iWork4Him PowerThought

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?