Are you bringing a Kingdom foretaste into your work and workplace every day?
Rick Betenbough says this of his company Betenbough Homes: Our business exists to reveal God and His Kingdom to everyone who comes near. .... .... What a perfect summation of what the faith and work movement is all about. So how about YOU? Can you say this as the leader in your workplace? That you exist to reveal God and His Kingdom to everyone who comes near? Can you say that about your team at work? That your team exists to reveal God and His Kingdom to everyone who comes near to me? .... Betenbough says it took TEN YEARS for God to transform them, their leadership and board to rebuild their business into a KINGDOM business. What will you do today, to start on the journey to transform YOUR ORGANIZATION?
As we start our work week, let’s remind ourselves of our calling to our work and God’s plan for our work. Declare this now as you head to work today, walk to your office, or sit down to do your devotions. … “My workplace is my mission field, a place of full-time ministry… My workplace ministry manual is my Bible. …My calling to my workplace is not a second-class calling…. I dedicate my workplace as a mission field for God, and because of Jesus in my life, I am committed to celebrating the work that God gave me….AMEN”
Do you want God to unlock His purpose for you in your work? As you execute the first 4 steps of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant: Praying for, serving, befriending, and praying with others, remember your work behavior is important. The final step of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is to be someone of excellence in your work. Be the best and brightest example of a worker in your workplace position. Excellence makes your behavior believable and your faith real. Excellence gives you a platform for sharing your faith. As a Jesus Follower, everything about us should be changing, and everyone around you should be benefiting from your faith, whether they believe in Jesus yet, or not. Colossians 3:23 says, “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Does God care for the people you work with? Of course, He does. In step 4 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, look for opportunities to pray with others. When you continually work alongside the same people, you know their typical manners and facial expressions. When you notice someone having an off day, ask them, “How are you doing?” when they say “I’m Fine,” keep asking, “ No really, how are you doing? I noticed you looked a little down today” then wait and be QUIET. When they have shared what is on their heart, ask, “Can I pray with you about that, right now?” I have never had someone say “No” when I followed these steps. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” When you pray, you are opening the door for them to meet your savior.
Do you want to see your workplace as a mission field? In step 3 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, we encourage you to befriend your co-workers or employees outside of the office. Why? Our work relationships are work focused and can be shallow. When you build friendships on your own turf, outside of work, real relationships develop. When you let someone into your world, it breaks down walls. Breaking down walls builds trust. Eventually, they will trust you when you share your Jesus story, the work He has done in your life. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble”….Be a real friend to someone today.
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? Step two of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant helps transform your workplace mindset into a mission-focused workplace ministry mindset. Start looking for ways to serve your co-workers, bosses, and/or employees outside your job requirements. Why? Anyone can do a job that meets expectations, but how many people help others meet or exceed expectations? When you go out of the way to help others at work with a stressful project or a mundane responsibility, you open up a door of ministry opportunity. Galatians 5:13-14 says For you have been called to live in freedom… use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? I thought so. Step one of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is the most powerful step you can take at work to transform your workplace and your heart. Prayer - Start praying for those you work alongside every day. Pray for your co-workers, bosses, and employees by name. You can even pray for their spouses and kids. After you have done this for a few months, have a conversation like this “Hey, I have been praying for you, is there anything I can pray about specifically?” 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them”. Start Praying today and watch the transformation begin.
There’s a war going on. Carmen LaBerge recently said: The current culture war is actually being waged in all of our hearts and minds. Until all of us Christ followers allow our hearts and minds to be transformed, we cannot represent Christ in today’s culture. That means in all conversations, all day long at work, we’re to bring Christ, as His ambassador, into our daily interactions. So how about you? .... Are you bringing a transformed heart and mind into YOUR work every day? Is the source of the words coming out of your mouth a renewed heart? Bringing God’s perspective to ALL conversations, whatever the topic? Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think
Heard this the other day: The principles never change, but the methods always do. What a solid management philosophy this makes for us Christ followers. Principles are defined as: fundamental truths that serve as the foundation for a system of beliefs. Our biblical core beliefs are the basis of who we are and what we do. And that applies to how we work, lead and manage. But the methods, those change, based on the circumstances, and the people involved. So we need to be flexible, not rigid. Deeply rooted, but like the branches of a tree, sway with the wind. So how about you? Are your principles well rooted but flexible enough for change?
Is God leading your work? How do you get the point where you can say YES, He is. Here’re a couple of ideas to get you started. First, read a book or listen to faith at work podcasts that introduce you to the concept of working for the Lord. Second, pray and ask God to show you how and where He is at work in your work today. Three, take a faith at work devotional and put it on your desk. Before you turn on your PC, read the devotional and pray that God lead you in your work. This might take some consistent practice, like changing a habit, to shift your mindset. So how about you? Colossians 3:23 is a GREAT verse to put on your desk, so it reminds you WHO you work for: 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people
If you are a local church pastor then you have a pretty tough work environment. You work all week but you only hear from your boss on Sunday. So how do you deal with the stress of your work? I think we all have stress but very few jobs have the stress of the pastor in the pulpit with the 400 of us bosses in the pews every Sunday. I think we deal with the stress, the way we deal with everything else having to do with work. We come to the realization that we work for God ultimately and He is the boss we are trying to impress. IF that is our focus, then our work is bound to be excellent. In case you haven’t done this lately, let your pastor know how much you appreciate them this week. How about you? does your work reflect the fact that your ultimate boss is God?
Maybe, like me, you’re a DO-ER. Another self-confessed DO-ER author Alan Fadling had this to say about his previous MIS-BELIEF: I used to believe that: If I AM what I DO, then if I DO MORE, than I AM MORE. That shines a HUGE light on a widely-held MIS-belief. That is NOT who we are as a Christ follower. Our identity comes from the Lord, not from what we do. Thinking that way is known as a “works mentality”. Paul writes about it in Ephesians: 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. .... How about YOU? Are you working with Jesus, and resting in Him as the source for your** identity and work?
What if you could experience God in your work? We mean, WHILE you do your work. In speaking with pastor and author John Van Sloten the other day, he said when we feel delight in doing our job in the moment, that IS God. When we are creating, doing work that brings us joy with our unique giftedness, we are experiencing God. How about you? What if you prayed today, and asked God to attune you to Him in your work? To pray that you would experience Him and His delight as you ENJOY YOUR work, in doing it with excellence. Isn’t this what we were created for? .... The Westminster Catechism says it best: Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever
In Christianity, disciple means a dedicated follower of Jesus. ... A disciple in the ancient biblical world actively imitated both the life and teaching of the master. So how about you? Are you ACTIVELY imitating the LIFE and the TEACHING of Christ? Have you been living this out in one area of your life and not the others? .... What about your workplace? Have you ever considered your workplace can be where you actively not only imitate but live out the teachings of our master? .... Have you ever prayed for God to use you to make disciples in YOUR Workplace? .... Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Learned something new just recently from a friend who runs an organization in Clearwater, Florida. They practice “redemptive hiring.” It’s the practice of hiring someone, when God points them out and moves them to, for the purpose of mentoring them, and bringing them closer to God. Then God does the redeeming work. How COOL IS THAT? .... Using your business to change someone’s life. To minister to people through hiring. .... That’s why they call their business a BIZNISTRY (a business as ministry). A Term coined by At Work On Purpose. .... So how about you? .... Are YOU open to listening to God’s voice in your work and hiring practices? For Him to use YOU, to change people’s lives?
The peace that is beyond all understanding. Do you have it? Is it flowing out of you? .... Do you look different? .... Act differently? .... Think differently than the others around you? .... A Christ-follower is the one at work people wonder about. They wonder HOW can they be so calm? And they are attracted to this person because of it. Why? Because they exude an inexplicable peace. So how about you? Are you the peaceful person in YOUR workplace? .... And if not, why not? .... Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
Are you an underground evangelist? Our friends at Helping Hands Charitable are. This is how they see it: It’s not what we speak, it’s what we do**. If you work in a company that does not allow or recognize Christianity, there IS something you can do. You can bring Christ into your workplace in a winsome and engaging way. HOW? By how you ACT. Our actions speak louder than our words anyway, so why not be intentional with WHO we’re being at work? .... So how about YOU? .... If your co-workers were asked, would that say they KNOW YOU are a Christian? Not because YOU told them, but because it’s so apparent by your actions?
Conflict. It’s a reality. It’s not a question of IF, it’s a question of WHEN. Conflict doesn’t have to be bad. It actually has some positive things going for it: it causes us to grow, to find common ground, to open up dialogue, to find a win-win solution, and stretches us and our creativity, to think outside the box. .... So how about you? How well versed are YOU in conflict resolution? .... How about BIBLICAL conflict resolution? .... When’s the last time you learned a new way to deal with conflict? .... We challenge YOU today, to go learn a new trick or two, to master conflict.
Under pressure, we either run to God, or away from God. James Barnett, President of Dayspring shared that thought with us one day. So how about you? How are you handling pressure and stress today? .... Are you taking it to the Lord in prayer? .... For His direction? .... For His response on how YOU should respond? .... Do you need the words? .... The courage? .... The perseverance? .... The wisdom? .... The direction? .... Rick Warren said: God changes caterpillars into butterflies, sand into pearls and coal into diamonds using time and pressure. He's working on you, too.
There’s a burden we all share as working Christians: The Poor. We, the body of Christ, are the answer. It takes 5-7 YEARS to move a person from a poverty mentality to self-sufficiency. It takes our hands and feet. It takes a life on life commitment. Poverty will NOT be solved by throwing money at it. But you CAN fund the hands and feet who are called to work with the poor day to day. With your paycheck. Your company’s revenue stream. With the funds God has entrusted to you. Proverbs 19:17 says If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you! How will you and your workplace help the poor in your community today? So how about you?
Jon Evans, President & CEO, eCom Systems out of Sarasota, Florida said in an interview the other day: When we come to Christ, we get all of Him, but does He get all of us? That’s the real question. .... What a soul-shaking question. Did Christ get ALL of YOU in your conversion? Are you holding some part of your life, like your work, away from Him? Keeping it from His influence? From His authority? From His transformation, to be conformed in His image? Jeremiah 23:24 Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord. So how about you? So we’re asking you today: What part of your life, your self, your work are YOU holding back, or hiding from God?
As we start our work week, let’s remind ourselves of our calling to our work and God’s plan for our work. Declare this now as you head to work today, walk to your office, or sit down to do your devotions. … “My workplace is my mission field, a place of full-time ministry… My workplace ministry manual is my Bible. …My calling to my workplace is not a second-class calling…. I dedicate my workplace as a mission field for God, and because of Jesus in my life, I am committed to celebrating the work that God gave me….AMEN”
Many of us think we should be shoring up our weaknesses. Thinking what we’re bad at has to be fixed. The better approach is to know our strengths, what we’re best at, and leverage those. And to remember the SOURCE of our strength. Do you know your strengths? The strengths of your team members? “There is something within the human spirit that wants to resist the thought of weakness. Many times this is nothing more than our human pride at work. Just as weakness carries a great potential for strength, pride carries an equally great potential for defeat.” So says Dr. Charles Stanley. .... Are you wasting time trying to “fix” yourself or team members? Or are you leveraging and developing everyone’s strengths, for God’s glory?
UNAPOLOGETIC. It’s being without apology. An executive of a Colorado company told us the other day: We are unapologetic that we run our company based on Christian principles. WOW. And that got me thinking…am I running my organization unapologetically? And if I’m wondering, maybe you should be wondering too. Unapologetically Christian – it means to live and work transparently, showing others that CHRIST is the source of our life and work. That we stand 24/7 for Christ and these values in our lives and work. How about you? Are YOU unapologetically Christian? Are YOU unapologetically Christian in your work? We challenge you today, to dig deeper to be able to say “I am unapologetically Christian.”
Bill Johnson, an HR director of a Colorado car dealership told us recently: “I hate the phrase: ‘Leave your problems at the door when you come to work.’ That’s not reality. They CANNOT leave those things at the door.” Isn’t this what we have been told and have believed all our working lives? That work is NO PLACE to be transparent, or show weakness? .... A Christ-LED workplace is the opposite. Where the employees CAN be transparent and show their brokenness. Where they are loved on and helped with their personal problems. THIS is Christ’s way. .... How about YOUR WORKPLACE? If it doesn’t foster transparency, what will YOU DO AS A LEADER to change it?
I wonder how many times a day we offer our opinion. Ten times? Twenty times? Thirty times? I was thinking about this after hearing a friend tell me how she handles her teenagers when they ask her a question. She says: “I‘m not going to tell you my opinion. Here is what the bible says about it.” WOW. So how does that apply to us and our work? At work, you don’t have to “CITE CHAPTER AND VERSE”, but you can share wisdom from the bible, in workplace appropriate language. .... I’m taking on this challenge today, that every time someone asks me a question or my opinion, I am going to shift to sharing what God has to say about it, not me. .... What a great way to honor God. When you are asked YOUR OPINION at work today, will YOU commit to answer with biblical wisdom?
When I become better at who I am, in other words who God created me to be, I can contribute to the team more. That’s a quote from Scott Ramsey, a team member of one of the most God-honoring companies we have had the pleasure of being partnered with. And it’s at the core of their success as a business. When each team member seeks to know themselves, to honor God with their unique gifts and talents, their work rises to a higher level. .... And then the team rises to a higher level. .... And the service to clients rises to a higher level. .... And the company is risen to a higher level. .... And God is glorified in every moment of the company’s daily existence. .... We invite you today, to pray and ask God “How can I become better at who I am at work today?”
Part-time Christianity. Is there such a thing? .... Os Hillman, founder of Marketplace Leaders, says “There are no part-time Christians.” There SHOULDN’T be, but there sure ARE. Many believers today are changing their description of themselves to “Christ-follower”, vs. Christian. .... WHY is that? Because perhaps the term Christian has gotten so watered down that it fails to have much meaning these days. It includes CEO Christians (Christmas and Easter Only church-goers), Sunday Christians (believers who go to church, then forget who they are as soon as they step out the door), legalistic Christians who often offend others, and all the other Christians of varying levels of commitment. How about YOU? Which label best describes YOU these days? .... Full-Time Christian or Part-Time Christian – Throw off the label today and become a Christ Follower.
A Prayer for a God-Honoring Work Life: Father, I come before you thankful that you have made work a part of life and given us the opportunity to glorify you in our work. Establish the work of our hands by helping us to be loving, kind, patient, focused, and insightful. Keep us from distraction and conflict, replace our egos with love. May the Holy Spirit lead us in our work and help us to be joyful, creative, and worshipful–constantly reminding us of your love and that our workplace is our mission field. Lead us to put others first, in a way that would maximize your glory and allow us to bear the most fruit for your kingdom today. Amen.
What mountain are YOU climbing? .... This thought is inspired by writer Stephanie Winslow who uses the visual of our faith journey as climbing a mountain. As a Christian, we should be climbing the mountain of faith towards Christ, who is at the top. HE is our goal. .... If you are climbing another mountain, perhaps of achievement or business success, we invite you right now, today, to get OFF that mountain, and reset your feet on the mountain of faith. .... Success comes when we make the ascent to knowing and being more like Christ. .... “Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So… get on your way!” (Dr. Seuss)
Silence. .... .... It can be used STRATEGICALLY to make a point, .... to be used to EMPHASIZE something .... or, to communicate something effectively without words. Silence, when used in response to someone else’s need, can communicate something that we DO NOT INTEND, .... that we do not care, .... Or, that we are judging the other person. .... How are YOU being silent in your workplace? .... What is YOUR silence communicating in response to what is happening around you? .... We invite you today, to be actively aware of your silence with others at work this week.
Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.
We all have a calling, have you heard this before? Some of us get called to the pulpit and some to the foreign mission field but most of us get called to our cubicles, construction sites, care facilities or whatever your job site may be. Your Workplace, It’s your mission field and in that mission field, you and me, we may be the only Jesus our co-workers, employees and bosses may ever meet. That Job that you hold and the work that you do, and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance. The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance. So, as you contemplate the value of your work today, realize this…You don’t need to quit your job in order to go into fulltime ministry. You are already in fulltime ministry, right there where you work.
Love, Dignity, Respect. .... Three simple words. Love, Dignity, Respect. What do they have to do with your workplace? .... If someone were to visit your workplace, would they see these in action? .... What about you? .... Are you giving love, dignity and respect to all the people you encounter in your workplace? Or do you reserve it for only those you believe are worthy of it? .... We challenge you this week to show love dignity and respect to each person you run into in your workplace this week. Smile, say hello, look them in the eye, and learn their name. This is where workplace transformation starts.
What if the only business book we had was the bible? How would we do business differently? .... And what if we only had Jesus’s words to do business by? .... Every workplace leader we’ve spoken to (and the number is now in the thousands) basically summarizes their leadership philosophy as this: “My number one job as owner and president of the company is to take care of my people first. To love and care for them.” .... Regardless of your management level in your work, what if you started here? What if you worked from this philosophy every day? The fruit of that way of work is clear. The fruit results are abundant. More than we could ever ask or imagine. Won’t you try this philosophy out this week?
Seems like there is an unlimited number of worldly solutions to every business problem we encounter. There are formulas, theories, the current “theory of work”, or leadership or “how to make your customer rabid fans of your business.” But the more I hear from Christ-following business folks, the more convinced I am that there is only ONE answer to every workplace situation. .... Jesus Christ. .... He IS our answer, our business partner, our priest, our prophet and our King. Going to Him with whatever we are facing in our work, IS the answer. Stop searching for the world’s answers. .... He’s waiting for you to come and seek His counsel in your work. Won’t you seek HIS counsel in YOUR work today?
Dan Anderson from Kingdom Way Ministries has a powerful saying. Kingdom Way Ministries wants to turn Sunday's inspiration Into Monday's perspiration! .... What a great motto to write down, stick in your bible and pull out on Sunday morning during church while you listen to the sermon. What if you listened with ears that asked “How does what the pastor is preaching relate to my work? .... The people I work with? .... My relationship with my boss? .... My co-workers? .... What is ONE THING I CAN DO, starting Monday morning, that will put into practice, what I learned during church on Sunday? Start today turning Sunday’s inspiration into Monday’s perspiration.
Heard this from a workplace chaplain, whose job it is to listen to and love on female employees in a construction tool company. “I tell people: Love God, love others, enjoy the rest.” What a powerfully simple clear summary of our faith and how to live it. Matthew 22 says Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ As a working Christian, what would happen if YOU lived this motto in your workplace today? We challenge you to try it and find out.
What’s to be done when we as Christians at work, get in a disagreement with a co-worker? How do WE deal with it? .... We can use this 6-step apology by Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership:
- ONE, Acknowledge the offense: “I did _____.”
- TWO, Admit, “I was wrong.”
- THREE, Use the words, “I am sorry; I apologize.”
- FOUR, Ask, “Will you (when you can) forgive me?”
- FIVE, Say, “I give you permission to hold me accountable.”
- SIX, “Is there anything else I need to apologize for?”
We want to challenge you to memorize these six steps, and to USE them in YOUR workplace today
Here’s a word definition quiz. Let’s see if you can identify what word it defines: cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength. .... –. It’s REST. Rest is the other SIDE of work. God did it. He even modeled it for us. So why does it constantly get a backseat or no seat on our bus? We need to make it a priority. Your work will flourish, your home life will flourish and you will have more capacity to do his work in YOUR work. On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation!
There is a movement afoot in the workplaces and marketplaces across the globe. It’s the faith and work movement. And it is especially true right now with women in business. All across the US and the world, women of faith are gathering in community to support each other and achieve the mission and vision God has placed on their hearts. .... There ARE Christian Women’s organizations available today in your area. If you truly want community, you CAN have it now. .... …. professional women of faith to talk to, to pray with and do life and business together. If you are alone, we encourage you to pray for a community to be a part of and then make the effort to join one. It’s biblical! Proverbs 15:22 Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success
As we start our work week, let’s remind ourselves of our calling to our work and God’s plan for our work. Declare this now as you head to work today, walk to your office, or sit down to do your devotions. … “My workplace is my mission field, a place of full-time ministry… My workplace ministry manual is my Bible. …My calling to my workplace is not a second-class calling…. I dedicate my workplace as a mission field for God, and because of Jesus in my life, I am committed to celebrating the work that God gave me….AMEN”
Evangelism. We’re ALL called to do it, but most of us feel ill equipped to… .... But we ARE called to do it, as it says in 1 Peter 3:15: Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. So we need to find a way that works for US. A member of Ambassadors for Business out of Minnesota told us He keeps a mug on his desk that says “Eternity is a long time”. Invariably, most people who see it ask a question that often leads into a conversation of faith, and he gets an opportunity to share HIS relationship with Christ. .... It can be just that easy. ..... What will you keep on YOUR desk that could be an eternal conversation starter?
How’s your level of anxiety? On a scale of 1-10? .... If it’s higher than a 3, consider another way of living. Jesus came so that we would have life and have it more abundantly. Kathy Branzell, of Love2020 and the President of the National Day of Prayer says “I just wake up and thank the Lord for the day, and ask Him “what do You have for me today?” That’s it. Wow, that sounds pretty stress free. .... What does stress-free look like in the Christ-follower’s work world? It looks like Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. .... How will you live a more stress-free work life in Christ today?
There is a naughty “S” word in the Christian world. And it has SEVEN LETTERS not 4. It’s the word “success”. The biblical definition of success is the OPPOSITE of the world’s definition. .... And as a Christ-follower, our definition of success is spelled “Faith and Obedience”. The bible verse Matthew 25:21 does not say “well done, my good and successful servant.” It SAYS: ‘Well done, my good and FAITHFUL servant.” The Lord is not interested in our earthly successes OR our list of accomplishments. Success is an earthly word. What if today, we replaced it in our hearts with “faith and obedience for His glory”? Will YOU replace success in YOUR heart, with faith and obedience in YOUR work today?
Talking with author and Professor Craig McAndrews the other day, I was struck by how many people’s story of how they met Christ has happened through the workplace. Many more than I would have even imagined. .... We often say, “you may be the ONLY CHRIST your co-workers will ever meet.” And the amount of people we meet that is proving that to be true increases every week. .... Did you know iWork4Him’s big vision is to transform the workplace of every Christian in America into a mission field? All 50 million of US. .... Join us. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
On the shore of the sea of Galilee, Jesus sees Peter, who at the time is a fisherman and invites him to shift his “work” from being a fisherman of fish, to a fisher of “men”. If you are a Christ follower, you too, are being called to shift from being a lawyer, an engineer, a customer service rep. to being a fisher of “people”. .... Right where God has placed you, in YOUR workplace. .... And Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him. .... How will YOU begin to shift today from being a professional _”BLANK”___________ to being a professional fisher of people?
Do you want God to unlock His purpose for you in your work? As you execute the first 4 steps of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant: Praying for, serving, befriending, and praying with others, remember your work behavior is important. The final step of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is to be someone of excellence in your work. Be the best and brightest example of a worker in your workplace position. Excellence makes your behavior believable and your faith real. Excellence gives you a platform for sharing your faith. As a Jesus Follower, everything about us should be changing, and everyone around you should be benefiting from your faith, whether they believe in Jesus yet, or not. Colossians 3:23 says, “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Does God care for the people you work with? Of course, He does. In step 4 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, look for opportunities to pray with others. When you continually work alongside the same people, you know their typical manners and facial expressions. When you notice someone having an off day, ask them, “How are you doing?” when they say, “I’m Fine,” keep asking, “No really, how are you doing? I noticed you looked a little down today” then wait and be QUIET. When they have shared what is on their heart, ask, “Can I pray with you about that, right now?” I have never had someone say “No” when I followed these steps. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” When you pray, you are opening the door for them to meet your savior.
Do you want to see your workplace as a mission field? In step 3 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, we encourage you to befriend your co-workers or employees outside of the office. Why? Our work relationships are work focused and can be shallow. When you build friendships on your own turf, outside of work, real relationships develop. When you let someone into your world, it breaks down walls. Breaking down walls builds trust. Eventually, they will trust you when you share your Jesus story, the work He has done in your life. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble” ….Be a real friend to someone today
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? Step two of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant helps transform your workplace mindset into a mission-focused workplace ministry mindset. Start looking for ways to serve your co-workers, bosses, and/or employees outside your job requirements. Why? Anyone can do a job that meets expectations, but how many people help others meet or exceed expectations? When you go out of the way to help others at work with a stressful project or a mundane responsibility, you open up a door of ministry opportunity. Galatians 5:13-14 says for you have been called to live in freedom… use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? I thought so. Step one of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is the most powerful step you can take at work to transform your workplace and your heart. Prayer - Start praying for those you work alongside every day. Pray for your co-workers, bosses, and employees by name. You can even pray for their spouses and kids. After you have done this for a few months, have a conversation like this “Hey, I have been praying for you, is there anything I can pray about specifically?” 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them”. Start Praying today and watch the transformation begin.
There is a revolution at hand. It’s the faith and work revolution. The Lord is moving powerfully through the marketplace to bring people to Him. Are you a part of it? .... How about your pastor? Your church? How can you bring your pastor into the faith and work movement? .... Ask them to come and pray with you in your work, in your workplace, vs. at church or in a restaurant. Invite them into YOUR daily ministry. Review your work week with them and ask for prayer and blessings on it. You’ll open up a whole new world to them by introducing THEM to your daily workplace ministry. What day next week will YOU invite YOUR PASTOR into YOUR WORKPLACE?
One of the best questions I’ve heard in a long time that’s making me really stop and think about my personal and professional leadership is: Am I a leader worth following? .... That type of introspective question is foundational to the health of not only a leader, but a Christian, and then doubly as “a Christian leader”. That question forces us to look objectively at WHO we are being as we lead. It is often said the WHO is more important than the HOW. That’s leadership Jesus-style. WHO Jesus is, is our leadership model, not a “HOW TO” book. .... If you lead a team in your workplace, we challenge you to share this question with your team and management, and have them answer it.
We all have a calling, have you heard this before? Some of us get called to the pulpit and some to the foreign mission field but most of us get called to our cubicles, construction sites, care facilities or whatever your job site may be. Your Workplace, It’s your mission field and in that mission field, you and me, we may be the only Jesus our co-workers, employees and bosses may ever meet. That Job that you hold and the work that you do, and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance. The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance. So, as you contemplate the value of your work today, realize this…You don’t need to quit your job in order to go into fulltime ministry. You are already in fulltime ministry, right there where you work.
The power of two or more. Isn’t it amazing how working alone to change something, like culture, seems daunting, and then we partner with another person, and soon the work is moving forward? James Davidson Hunter said in his book To Change The World,” Whether it be for good or bad, cultures change when small groups of leaders work together for common causes to influence the culture from the top down.” Where around you does culture need changing? Are YOU willing to be involved in a group of leaders focused on changing culture, in your work, in your profession, in your community? If not, WHY NOT? .... We encourage you to get involved in a small group to change culture. It’s our responsibility, it’s biblical and it’s the Kingdom work we are all called to do.
What’s keeping you from living completely in the spirit at work today? It all starts in the heart. Here are two roadblocks that keep our heart from being set in the spirit. One, our pride, which puts our priorities ahead of God. Versus what is required of us: humbleness. Submitting our will to Christ. The second roadblock is Fear. FEAR has been described as False Evidence Appearing Real. Scripture tells us there is only ONE person to fear and that is God. Deuteronomy 13:4
Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. Won’t you commit to work from living completely in the spirit today, and to cast aside all fear and pride?
In the workplace, we often think that the leaders are the ones that have a management title. But is that really true? I have worked with and for many people with a title, who were not leaders. Leaders are people that positively influence and impact the people around them. And a Christian Leader is one who exhorts, empowers and impacts other’s lives, as a Christ follower should, to glorify God. If you impact people around you, YOU are a leader. What will you do today, to own the title “leader” and lead in a way that glorifies your father in Heaven? Psalm 78:72 encourages us He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.
It’s lonely at the top. That’s the old adage. But does it have to be? God built us to be in community. That doesn’t stop when we’re put in a position of authority (meaning we have the power to influence the thoughts, opinions, and behaviors of others). The world says when we are in “authority” we have “arrived” to a place where we have no need of additional voices, learning or growth. If anything, that position makes it even MORE important that the leader is in community with people who can hold them accountable, speak into their lives, and to encourage and edify them. And listening and receiving feedback is a part of being in community. John Maxwell once said that every day, he goes up to a team member and asks them “How can I be a better leader for you today?” .... Who will YOU ask that question of in your workplace today?
Heard a great quote about leadership recently: That the first step in being a good leader is being a good follower. I don’t know about you, but being a follower is NOT one of my top strengths. That sounds like, in order to be a good leader, we must be willing to be led. That in order to be a good leader, we must be willing, and actually have people speaking into our lives and leadership. Not what most of us think about when we think about our own leadership and how to develop it. Do YOU have someone in your life, that you allow to speak into it? Are YOU willing to be a Proverbs 9:9 person? Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. Won’t you pray today, that you would be willing, to have another person speak into your life and leadership?
It used to be that absenteeism was a problem in the workplace. Today it’s the opposite: It’s called “Presentee-ism”. Employees are showing up, but not mentally present and focused on their work. Their worries about children, aging parents, marriage, or finances, are limiting their ability to concentrate. Per a Forbes 2018 study, it’s costing U.S. companies $150 billion a year. A company’s leadership can’t spend all day ministering to their employees, nor can HR. So what’s the answer? One answer is to look at adding a chaplaincy to your workplace. Their only job is to confidentially listen, support and walk alongside the staff. Galatians 6:2 encourages us to Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Won’t you pass this idea along to your management today?
Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.
There is a great deal we do not, and will not understand about our Triune God, until we go to heaven. For now, we have the greatest partner in our work, we could ever imagine. The Holy Spirit. He is our counselor, He is our helper, the spirit of truth and wisdom. What if we invited him into our work every day? .... What if every time we walked in our workplace, we asked “Holy Spirit, What do you want me to know as I begin work today?” .... What if today, we worked as if the living God and His wisdom were inside us? (which it is) Would we think higher, grander thoughts? Would we expect the biggest and best results? Surpass our client’s expectations? Our God is SO BIG, he spoke our universe into existence. So, let’s invite that God into our work and workplace every morning, and expect God-size results
How hard is it for most of us to evangelize at work? How and when is it OK? We make it so much harder than it has to be, though. For years now, I have been using a tool called the pocket testament. It’s a small pamphlet of the gospel of John. What I love about this tool is, it is so easy to share. You store them in your desk at work, in your car, in your pocket or purse. And then pray every day for God to show you who to give it to, and when the opportunity presents itself, you give it to them in response to a question they ask, or a need they have. God does the rest. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 tells us: For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. What are you doing today, with that trust to evangelize?
I recently interviewed an air conditioning company that employs two previous “pastors” that are now professionals in the company. Interesting shift in vocation…Someone once cleverly said of us working Christians “I am a minister, disguised as: a plumber, a professor, an executive, a teacher”….fill in the blank with your title. We are ALL in ministry. We are ALL pastors whether we want to be or not, this is part of the package when the Lord died for us. And wherever HE places us, is where we are to till the soil, and plant the seed. And then water them, which looks like: caring, listening, praying with and just simply loving on our colleagues. How faithful and obedient are YOU BEING, where YOU have been planted?
One of the things I enjoy most as I watch the next generation is how equality-minded they are. Seems like the younger generations have less gender-bias. We asked an owner of a Christian commercial cleaning company “What was the biggest adjustment you and your husband had to make when you bought the business?” She said “well my husband is the leader at home, but I am the leader in the business.” What finesse it must take for each of them to walk that line at work and then switch hats when they get home. What a challenging partnership, that would fail in the flesh, but is possible only with the Holy Spirit’s guidance. It’s a great example of Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. How well are YOU DOING letting the Holy Spirit lead YOUR business relationships today?
Our mouth. It can be a weapon or a blessing. .... As a Christ follower, we know that our mouths speak what is in our heart. But I think sometimes as Christians we might keep our mouth shut TOO MUCH. In other words, when we hear something that doesn’t line up with our faith, we think the best thing to do is keep the peace, by keeping quiet. Discernment from the Holy Spirit will enable us to know, when to keep quiet and when to speak. D.L. Moody said: I need to be filled with the Holy Spirit constantly, because I leak! When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, He will give us the wisdom to know what to say, and when, in a way that is winsome and engaging vs. condemning. How will YOU open your mouth for Christ in the workplace today, when you** are led to?
It’s a fact that love is spelled T.I.M.E. .... In today’s workplace, we can get so caught up in the fast pace that we forget that as Christ followers, we’re to be mindful and intentional with every task, and every person. How DO you slow down during the workday? One good way is to STOP multitasking and focus your FULL attention on each task and conversation at a time. Another great way is to use a Prayer Prompter app on your phone that can remind you to: pray, give thanks, to ask for wisdom and discernment, and to be AWARE of the needs around you. We are called to LOVE our neighbors (which are our co-workers). How well are YOU showing love to YOUR co-workers with YOUR TIME?
I heard an outrageous comment from a partner of a Christian farm equipment company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He said “Common sense has NO PLACE in the life of a spirit-led follower of Christ.” Here’s what I think he meant. When we are attuned to the Holy Spirit, what He guides us to do in the moment often seems contrary to what we think of as “logical”, And that reminded me that Christ’s actions were “counter-cultural” meaning: a set of attitudes opposed to the prevailing social norm. And if Christ is counter-cultural, then we should be too. We should look different, .... smell different ...., think different, .... act different. .... 2 How will YOU be a counter-cultural spirit-led follower of Christ in YOUR WORKPLACE today?
You know, it’s time. It’s time for all of us Christ followers to take on another word to describe who we are. That word is MISSIONARY. WHAT? “I’m a lawyer, a receptionist, a plumber, a CPA.” So listen to the definition and see if it fits: a person sent on a religious mission, especially one sent to promote Christianity in a foreign country. You ARE a person on a mission, if you are a Christ follower (per the Great Commission) ….and your foreign country is YOUR WORKPLACE! …. Would our Lord agree? Would He want YOU to be this with each person you work with? Matthew 28:19 says it all. 9 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, [a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Will YOU, starting today, add the label missionary onto YOUR professional title?
James 4:17 says Remember, it is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. This is so important, let’s hear it again. Remember, it is a sin to know WHAT you ought to do and then NOT DO IT. When you are MOVED at work during the day, by hearing about or seeing an injustice, do you pray and ask the Lord what He would have you do? .... Or do you just shrug it off and ignore it? The only way we, the body of Christ, will win people for Christ is for each of us to respond and DO our part. And that includes standing against injustice EVERYWHERE we are, including our workplace. .... What will YOU do today, when you see an injustice at work?
There’s a new diversity in town: GENERATIONAL diversity. .... While it’s not “new”, it’s “new” because we are now shining a light on it, naming it, and weighing the pros and cons of it. Of what it means in our work relationships, and in our organizations. How DO we take this reality and use it to build the body of Christ where we work? .... By respecting each other’s differences and seeing the benefit of every generation and their unique perspectives and contributions. As Paul wrote in Ephesians: But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. .... Where do you need to shine the light on generational diversity in YOUR workplace today?
Do you want God to unlock His purpose for you in your work? As you execute the first 4 steps of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant: Praying for, serving, befriending, and praying with others, remember your work behavior is important. The final step of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is to be someone of excellence in your work. Be the best and brightest example of a worker in your workplace position. Excellence makes your behavior believable and your faith real. Excellence gives you a platform for sharing your faith. As a Jesus Follower, everything about us should be changing, and everyone around you should be benefiting from your faith, whether they believe in Jesus yet, or not. Colossians 3:23 says, “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Does God care for the people you work with? Of course, He does. In step 4 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, look for opportunities to pray with others. When you continually work alongside the same people, you know their typical manners and facial expressions. When you notice someone having an off day, ask them, “How are you doing?” when they say “I’m Fine,” keep asking, “ No really, how are you doing? I noticed you looked a little down today” then wait and be QUIET. When they have shared what is on their heart, ask, “Can I pray with you about that, right now?” I have never had someone say “No” when I followed these steps. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” When you pray, you are opening the door for them to meet your savior.
Does God care for the people you work with? Of course, He does. In step 4 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, look for opportunities to pray with others. When you continually work alongside the same people, you know their typical manners and facial expressions. When you notice someone having an off day, ask them, “How are you doing?” when they say “I’m Fine,” keep asking, “ No really, how are you doing? I noticed you looked a little down today” then wait and be QUIET. When they have shared what is on their heart, ask, “Can I pray with you about that, right now?” I have never had someone say “No” when I followed these steps. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” When you pray, you are opening the door for them to meet your savior.
Do you want to see your workplace as a mission field? In step 3 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, we encourage you to befriend your co-workers or employees outside of the office. Why? Our work relationships are work focused and can be shallow. When you build friendships on your own turf, outside of work, real relationships develop. When you let someone into your world, it breaks down walls. Breaking down walls builds trust. Eventually, they will trust you when you share your Jesus story, the work He has done in your life. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble”….Be a real friend to someone today.
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? Step two of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant helps transform your workplace mindset into a mission-focused workplace ministry mindset. Start looking for ways to serve your co-workers, bosses, and/or employees outside your job requirements. Why? Anyone can do a job that meets expectations, but how many people help others meet or exceed expectations? When you go out of the way to help others at work with a stressful project or a mundane responsibility, you open up a door of ministry opportunity. Galatians 5:13-14 says “for you have been called to live in freedom”… use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? I thought so. Step one of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is the most powerful step you can take at work to transform your workplace and your heart. Prayer - Start praying for those you work alongside every day. Pray for your co-workers, bosses, and employees by name. You can even pray for their spouses and kids. After you have done this for a few months, have a conversation like this “Hey, I have been praying for you, is there anything I can pray about specifically?” 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them”. Start Praying today and watch the transformation begin.
We all have a calling, have you heard this before? Some of us get called to the pulpit and some to the foreign mission field but most of us get called to our cubicles, construction sites, care facilities or whatever your job site may be. Your Workplace, It’s your mission field and in that mission field, you and me, we may be the only Jesus our co-workers, employees and bosses may ever meet. That Job that you hold and the work that you do, and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance. The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance. So, as you contemplate the value of your work today, realize this…You don’t need to quit your job in order to go into fulltime ministry. You are already in fulltime ministry, right there where you work.
It is a known tenant of organizational leadership, that as the leader goes, so goes the organization. Simon Sinek tweaked it for today’s culture by saying “So goes the leader, so goes the culture. So goes the culture, so goes the company.” .... Anyone who has tried to change the culture of a team, an organization, or a company can testify to the truth of this. The top leadership and WHO they are being, and their INTEGRITY will dictate the success** of the organization. .... C.S. Lewis said it best: “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” If the leaders lack integrity, the organization’s ability to succeed is small to none. How’s YOUR integrity? How’s the integrity of YOUR organization’s leadership?
How many times have we said to ourselves, “I wish I had time to go on a mission trip.” Well guess what, you DO! Your workplace IS your mission field. Your daily commute IS your mission travel. And your workplace has been crafted perfectly by God, specifically tailored to you, and your giftings. We can all begin to view our workplace and every co-worker as “the mission”. We can prepare, pray, plan and then serve our colleagues in the same way we would as if we hopped on a plane and flew to another country. Charles Spurgeon the Reformed preacher said “Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor.” So which are YOU? What would it take for you to start tomorrow, to shift your mindset and intentionally serve your workplace as YOUR mission field?
Workplace politics. If you’re working, you’re involved in them. And as Christians, we don’t have to disengage just because the term is distasteful. “Workplace politics” are the strategies people use to gain advantage for themselves or to support a cause. What if, we employed biblical wisdom and strategies to deal with the politics? .... such as Matthew 10:16 “I am sending you out like sheep with wolves all around you. Be wise like snakes and gentle like doves. If you’ve chosen to “not participate” or given up trying to, you can’t be an influence in your workplace. .... How about praying today for wisdom at work, and in the politics in your workplace, and then participate, for God’s Glory
In today’s culture, respect for our elders and wisdom, has been replaced by idolizing youth and outward appearances. As Christians, we believe that ALL human beings are created by God in His image. Therefore every person has inherent dignity and creator-ordained worth. To be created in the likeness of God means that each person bears His image and with it, a value beyond our unique characteristics or individual attributes. Do you treat ALL people at work with the same respect? Do you say hello, and look into the eyes of the janitor or the server at lunch? The FedEx guy? Do you know their names? We challenge you this week to treat everyone you meet with the dignity and respect you previously reserved for only those “who merit it.”
I heard recently from a retired army guy that he was taught to run TOWARDS the problem, not away from it. .... I wonder how many of us run towards OUR work problems vs. away from them. Perhaps we think “confrontation” is un-Christ-like…but how did Jesus deal with problems?
With the woman at the well, He confronted her, asked and answered questions. In the temple, He confronted with over-turning the tables and admonishing. Did he EVER run away from a problem? Never. His way to address problems were spirit-based AND involved action of some kind. But He never opted out, avoided or ignored the situation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Won’t YOU use Proverbs 3 to run towards YOUR problems at work today?
Businesses always seem to be searching for “the magic bullet” that will propel them into the “big leagues”. We’ve heard hundreds of stories of eternally successful companies and their practices and believe we know the secret. It’s excellence. Excellence as unto the Lord. Not being great at what you do, but EXCELLENT. .... It’s the very top level. Consider these synonyms for excellence: high quality · superiority · brilliance · greatness · eminence · supremacy · peerlessness. Remind you of anyone? These words describe Jesus Christ. And since our entire purpose is to conform to His likeness, these words should be describing US, and our work, and our organization. .... DO they?
Have you ever tried to ignore God and His direction in your work or career? Tried to go your own way, and kept running into roadblocks, un-ending NO’s and shut doors? Sometimes in our career, we try to LOGIC our way towards our calling, to where WE want to be, but God has His plans. Remember the Israelites? It took them 40 YEARS to make a 14 day journey. That’s 14, 600 days of blindness, vs. 14 days of obedience. That’s A LOT of resistance. So, the next time you’re being led somewhere you don’t want to go, try praying about it, asking several devote friends to join you in praying for an answer. If you’re paying attention, God is probably speaking through others to you as well, to guide you. You can fight God every step of the way, but we don’t recommend it! We challenge you today, to PRAY your way through your career options and challenges.
I recently had my concept of “neighbor” challenged. Does neighbor mean only the people in my neighborhood? The ones we live near? Actually, in a broader sense, it is anyone “living or located near another”. That means the folks all around us at work, in the next cubicle. The teacher in the next classroom. The person exercising next to us at the gym. Our neighbors are everywhere and the Lord had a great deal to say about them. Some Hebrew origins of the word, also translate it to mean “fellow man”. Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Today, how will YOU show love to ALL THOSE who you work around all day long?
Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.
There is a common phrase that many people, especially working moms use. It’s “stretched too thin”. In the shadow of that statement is the often ignored concept of “self-care”. Many people have been taught growing up to put themselves last, after their spouse, children, their home and their work. So it’s no wonder many of us fail to take care of anything having to do with our own health and well-being. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. The word of God says we are to care for ourselves, so we can THEN care for others. What will you do today, this week, to take better care of yourself?
Sacrifice. It’s defined as surrender of something for the sake of something else. We are called to do it in our life as a Christ follower, just as He did. 1 Corinthians 13:3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. What does love-based sacrifice look like in our workplace? .... We sacrifice pride, to choose what’s best for the organization, over our own ideas. .... We sacrifice time, when we put a co-worker’s needs before our own. .... We sacrifice “top sales numbers” to do what’s best for the client, not our own paycheck. HOW are YOU willing to be sacrificial in your workplace this week?
Sometimes we wonder, do the little things I do even matter to God? How can I, just one person, make a difference? In 1893, a teenage girl named Helen Cadbury, daughter of the president of Cadbury Chocolates, was so excited about sharing her faith that she organized a group of girls who sewed pockets onto their dresses to carry the small New Testaments her father had printed. The girls called their group "The Pocket Testament League." Today, more than 110 MILLION gospels have been shared, and the PTL membership is now 662,000+ strong. What an AMAZING story of how God uses our tiny act of faith to move a mountain. .... What small act of faith will YOU do today, that God can multiply?
Whether we’re aware of it or not, temptation is all around us at work. It didn’t get left at home when we left for work today. As we take God to work with us, we should also be aware that the enemy will be working there too. Starting our day with the Lord in prayer, and putting on the FULL armor of God (Ephesians 6), are some of the best ways to keep the door shut on temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. And IF you’ve opened the door to temptation at work, speaking and praying bible verses over it is the way to combat it. Today, will YOU fight temptation at work with the presence of the Lord and His word?
A businessman and book author recently told me: In my search for leadership knowledge, I kept coming back to the bible and realized that Proverbs is a practical business book. I don’t need much more. The bible IS a source of wise counsel for us in all aspects of our life and that includes our work. .... Many Kingdom workplace leaders hold to the belief that the bible is THE BEST BUSINESS BOOK ever written. Psalms provides wisdom during challenges, to give words to our lamenting and petitions to the Lord. The leaders in the bible, such as Moses, Deborah, Abraham and Queen Esther, provide real examples of what it looks like to BE a Godly leader. When’s the last time YOU went to THE WORD, for business wisdom?
Do you want God to unlock His purpose for you in your work? As you execute the first 4 steps of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant: Praying for, serving, befriending, and praying with others, remember your work behavior is important. The final step of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is to be someone of excellence in your work. Be the best and brightest example of a worker in your workplace position. Excellence makes your behavior believable and your faith real. Excellence gives you a platform for sharing your faith. As a Jesus Follower, everything about us should be changing, and everyone around you should be benefiting from your faith, whether they believe in Jesus yet, or not. Colossians 3:23 says, “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Does God care for the people you work with? Of course, He does. In step 4 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, look for opportunities to pray with others. When you continually work alongside the same people, you know their typical manners and facial expressions. When you notice someone having an off day, ask them, “How are you doing?” when they say “I’m Fine,” keep asking, “ No really, how are you doing? I noticed you looked a little down today” then wait and be QUIET. When they have shared what is on their heart, ask, “Can I pray with you about that, right now?” I have never had someone say “No” when I followed these steps. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” When you pray, you are opening the door for them to meet your savior.
Do you want to see your workplace as a mission field? In step 3 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, we encourage you to befriend your co-workers or employees outside of the office. Why? Our work relationships are work focused and can be shallow. When you build friendships on your own turf, outside of work, real relationships develop. When you let someone into your world, it breaks down walls. Breaking down walls builds trust. Eventually, they will trust you when you share your Jesus story, the work He has done in your life. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble”….Be a real friend to someone today.
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? Step two of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant helps transform your workplace mindset into a mission-focused workplace ministry mindset. Start looking for ways to serve your co-workers, bosses, and/or employees outside your job requirements. Why? Anyone can do a job that meets expectations, but how many people help others meet or exceed expectations? When you go out of the way to help others at work with a stressful project or a mundane responsibility, you open up a door of ministry opportunity. Galatians 5:13-14 says For you have been called to live in freedom… use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? I thought so. Step one of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is the most powerful step you can take at work to transform your workplace and your heart. Prayer - Start praying for those you work alongside every day. Pray for your co-workers, bosses, and employees by name. You can even pray for their spouses and kids. After you have done this for a few months, have a conversation like this “Hey, I have been praying for you, is there anything I can pray about specifically?” 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them. “ Start Praying today and watch the transformation begin.
The wonder-woman syndrome is alive and working in the hearts and minds of Christian women in the workplace. Women are not called to be all things to all people, to be the master of every role in their lives. Excellence yes, super-human feats of strength, and perfection, no. Corrie Ten-Boom, author of the famous book The Hiding Place says “If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy.” No amount of busyness will make them more valuable, not to God, not to their families and not to their organizations. Women need to know that they are created in the image of God, and that they ARE ENOUGH. Don’t let the ways of this world tell YOU that you aren’t enough. Instead find strength, value and confidence in the hands of Him who created you.
Seems like there is a new day dawning in the professional lives of women in the workplace. The lies women have been believing for decades are starting to crumble, and are being replaced by the strength and knowledge and truth of WHO they are in Christ. .... And the way that God created women, the natural attributes they have, are of great benefit to the workplace. Women no longer have to act like a man, or be aggressive or competitive to “get ahead” and prove themselves. .... They can rest in their gifts and be authentic. Genesis 1:27 So God created human beings[a] in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. May we each, male and female rest in our identity today
Seems like there is a new day dawning in the professional lives of women in the workplace. The lies women have been believing for decades are starting to crumble, and are being replaced by the strength and knowledge and truth of WHO they are in Christ. .... And the way that God created women, the natural attributes they have, are of great benefit to the workplace. Women no longer have to act like a man, or be aggressive or competitive to “get ahead” and prove themselves. .... They can rest in their gifts and be authentic. Genesis 1:27 So God created human beings[a] in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. May we each, male and female rest in our identity today.
What’s your marriage got to do with your work? On the surface, nothing. But underneath, everything. .... Your home life directly affects your mindset, your attention, attitude and perspective. When our marriage is unhappy, we are distracted, less productive, and typically more negative. Time invested in our spouse produces fruit. And that fruit sustains us and goes before us in every aspect of our family, life and work. Are you investing as much time and effort in your marriage as you are in your work? .... Rick Warren said: "The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now."
One of my favorite topics on faith in the workplace is to delve into the legal rights of Christ followers at work. We have more rights than most Christians know. And these legal rights are extremely important for every Christ follower to be aware of: Whether you are an employee, in management or own a company or run a non-profit. WHY? We’re losing ground in our rights, because WE, the people of faith, have been so silent. .... We are hiding our faith in the closet for fear of creating problems, of disruption or of retribution. We are putting our peace and comfort BEFORE our God. .... We are NOT called to comfort but to live as James 4:17 says: Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
When’s the last time you checked in on your worldview? We invite you to re-calibrate your worldview BACK to a biblical worldview. There are 5 components involved: 1. your view of God, .... 2. Your view of creation or reality ...., 3. Your view of humanity, 4. Your view of moral order and 5. Your view of purpose. If each Christ follower woke up every day with their biblical worldview firmly set in their minds and hearts, we could change the world for Christ in a day (or maybe a week!). Romans 12:2 reminds us: Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Will you start TOMORROW with your biblical worldview recalibrated?
Mission fields are EVERYWHERE – including apartment communities. Statistics show that 96% of those who live in apartments, have no connection to a church. So, as a Christ follower, if you live in an apartment complex or work in one on-site, there’s an opportunity to bring Christ to those that live there. Maybe you have Christian friends that live in an apartment. Would you be willing to share this idea with them? They have an amazing opportunity to start living INTENTIONALLY, loving on and caring for their neighbors. As we are all called to do wherever we live. .... 1 Corinthians 13:1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. Are you ONLY a noisy gong or clanging cymbal where YOU live?
Generosity. Most of us probably think about money, when we hear that word. But what if, as Christ followers that is only ONE way to be generous? .... What if we are called to be generous with our “whole being”? Our words, thoughts, time, attention and influence? .... Psalm 112:9 says They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor. That sounds like a great model for us to live by today. How will you implement being generous with your words, thoughts, time, attention and influence in your life and workplace today?
We have heard it said from just about every Kingdom company we have interviewed that it is all about relationship. That putting people first makes all the difference in the health of their business. This concept is contrary to how the world has taught us to do it. But we have heard and seen in these Kingdom companies, that when you put people first before profits, the profits will follow. .... That is a heavenly model of doing business, vs. a worldly one. .... This proves out the words of Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. What will you do today, to implement this Kingdom model of doing business?
How many of us think we are doing business God’s way, when in reality, we are just Christians who love Jesus, go to church, and believe we live by Christian values? There’s another way for us to start and run a business. To work and lead our teams. It’s the Kingdom way. .... Start with God as your ultimate business partner, and ask Him what HIS plan is. And then keep moving based on what He’s directed you to do. The mindset is: to be Kingdom minded, Kingdom focused and Kingdom motivated. When you are in this place, the business flourishes, almost effortlessly. .... When we are doing our job in faith and obedience, the fruit is produced, by God, in His way, In His time. Proverbs 16:3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed
I recently heard a new term for a business where the leader is a Christ follower. He called his business a “for-profit ministry”. .... That was his dad’s term for their family business, a junkyard of all places. He had a holistic approach to it. Yes, he was a businessman, who was committed to turning a profit. AND, He saw it as an opportunity to help people by giving them a job, and helping them anyway he could…like sending their children to college. There was an intentionality of bringing Christ with him to the junkyard every day. As James 4:17 exhorts us: So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. .... What about your mindset? We invite you to try on the “for-profit ministry mindset” today, and see what happens!
Is it enough to be an ethical and hard-working owner, employee or boss, or does Jesus ask us to BE something MORE? Over the past twenty years of being a student of faith at work, we’ve discovered that there are costs to being a Christ follower in the workplace. Not a Christian, a CHRIST FOLLOWER. .... There’s a difference. .... And there are COSTS to making Him known at work. They are born out of Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. If we don’t stand out, how are people going to know Jesus has radically changed our life? .... So we’re asking, do YOU stand out in YOUR workplace?
When’s the last time your beliefs about another generation were challenged? Mine were recently, after interviewing a couple, whose life’s work is to teach and enable “generational reconciliation” in the workplace. What on earth is generational reconciliation? .... It’s helping us, and each generation to understand the other generation, to know the truth about what they believe and to know the best attributes of each, so they can be appreciated and leveraged. .... What has it got to do with faith and work? Apparently, a great deal. In the next two years, Millennials will make up 50% of the workplace. If you own a business or manage anyone from this generation, your knowledge of them will be a huge predictor of “meeting with ETERNAL and EARTHLY success”. How will YOU seek generational reconciliation in YOUR WORKPLACE this week?
I heard from the owner of a financial planning firm the other day, that people who have a purpose live seven years longer than people who don’t. SEVEN YEARS LONGER than those that just retire. .... So what’s the other option? Well, this wise man said PIVOT instead of retire. What if the second half of our life (the “retirement years”) could be just as meaningful to God or actually MORE SO? We all know retirement is NOT in the bible…But PIVOTING is .... “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.,” What would it take for YOU to run the race with endurance for God right now, in YOUR season of work life?
What’s the difference between believing IN God and trusting God? A San Antonio business owner got to find out, when he had to choose between going to work on Wall Street as a fat cat, or listen to God, and chose what’s best for his family. .... In Matthew 6:33 God advises us to “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” In the midst of your business decision making today, are you seeking first the Kingdom of God? Are you seeking God first vs. YOUR success? Your TEAM’s success? The BIGGER sale? The LARGER profit? .... You’re invited to seek God’s best and highest first, as your go about your work today
Do you want God to unlock His purpose for you in your work? As you execute the first 4 steps of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant: Praying for, serving, befriending, and praying with others, remember your work behavior is important. The final step of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is to be someone of excellence in your work. Be the best and brightest example of a worker in your workplace position. Excellence makes your behavior believable and your faith real. Excellence gives you a platform for sharing your faith. As a Jesus Follower, everything about us should be changing, and everyone around you should be benefiting from your faith, whether they believe in Jesus yet, or not. Colossians 3:23 says, “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Does God care for the people you work with? Of course, He does. In step 4 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, look for opportunities to pray with others. When you continually work alongside the same people, you know their typical manners and facial expressions. When you notice someone having an off day, ask them, “How are you doing?” when they say “I’m Fine,” keep asking, “ No really, how are you doing? I noticed you looked a little down today” then wait and be QUIET. When they have shared what is on their heart, ask, “Can I pray with you about that, right now?” I have never had someone say “No” when I followed these steps. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” When you pray, you are opening the door for them to meet your savior.
Do you want to see your workplace as a mission field? In step 3 of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant, we encourage you to befriend your co-workers or employees outside of the office. Why? Our work relationships are work focused and can be shallow. When you build friendships on your own turf, outside of work, real relationships develop. When you let someone into your world, it breaks down walls. Breaking down walls builds trust. Eventually, they will trust you when you share your Jesus story, the work He has done in your life. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble”….Be a real friend to someone today.
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? Step two of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant helps transform your workplace mindset into a mission-focused workplace ministry mindset. Start looking for ways to serve your co-workers, bosses, and/or employees outside your job requirements. Why? Anyone can do a job that meets expectations, but how many people help others meet or exceed expectations? When you go out of the way to help others at work with a stressful project or a mundane responsibility, you open up a door of ministry opportunity. Galatians 5:13-14 says For you have been called to live in freedom… use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Do you want to see your workplace transformed and have God unlock His purpose for you in your work? I thought so. Step one of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant is the most powerful step you can take at work to transform your workplace and your heart. Prayer - Start praying for those you work alongside every day. Pray for your co-workers, bosses, and employees by name. You can even pray for their spouses and kids. After you have done this for a few months, have a conversation like this “Hey, I have been praying for you, is there anything I can pray about specifically?” 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. “ Start Praying today and watch the transformation begin.
- It’s the First Day of 2021. Last year is behind us. No looking back! It’s time for a fresh start. It’s New Year’s Day, the first day of the rest of your life. The first day of 2021. What’s the best way to start fresh in 2021? How about enjoying a full day of rest? When God created Adam, his first full day on earth was a sabbath rest day. God knew that we needed rest, and after 2020, we all need rest and refreshment. My prayer for you is that in 2021 you can find rest as a regular part of your day and an integral part of your week. May peace and rest come to define 2021 for you. May it increase your influence at work and home. Any day can be a fresh start, but with the new year coming, it’s as good a time as any.
- It’s the last week of the year, and this has been a tough year for everybody. I don’t know that anybody is going to look at 2020 and mourn its passing. It’s time for a fresh start. It’s New Year’s Eve and the last day of 2020. Goodbye, 2020! A fresh start begins tomorrow! How will you begin your fresh start? Do you even know where to begin? We can ask our friends or coworkers, bosses or employees, family, or neighbors. They likely have some ideas. We can read the Bible and ask God to direct our paths for 2021. It’s essential to surround yourself with people willing to help you make a fresh start in 2021. Any day can be a fresh start, but with the new year coming, it’s as good a time as any.
- It’s the last week of the year, and this has been a tough year for everybody. I don’t know that anybody is going to look at 2020 and mourn its passing. It’s time for a fresh start. I grew up in Minnesota, where a new, beautiful snowfall covers the ground and hides the mess. But eventually, the snow melts and leaves behind the mess that was there before the snow fell. The beauty of following Jesus is when we get a fresh start, and all the mess is left behind for good. As we head into 2021, what kind of mess are you going to leave behind? Will you allow God to give you a fresh start? Can you leave the past in the past, forgive yourself, and start all over again? Any day can be a fresh start, but with the new year coming, it’s as good a time as any.
- It’s the last week of the year, and this has been a tough year for everybody. I don’t know that anybody is going to look at 2020 and mourn its passing. It’s time for a fresh start. So, what will a fresh start look like for you in 2021? Will it be getting up a little earlier and reading your Bible and spending time with God every day? Will it be a new exercise routine or new eating habits? Maybe it’ll be a new attitude at work or intentionality to start new friendships. Whatever your fresh start looks like for you in 2021, how will it impact those you live alongside, both at work and home? Any day can be a fresh start, but with the new year coming, it’s as good a time as any.
- It’s the last week of the year, and this has been a tough year for everybody. I don’t know that anybody is going to look at 2020 and mourn its passing. It’s time for a fresh start. When I became a believer, I got a fresh start. Since that day, over 40 years ago, I’ve gotten a lot of fresh starts. The Bible says that God‘s mercies are new every morning. I have taken advantage of those new mercies a whole bunch in my life. What’s great about a new year is we get an entire new year of fresh starts. God doesn’t look back. He is looking forward to 2021. Are you ready for a fresh start in your life? What will that look like in 2021? Any day can be a fresh start, but with the new year coming, it’s as good a time as any.
- It’s Christmas Day. A day focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. The day that you were born, your parents saw you as a gift. How are you a gift to your family today, to the parents that gave you birth? Is it with your frequent phone calls or notes dropped in the mail? Is it helping around the house with projects that they just can’t do on their own anymore? Sometimes it takes a high level of intentionality to be a gift to the family that isn’t always easy to be around. As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. Today, be that gift to those you love.
- It is Christmas Eve. This week has focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. Are you a gift to the people you live near? Outside of work, we come in contact with a lot of people. You might be involved in a small group from church. How are you a gift to your small group? Are you a gift in the way you serve others in your community? Are you a gift in the way you love others when they’re going through a struggle? Are you a gift in the way you pray for people or the way you help out with projects that others just can’t do alone? As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. This week, be that gift to those you love.
- It’s the week of Christmas. A week focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. Are you a gift to the people you work with? What does that look like? Is it the work you do, or how you do your work? Is it your attitude at work, or is it the excellence you demonstrate as you do your work? When your coworkers, employees, or bosses look at you, do they see you as a gift to the organization? What can you do today to be a gift to those that you work alongside? You can ask the Holy Spirit to help you figure this out. As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. This week, be that gift to those you love.
- It’s the week of Christmas. A week focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. Are you a gift to the people you work with? We all love to get gifts, but what kind of gift do you love to give. For Martha and I, we love to give the gift of entertainment. Not a song and dance routine, but hosting people for dinner. We love to cook a meal and share our kitchen table to build relationships. What kind of gift do you love to give to those you work with? Is it your friendship, a smile, or extra hard work? Do those you work with see you as a gift? As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. This week, be that gift to those you love.
- It’s the week of Christmas. A week focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. Are you a gift to the people you work with? What is the most memorable gift you have ever received on Christmas morning? Was it a doll or a train set or a bicycle? Maybe it was memorable because of who you spent it with, like the last time you were with your grandmother or grandfather. One day when you leave your work to start a new job or retire, Will the people you leave behind remember you as a gift to them? Will they mourn the day you leave? As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. This week, be that gift to those you love.
As a Christ-follower in the workplace, you are likely to mess up once in a while. What you do next is the key to helping others see the difference Jesus is making in you. Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership has developed the 6-step Apology. We are going to cover the final step today. Up to this point, we have confessed and apologized. We have asked for forgiveness and permitted accountability. Our final step is to say, “Is there anything else I’ve done in our relationship that I need to apologize for?” This gives your relationship a chance to start with a clean slate. It could also lead to another 6 step apology. When we are quick to admit our wrong and ask for forgiveness when we make a mistake at work, it is an excellent opportunity to show the world what it looks like to love our neighbor.
As a Christ-follower in the workplace, you are likely to mess up once in a while. What you do next is the key to helping others see the difference Jesus is making in you. Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership has developed the 6-step Apology. Today is step 5. Step 5 involves accountability. You say to the person you have wronged, “I give you permission to hold me accountable for not behaving this way anymore.” You are not making them hold you accountable. You are permitting them. When we open the door to accountability, we are opening the door to change in our life. When we are quick to admit our wrong and ask for forgiveness when we make a mistake at work, it is an excellent opportunity to show the world what it looks like to love our neighbor.
As a Christ-follower in the workplace, you are likely to mess up once in a while. What you do next is the key to helping others see the difference Jesus is making in you. Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership has developed the 6-step Apology. We are going to cover step 4 today. Step 4 involves asking for forgiveness. Say, “when you can, will you forgive me?” Forgiveness is a gift to both parties, but it must be given, not taken. Asking the offended to forgive you actually frees them from any bitterness that can build up inside them, but it must be a choice on their own and in their own time. When we are quick to admit our wrong and ask forgiveness when we make a mistake at work, it is an excellent opportunity to show the world what it looks like to love our neighbor.
As a Christ-follower in the workplace, you are likely to mess up once in a while. What you do next is the key to helping others see the difference Jesus is making in you. Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership has developed the 6-step Apology. We are going to cover step 3 today. Step 3 is simply to apologize. Saying I am sorry means so much when you have hurt someone. Be careful not to say, “I want to apologize for…” because that isn’t an apology. “I am sorry” is a statement of humility and honor, and it opens the door to relationship healing. When we are quick to admit our wrong and ask forgiveness when we make a mistake at work, it is an excellent opportunity to show the world what it looks like to love our neighbor
As a Christ-follower in the workplace, you are likely to mess up once in a while. What you do next is the key to helping others see the difference Jesus is making in you. Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership has developed the 6-step Apology. Step 1 is to State the Offense. “You are right. I did it” Step two is acknowledging that you are wrong. So you say something like, “ I was wrong to…or I apologize for.” It may be humbling to regurgitate what we did wrong and then admit it, but your humility will touch their soul. When we are quick to admit our wrong and ask forgiveness when we make a mistake at work, it is an excellent opportunity to show the world what it looks like to love our neighbor.
Hebrews 11 says By faith Abel brought an offering. What is an offering? Jesus said that while the bridegroom is with us, we want to feast, but when he is gone, then we look at fasting. We don’t earn God’s favor when we go without or by bringing him an offering. Faith grows when it is expressed in sacrifice, when it’s not easy. When I “bring my sacrifice of praise” God is honored and my faith in Him grows because “God dwells in the praises of His people.” When God gives the entrepreneur an idea, that does not mean the idea will automatically happen, even if we put some effort into it. The Venture Capital firm that you approach for financial help is more interested in your track record of executing an idea than the idea itself. Abel brought an offering. What are we bringing to God?
Hebrews 11 says By faith we understand. . . that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. Stephen Covey says “Begin with the end in mind.” Entrepreneurs start with ideas of something that doesn’t exist yet, to form the foundation of what is to come. No wonder the context of Hebrews 11:3 is “by faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command.” Why do we struggle with creation when it is self-evident that everything begins as an idea, including the things we create? The essence of the entrepreneur’s work is to see a gap in the market, that needs to be done. Something from nothing or at least nothing that we could see! God is “able to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
Hebrews 11 says Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation , The prophet Jeremiah reminds his listeners to “Stand by the road, and look, and ask for the ancient paths” Moses, in speaking to the Israelites in Deuteronomy says, “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” Paul quotes this to the new Christians in Rome to then go on to say, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord. . .you are saved.” This is equally true in business. What you have done in the past, becomes your scorecard and your reputation. If you have a reputation of always doing what you promise to do, you will find a way through the challenges to the success that the Lord plans for you.
Hebrews 11 says Faith. . . is the evidence of things not seen …Faith is holding on even when you can’t see the answer. That’s how Daniel and his friends must have felt when the King decreed that all of his senior advisors would die if no one could answer the riddle posed by the King’s terrifying dream. but The King wouldn’t tell anyone what he had seen in his dream. They had to tell him the dream and its interpretation. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Daniel urged his three friends to ask God to show them the secret because God knew the answer. How does this apply in our work? No matter our job, we have strategic planning sessions to help chart the course forward. The planning is our “evidence” that we are believing for what is “not yet seen.” But in the end God knows the answer you need.
Hebrews 11 says Faith is the substance of things hoped for…Hope is not the absence of doubt. We all have doubts. Faith has substance when we hold on to it despite our doubts. When Job said in his book that “Though He slay me I will hope in Him” Job is essentially saying what any of us have said when we declare, “Even if God doesn’t come through in the way that I expect and am praying for, I still trust He is in charge.” The essence of entrepreneurship is “things hoped for.” The challenge of business is “hoping” until you succeed, not giving up when the challenges and setbacks come. Hope is collected over time through experience and study. You are surrounded by many at work who have no hope. Will you share some today?
- People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. I have a tendency to listen to the first few words of someone expressing a thought or idea or feeling to me, and then I am busy contemplating a response. I often miss my chance to listen because I want so badly to be heard. I never realized that behavior was so hurtful until I got married. Martha is a great communicator and says so many incredible things. I have had to learn to just listen to her when she speaks without responding. Then she knows I love her. We work together every day, so this is a really important skill. When we listen, we communicate care and love and acceptance. And you know that Jesus is the best listener ever. As Jesus-followers, we can be just like Him. Practice listening today.
- People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. We spend a lot of time with our co-workers—lots of time. We grow to like our co-workers, and some we even grow to love and cherish. But do the people you love know that you listen to them? Do people at work and frankly at home, know that you love them by how you demonstrate your listening skills? Listening is the most powerful communicator of love. Jesus is the best listener ever, and everybody who met him knew He loved them. As Jesus-followers, we can be just like Him. Practice listening to those you love in your work and your home today – listening will show them that you care.
- People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. When I get in my car, I put on the radio. I love to listen to talk radio. It passes the time in traffic, and I get entertained. About 15 years ago, I realized I had an addiction to noise in my car. I needed to learn to be quiet and listen to God. I committed my morning commutes to work to be my listening/praying time. No matter how long or short, my morning time in the car was committed to learning to be a listener…and to be quiet. It changed my life. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” If I learned to be still, you can too. Listening is a Jesus quality. Practice listening to God in your car on your way to work today.
- People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. When you are in trouble or need advice, who do you listen to first? Do you rush right to your bible and get on your knees in prayer? Or do you tend to call a friend or post your trouble on Facebook? I get it. It is easier to connect with humans than to seek the Lord. But if our tendency is to go to people for answers and not our Heavenly Father, how will we attract others to Jesus. Jeremiah 29:11 says “He knows the plans for us” It’s good to have sounding boards for advice, but who do you listen to first? Jesus is the best listener ever. Practice listening to your Lord today.
- People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. Are you a good listener? I am a much better talker than a listener. When we listen to others, we are like Jesus. He listened so well. Today you may be on multiple zoom calls or in-person meetings, be the best listener in the crowd, not just listening for your job but listening for what isn’t said, things spoken without words. Listening is the best way to open doors to conversations about your faith in Jesus. When we hear people’s words, they feel valued. Psalm 34:15 says, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry.” Jesus is the best listener ever. As Jesus-followers, we can be like Him. Practice listening in your work today.
- It’s the week of Thanksgiving and we all have so much to be thankful for. Whether you are working today or off, are you thankful for your work? So often we find ourselves complaining about our work. I am guilty of it often. Our work is given to us by God on purpose for a purpose. We work with people who need to meet Jesus and you may be the one who gets to do that. However, if we are walking around grumbling about our work, we won’t attract too many people to Jesus. Let’s be thankful. Thankful for the work that uses our minds and bodies and pays our bills. Thankful for the work that nourishes our soul. Spend today focusing on being thankful for your work.
- It’s the week of Thanksgiving and we all have so much to be thankful for. It’s hard to fathom but some people in our country will wake up today with NO FOOD. None. IT may even be someone you work with that is struggling financially and they don’t have enough food either. There may be people in your church or neighborhood that will not have enough food today to celebrate thanksgiving. People all over this country have had to learn to live with not enough. We can share from our enough but start with being thankful for the food set before you today. Also, be aware of those around you who are in need of food, clothing and financial help. It’s what Jesus-followers do. Be thankful and share. It’s the difference that Jesus makes in our lives that can make the difference in someone else’s life. Be thankful.
- It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and we all have so much to be thankful for. I spent a week in the Dominican Republic a few years back. I saw a level of contentment and thankfulness in every person I met. Most had only a tin roof over their head and a couple pairs of clothing, but they were thankful. Thankful for a meal to eat and a place to sleep. What about you? Are you thankful for your clothes, your car, your home, and your bed? The people we work with are looking to you to demonstrate the advantage of being a Jesus-follower. Showing them, you are content and thankful will attract them to Jesus. So, this week spend your time focusing on being thankful and see how it impacts the attitudes of those around you.
- It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and we all have so much to be thankful for. Yet when many of us think about our time with family later this week, we struggle to be thankful. Many of you have indeed suffered at the hands of family. I am sorry for that. However, for most of you, you have been blessed with a family that loves you, but still get under your skin and irritate you. How do we shift our attitude to be thankful for our family? We remember that God is our Father, and you are surrounded by Brothers and Sisters in Christ who love you. Those at work may not be so blessed, so show them some love this week and invite them to be part of your family Thanksgiving celebration. When you focus on being thankful, it impacts the attitudes of all those around you.
- It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and we all have so much to be thankful for. Yet, some days, I struggle to be thankful. Work can be overwhelming, and deadlines are looming. Some days I am just outright un-thankful. When we lack a thankful attitude, it impacts our spirit and the spirits of others around us. We don’t realize the impact we have on others. 1st Thessalonians 5 18 says, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Without Jesus, I know this would be impossible for me, but we know that all things are possible with Jesus. So, this week spend your time focusing on being thankful, see how it affects your attitude, and see how it impacts the attitudes of those around you.
Let's start today with some biblical encouragement about work. Ephesians 2 10 says, "For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” Imagine with me for a moment that your focus as a Jesus-follower is to deeply integrate your faith into the work you deliver. Continue imagining. You're not contributing…you cannot contribute anything to God's plan that He hasn't prepared ahead of time for you. But you're participating in full, in the plan by WALKING through His plan. So, ask yourself these questions:
- What does maximum involvement in God's plan look like for me at work?
- How do I see God using me at work?
- How can I express myself as His masterpiece?
When you start every day with these three questions as your focus, God will do amazing things through you.
When I began working, I fell into a trap. I searched for meaning in the kind of work I was doing. Jeremiah 9 23 tells us …the world defines greatness by wealth, wisdom, and power. That's where I thought my focus should be…to find significance at work. And you know what? I was continually let down and discouraged until I realized Jeremiah 9:24 said this: "…the one who boasts should boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth for I delight in these things."
Is your personal value and significance linked to the kind of work you do? NO. You have value because He declares you valuable…valuable enough for Christ to die for you. How can you show your value in your work today?
Do you think your work and your faith are separate considerations? There's always a divine reason God has us at work. When we understand that, we have the right focus. In John 4, the disciples challenged Jesus for talking to the woman at the well after they got back from town buying food. Jesus says: "Don't you say, "There are still four months, then comes the harvest: I say open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest." The disciples dutifully went to town but overlooked sharing their faith. This woman was saved with one kind encounter, and she wanted to share it with everyone! There's nothing wrong with having your head down at your job, doing great work. But, our faith does not end on Sunday. It continues every day, sometimes with the slightest kind gestures and conversations with those around us. Now that's faith and work.
What's God want from us at work? Some think WHAT we produce at work is PRIORITY ONE. No matter your job, consider this from 2nd peter 3 10 "But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief, on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be totally destroyed." So, if our work-product will one day burn up, where should my focus be at work? Ask the Lord this each day: "Why do you have me here?" Does someone at work need me to listen without judgment? Does a co-worker having a hard day need a lending hand? If you focus on the people in your workplace and not just your work, both your work-product and workplace will improve.
Have you ever said, "I go to work just to earn a living."? Most of us will work more than 100,000 hours in a lifetime. That's more than a third of your life! Sadly, stats show that at least 7 in 10 people don't like their job. And, three in seven HATES it. If our Christianity is going to be relevant, it must address how our work week will be used for the glory of God. We also need to understand God's truth about Work. If you believe you go to work just to earn a living, consider this verse about your job: Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." This is just one of God's truths about why we go to work. I pray it re-shapes your thinking and appreciation for the work God has given you. Watch God provide for your needs today.
Have you ever wanted to change the world? Join us to hear about a couple in Rogers, Arkansas, who started a family business: drive-through coffee… and are changing their part of the world, one coffee and one smile at a time. www.iWork4Him.com
Is life balance still a goal? If it is, and it’s not really working, listen to this podcast interview with Mike Cook of “Strategic Doers”, who shares a better alternative than chasing after “life balance”. www.iWork4Him.com
Are you stuck in a rut? Be challenged in this podcast on how your thinking about ministry may be stuck inside the box. Hear the testimony of New Zealander Bryce Taylor, who’s God-journey went from pastoral to…agricultural machinery with a mission.
What do hair and Haiti have in common? A lot, apparently, if you’re a woman of God who loves both. Find out about the journey of Salem Hicks, now a Hair Salon entrepreneur that God put in Haiti so she could birth the vision He created!
Imagine having 700 children. And someone asks “who’s your favorite?” That’s a tough question for the Product Marketing Business Leader of Dayspring – it’s like picking a favorite child! Hear how they go about choosing products and what prayer has to do with it. www.iWork4Him.com
You know what happens when you say “never”, right? Find out what happened to Dawn Stanford, Dayspring’s Business Development Manager when she said it…and how God used it! We talk career changes, being a control freak, and why one should never say ”never” – especially to the Almighty.
How can you turn YOUR workplace into a mission field? Find out in this convo with Mike Henry, who started Follower-Of-One. Discover this unique way to go on a no-cost mission trip! Give your thinking a Jesus-sized shift today. www.iWork4Him.com
Who makes the most impact in the workplace? Is it the management? Or someone else? Find out the answer...and what YOU can do to impact others from Dr. Paul White, author and psychologist, so you can flourish in your workplace. www.iWork4Him.com
What will people say about you when you’re gone? Join us to hear from Dayspring executive Stephen Bos, about how your personal brand can impact your ability to live out your faith at work. Straight from the company’s headquarters in Arkansas.
www.iWork4Him.com
WHO’s leading YOUR leadership? We hear how two leaders have had their leadership transformed and now share that with others. www.iWork4Him.com
Curious to know how to build a Kingdom business? This is it. This podcast has the answer and template for how to build and lead a business for God’s glory. Hear about how with Kingdom Leadership workshops and their template to build a business God’s way.
Are you trying to be everything to everybody? There’s another way to live. Meet the anti-wonder woman TJ Tison and her powerful “Working Women of Faith” community. And find out how you can get a WWOF started in your neck of the woods www.iWork4Him.com
What if you LOOKED FORWARD to Monday? You can. Meet Doug Spada, author of Monday Morning Atheist. Hear the what, why and how of switching from “TGIF” to “TGIM” – Thank God It’s Monday! And learn how to thrive at work on Monday.
Why have a bible study at your workplace? Tony Dale, founder of Sedera Health details his “Wisdom Journey Bible Study”, which offers an opportunity for employees and managers to have God-conversations for the greater good of his company and their families. www.iwork4him.com
What happens when you ask God to stretch you? Find out as we interview two ministry leaders in Jacksonville, Florida: Lifework Leadership, which provides Christian leadership training and The Potter’s House – serving the city.
Featured Guests: Tammie McClafferty & Glenn Henderson
The story and influence of FCCI. Taped on location from D.C. at the Impact Summit (a gathering of over 400 leaders in the faith and work movement to build kingdom collaboration). Meet Bobby Mitchell &Chad Merrill of FCCI
Meet the patriarch of the Faith and Work Movement: Os Hillman. Hear his journey around “calling” and studying God’s word on faithful work. And catch a glimpse of the faith and work movement, where it’s been and where it’s headed.
www.iWork4Him.com
What does divorce cost you, the employer? More than you think. Tune into this podcast with Jim and Martha Brangenberg, avid marriage mentors, and hear about the hard costs, and potential options employers can offer their employees. www.iWork4Him.com
It’s okay to make a profit in your business, isn’t it? What’s the difference between leading and managing? Tune in to this podcast to hear the answers to some provocative questions like these, from Bobby Albert, of Values-Driven Leadership.
Every business is a ministry and...Every ministry is a business. Hear about the Wise Counsel round-table group and from some of their members, and how to build businesses with a solid foundation of character, morals and spiritual principles.
Is it possible to have a new purpose at 65? Why yes, yes it is. Hear a not-done-yet story of business ownership, from Lyle and Sara Squires – a married couple who God decided they should do it again. For His Glory. www.iWork4Him.com
How do YOU measure success in your work? Hear from the Housh’s who own a roofing company that gives all the glory to Christ. Hear about what Arry means when he says they measure success by looking back. www.iWork4Him.com
Where do you go looking for Christ? Jon Dengler, bike enthusiast, bike shop owner and now bike minister, shares his story of finding Christ through LSD, and on the streets with the homeless. Another bike brother and fellow minister, Pat Simmons shares Bikes for Christ.. www.iWork4Him.com
Could owning a franchise change your life? Quite possibly, it could be your calling. Greg Carr, left his job, left his state (sounds like an Abraham assignment) and started a business, with a lot of faith and little else. www.iWork4Him.com
Is your life filled with tombstones or steppingstones? Meet Dr. Dan Middlebrooks of Chaplaincy Care, Inc and his soul-saving organization that is bringing hope, healing and salvation to first responders. www.iWork4Him.com
Ever wonder if you’re living your calling?
Dr. Chip Roper and friends are living in their calling, thanks to the work of the Voca Center in the City the Never Sleeps. Hear about their work and nuggets of wisdom on how to live YOUR calling. www.iWork4Him.com
Forget normal, let’s live a SUPER-normal life! Dr. Jim Harris joins us for a high-octane conversation that just may turn your perspective inside-out! Learn how to live super-naturally in your work. It’s a gift!. www.iwork4him.com
A construction company built with wisdom. John DeAngelis shares about his biblically based business practices, and how he built a successful commercial construction company –and how Giant Worldwide helped. www.iworkforhim.com
Emails – they are useful, but can get us in trouble… Don’t we all know it! We interviewed noted relationship expert, Emerson Eggerichs, to talk about his recent book and get us into some new, better emailing habits. www.iWork4Him.com
Undercover Boss made her famous. Christ makes her an excellent leader. Hear the story of the Dwyer Group, and their 21 franchise brands, management and her views on the dog-eat-dog world for women as executives and the environment for women who lead with faith.
What is a Kingdom calling? Do you have one? ‘Kingdom Calling’ is one of the top 5 Faith and Work books ever written. Her perspective on our work, is life and work changing. www.iWork4Him.com
Do YOU understand your Kingdom calling? Even if you do, take a listen. Dr. Amy Sherman wrote the definitive book on faith and work ‘Kingdom Calling’, and her book is a great place to start! She wants us Christ-followers to cause rejoicing in the city because of how God is using us.
There is such a thing as a Kingdom business: So, what does that look like? Enter Betenbough Homes out of Lubbock, Texas. They have the formula and share it with others through Kingdom At Work. www.iWork4Him.com
Is your business your ministry? Want it to be? Look no further for great role models, and business models, than Betenbough Homes and its Christian Leadership outreach: Kingdom at Work. www.iwork4him.com
Challenge your Christianity. You’ll be challenged, maybe even a tad offended by Carmen LaBerge, a “truth telling it like it is” radio talk show host, who shares her views on really LIVING like a Christ-follower, in every conversation. www.iWork4Him.com
Are you speaking the TRUTH all day, in all convos? We had the honor of having Christian radio talk show host, Carmen LaBerge, with us to hear how she works daily to make sure that we ALL see God in the details of current events. www.iWork4Him.com
How do you go about changing an entire city for God? We find out at the headquarters of the Austin Bridge Builders Alliance in Texas. They don’t build highway bridges, but they build relationship bridges between marketplace Christ followers.
What happens when the Lord gives you the world by the time you’re 40? We found out with Ward Brehm and his book – ‘Bigger Than Me’. Ward got super transparent about how success left him empty. And what God did with that emptiness. www.iWork4Him.com
What’s it mean to be REALLY accountable? What’s it look like to work in a company that puts accountability at the top of their core values? Hear how it affects their culture, from Philip Struble, President of a national urban-engineering company. www.iWork4Him.com
A job change CAN change your life…But you need to be prepared for that kind of decision. Dr. Andrew Spencer’s life changed when he did, and God led him to five questions to ask yourself before making the switch. www.iWork4Him.com
Is there benefit to rest while we work? Find out what an Unhurried Leader is from the author, Alan Fadling, as he schools us on “unhurried living and working”. Find out how to be an unhurried leader and their secrets to “success”. You can start now by slowing down and listening NOW! www.iWork4Him.com
What’s the payoff to slowing down? We find out from Alan Fadling, author of “The Unhurried Leader”. Hear the value of slowing down. Unhurried leaders understand the importance of certain things they DON’T do. Slow down and listen to this life-changing conversation. www.iWork4Him.com
Can a business roundtable change your life? Yes. Hear member stories and testimonies on how the power of Truth at Work executive roundtable groups are impacting lives both inside the workplace - and out. Hear from TAW’s CEO as he shares his vision and how you can get involved. www.iWork4Him.com
What if we could experience God WHILE we work? We hear from some friends of author John Van Sloten, (and John of course) who wrote: Every Job a Parable – a unique take on EVERYONE’S work, no matter “how big or small”. www.iWork4Him.com
Is there any job too small or insignificant to God? No, says John Van Sloten. His new book “Every Job a Parable”, takes a fresh look at connecting our faith and our work. Learn how to take a Biblical look at your job and how it’s a parallel story to who God is – and what He’s doing. www.iWork4Him.com
What IS God-centered investing? Can you have a God-honoring portfolio that DOES make money? You sure can. Learn more about the merits of Biblically-Responsible Investing (BRI) from Luke Andrews. He uncovers the nitty gritty of why this method is more than just good for your bank account – it’s gold for your eternal life as well. www.iWork4Him.com
Does God care about money? Does He care about how you invest your money? Hear about a fairly new concept called Biblically-Responsible Investing (BRI). A trusted advisor friend of ours, Luke Andrews, discusses why this method is more than just good for your bank account – it’s good for your eternal life as well. www.iWork4Him.com
Do you know your legal rights as a Christian? Join David Gibbs III, a Christ following lawyer and his purpose in life is to protect our rights. He is one of our favorite guests. You will hear the most up-to-date advice on how to protect yourself as a working Christ-follower in the workplace. www.iWork4Him.com
What do you get when you mix a lawyer and a Christian? David Gibbs III. A Christ following lawyer whose purpose in life is to protect the rights of Christians. This is a FAVORITE GUEST of ours, and a FAVORITE EPISODE. The best, most up-to-date advice - straight from the source. Get some answers to the legalities of being a working Christian. www.iWork4Him.com
Can a lawyer be Christian? Hmmm….meet David Gibbs III. If you’ve ever wondered if we still have any rights in the workplace, take a listen! You will learn the legalities of being a working Christian today. www.iWork4Him.com
A personal journey through suicide and burnout.
Hear from Steve Ramseur, President of Occupier Services at JLL, as he transparently shares his amazing journey of faith, born out of his work. www.iWork4Him.com
Do Christians experience burnout? We believe they do.
Steve Ramseur, President of Occupier Services at JLL, shares a story of the lows of suicidal thoughts and the fallout and then redemption, of his burnout, and what God did with it. www.iWork4Him.com
Does your entrepreneurial spirt come from God? Hear entrepreneur Matthew Bell’s take on why some of us value independence and creativity first. The author of the “Kingdom Powered Entrepreneur” empowering message. www.iWork4Him.com
Is your entrepreneurship a God-given drive? Matthew Bell thinks it is. Hear his unique perspective of why many of us have the drive for innovation and independence! The author of the “Kingdom Powered Entrepreneur” enlightens us on just that idea. www.iWork4Him.com
Conflict between generations. You can live with it and watch a culture deteriorate or learn from it and watch a culture thrive. Together a Boomer and a Millennial transparently share how to not only work together but THRIVE at work by discussing their book: MillennialBoom! www.iWork4Him.com
Want some unique charitable ideas? If you own or lead a company, hear about some unique funding ideas to support and come alongside employees in distress. Helping Hands Ministries specializes in helping others be generous with the blessings their work provides.
How do you honor God with your money? Find out from two financial dynamos: Luke Andrews Dave Kruis, BRI experts (Biblical Responsible Investing) – do YOU know about that yet? Don’t let your portfolio miss out… www.iWork4Him.com
Discipleship. Be One, Make One, so says Chad Hood. It’s something we all have been called to do, but where do we even start? “Go Disciple” has those answers. Find out how Chad got the call to help fill the ranks of believers and some of the best discipleship wisdom we’ve heard in a while!
Can a business redeem people? Yes, and here’s how!
Enter Roger Ross and Bill Wolf of Think Utility Services, and their company has an environmental and financial model that helps everyone save money AND saves souls. www.iWork4Him.com
Discover a company that puts autistic folks to work. It’s not about fixing autism, it’s about putting them and their unique giftings into specialized high-end (not fast-food) jobs, where they flourish. This one will warm your brain and your heart.
Have you bought into one of Satan’s greatest lies? Hear about that from Dave Kahle, a leader in Christ-based selling. Learn more about his faith-based philosophy of selling, and how you can do it to honor God and your company. www.iWork4Him.com
What is one of Satan’s greatest coups? Hint: it relates to faith and work. So says Dave Kahle, renowned author and speaker. Hear about his Christian philosophy of selling, what it’s made of and how you can do it with integrity. www.iWork4Him.com
How can you be an underground evangelist? We were in Sarasota, Florida to highlight Helping Hands Ministries about how creative giving can change lives within your organization. Hear from client Tammy Daum on how she mentors leaders to be the best, with God at the helm.
Have you ever thought of being a mentor? Meet Bill Hendricks of “The Giftedness Center”. Bill shares what mentoring is, success stories, and why this investment glorifies God and is the best investment in the Kingdom. www.iWork4Him.com
To be or not to be a mentor, that is the question. That was the question asked in Dallas of Bill Hendricks of “The Giftedness Center”. Bill talked mentoring, and being mentored, and why BOTH are a crucial investment in the Kingdom. www.iWork4Him.com
Love or hate conflict, it’s still inevitable. Check out our chat on conflict and how to resolve it in the workplace. Handling conflict in the workplace – Texas Christ-follower style – with a British influence! www.iWork4Him.com
Is there Millennials vs. Boomers conflict? Yep. Hear from both who wrote a book together, that shares both generations’ perspectives, Tune in and learn how we, as believers, can be leaders in resolving these conflicts and impact our organization’s culture. www.iWork4Him.com
An interview with James Barnett, President of DaySpring. Learn how DaySpring is providing cards and gifts we can use to keep Christ at the center of our everyday conversations. Learn how James and DaySpring actively integrate their faith and work.
Business and poverty – is there a connection? Find out as we talked about just that with Dr. E. Calvin Beisner and Ephie Johnson from “Neighborhood Christian Centers”. Join us as we talk real solutions for a tough subject. www.iWork4Him.com
Business and poverty – is there a connection? Find out as we talked about just that with Dr. E. Calvin Beisner and Ephie Johnson from “Neighborhood Christian Centers”. Join us as we talk real solutions for a tough subject. www.iWork4Him.com
Perry Marshall, born the kid of a pastor, with an entrepreneurial spirit is truly passionate about Christians influencing their workplace. He is a top-tier businessman of faith, letting us peak inside his mind and heart.
Hear from one of the most expensive consultants in the world. Perry Marshall, passionate top-tier businessman of faith, shares his view of ministry, faith at work, and his unique view of culture.
Intentionally preparing students to go into the world as Salt & Light! Of all the reasons to choose an institution, this is a motivation like no other. Students at Arizona Christian University are taught to connect their faith in all they do. It’s an iWork4Him University at its core! www.iWork4Him.com
Are the next generation of college students prepared to be faith-driven workers? Find out IF they are, and if they are… find out HOW they are being prepared to live out their Christian faith IN their work and workplace, by being equipped, by Arizona Christian University. www.iWork4Him.com
Can a college campus become a ministry? It sure can! Love2020 and Ben Sanders from the Arizona State University introduced us to an innovative Kingdom unity idea that is changing the college campuses for Christ! www.iWork4Him.com
A college campus ministry innovation. The ministry of Love2020 brought Ben Sanders out of the Arizona State University to talk about an innovative Kingdom unity idea (on the quad)! www.iWork4Him.com
Ever met a Christian Human Resources Director? Is that even legal? Find out how HR at a faith-based company handles the question “why are you letting me go?” The answer is astonishingly candid, and glorifying. www.iWork4Him.com
IS business a more effective church model? YES, say CEO and author Lonnie Gienger, author of the book “Beyond Business”. Hear his unique perspective of the marketplace being THE mission field. www.iWork4Him.com
IS business a more effective church model? YES, says CEO and author Lonnie Gienger, author of “Beyond Business." Hear his unique perspective of the marketplace being THE mission field. www.iWork4Him.com
What is a Faith Driven Entrepreneur? Find out what that means, and how this is a high-level model. Henry Kaestner (who is one!) details how he and his team is building up Christ-centered business people and providing capital to launch them.
What is a Faith Driven Entrepreneur? Find out what that means, and how this is a high-level model. Henry Kaestner (who is one!) details how he and his team is building up Christ-centered business people and providing capital to launch them.
Meet an unapologetic business owner. He gets it. He gets what being a Kingdom business “steward” is all about and running the biznistry (business as ministry) he stewards, for God. www.iWork4Him.com
Can a cleaning franchise be eternally successful? Hear insights from Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services employees. Are the stories of uber-successful franchise owners too good to be true? Listen and find out! www.iWork4Him.com
Is business “redeemed” by God? Hear about this concept from Boomer Brown, which enables folks to live their faith at work via his ministry, Doing good at Work, which delivers a framework that reduces frustration, maximizes opportunity, and increases the bottom line.
How can a ministry span generations? Navigators, a ministry that shares the gospel one-on-one, is creating generations of believers taking part in the faith at work movement from a global perspective.
The addiction of control is curable. How? Find out how from author, speaker, Christ-follower, supermom and workplace revolutionary, Stephanie Winslow. Learn more about the faith and work issues faced by women in the workplace.
Love, dignity & respect can transform work. Nancy McDonnell and friends join us from the ministry, “Value of the Person”, out of Pennsylvania. They introduce us to the awesome power of love and its impact on employees and organizations.
It’s a strange mix, but someone has to do it! Can you serve God by killing bugs? A pest company, EnviroPest with hearts4Him, do their business, His way. Also, Thrivent advisor Tom shares a kingdom perspective. www.iWork4Him.com
Do you know what YOUR investments are funding? There’s a new sheriff in investment town, and he’s showing us the hidden dangers in our 401Ks and retirement accounts. If you haven’t heard of BRI, you need to. www.Iwork4Him.com
Ever think you have your career figured out? Listener Kirk Walker Sr. reached out a bit ago to relay a story that we just HAD to get onto the airwaves. Tune into this podcast that features Kirk’s testimony of how he started with mopping hospital floors to becoming a hospice nurse and leading folks into heaven.
Ever feel like you’re stretched too thin? It’s a phrase many working women feel describe them. Hear from working mom Jessica Turner to get some solid advice on how to deal with the myriad pressures and stressors that bombard all of us on a daily basis. www.iWork4Him.com
Discover an A/C business that God built. Hear the story of two alumni turned business owners, brought together for His Glory, going through a faith-based leadership program called LifeWork Leadership. www.iWork4Him.com
How can you evangelize at work? Mollie Yoder with PTL joined us to not only detail the original story of The League, but she also invited some colleagues to share how they’ve saved souls with this amazing little book. www.iWork4Him.com
Do you know about the temptations at work? Have your eyes opened about the eleven temptations to avoid at work from authors Steve Reynolds and David Winters. Hear what the number one temptation is and what you can do to avoid it! www.iWork4Him.com
An interview with an unlikely CFO. Martha B. and Caroline M. take the reins to chat with a faith-based leader, Lisa Zeeveld, CFO of Belay Solutions, a hip virtual-assistant virtually run company. www.iWork4Him.com
A business as ministry by cleaning offices. Tune in to hear Office Pride owner, Todd Hopkins introduce us to franchisees, Dre & Karie Truitt, whose story will make you laugh, and truly consider how you can build the Kingdom with your business. www.iWork4Him.com
Is your perspective tainted? Hear the story of one leader – Tom Harper, CEO of Networld Media Group – who learned from finding the trees in the forest as he shares from his latest book, “Through Colored Glasses”. www.iWork4Him.com
Everyday generosity? Every Day! HOW? Easy? – well, maybe not that easy, but worth it – it takes God-led, intentional movement and processes. Hear how from a father-son duo, Drew and Brad Formsma. www.iWork4Him.com
Who’s turning Sunday's inspiration into Monday's perspiration? Get a taste of how Kingdom Way Ministries is "Making Work and Ministry One" and hear from a slew of workplace missionaries of all shapes and sizes. http://www.iWork4Him.com
Who’s turning Sunday's inspiration into Monday's perspiration? Get a taste of how Kingdom Way Ministries is "Making Work and Ministry One" and hear from a slew of workplace missionaries of all shapes and sizes. http://www.iWork4Him.com
How did the CEO of a construction company reshape it for God? Hear from Dale Hahs and two Marketplace Chaplains and the transformation that occurred when he implemented chaplains in his company. www.iWork4Him.com
The Christian Business Network is global. Online. Connecting diverse believers all over the world. Find out more about this new platform. Plus, learn a solid Christian apology format, that works at home and work. www.iWork4Him.com
Business transformations are happening in Minnesota. “Ambassadors for Business” are helping to connect business peoples’ faith values and work, more consistently. Interviews of several of AFB 400+ members and AFB’s impact on their leadership.
The XYZ’ers are having a quarter-life crisis! The up and coming Millennial + generations are having their mid-life crisis EARLY, in their twenties! Hear about this dilemma facing the younger generations and hear some solutions to dealing with it. www.iWork4Him.com
What is our soul’s purpose? Author Craig McAndrews helps us Christians discover how to live our faith at work practically, vs. theologically, and to be active in what God has prepared for us. www.iWork4Him.com
How can you engage your church in faith at work? Hear about a faith at work ministry that will do that for you. The Call to Work ministry has the answer and a program to get your church (the ‘old dog’) “learning a new trick”. www.iWork4Him.com
Jesus LIKES me? Why care about that? That’s just a slice of our discussion with Matt Bird from the UK, who was back with us to talk more about relationships, cycles and great snippets of Bird-isms to change your perspective! www.iWork4Him.com
A business as ministry by cleaning offices. Tune in to hear Office Pride owner, Todd Hopkins introduce us to franchisees, Dre & Karie Truitt, whose story will make you laugh, and truly consider how you can build the Kingdom with your business. www.iWork4Him.com
What’s a city movement? Find out from Rich Carney, Executive Director at Austin Bridge Builders Alliance, and find out how he’s transformed cities for the past two decades, and how the city of Austin is being transformed now, for God. www.iWork4Him.com
Do women still need to act like men in business? No, says Dania Heffington, Director of Member Experience at Sedera Health, a faith-based company in Austin, Texas. Hear more ideas of how all of us can use our gifts in the workplace to glorify God. www.iWork4Him.com.
Why are Christians losing rights at work? Hear why from David Gibbs III from the National Center for Life and Liberty. David brings real-world examples – and serious truths – to show HOW we can legally share our faith in the workplace. www.iWork4Him.com.
Apartments as MISSION FIELDS?! That’s exactly where Sean Bailey and company are operating with their organization, Apartment Life, which is bringing Jesus to this living space; one unit at a time. www.iWork4Him.com.
Hear about a couple who blend spices for God. Hear how they operate a business as a “biznistry”(business as ministry) who are bringing taste and innovation to food - all with a healthy pinch of Redemption and Truth.
Discover the economics of “relationomics”.
What happens when we put the customer and the stockholder first? Miserable employees. Dr. Randy Ross advocates ANOTHER WAY... www.iWork4Him.com
Discover the economics of “relationomics”.
What happens when we put the customer and the stockholder first? Miserable employees. Dr. Randy Ross advocates ANOTHER WAY... www.iWork4Him.com
What is a Kingdom-driven entrepreneur? Hear from Shae Bynes of Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur about a new entrepreneurial model that inspires you to do business yielded and in partnership with our awesome and limitless God! www.iWork4Him.com
Find out the true reason behind God’s blessing you. And discover a new way to take worry OFF of your staff and bless them at the same time. www.iWork4Him.com
WiLd Leaders is whole-person leader development. Dr. Rob McKenna and Dr. Daniel Hallak introduce us to their ministry and the WiLD Leader concept, which is a metrics-based intentional leader development model. www.iWork4Him.com
Communication is a gift from God. Hear from Dr. Teresa Moon about how her organization equips youth to integrate lessons from both high-tech and high-touch learning environments for real-world application. www.iWork4Him.com
Communication is a gift from God. Hear from Dr. Teresa Moon about how her organization equips youth to integrate lessons from both high-tech and high-touch learning environments for real-world application. www.iWork4Him.com
Can our workplace be a God-connection for others? It sure can. Find the what, when, why and how a corporate chaplain can be the love of Christ to your employees. www.iWork4Him.com
What’s a great tool for sharing your faith at work? Find out as we chat with David Collum and Mollie Yoder, two experts in sharing your faith in the workplace. www.iWork4Him.com
Have you heard about the Foster Care crisis? Hear from some team members of the National Center for Life and Liberty about the foster care system, that every adult in the U.S. needs to hear. And the role YOUR church can play in it. www.iWork4Him.com
A judge, a developer, a salesman, and a farm guy? Find out what they all have in common, and how they come together, sharing their lives in a Business Community Network for the greater good of encouraging each other and the community.
Hip Hop’s Nigel “Legin” Anderson impacts Virginia. Hear this fresh and funky rap session on how the Lord is using Legin and his crew’s Hip Hop poetry to impact the urban community of Hampton Roads, VA. www.iWork4Him.com
What’s the answer to generational division? Find out from Dr. Arthur Satterwhite, member of Young Life, whose mission is to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith. www.iWork4Him.com
How do you make YOUR culture flourish? Two executives of the Christian Leadership Alliance’s OUTCOMES Conference in Dallas join us for an in-depth conversation on how workplace cultures flourish with the right intentions. iWork4Him.com
What’s love got to do with leadership? Dr. Steve Greene says everything. Learn how he’s reshaping the faith community with his podcast network, new magazine, and latest book, “Love Leads”. www.iWork4Him.com
Can office politics be Christ-like? Yes, says Ellie Nieves of Leadership Strategies for Women. From our “SheWorks4Him” Series we uncover her lessons on office politics and her thoughts on Christian women’s leadership.
How do you transform a city? It starts with a group of Christ-followers, praying together, from ALL spheres of influence, with one common vision. Hear the story of how Transformation Jacksonville is changing their city, for God’s glory.
You need to know Jeremie Kubicek Part 2. He’s leading the charge to change leadership. His tagline: Let the world fund me to influence it. This man is turning leadership UPSIDE DOWN. Find out how. www.iWork4Him.com
You need to know Jeremie Kubicek. He’s leading the charge to change leadership. His tagline: Let the world fund me to influence it. This man is turning leadership UPSIDE DOWN. Find out how. www.iWork4Him.com
Think as a Christian you should AVOID culture? Think again and find out why and HOW you should engage with it. www.iWork4Him.com
How do you influence culture? And how do you change it? Find out how Bill Montgomery, Maricopa County (AZ) County Attorney, makes a stand and changes his county culture for Christ.
The pastor-hood is obsolete, so say two IT professionals from the American Bible Society. And that we are all now pastors (or should be acting like it) today. Plus, what is “.BIBLE”? Hear more @ www.iWork4Him.com.
Open your eyes to the legal side of our faith, as Tonya Shellnut of the Alliance Defending Freedom shares what’s going on legally with Christianity around the country and how WE can be prepared for our own battles. www.iWork4Him.com
Ready to be challenged about YOUR investments? Hear about a new investment concept that EVERY Christian should know about and implement, yesterday!
Hear more about Matt’s unique take on “networking” and what the better alternative is for us Christians. Hint: It has to do with giving and getting…
For every problem a company leader knows about, that is only 20% of what is happening in their workforce. The unseen 80% are the rest of co-workers that are NOT talking. There’s a solution for this. www.iWork4Him.com
What’s a fourth quarter call? Find out as Dr. Jim Harris tells about his call to a fourth quarter shift, God’s way. Visit www.iWork4Him.com.
Find out the true reason behind God’s blessing you. And discover a new way to take worry OFF of your staff and bless them at the same time. Visit www.iWork4Him.com.
What if we lived our work every day as a mission trip? Find out about a new concept in “doing mission trips” where you work. With intentionality, purpose and Kingdom-size results!
www.iWork4Him.com
Fresh wisdom is harvested from a Pennsylvania Amish country business owner, which includes one of the most outrageous comments about Christians and common sense we’ve heard yet.
www.iWork4Him.com
Ever tried “Mental Toughness, Extra Effort”? That would be when we rely on ourselves to muscle through the valleys in life, vs. relying on and following God. Find out what happens when our Texas business owner learns a BIG lesson.
Do YOU need some generational reconciliation? Find out by listening to Brian & Gabrielle Bosche, Millennial consultants, and hear how they are solving the workplace problems of multiple generations working together.
Hear about a “for-profit” ministry disguised as a junkyard! Learn more about this father’s junkyard wisdom with Christ at the center of it. And the invaluable lessons he handed down to his son. www.iWork4Him.com
Your workplace is your mission field! iWork4Him PowerPod hosts Jim and Martha Brangenberg ask workplace leaders hard questions to discover how people are living out their faith at work. Subscribe today!