Prayer to start a work day with focus and joy
By Victoria Riolano
Bible Reading:
“Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. He will recognize Him in all your ways, and He will straighten your way.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
Read or listen to the following:
I felt it was packed with bamboo. After months of applying for jobs, I finally secured what I thought was my dream job. My role is to encourage students of all ages to return to school and earn the degree they wanted! I knew it would change life and inspire the masses for generations. However, I was faced with a rude awakening just a few days ago.
My job wasn’t like it looked like it was, I spent the day and night answering calls. Endless calls from students with questions about class, financial aid, and how long it will take to complete their degree. Eventually, my excitement about this job became frightening and I wondered how I could continue to move forward with a job that felt more exhausted than a job that was rewarding.
After months of frustration, I found myself in the age of tearful prayers and cried out for God to free me from this mission. But without pausing, the Lord reminded me that my role in my work is not mine! My role in this job was about students who needed encouragement, colleagues who needed to listen to the gospel, and supervisors who needed to mainly work. The Lord had a bigger plan. My role was to walk obediently and trust him in every interaction.
As stated in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will straighten your way.” Trusting in the Lord calls for us to concentrate too much on our emotions, and more on the minds of God of His children. Trusting in the Lord requires us to trust that we have been placed in the workplace intentionally and for our purposes. So, knowing that God has a better plan, we can walk in peace and joy, rather than malnutrition or complaining. When I changed my thoughts from being centered inwards and focusing on God’s will above myself, I found the power to continue even on the most challenging days.
Instead of complaining, I decided to lean on Proverbs 3:6 and acknowledge him in all my ways. Recognize and recognize importance and allow for placement. Therefore, I had to make conscious choices to make his will, his love, his words, my central focus. In doing so, the Lord forced me to lean on my relationship with my colleagues and spread the gospel at every opportunity. So, before I left my job a few years later, I was able to co-lead Bible studies for about 30 colleagues, start a mom group for those struggling to balance work and parenting, and serve my Muslim colleagues on weekly Zoom Calls. In the long run, this once read job has been my biggest joy!
Friends, our work does not need to be perfect to praise the Lord. Our prayer today is to see our workplace as an opportunity for God to use us in a powerful way. Instead of being dissatisfied with our experiences and unmet expectations, we may consider our work as a mission field. In this place, the Lord can use us to bring joy and hope to our workplace!
Let’s pray:
Lord, thank you to my workplace. My days aren’t always perfect, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to make money and gather more resources for my family. Father, I ask you to help me concentrate on what matters most: Follow your will. Show me when I made it all about me, not you. Lord, use me to share your truth at work. I seek a unique opportunity to share my testimony and spread the gospel to those in need. Help me become a bright and shining light for you at my workplace. Lord, I ask you for your help in all the work that has been placed before me. Help view them as privileges, not as burdens. Show me the huge impact of my work and how you move my life and my colleagues. Lord, help me to have joy when things feel overwhelming or frustrating. Help me to focus on you, not my feelings, in these moments. I will protect my heart from losing my heart and causing my mouth to break up when things don’t go as I believe. Please tell me how to become a Peace Maker in my workplace. Thank you for peace. Thank you for your joy. I commend him for going before me and giving him wisdom and favor in all circumstances. Again, Lord, thank you for my work. Please help me to view it as a special challenge from you, not as a given. I choose to praise you in it.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Photo credit ©Getty Images/Delmaine Donson
Victoria Riolano is a mother of eight, a veteran spouse, a professor of psychology and a doctoral student, and Victoria has learned the art of balancing her family and achieving the ultimate purpose of God in her life. Victoria holds a Masters degree in Child Psychology and is the author of two books, The Victory Walk: The 21 Days of Devotional Life and the Warrior Mother. When she is not writing, you can find her serving in her local church as the pastor’s wife, worship leader, and youth pastor. Ultimately, she hopes that a woman will lead a life of victory, hope and love. Connect to @myvictorySpeaks on Instagram at Victoria (www.victoryspeaks.org) and Social Media at Victoria Speaks by Victoria Riollano.
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