iWork4Him PowerThought

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/

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.

https://hiswordatwork.org/april-21st-out-of-order/

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.

https://hiswordatwork.org/september-15th-quiet-please-2/

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.