iWork4Him PowerThought

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?