APRIL 

​

Last year team USA won the 4 x 100 meter relay race at the World Championships.  The anchor leg, and the star that got to cross the finish line was speedster, Noah Lyles. 

 

Lyles wouldn’t have been able to cross the finish line with his arms raised in victory, if it wouldn’t have been for the other three runners on his team. 

 

One of our victories as workplace Christians, is to see others come to know Christ. It is great to be the anchor leg, the one who leads someone directly to Christ. However, most of our time is spent being the lead off or middle runners. In those roles we plant seeds, share our knowledge and testimony about Christ with others. 

 

Always be ready to “run” for Christ, no matter what role you find yourself in.

 

Stay tuned, next month we’re going to talk about how to do this in more detail.

 

1 Peter 3:15 ESV

”But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.“

​

ARE YOU READY

​

During the late 1980’s, the NBA’s “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons, won back to back Championships. One of their dynamic bench players was Vinnie Johnson. 

 

He averaged as many as 15 points a game. Johnson’s nickname was the Microwave. It was given to him because he was always ready. He was prepped and ready to be inserted and score at any moment.

 

How about you? What do you need to do to be ready when God calls you?

 

If God calls you to move to a different job or career or volunteer for an assignment at work, will you be ready? If someone in your workplace asks you to tell them about Jesus, will you be ready?

 

Philemon 1:6

”And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.“

                                                                   

​

THANKFULNESS

​

As a Christian in the workplace, we always have the choice of being thankful or not. God graciously gives us the free will to choose.

 

Have you ever got so busy that you forgot to do something important? This is often the case with the practice of thankfulness. 

 

Here’s a quick list of some do’s and don’ts that will help you stay on top of your thankfulness game!

 

DO

• Thank God for His blessings

• Thank Him for your gifts and talents

• Keep a humble heart

 

DON’T

• Let you heart fill with “self-made” pride 

• Try to impress others, only God

• Take all the credit in workplace successes 

God has given us the gifts and talents that we use every day in our workplace. Let us always be thankful for that. Any success we have, is a direct result of those gracious gifts.

​

1 Thessalonians 5:18- Give thanks, in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

 

Colossians 3:17- Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything, in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him.

​

STAYING IN ALIGNMENT

 

Last month we talked about the importance of letting God establish our priorities in life.

When we assume sole responsibility of setting up our priorities, we expose ourselves to aligning with the world’s priorities instead of God’s.

 

Here’s what God’s word, says about some of the most important topics in our lives.

 

God- He is our counselor and guide. (Romans 12:2)  

Health- Without our health, our ability to influence many things on this list may be limited. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) 

Family- Our families and their proper structure, have been ordained by God (Genisis 2:23-24)

Work- Gives us purpose, generates provisions and permits us to glorify God. (Proverbs 16:3)

 

Are you focusing more on what society values or what God values?

​

​

MAKING GREAT TIME

​

The late great baseball player, Yogi Berra, got lost on his way to his Hall of Fame induction. He looked at his wife and said, “We’re lost, but we’re making good time!”  That’s a funny comment but in Yogi’s humor is some wisdom that can be applied to us as workplace believers.

 

How often have we let our to-do lists and responsibilities at work take priority over God or family time?   There have been many hard workers who were “making great time” in their careers but were totally lost to their families and God.  Two friendly reminders:  1) always let the Lord set your priorities and 2) the reality is that you will never finish everything that needs to be done at work…there is always more work to be done!

 

This month, keep your priorities in-line with what God’s word says. Stick around for next month’s tip as we dive deeper into this topic!

 

Proverbs 5:23- He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.

 

 

1 Timothy 3:5- If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?

​

​

INTENTIONAL TIME WITH GOD

Last month's tip addressed how the pace of our lives can often feel overwhelmingly busy, and that we need to set time aside for God.  This month let's go a step further: while it is important to set time aside with God, it's also important to be intentionally still during that time.

 

Often times, our busy mindset carries into our scripture readings. Sometimes we even find ourselves mindlessly going through verses, almost as if we’re checking Bible time off, on a to do list.

 

When we are still and know that He is God and that He is in control, He will be exalted in our minds and in our lives.

​

In Psalm 23:2, David writes, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” Note the key action words here – makes me, leads me, refreshes me.

 

Take time today to unplug from your work and your busy schedule. Be intentional about being still with God.

 

Psalm 46:10

“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

​

TAKING ACTION

​

You can have all the biblical knowledge in the world but if you don’t put it into action, it means very little. Tom Cruise’s character Maverick, in the original Top Gun movie was an amazing pilot. He was smart, skillful, and confident. In one scene, he was pushed to his mental limit and was not responding well when another character yelled at him these famous words "Engage Maverick! Engage!" This quote is one we all need to tell ourselves on occasion. 

 

It is easy for us to get settled in our routines and comfort zones. But, there are times when God wants us out of those comfort zones and taking action. When you feel that nudge from God leading you to do something, don’t hesitate, just engage!

 

James 1:22

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves 

 

James 4:17

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin

​

GOD's GLORY

Last month’s tip focused on spiritual training; specifically on spending consistent time in prayer and reading the Bible. Let’s take that a step further this month by focusing on two additional practices. 

 

1. God gets the glory- As a workplace believer in Jesus, our vocation is not a pedestal; it’s a platform. God has given us the ability to glorify Him. When we see the workplace as an opportunity to impact others, God will be glorified, and lives will be transformed! 

 

2. God leads us- He will lead us through Scripture, prayer, discipleship (sharing God’s love and message with others), and any circumstance that we encounter.  
 

In summary, this month, focus on two things. Give God the glory by directing your adoration, thanksgiving, and worship to Him. The second is to stretch your faith; let God lead you and give Him control even when you are afraid to.

 

Next month’s tip, the third part of this series, will be focusing on how to put into action, what we have learned the past two months.

 

 

1 Corinthians 10:31

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 

 

Isaiah 48:17

Thus says the  Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. 

​

​

​

​

​

​