Creating time for God

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Have you ever filled your task list and calendar so full that only rest came when forced buy an illness or catastrophe?

 

When we fill our lives with too much busyness, important things often get pushed aside. Our families, the quality of our work, and quality time with Jesus, all generally suffer.

 

We schedule things for work, doctors appointments and more. What if you set a daily appointment with Jesus in your calendar? 

 

Amidst a busy schedule, Jesus found time to be with the father and so should we. 

 

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

 

Mark 1:35 "Before daybreak, the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray." 

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James 4:8 "Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world."

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HAPPINESS....AT WORK 

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Baseball Hall of Famer, Willie Mays was one of the greatest to ever play the game. During his career he had 3,283 hits, 660 home runs, a .302 career batting average, and he played in 24 All-Star games!

 

When asked how he handled disappointment over the 70% of at-bats that didn’t end in hits, Willie simply said, “I like to play happy.”  Because baseball was his career, Willie could have just as easily said "I like to work happy".

 

As a Christian, Willie knew that failure didn’t define him and he chose a grateful attitude. We too can chose to “play happy” because God’s Spirit walks with us in every day and in every moment. 

 

When we live with joyful intention directed by God's Spirit, we can handle the strikeouts of our workday just like Willie and keep a joyful spirit. Also, others will see it and may want to know your secret. That’s how the door to sharing the gospel gets opened.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:12 "I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live."

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Proverbs 17:22 "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

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REACHING YOUR FULL POTENTIAL 

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In the workplace, we should always strive to be the best that we can be. We do this by working hard and always looking for ways to improve.

 

But what if there was more to reaching our full potential than just that?

What if there was a way to tap into a spiritual source of strength and power? That’s where Jesus comes in. Jesus is the ultimate source of strength and power. He is the one who can help us to overcome any obstacle.

 

If you’re struggling to reach your full potential, remember Jesus is alongside you. He can give you the strength to persevere. There will be times when you want to give up. But Jesus can give you the strength to keep going!

 

 

Hebrews 12:2 "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

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Isaiah 41:13 "For I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you."

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THE ROOTS OF TEAM

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You see it all the time in the workplace, a business or department that is built around one person. In some cases as soon as they are no longer on the team, it falls apart. 

 

This is not because the others aren’t more talented, but because they had placed all their confidence in one person or sometimes themselves, instead of the whole team. 

 

The same is true in our spiritual lives. It’s easy for us to place our confidence in people and in worldly things. The Bible teaches us that we need to place our confidence in Christ, not people. Furthermore, the scriptures teach us to support each other, as we are all a part of the body of Christ. 

 

We all work as a team to build up and support the mission of bringing Christ to the workplace. Take, Christ driven action, in your workplace today. And remember, you don’t have to do it alone.

 

1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.”

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1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

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A GUIDING VOICE

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In the NFL one player from each team on offense and defense, is allowed to have a speaker in their helmet to hear their coach. From the sidelines it looks like they’re on the field alone, but there’s actually a voice guiding them.

 

As Christians we have a voice guiding us too. The Holy Spirit instructs us through our lives. He teaches, encourages, comforts, disciplines, and tells us what to do.

 

The workplace is filled with many challenges and struggles. It’s comforting to know that we are not on that field alone. The more you learn to be in sync with your Creator, the greater good you can do in your workplace, for your family and for your community. 

 

Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

 

Acts 1:8-

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

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PREPARATION 

Most of us have a routine in preparing for our workday. Some of us get our tools laid out, others gather what is needed for their first task or meeting of the day. These workplace routines help us get into the mindset of working and prepare us for our day. 

 

Something essential before we do anything is prayer.

Prayer does not guarantee us a trouble free day, but it does help us remember who is in control of everything.

 

As Christians, we know there is enormous power in prayer. If it is not already a part of your pre-work routine, today is a great day to start!

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1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."

 

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

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ALWAYS BE READY

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It has been said that the backup quarterback is the toughest position on a football team. They have to train and prepare just like the starter but, they never know when or if, they’re going to get to play.

 

As Christians in the workplace we may often feel the same way. We spend time in training (prayer and reading the Bible) but don’t always get the opportunity to share Christ with others.

 

There will come a time when someone in the workplace will ask you about your faith. Our role is to continue to train and always be prepared to give a worthy response. 

 

If you want God to line up more of those opportunities, pray about it. He will open those doors.

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1 Peter 3:15

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”

 

Matthew 7:7

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

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WHO GETS THE GLORY

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It’s baked in our culture: the push to move yourself up the ladder of influence. From self-indulgent social media posts to opportunistic workplace motives. It’s easy to fall into the trap of amassing as much glory for ourselves as possible.

 

What if that glory belongs to someone else?

 

The key is to shift your focus off of yourself and on to others. Actively think about how you can make someone else’s day better, not just your own. Make it your goal to lead a life that leads people to the God, who is worthy of all praise!

 

Psalms 37:3-4

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

 

Philippians 2:3

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work, for His good pleasure.

 

To God be the glory!

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CONFIDENT COMMUNICATION

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Have you ever asked someone a question and then immediately thought, I said that completely wrong? This can often end up taking the conversation in a different direction.Asking the right questions raises our level of communication in our personal relationships and especially in the workplace. The skill of asking confident questions can help our relationship with God too. Here’s what the Bible says about it.‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬ “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬ “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”Think about some steps you may be able to take, to ask better questions of God, and those people you love and work with.

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JANUARY 2025

 

Have you ever completed a workplace task and thought to yourself afterwards, I can do better than that!

 

Most of us have experienced "I can do better than that" situations numerous times throughout a week. We do less-than-our-best as we assess the value or trade-offs of bringing our best. The bible indicates that there is at least one area that Jesus always brought his best and never sacrificed: spending quality alone time with God.

 

Moving into a new year often signifies new beginnings. Consider making a new commitment with God in 2025 to spend daily, uninterrupted, time in prayer and in reading your Bible. It will give you wisdom, direction, and fulfillment in 2025!

 

Mark 1:35- And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed, and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

 

Luke 5:16- But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

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