Day 54 – On the Job
Brother Lawrence wrote, “A brief lifting up of the heart is enough. A brief remembrance of God, an act of inner adoration – even though on the run with sword in hand – these prayers, short as they may be, are pleasing to God and, far from causing those engaged in battle to lose courage in the most dangerous circumstances, fortify them. May he think of this as often as possible so that he becomes gradually accustomed to this simple yet holy exercise; no one sees it, and there is nothing easier than to repeat these little inner adorations frequently throughout the day.”
On the march or in the battle, Brother Lawrence writes that even a soldier can practice God’s presence. Brief moments remembering God or lifting up short prayers won’t interfere with their job, won’t bother anyone else, and will please God and bring the soldier inner strength.
Likewise in the “battle of daily life” – whether busy with some task, or interacting with people, or engaged in intellectual or creative thought – you can snatch moments of looking upward to heaven or breathing a short prayer.
You can pray about your work. You can pray for the people you work with and for. You can pray for vision in planning, wisdom in decision making, graciousness is carrying out assignments, creativity in completing projects, forgiveness in committing errors, fortitude in fulfilling responsibilities. An untapped resource.
You bring your job to God, and you bring God into your job.
Inwardly, you focus your attention upon God. You behold the Lamb of God (John 1:29). You fix the gaze of your heart upon Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).
Distractions come, of course. But once committed to live in the presence of Jesus always, even when pulled away, your attention returns again to God.
The more you focus, behold, gaze upon God, the more natural this becomes. Doing so quietly, without strain, continually. While working, God is with you and you are with God.
You stay in touch with the underground river of Christ within you throughout the day even while you’re busy.
Then, like a bird flying back to its nest, when you stop your busy activities, your heart and mind returns to the Lord and settles in the nest of his care. At the end of the day, you say to your soul, “Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you” (Psalm 116:7).
Focus your gaze upon Christ continuously! Brother Lawrence says that even the soldier in battle can do that.
Action Step: Think of one new way for bringing your job to God, and bringing God into your job.
This is God’s Word for you today,
Pastor Dave
