Broadcasts – Christian Working Woman

Presented by Julie Busteed How do we live our lives walking worthy of Christ and not spend our day constantly exhausted? I've been looking at how God created us to rest. And, as always, Jesus is our best example. Jesus was constantly in demand. Crowds followed him. His disciples needed him. Sick and hurting people came to him. The Pharisees watched and challenged him. And yet, Jesus made time to rest. Luke 5:16 says, But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Around this time, Jesus was healing people, and the news about him was spreading quickly. Crowds were coming to him to be healed of their diseases. Yet, right in the middle of all that demand and attention, Jesus withdrew to a lonely place and prayed. He wasn't driven by the desire to be popular, needed, or in demand. The kind of recognition that can so easily become a driving force in our lives wasn't his priority. His priority was doing the Father's will and that began with getting away from the crowds and spending time alone with God. Sometimes I think we're afraid to be alone. We need constant busyness or noise. Maybe you and I are simply so accustomed to it that we don't even notice it anymore. But we need quiet. Our souls need time alone with God. Psalm 46:10 says, Be still, and know that I am God. God calls us to himself to be still and simply be with him. Jesus also needed physical rest. John 4:6 says, Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. Jesus was tired, so he sat down and rested. He allowed the other disciples to go into town to get the supplies they needed while he stayed behind. And while he rested, he had an amazing conversation with the woman who came to the well. Jesus didn't neglect his physical needs. He rested. And he trusted others to take care of what needed to be done. I recently had the opportunity to get away and rest for a few days at a lake house. I noticed this saying that was on a plaque in the home: “Time wasted at the lake is time well spent.” I take it to mean that rest and not doing your ordinary life of work–getting out of your daily routine and relaxing and enjoying time at the lake is not wasted. That rest is important. That this time is valuable. I would argue that we also need to “waste time” with God. Not because our time is actually wasted, but because sometimes the most productive thing we can do is simply rest in him. I think the plaque could read “Time wasted with God is time well spent!”

Presented by Julie Busteed Are you the kind of person who would rather do everything yourself than delegate or ask for help? I can be that way sometimes. It’s not because I think I can do everything better than everyone else. Sometimes it’s a control issue. Other times it simply feels like more work to explain the task, ask for help, and trust someone else to follow through. As I’ve thought about that, I’ve realized I sometimes treat my relationship with God the same way. Without even realizing it, I start acting as though everything depends on me and my effort, my planning, my ability to keep checking things off the list. And before long, I’m exhausted because I’m striving in my own strength instead of depending on his. As I’ve been learning to develop healthier rhythms that aren’t centered only on work and productivity, God has been showing me something. I wasn’t created to carry everything myself. More than anything, I need to trust him. I’m finite. He is not. I have limits. He doesn’t. One of my favorite passages is maybe a familiar one to you—Proverbs 3:5–6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Those verses raise some honest questions for me. Do I really trust him in every area of my life? Or am I quietly depending on my own abilities, my own plans, my own resources? Do I truly believe he will lead me? That he has good purposes for today and for my future? Notice what the passage doesn’t say. It doesn’t tell me to figure everything out or make every path straight myself. It simply says to trust him and submit to him. That’s incredibly freeing. When I humble myself before God, remember his promises, and surrender my plans to him, I don’t have to carry the weight of being in control. I can rest in him. He already knows my limitations. He never expected me to do everything or carry every burden on my own. So how do we live this out? It’s one day at a time. Really, one moment at a time. It’s choosing to seek him throughout the day instead of relying only on ourselves. And it’s choosing to set aside one day each week to stop striving. To let go of the unfinished work. To trust him with everything waiting for us next week. Sabbath rest becomes an act of trust. It’s where our minds, emotions, and bodies are refreshed. It’s where we stop toiling long enough to remember that God is still at work, even when we aren’t.

Presented by Julie Busteed Do you ever feel like you’ll never get it all done? The to-do list just keeps growing, and there never seems to be enough time. I’ve certainly been there. There have been seasons when I had so many responsibilities that I felt like I simply couldn’t keep everything together. And when I finally slowed down, it wasn’t because I had chosen to rest. It was because I was completely exhausted and had nothing left to give. I want something different. I want healthier rhythms in my life. Rhythms that don’t require me to pour out until I collapse. Maybe you can relate. The interesting thing is I don’t struggle because I dislike rest. In fact, I enjoy it. My struggle is that rest can feel irresponsible. My thoughts run to: “What if I fall behind? What if I don’t get everything done? What if I disappoint someone or miss an opportunity?” Yet Scripture invites us to rest not because our work is unimportant, but because God is faithful. Every time we intentionally pause, we make a declaration: my security doesn’t come from my constant effort. It comes from the Lord God who never grows weary. The challenge is our culture celebrates busyness. When someone asks, “How are you?” how often do you answer, “Oh, I'm good just super busy!” Sometimes busyness becomes a badge of honor. It makes us feel productive, needed, and even important. But what is all that busyness doing to your soul? To your body? To your relationships? In God’s economy, busyness is never the goal. Faithfulness is. God cares far more about our relationship with him than about how many items are checked off the to do lists. Yes, he has given us meaningful work to do, but he has also commanded us to rest. I remember a season of my life when I said yes to almost everything. I enjoy helping people, so saying yes came naturally. I’d volunteer to help, pick up an extra shift, make a meal for someone in need—good things, worthwhile things. But there was a cost. As I looked honestly at my life, I realized that while I was caring well for everyone else, I was neglecting my own home and family. I liked being the person others could count on, but I wasn’t paying attention to what it was costing the people closest to me—or even myself. That’s when I realized I needed a new rhythm. Now, instead of automatically saying yes, I pause. I pray. I look at my calendar. I ask whether this is really what God is asking of me in this season. Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes it’s no. And that’s okay. Learning to rest isn’t about becoming less productive. It’s about trusting God enough to believe faithfulness is more important than constantly staying busy.

Presented by Julie Busteed I'm sure you've heard the phrase “work-life balance”. When I hear it, I picture a seesaw, constantly trying to stay perfectly balanced. But if you've ever been on a seesaw, you know that's not easy. There are always ups and downs. I'm not convinced that “balance” is the right goal. I think God calls us to something different—to healthy rhythms. Life has seasons. Some seasons are naturally busier than others, but how do we live out those seasons without always feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and out of sync? The truth is, you and I were never created to live at full throttle all the time. We were created to regularly rest. We were created to practice Sabbath. But what does that really mean? And what does it look like in our lives today? Going back to the very beginning of Scripture, we see that God himself established the pattern. Genesis 2:3 says: Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Think about that. God didn’t rest because he was tired. He rested because he was establishing a rhythm for his creation. A rhythm you and I are meant to follow. The Ten Commandments also references the Sabbath. Exodus 20 says: Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work…. God points back to creation as the reason. Just as he worked for six days and rested on the seventh, he calls us to do the same. Now, Sabbath certainly includes worship but notice that God also repeatedly emphasizes rest. He tells his people to stop working. To cease striving and to follow his example. And perhaps even more importantly, I think we need to change our mindset. Instead of thinking, “I have to take a day off,” what if we saw Sabbath as a weekly declaration that God is enough? It’s a way of saying, “God, you’re in control. The world keeps turning even when I stop working. I trust you to provide. I trust you with what didn’t finish today.” Sabbath isn’t primarily about following another rule. It’s about nurturing our relationship with God. It’s about trusting him enough to stop, worship, rest, and remember that he is the one who sustains our lives.

So, what is the hymn “Come Thou Fount” referring to with this obscure and unfamiliar phrase about raising an Ebenezer?  When you hear the word Ebenezer, you probably think of Scrooge from Dicken's Christmas Carol. Not too many people name their sons Ebenezer these days. But in Scripture we find this word in 1 Samuel 7:12:  Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far has the Lord helped us.”  Literally the word Ebenezer means “Stone of Help.” Samuel set up—or raised—this stone as a memorial, a marker-stone, to commemorate the Israelite victory over the Philistines. This was not a stone to be worshiped; it was not to make a certain place holy, like a Mecca. But Samuel knew well that the Israelites were very prone to forget God's goodness and blessings. So, he raised this stone as an everlasting reminder of how God had helped them win this victory.  I'd like to talk about Ebenezer stones—or stones of remembrances—for our own lives, by looking at the life of Moses. There were some definite Ebenezer stones in his life—stones of remembrance, stones when God helped him. And these turning points in his life relate to ours as well. As we look at Moses' stones of remembrance, consider how your own life may have some similar ones.  The Stone of Salvation  You are no doubt familiar with the story of how Moses's life was saved as a baby by a very creative mother and sister. When Pharaoh's daughter saw baby Moses in the basket on the Nile, she took him into Pharaoh's home and raised him as one of her own. He was physically saved, so there would be a Stone of Salvation for Moses.  Do you have a Stone of Salvation? I'm talking about salvation from the penalty of your sins. Can you tell of a time when you were made aware of your sins, where you were convicted of your sinful condition, and you knew you could not save yourself?   If you have not yet set up your stone of salvation, here's all you have to do:   If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved (Romans 10:9-10).  The Stone of Shame  As Moses grew to manhood, he was educated as an Egyptian with all the privileges that came from being raised as Pharaoh's daughter. But he never forgot that he was one of God's chosen people, so he wanted to help his people. Pharaoh kept the Jewish people in bitter servitude, and they were sorely mistreated. One day when Moses saw an Egyptian beating one of his Hebrew brothers, he killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand. He thought he was doing the right thing to defend his countryman, but the next day, when he saw two Hebrews fighting each other and tried to stop them, they turned on him and said, Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian? (Exodus 2:14).  Well, this just blew Moses away. He thought his murderous act was a secret, but now he realized it wasn't, and when Pharaoh heard about it, he tried to kill Moses. So, Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he became a lowly, humble shepherd. For forty years Moses lived in exile in Midian.  Here Moses would need to raise a Stone of Shame.  Overnight Moses went from the prestigious position as Pharaoh's grandson to that of a fugitive. He had disgraced himself by killing a man, and now he had lost his honor and position, and he was reduced to being a shepherd in a foreign land—for 40 long years.  Have you ever had a Stone of Shame in your life? I have. My period of shame lasted for about ten years. Ten years when I decided I could run my life better than God, and I walked away from my commitment to him and did my own thing. I told myself a lie and believed it—and the lie was that life would be intolerable as a single woman. There could be no happiness or fulfillment if I didn't get married! Now, I know I'm not the only person in the world to ever think like that, but that's the truth!   So, my legitimate need for love and acceptance became an addiction, as I determined to do it my way instead of trusting God. During those ten years, doing my own thing led to a sinful lifestyle, one that was not pleasing to God and one of shame.   Maybe some of you are in that place now. You know something is not right in your life. You're living in disobedience to God's plan, and you know it. Or there is a big dark cloud hanging over you from your past, and you're stuck at the Stone of Shame. God wants to help you put this Stone of Shame behind you so you can move forward to the good things he has for you.  Stone of Assurance  Moses figured he had blown it so badly that God would never use him again. But he was wrong. After 40 years, as Moses was tending his father-in-law’s flock at Horeb, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.   As God spoke to him from the burning bush, he commissioned Moses to rescue his people from the hand of the Egyptians. Moses is now a humbled man, and he insists he cannot do it. But God says to him, “I will be with you. I am who I am, and you will tell the Israelites that ‘I am has sent me to you.'” (Exodus 3:14). Moses feared they would not believe him, so God gave him some signs to assure him that as long as God was with him, he could do what God called him to do.  So, here Moses would raise a Stone of Assurance.  Do you need a Stone of Assurance today? You need to know that God isn't through with you yet, and he has a plan for you. Like Moses, you may need reassurance that he will be with you, but you have to give him control of your life.  What is keeping you from doing what God has planned for you to do? Is it fear? Is it that you have your own plan, and you just want God to bless your plan? Is it laziness? Is it lack of trust in God's ability to do through you what you cannot do yourself? Is it a relationship? Until you submit it to God, you cannot go forward to the good things God has for you, the good works he put you here to do.  Stone of Deliverance  After forty long years Moses was finally ready to do what God had called him to do. And now begins the battle between Moses and Pharaoh to let God's people go! You know how God took them across the Red Sea, escaping Pharaoh's last attempt to catch them and bring them back. They crossed on dry ground, and Pharaoh and his army were drowned as the waters came rushing back over them.  There Moses could raise a Stone of Deliverance.  Maybe you need to raise a stone of deliverance, a memorial to God's faithfulness in your life. A testimony of his goodness to you in spite of all you've done and all your failures. Has he been faithful to you? Then raise your Stone of Deliverance.  Stone of Commitment  Many years later as Moses was presenting to the children of Israel the tablets with the Ten Commandments, he said to them:  The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him. And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. (Deuteronomy 26:16-18).  He challenged the people to set up a Stone of Commitment.  They were to declare before God and his servant Moses and before all the people that they were committed to obey the Lord, to walk in his ways, to keep his commands, to glorify their God all the days of their lives.  Today you may need to set up a Stone of Commitment, where you say to God, “I'm not playing around any longer. I am serious about walking with you, obeying you, living for you, spending time getting to know you.”   Yes, there are landmark times when we need to set some stones of remembrance: a Salvation Stone, a Stone of Shame, a Stone of Assurance, one of Deliverance, and a Stone of Commitment. What stones—what Ebenezers—do you need to raise even today? Could you reflect and let God's Spirit speak to you. This could be a good time for you to raise some stones of remembrance; stones to help you to go forward to the new thing God wants to do for you and through you in this year.    

The Bible not only describes foolish behavior for us, but it also gives clear guidance on how we should respond to foolish people. Here's another principle for dealing with foolish people: Principle #3 – Don't argue with foolish people. 2 Timothy 2:23-24: Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. You will be tempted to argue with a foolish person. All your emotions will lead you in that direction. They bring out the worst in us, so you need to pray for patience and self-control. If you allow them to drag you into an argument, they have brought you down to their level, and you will never win that argument. You will just end up in great frustration. Someone has said: “Never tell a fool that he is a fool. All you’ll have is an angry fool.”  Principle #4 – Protect yourself from the resentment and anger caused by foolish people. Proverbs 27:3 (NLT): A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but the resentment caused by a fool is heavier than both. In her book, Foolproofing Your Life, my friend, Jan Silvious gives good advice about setting boundaries for the foolish people in your life. She says to think of living in a castle, with a moat around it and a drawbridge over that moat. When you see that foolish person coming at you, think of pulling up that drawbridge. It may be a mental or emotional drawbridge, or actually putting some space between you and that person, but learn to set those boundaries.[1] Yes, you have responsibilities toward some foolish people. Yes, you must interact with some foolish people. Yes, you can't avoid all foolish people. But it is your responsibility to protect yourself from their words, their actions, their accusations, and their behavior. As Jan puts it, if you have to feed them, use a long-handle spoon. Well, there is a lot we can learn from Scripture on how to deal with foolish people. [1] Jan Silvious, Foolproofing Your Life: Wisdom for Untangling Your Most Difficult Relationships (Colorado Springs: WaterBrook Press, 1998).

The important issue we must consider is how we should respond to these foolish people. Our normal response is anger and frustration. But what does God want us to do? Let's see what the Bible says. How are we to respond to foolish behavior? Pray for them. God can change anybody. Don't ever give up. You can't change them, but you can pray for God to change them. Keep the right attitude and motivation toward foolish people. It's easy to become judgmental and arrogant toward them. Remember, God loves them as much as he loves you. Be prepared to set boundaries and protect yourself from being harmed by foolish people. Now, here are some Scriptures that give us further guidance on how God wants us to respond to the foolish people in our lives. Principle #1 – Don't try to change them with advice. Proverbs 23:9 (NLT): Don't waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice. You may present the most logical, clear, helpful presentation of the right thing they should do, but they will not have ears to hear. If you keep trying to offer your advice, to persuade them with words, you will be continually frustrated. Principle #2 – Don't give them honor or luxury. Proverbs 19:10: It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury – how much worse for a slave to rule over princes! Proverbs 26:1: Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool. Foolish people are easily spoiled and generally have no regard for taking care of possessions. They can ruin a car, a home, and clothes with no shame or concern. Giving them things will not solve their problems, though they want to get anything they can. They will ask for and expect gifts. To give them undeserved honor of any kind is neither smart nor helpful. To give them places of honor is to invite trouble. They don't know how to handle honor or responsibility.

The Bible has a lot to say about foolish behavior. For example, they handle money recklessly, they quarrel frequently and pick fights, they tend to be lazy and lack focus and ambition. And sadly, they never seem to learn from past experiences. Proverbs 27:22 says, Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, you will not remove their folly from them. With all the trouble they bring on themselves, fools still never seem to learn. No matter how bad the consequences of their behavior are, they repeat the same things again. The Bible also tells us about the consequences and effects of foolish behavior on other people. A foolish person brings trouble on his family (Proverbs 11:29), and parents of a foolish child are in for heartache. Proverbs 10:1 says: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. Also, a foolish person on the job can wreak havoc. Proverbs 26:10 says: Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or any passer-by. Foolish people cause problems and present unique challenges. Whether you work with or for someone who behaves foolishly or have a family member or friend who fits that description, they can cause you many hours of pain, confusion, anger, and frustration. I urge you to think of the people in your life who demonstrate some of these foolish characteristics, perhaps write their names down, and begin to pray for them. Remember, no one is in your life by accident, and God has a purpose for allowing them in your life. Your challenge is to see the big picture from God's eyes and know how to respond in a godly way.

Is there anyone in your life you consider to be a foolish person? I imagine you can think of someone. It's important for us to recognize foolish behavior and respond to it correctly. Let’s look at how the Bible defines a person who is foolish: Quick-Tempered Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult (Proverbs12:16). It is foolish behavior to lose your temper. A foolish person will say and do all kinds of foolish things because of his/her temper. Their temper is often notorious. Acts Impetuously and Without Regard for Consequences Wise people think before they act; fools don't and even brag about it! (Proverbs 13:16). A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless (Proverbs 14:16). Do you know someone who does or says whatever pops into their head, without any regard for how it affects their future, other people, their pocketbook, etc.? Foolish people have little regard for consequences; they live totally for the pleasure of the moment. And they brag about it! Talks endlessly, brags, spouts off frequently The wise person makes learning a joy; fools spout only foolishness (Proverbs 15:2 NLT). A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions (Proverbs 18:2). Proverbs 10:19 reminds us: When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. Jesus warned us that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken (Matthew 12:36). Foolish people have an opinion on anything and everything. Even though they may have very little knowledge, they always have an opinion. And of course, they are very vocal about their opinion with little regard for anyone else's opinion. Refuses Advice, Accountability and/or Discipline A fool spurns a parent's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence (Proverbs 15:5). A fool never accepts advice or correction of any kind. They are unteachable. And they refuse needed disciplines in their lives like being on time, fulfilling their promises, being accountable for their actions, being dependable, following through and following up. These are not very complimentary descriptions, are they? If you have some foolish people in your life, ask God to help you respond appropriately.

The Bible clearly describes foolish behavior and warns us about it. Some people behave foolishly on a sporadic basis; others are consistently foolish. As we talk about foolish people, we need to be aware that we could be talking about ourselves as well. None of us is exempt from any of these foolish characteristics. I spent ten years doing my own thing, walking away from my commitment to Jesus Christ, and I shake my head as I think of how foolishly I behaved in those years. We will look to God's Word to define foolish behavior for ourselves and look again to tell us what our responsibility is when we deal with that kind of person. Not all foolish people have all these characteristics. You may know foolish people with only one of these traits, but it is so pronounced that it consumes them. What is foolish behavior? Denying, disregarding, or rebelling against God The fool says in his heart “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1). It is very foolish to ignore the living God. In fact, nothing could be more foolish. And this applies not only to those who are outright atheists or agnostics but also to those who live as though there is no God. If you asked them, many would say, “I believe there is a God.” But nothing in their life or lifestyle shows any acknowledgement of God. They live as though God does not exist. The Bible says they are fools. Slandering, lying, deceiving He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool (Proverbs 10:18). Foolish people don't hesitate to lie. They are big on running other people down. Their mouths often get them into trouble. Just think of the foolish people you know. Isn't their mouth one of their biggest problems? When our mouths are out of control, we, too, are foolish.

As Fran arrives at her office this Tuesday, she's just logging in to her computer when her coworker walks in and shuts the door behind him. This signals to Fran that something is up but what?   “Hi, John,” Fran says, “have a seat. What's up?”  “Thanks, Fran. Well,” John begins, “this is kinda touchy, and I need to ask you to keep it between you and me if you don't mind—okay?”  “Wow, sounds serious. What is it?” Fran asks.  “You know the proposal you helped me with last week for the commercial real estate company? After you helped me figure out what the bid should be, my boss thought my numbers were too high. So, he told me to cut them by 30% because he said we really needed some new accounts to make our numbers this quarter,” John said.  “Goodness!” Fran says. “That's a huge cut. So, did your manager tell you the company would support your reduced numbers, and you could do the work for those numbers?”   “No, just the opposite. My boss didn't clear this with anyone else. He said we could come up with some excuses afterward to explain why we had to raise our prices, but we just had to win this account,” John explains.  “Well, the reason he didn't get it approved is because he knew he wouldn't get it approved. We trimmed those numbers as much as possible and he knew it,” Fran responds. “Did you agree to do it, John? Tell me you didn't.”  John hung his head and got very quiet. “I had to, Fran. What could I do? He said if I wasn't willing to cut the numbers, he'd give the account to someone else. After all I did to get them to let us bid on their account—I wasn't going to let that happen,” John replied.   “And you've already given them the proposal?” Fran asks.  “No, but the presentation is tomorrow, and I am really worried. My boss wants to go with me. He's afraid I will lose the account, I guess. I know this is wrong, and it will backfire. Now I just feel trapped. That's why I wanted to ask you what I should do?”  Fran pauses to take this in. Why does John want her input on this? She recognizes this could get risky, so she quietly sends up an emergency prayer, “Lord, what do you want me to say? Please give me wisdom.”  “John, why did you think I could help you with this? I'm just curious,” Fran asks.  “Because you are the one person here I know would do the right thing. I mean, you always seem to be confident of what is right and what is not, and I just thought maybe you would have a suggestion of how I could somehow change my boss's mind and still not lose this account. I mean, I know you're a really religious person so, well, that's why I asked you.”  Fran thinks a moment. She figures this is a time to speak truth in love—in kindness—and not to be afraid of the consequences.   “Thanks for that, John. I don't think of myself as religious so much as I'm just a Christ-follower, and I really try to do what Jesus would want me to do. John, first, let me ask you this: Do you think you could get the account with the right numbers?” Fran asks.  “I really think so,” John says. “You and I talked about it, and we both felt we were giving them an exceptional value for their project. I think I could sell it honestly, but now—now I don't know.”  “Okay, you've asked my opinion, so I'll tell you what I would do if I were in your shoes. Then you must decide if you're willing to do it. Fair enough?” Fran asks. John nods and she continues. “Doing the right thing is always the right thing to do, John. It's that simple. So, you must decide if you're willing to stand up for what you believe is the right thing. As you have noted, you believe your original proposal is accurate and fair and competitive, right?”  “Yes,” John agrees.  “It's not like you didn't do your homework or you aren't trying your best to win this new account. So, if I were you, I'd go to your boss and say that. I'd tell him you are confident you have a very good chance to get the account with the original numbers, but you're very uncomfortable in presenting numbers you know aren't realistic. So, you tell him you'll make the presentation tomorrow if he agrees to your original proposal, but if not, he'll have to find someone else.”  “Fran, he'll be furious. He'll probably fire me or something. I don't know if I can do that,” John is obviously frightened at Fran's suggestion.  “Okay,” Fran says. “Then you've made your choice to do what you believe to be wrong in order not to make your boss angry and perhaps even lose your job. Is that what you're telling me?”  “Well, I wouldn't put it that way, Fran,” John stammers.  “What way would you put it, John?”   “I don't know. I just don't know,” he replies. “You really think I should stand up to him?”  “It's your choice, but maybe he would respect you if you did. I don't know. You may be right. He could try to fire you. You just have to decide if you're willing to do the right thing or not,” Fran says.   The conversation ends. John says he'll think about it and leaves her office.  Fran stops to pray: “Lord, I don't know why John came to me for advice, but I did the best I could. Please give him courage to do what is right and protect him, Lord.” And with that she finishes her work for the day and heads home to be with her kids.  The next day, about mid-morning, John's boss, Bruce, storms into Fran's office obviously livid. “Fran, you told John to refuse to do what I told him to do, is that right? Now he says he won't give the presentation today the way I told him to, and I'm left holding the bag. We're likely to lose this account because of you, Fran. Who do you think you are, giving advice to John who works for me, telling him to refuse to do what I told him to do? You're not his manager; he doesn't report to you. If we lose this account today, Fran, I'm holding you responsible, and you will pay the price.”  “Bruce, I didn't tell him what to do. He asked what I would do, and that's what I told him. I had no idea whether he would take my advice or not,” Fran says.  “Well, evidently he listens to you and not to me, so he's going to give the presentation his way today. I think it will be a disaster and if it is, you haven't heard the last of this,” Bruce says and storms out the way he stormed in.  Did Fran do the right thing? As a believer working in a world that doesn't necessarily value honestly and integrity, should she have just shifted the decision to John and let it go? Was it right for her to offer her advice?   When we declare we are followers of Jesus Christ, there are times when doing the right thing can be very costly. What would you have done?   To the new believers in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul wrote: I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called (Ephesians 4:1 ESV). Those are our marching orders today as well. And if you go into a secular workplace each day, it can present you with some difficult decisions.  Walking worthy of your calling—walking worthy of the Lord—means you desire to do what Jesus would do. To say what he would say. To respond the way he would respond. And to do that, you have to maintain a close daily walk with Jesus. You have to spend time in his Word and prayer and keep your mind focused on walking worthy.  Some time ago a friend of mine faced a walking worthy decision. Her manager asked her to lie for her—to tell a client something that was not true. This manager was not easy to work for and was not liked in the organization, but she was smart and successful. So, my friend Beth knew if she refused to lie, it would not go well. But Beth said there really was no decision; it was clear she could not lie and that's what she explained to her manager. She tried to find some alternative way to handle it, but her manager was upset. She made life miserable for Beth for quite a while but Beth walked worthy of the Lord.  Frans story ends here. We don't know whether this boomerangs on John and Fran. When we act with integrity—when we do what we think Jesus would have us do—we do so out of obedience and love for Jesus, whether we suffer for it or not. Peter wrote: But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God (1 Peter 2:20). So, don't forget when you face issues of integrity and honesty, it is commendable before God even if you suffer for doing the right thing. 

Presented by Lauren Stibgen One who waters will himself be watered. Walking in a manner worthy of the Lord is what the Proverbs are all about! Shifting our focus from what God hates in Proverbs six to Proverbs 11:25b which can be summarized by a secular proverb, “what goes around comes around.” I like the biblical version much better, one who waters will himself be watered. This is a beautiful thought to carry with you to work each day as we think about others around us. Watering is not to be left to managers and leaders in the workplace. And, after all, this proverb benefits both the waterer and the watered. Let's think about the results of watering for a moment. Whether rain falls from the sky or we are using another method to water something like a houseplant, the result is growth, and in some cases new life. Plants can bear beauty in flowers, or vegetables and fruits for us to eat. I also think about when it rains in the desert. Not only do plants sprout up, but wadies (or dried up riverbeds) come to life with animals and even aquatic life like frogs that have been dormant waiting for the rain. Who or what needs watering at work? Sometimes we don't even realize things need water! I have had two different conversations with fellow Christian working women this year where I suggested they water what otherwise seemed dead. More specifically, one woman wanted more affirmation from her manager. She knew she was trusted by the work that was given to her but never received feedback. When I asked if she thought her manager received affirmation, the answer was probably not. I suggested that she “water” her manager with some positive feedback. You see, some people aren't in the practice of watering until they are watered themselves! She stated this watering had very positive results! The other woman felt the same about receiving no feedback. So, she decided to write notes of gratitude to all her colleagues. She watered an entire department! While too soon to know if she will be watered in return, the initial responses were very positive. Who can you water at work with kind words or an act of service? God promises you will be watered in return. The Proverbs can help remind us that God wants us to walk with integrity at work. Clearly there are things he doesn't want us to do. But there are things we can do to increase our integrity at work each day!

Presented by Lauren Stibgen The final three things that are listed in Proverbs six are what God hates will likely have you saying, no way! Not me. I surely do not do any of these things. Not at work. Not at all. Devising wicked plans, shedding innocent blood, and running to evil. All of these remind me of an old AC/DC song with the refrain; “I'm on a highway to hell.” Words like wicked, blood ,and evil should not ever belong at work or in our life. And they remind us the wicked surely do not display integrity! Devising wicked plans. Another way to think of this is scheming. Proverbs 24:8: Whoever plots evil will be known as a schemer. Have you ever been part of a conversation about getting someone fired or removed from a department when it wasn't your job to do so? This is an example of colleagues scheming about another. Maybe this person has impacted you in some way, but scheming is not how to address the situation. Most companies will have a process for appropriately addressing concerns. Perhaps choosing to address the person directly about your concerns would be the kindest thing to do. God hates when we scheme. Be up front and honest when addressing the issue. You may be thinking you don't shed innocent blood, but do you? If you are working in supply chain and manufacturing, there is a movement to look at how every part of the process is impacting human flourishing. From fair treatment of workers in the form of wages and conditions to preventing human trafficking. Companies and laws are taking a deeper look at how our goods reaching consumers are impacting people. Are you aligned with a company that cares for people in a way that honors God's requirements of you? While you may not be making the decisions that are impacting these larger issues, it is important that you ask questions as you consider where you are working. What about running to evil? As a follower of Jesus, we can assume any sin is evil. Are you quick to walk in ways contrary to your new life in Christ? Do you look different or the same as all your colleagues? If you don't walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fulling pleasing him and bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, what are you running to (Colossians 1:10)?

Presented by Lauren Stibgen We are looking at seven things that are an abomination to God, and now we will focus on our mouth. More specifically: a lying tongue, a false witness that breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. Three of the seven things on the list God hates have to do with how we choose to use our mouth. And all three of these things that God hates us to do with our mouth can show up at work. Clearly if we use our words to lie, we lack integrity. What about a lying tongue? Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is for a moment (Proverbs 12:19). God wants you to be honest in all ways. This includes those little lies you may call “white lies”. Did you say you sent an email when you didn't? Were you late for work, but said that you were on time? God still grieves this. The Word tell us a lying tongue is for a moment, and truthful lips endure forever. Eventually truth comes to light. In the context of work, depending on what you have lied about, it could have implications on how long your employment “endures”. One of the ways we can lie is by being a false witness. If you don't know, don't comment! And don't assume! Providing untrue information about someone or something at work can have implications far beyond your passing comment. This includes speculating about someone's motives in a situation. If you don't have direct and honest information, it is best to say nothing at all. In Proverbs 12:17 the Word tells us: An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies. It is easy to think we know things when we really don't at all. Sometimes at work, you will be called upon as a witness. It is important to only state facts and not assumptions about what you are asked, and not to comment if you truly don't know anything. Sowing discord. The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18). Think about what happens when you quickly comment about something at work. Being rash means proceeding without a lack of careful consideration of the possible consequences and in this case, of the words being used. Do you blurt things out? Comment in meetings at an inappropriate time? Complain about company policies or other colleagues? Do your inside feelings of dissatisfaction come out? All of this can sow discord and God hates this. How can you bring healing instead? Sometimes, saying nothing is the best thing you can choose.

Presented by Lauren Stibgen Are you doing what God hates at work? Let's keep in mind that the book of Proverbs is not only instructing us what to do but also what not to do. The following verses in Proverbs six are not actually proverbs as we previously defined but are part of the poems in the first nine chapters of Proverbs. While not “proverbs” in a defined sense, these verses can help us consider things we should not do since God hates them. They can help us with our integrity at work. There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. (Proverbs 6:16-19). Consider the weight of verse 16 that uses the words hate and abomination for how God feels about the actions listed. An abomination is a thing that causes disgust or hatred. If the goal of the book of Proverbs is to keep us closer to God with pleasing actions, this list should certainly matter to us. Salvation makes me grieve this greatly. I surely do not want God to be disgusted with my actions, or to hate what I am doing! Haughty eyes. Are you coming across as arrogant or superior in an off-putting way? In pride, are you looking down at others at work. Do you brag about a project you have done, a promotion you have achieved? Does your body language speak to others in a way that makes them feel less than? Have you ever smirked or quietly chuckled at someone else's expense? God hates this! Proverbs 16:18 tell us what happens with this pride and haughtiness: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Destruction and a fall. But there is wisdom. Verse 19 continues: It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. Wisdom says, “be lowly in spirit.” As our example, in Matthew 11:29 Jesus tells us he is lowly in heart. We just scratched the surface about one thing that God hates! And the list in the verses includes seven things! When we take time to look at the proverbs in chapters 10-29 of this book, we will find practical wisdom to keep us from doing these things God hates.

Presented by Lauren Stibgen As we dive into integrity, I have been thinking about Proverbs and how they relate to work. They are filled with wisdom, and a good roadmap for working with integrity! I thought it would be helpful to define this book of the Bible that is a home for practical wisdom as a faithful believer in Jesus Christ. In fact, if you take time to read through this book of the Bible, you might be surprised at how much people quote and paraphrase from God's good book of wisdom! First, some facts. The word proverb is defined as “a short pithy saying in general use, stating a general truth or piece of advice.” (Oxford Language Dictionary) While Proverbs is a book of the Bible, there are common secular proverbs like curiosity killed the cat or a watched pot never boils that you may have heard. I am sure you could quip a few more. The biblical proverbs are also short, pithy sayings in general use, and this use in our case is as a guide to living a life pleasing to God. Not to be confused with a commandment or a prophesy, these proverbs are good advice to help keep us on the straight and narrow path and far from sin. We can find proverbs for just about every aspect of life ranging from family and friendship to sex and money!  And, yes, we can find many proverbs which can help guide our work. Although Proverbs is made up of 31 chapters, not all 31 have proverbs. In fact, the first 10 chapters and the last two chapters are poems that help frame our views on wisdom and the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 1:7a gives us a big hint about the sum of all 31 chapters: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…. Basically, if you want to be wise, trust God; this will lead to life. If you are a fool, you won't trust God, and this will lead to death. Proverbs compares and contrasts actions that lead to a life that thrives in wisdom and a life that leads to death. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Proverbs helps guide us in the path of life, away from sin. As believers in Jesus Christ, we know our works will not earn us this eternal life, but we also know we still will fall short and sin. Proverbs provides us with wise reminders of how we can lead lives that point others towards Jesus and not away from him. With a posture of fear, in the sense of reverence and awe towards God, we can seek wisdom in the book of Proverbs that helps us at work!

Presented by Lauren Stibgen Integrity is a big word in business. It is found in codes of conduct, employee handbooks, and job descriptions as a catch all word. I was curious about how much the word integrity shows up in job descriptions alone. According to ChatGPT, this word appears one to three times in postings for leadership, finance, healthcare, ministry, nonprofit, and executive roles.  But what does it mean? Those who have been around for a while know I love my Merriam-Webster dictionary as a launching point. According to Merriam-Webster, integrity has three definitions1. firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility.  an unimpaired condition: soundness.  the quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness.   As always, the problem with any dictionary definition is it is open to a wide lens of interpretation. Whose moral code is the right moral code? Surely, we have a legal standard within business laws that are guardrails, but this doesn't stop people from having a lack of integrity. It just establishes the standard by which we measure a consequence.   As for an unimpaired condition, we have building codes for this to make sure the structural integrity of a building or a bridge is intact. But again, this can be challenged by builders who skirt the codes to save some money!  And, what about the state of being complete or undivided? You may hear someone say the opinion written by someone has integrity—meaning the paper is complete.  The problem with integrity? Sometimes it is high and sometimes it is low. Like the temperature variance here in the Midwest between January and July, integrity can be wildly off! So, how can we distill down?   In an article entitled “Integrity” from the Harvard Business Review, Karen Christensen interviewed Harvard professor, Michael Jensen who says, “Integrity is a matter of a person's word—nothing more and nothing less.”2 Like the third definition of being complete or undivided, keeping one's word is about doing what you say you are going to do. He separates integrity from the concepts of morality and ethics stating morality and ethics are “normative concepts in that they deal with matters of good or bad, right vs. wrong”. For example, as a Christian, I have a normative set of values that are likely held by other Christians. As I noted above, who's good is good?   Jensen argues that integrity is key to what he calls workability within an organization. “Without integrity the workability of any object, system, person, group or organization declines; and as workability declines, the opportunity for performance declines.” He states that integrity leads to trust.  As a follower of Jesus, I am called to a high standard of morals and ethics. How I keep my word following these morals and ethics is where my integrity comes into play. We will all fail to keep our word at various levels. Sometimes, Jensen argues, we even fail to honor our word to ourselves. This could look like failing to go to the gym when we promised to wake up early to work out to something more aggreges like cheating on our spouse when we promised to be faithful. Like I said, various levels. In the Christian vernacular we call this sin—where our word to keep the standards set by our faith isn't kept. Doing this on repeat makes us seem unreliable, inconsistent and unpredictable according to Jensen. It breaks trust.  In business, these actions lead to broken workplaces and a true lack of performance. Someone breaks her word and doesn’t show up to a meeting. Someone accepts a supplier known to treat its employees poorly, failing to keep her word to uphold the company’s supply chain ethics. Someone accepts a kickback from a vendor for a referral, breaking her word to honor the company’s code of ethics.  GE married the concepts of integrity and performance, weaving integrity into every aspect of their culture. They put into place very specific consequences for violating their company's moral and ethical boundaries especially for leaders who were not holding to the standards. In the Harvard Business Review article, “Avoiding Integrity Land Minds”, the article says, “In no area of corporate life is leadership commitment more important that in creating an integrity culture.”3 They knew if leaders were not walking the talk there were huge implications from the top down for the erosion of integrity in the business.  But what happens when your company culture doesn't value integrity or makes you feel like you are unable to keep your integrity as a Christian? What can you do?  First, what does biblical integrity look like as a Christian? If the matter is as simple as someone's word, as Jensen argues, I would say Christian integrity founded on God's Word is anything but simple. It is a difficult standard to meet, especially given our example is Jesus Christ who was perfect in every way. He kept his word. He was consistent even down to the patterns of his life like waking up early to seek God in prayer. He was obedient to God the Father unto death. You see, Jesus kept his word perfectly to God.  Even our other examples of integrity in the Bible hold a very high standard to keeping one's word. Think of Abraham. God called for him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. He kept his word to be obedient to God getting all the way to the altar before God faithfully kept his promise of make Abraham the father of many nations (Genesis 17:5). Or even Daniel. He refused to worship the idol of his king and was sentenced to death in the lions' den. Daniel kept his word to worship no other God, and God ultimately protected Daniel.  As I stated earlier, the standard to which we need to keep our word is high. We are to act like Christ when it comes to integrity—keeping his word to God. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me (John 6:38).  We are to live to the glory of God no matter what we do (1 Corinthians 10:31), take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), and not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). We are called to put off our old selves, corrupt and deceitful and to put on our new selves which are created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).  All of this takes work! Being in God's Word, spending time in prayer, finding community with other believers, guarding our heart, and repenting when we don't live up to our word to God are marks of the Christian life. People should see this in you through integrity and consistency, in keeping your word to God to become more like Jesus every day. We are told to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature (Colossians 3:5).  Now, back to our workplace. What happens when we are working in a company which doesn't value integrity or makes us feel like we can't keep our word to Christian integrity? The first thing I want to remind you is your workplace is probably not applying the same moral and ethical standard you are when it comes to your faith. Certainly, normal standards are in place, like codes of conduct, standards, and employee handbooks, but even these will never meet the measure of a perfect Jesus. However, when a company is consistently inconsistent, you may be left feeling like you really don't fit in at all. If a company doesn't do what they say they will do in the case of a violation or even with someone lacking performance, by Jensen's definition, the company culture is lacking integrity.  Keeping in mind that you may be the only light this workplace will ever encounter, I want to suggest some actions you can consider when you feel like your personal integrity and the company's integrity are not aligned.  Of course, you may start very practically by having a conversation with your manager or another trusted party within the organization. It is essential to be careful not to cause further disruptions by talking about your opinion with too many people. If you have a trusted colleague, start by asking some probing questions if you aren't sure if you are alone in your feelings. Something like, “Hey, have you noticed we aren't paying our bills on time?” or “It seems like XYZ department is constantly hiring new people because there is a lot of turn over. I have heard the manager raise their voice a lot. Have you ever witnessed this?”  Remember gossip is something we are called to avoid. Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies (Psalm 34:13).  Letting someone know how the company may consider changes to better the culture and improve trust may be welcomed. Always have specific, factual, and constructive feedback to provide. Complaining is not a solution.  Of course, if you are asked to do something which lacks integrity big or small you should speak up and let the person know you are not comfortable performing what you are being asked. Again, report this to a manager or higher up in your organization if it was your manager asking you to perform the action.  If the issues persist or you aren't taken seriously, you may also consider leaving the company, but what if this is not an easy option for you? You need the work, and despite looking for other positions, you are going to be just where you are for now.   Remember, even when we don't feel it, God is working all things for our good and for his glory (Romans 8:28). One of the most difficult things we are called to do, aside from having Christlike integrity, is wait. This can be especially difficult when we find ourselves in a culture that doesn't fit.   When the practical and tactical suggestions I mentioned don't work and we find ourselves in the waiting, we can find strength in abiding closer to the Lord in Christ Jesus. Reading the Bible, memorizing Scripture, praying, and building community are all important and will give you the encouragement you need to hold your integrity.  Psalm 37 has recently brought me a lot of encouragement through a period of difficulty. I found the verses were giving me some great advice. It says:   Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong… Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this… Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes (Psalm 37:1, 3-5, 7).  God doesn't want me to worry. He wants me to delight in him and trust him. He wants me to commit my ways to him and to be still. Easier said than done when you are feeling challenged in your integrity right?  Fretting is worrying heavily or being concerned or unhappy about things you cannot control. It happens when we get so wrapped up in these matters it impacts us physically and emotionally. Has stress ever given you a headache or made you cry? Turn your fret into a prayer. Rather than repeating a matter repeatedly in your head, say it out loud to God! He wants to hear from you. These prayers can be simple.  “God, I don't feel like my workplace has integrity. Help me Lord to be a light to others around me. Help me Lord to be different, to be a light to others that they might come to know you.”  Delighting in God can bring encouragement! Think of all the wonderful ways he is working in your life. Think of Jesus and the sacrifice he made for you on the cross. Think of his steadfast love and assurance. Recommit yourself each day to doing God's work! We are called to make disciples and love others.  And we can just be still. God promises he will act on our behalf. Reminding myself of these things again helps me not only to be encouraged in my own integrity but also to show this to others.  How can you hold your word to God today? How can you hold your word to others today? Showing integrity is doing what you say you are going to do with consistency. Write down a few ways you can grow your Christlike integrity today.  Sources:  Merriam-Webster, s.v. “integrity,” accessed June 8, 2026, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integrity. Michael C. Jensen, “Integrity: Without It Nothing Works,” interview by Karen Christensen, Rotman Magazine, Fall 2009, 16–20. Ben W. Heineman Jr., “Avoiding Integrity Land Mines,” Harvard Business Review, April 2007, https://hbr.org/2007/04/avoiding-integrity-land-mines.

How to cope with boredom on your job—that’s Fran’s dilemma. But she’s learned some valuable lessons on practical things she can do when she’s feeling unmotivated and bored. Fran took some new approaches to her work and found it put a lot of enthusiasm back into her job. She simply made some changes in her usual routine and did a few things more creatively. That has helped a great deal. It’s Saturday now, and she’s meeting her friend, Nancy for lunch to ask her advice about being bored with her job. They have a long discussion about boredom, and Nancy agrees it’s a challenge everybody has to face on and off throughout their careers. “No job is without its boring aspects, that’s one thing I’ve come to accept, Fran,” Nancy says. “I’m beginning to understand that,” Fran says, “but I really think I’ve outgrown the job in a sense. I’m ready for a bigger challenge.” “Do you see another job in the company that interests you?” Nancy asks. “Yes, as a matter of fact,” Fran answers, “but I’m not qualified; they would never consider me….” “Now, Fran, don’t start with the negative prophecies. You need to identify your career goals and then put a plan in place to make yourself qualified,” Nancy tells her. “Well, I’d like to be… I really think I could do a good job… I’d like my boss’s job,” Fran finally gets it out. “Great…” Nancy starts to reply. “But they’d never consider me. I haven’t been there long enough…” Fran starts again. “Stop it, Fran,” Nancy says. “Let’s just make a list of the qualifications necessary to do your boss’s job; then we’ll talk about what you can do to acquire the skills and experience you need as quickly as possible.” For about an hour, the two of them make notes and discuss what Fran needs to do to be qualified for the job she wants. Then Nancy says, “If I were you, I’d go to your boss and let him know that you want to be in line for his job when he gets promoted. Ask him to give you assignments or suggestions that will help you.” “You mean, tell him I want his job?” Fran is surprised at Nancy’s suggestion. “Sure, there’s nothing wrong with that,” Nancy says. As Fran goes back home, she says to Jesus, “Nancy had some great advice. Thanks, Jesus, for your help.” She can feel his smile of approval and remembers another verse from Proverbs 19:20—when you listen to advice and accept instructions, in the end you will be wise.

Fran is struggling with boredom with her job. She is unmotivated to work hard or give it her best effort because it’s become routine and unchallenging—and she’s bored. Her first challenge is to tackle the slippage of her work habits; that is never right for any reason. She’s aware she must do good work regardless of how bored she may feel. Now, she wants to seek some advice to find out if this is just a boring period she will pass through, or if she’s truly bored with her job. “I think I’ll talk to my Bible study leader, Nancy,” Fran decides. “She’s bound to have been through this in her own career.” She gives Nancy a call and they make a date to have lunch on Saturday. But it’s only Wednesday, and Saturday seems a long way off. When you’re bored, time just drags, so now Fran must find a way to motivate herself through the rest of the week. Fran asks herself, “What can I do to make myself think correctly so these feelings of boredom don’t keep me from doing good work? I need to think of a creative approach to what I'm doing now,” Fran reasons, “like doing it differently…” She begins to think about this as she looks at a proposal that needs to be done for one of her clients. “How could I do that proposal differently?” Her creative juices start to flow, and instead of doing it in the same format as she always has, Fran comes up with a new approach. She calls her friend, Andy, in the art department, and gets a little help from him, and before she knows it, she’s into this project with enthusiasm. At the end of the day, she has her proposal almost completed, but it doesn’t look like any other proposal she’s ever done. Her friend, Louise, walks into her office as she’s finishing, and she shows her the proposal. “Wow, Fran, that is really different,” Louise says. “But I like it. Where did you get the idea?” “If I tell you, you’ll laugh, Louise,” Fran says. “Don’t tell me; I know: Jesus gave it to you!” Louise laughs and rolls her eyes. “Yep, exactly right,” Fran says. “My goodness, is it time to go home already? Where did this day go?” Sometimes we get in ruts, and we don’t have to be in those ruts. Try doing what you do every day with a different approach, and that will take away a lot of boredom. Just changing the schedule and routine can help.

How do you battle boredom on the job? That’s what our friend, Fran, is trying to figure out. After a few years in her job, she just feels unchallenged and—well—bored. And that is affecting her work habits, not to mention her attitude. Maybe you’ve had the same problem. Last night she talked with her friend, Laura, who is a teacher, and Laura explained on the days she feels bored, she uses a mental gear-shift technique and tells herself to act the role of a great teacher, like an actress on stage. In that way, she motivates herself to do a good job of teaching even on days when she really doesn’t want to. As she arrives at work today, Fran is still thinking about Laura’s mental gear-shift idea. “Wonder what I could come up with that would help me?” she thinks to herself. Jesus reminds her of the sermon she heard recently on her thought life. “Your Pastor said you have to bring your thoughts into captivity. Maybe your mental gear-shift idea could be a good technique to help you do this. Obviously if you don’t think you're bored, you won’t be, right?” But that seems too simple to Fran. “Well, I don't know. After all, this boredom also has something to do with the repetitiveness of the job, how long I’ve been doing it, and the fact that I would like to try to do other things,” Fran replies. “I mean, you can’t just think yourself out of being bored, can you?” “Well,” Jesus says, “maybe yes, maybe no, but don't you think you need to address the immediate problem of your deteriorating work habits?” “You're right, Lord,” she responds. “I know I have to give it my best whether I'm bored or not. So, my first challenge is to not let these feelings of boredom cause me to give less than my best effort here on my job,” Fran says. “Why don't you seek some good advice?” Jesus prompts her. She remembers that familiar verse in Proverbs 13:10, which says wisdom is found in those who take advice. “Good idea. I’ll do that,” Fran agrees.

Our friend Fran is finding it a little difficult to go to work because she’s feeling very bored and unchallenged. Do you ever have that problem? I sure have. Jesus made Fran aware that boredom can lead to some sloppy work habits. The day finally ends and Fran heads home. After dinner the phone rings and it’s her friend Laura, who is a teacher. They chat for a minute, and Fran says to her, “Laura, you’ve been teaching for eight or nine years, right? Do you ever just get tired of teaching–you know, just plain bored?” “Yeah, sure,” Laura says. “Lots of days.” “You do? But why do you stay in teaching if you’re bored with it?” Fran asks. “Oh, Fran, I’ve learned to distinguish between boring days and periods and being bored with my job. You see, I really believe God has called me to teach, and I believe I can have a godly impact in the lives of my students. But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel bored sometimes,” Laura explains. “Well,” Fran replies, “how can you do a good job teaching when you feel bored?” “The key word there, Fran, is ‘feel.’ I feel bored, but I can’t let my feelings control my actions. As long as I take the paycheck that comes with the job, I owe these students the best teacher I can be,” Laura answers. Fran feels convicted as she listens to Laura. “You’re right, Laura, I know, but lately I’ve just been so bored with my job I simply haven’t worked very hard. I know I’m not doing my best work—and Jesus knows it, too.” “That’s a lousy feeling, isn’t it?” Laura agrees. “I know; I’ve been there.” “Well, how do you make yourself do a good job even when you’re bored?” Fran asks, sincerely wanting some help with her problem. “Fran, this is going to sound crazy, but I just talk to myself and say, ‘Now, Laura, today you are not a teacher, you are an actress. And you must play the most convincing role ever. You must act like a great teacher today.’ I go into a mental gear-shift and I see myself as an actress on a stage who must play the role of a teacher. Does that make any sense to you, Fran?” Laura asks. “Yeah, kinda,” Fran muses. “A mental gear-shift, huh?” “Well, it’s just my way of getting myself out of that boredom rut,” Laura says. “Then I discover the boredom usually goes away pretty fast once I begin my acting role.” Laura laughs. As Fran crawls into bed that night, she prays, “Lord, will you please give me a mental gear-shift like Laura has, so I don’t succumb to boredom. Thanks, Lord,” and with that she goes to sleep.

Do you ever get bored with your job? Boredom is a common problem we all face. Our friend Fran deals with boredom on her job. In case you’re not familiar with this series, this is a fictional story of a woman who is learning to practice the presence of Jesus on her job. It’s Tuesday afternoon, and Fran is sitting at her desk looking at the clock. “Three o’clock; wow, has this been a long day. I am ready to go home. In fact, I’m ready for the weekend, and it’s only Tuesday. How am I going to make it to Friday?” She says out loud to herself. She realizes she hasn't had much energy in the past few days. She feels a bit guilty, but she can rationalize it to herself. “I’m just tired of the same old routine, you know,” she tells herself. “I guess I’m ready for a new job. I think I’ve got this one down pat, and there’s no challenge in it for me.” That quiet voice of Jesus says to her, “So, you feel you’ve done all you can do with this job? No new ground to break, no room for improvement?” Coming to understand Jesus is aware of her every word and thought still catches her by surprise at times, but as she is learning to practice the presence of Jesus, she is more and more aware of his reaction to her words and thoughts. She responds, “Well, I guess there’s always room for improvement, but I’ve been here a few years now. Yeah—I think I’m ready for bigger things.” Jesus says, “Have you noticed your attitude in the last few days and weeks? Can you see your work habits have deteriorated a bit, maybe because of your attitude?” That's a little hard for Fran to own up to quite yet. She says, “I don’t think I’ve been that bad. I’m still getting my work done.” “Yes,” Jesus says, “but are you working with excellence; are you doing it with all your might?” Jesus reminds her of a familiar verse from Ecclesiastes 9:10. Fran says, “Lord, I do more work on a bad day than most of my coworkers do on a good day.” Jesus replies, “So, by comparing yourself with others, you can justify your lack of doing your best, is that what you’re telling me, Fran?” Fran is not sure how to answer him, so she shifts in her seat and starts to shuffle papers. Boredom. It can certainly lead to some poor work habits and keep us from being our best, can’t it?

For many years I traveled around this country teaching business seminars mostly in customer service and communication areas. What I taught were principles based on the Bible. My job was to teach something that would work, and I know from experience that Bible-based principles work. And they work in American business just as effectively as anywhere else.  Usually, when we see people who operate without integrity, they have a very short-term perspective, and their lack of integrity will always come back to haunt them long-term. Living our lives by biblical principles allows us to sleep good at night, because we know they will prove right in the end.  Proverbs 21:21 tells us, Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. In part one, we defined pursuing righteousness as always trying to do the right thing. But what is the right thing? We must have a standard, right?   Today, everyone wants to use their own definition of the right thing. It’s called situational ethics—the ethics depend on the situation. But we’ve discovered this doesn't work so well. And American businesspeople are starting to realize we need some unshakable and immovable values and codes of conduct to be successful!  There’s no doubt God’s Word gives us that standard, and as Christians in the marketplace, we can go to it with any dilemma we face and find guidance to know what the right thing is. Then, of course, it becomes our responsibility to obey and put it in practice, regardless of the results.  To bring this right down where we all live, we'll look at two more real-life case studies and see how God’s Word applies in these ethical choices.  Case #2  You work for a manager who has a large ego and feels threatened by anyone who makes suggestions for improvement. You have an idea for a change in procedures which would improve the department’s efficiency, save money, and serve customers better. It would also make life on the job more pleasant for everyone in the department.  Your colleagues agree, but you must have your manager’s approval to make it work. If you want to get his approval, you know you must make him think it’s his idea. If you simply present it as your idea, with your rationale, it is not likely to be approved.  So, you’re thinking of ways to do this, but you’re concerned your plan may border on deceit and dishonesty. However, you’re also concerned with getting the job done.   Is there a problem here with honesty? Is this manipulative? If so, is this wrong?   Here’s a passage that gives us some guidance in this decision:  I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16).  You know, as we practice integrity in a world which often doesn’t, we are exposed, and we may appear to be naive and simple—like sheep, operating in a world of wolves. You may have felt this way on your job.  Remember, Jesus has sent us out exactly that way; if we practice integrity in every area of our lives, it may well appear that we are at the mercy of all those wolves, and they’re going to devour us. But we don’t have to worry, because we’ve got Jesus on our team, fighting that battle for us.   But as Jesus went on to say, we are not to be naive in our dealings, but rather, we are to be shrewd. Let me remind you shrewd does not mean deceptive or manipulative. Shrewd means “astute or sharp in practical matters.”   So, based on that principle, I would think you could find a way to present your ideas in a non-threatening way, dropping seeds here and there and helping this difficult boss come to your conclusion. Since the motivation is to do what’s good for the customer, company, and employees, shrewdness would lead you to find a diplomatic, yet honest, way to have your idea accepted.  There were times when Jesus was very shrewd in his dealings with people. For example, do you remember when the chief priests and elders tried to trap Jesus, asking him what authority he had to teach and do the things he was doing? Jesus answered them very shrewdly. Paraphrasing him from Matthew 21:23-37, he said, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?”  Now, Jesus knew he had them trapped with this question. Any answer they gave would be bad for them, so they had to answer:  “We don't know.” Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things (Matthew 21:27).  That, I believe, is an example of being wise as serpents and harmless as doves. And in this case study example, you should find a way to get your idea accepted without seeming like you're just pushing it.  And that reminds me of another passage:  Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time (1 Peter 5:6).  Allowing someone else to take the credit for what you’ve done is certainly a way to humble yourself. That’s not easy to do, is it? You truly must be motivated for the good of others to have this attitude. And it will be humbling, which means God will honor you for it, in his time.  Case #3  A bright young lawyer works hard to get a position in a prestigious law firm. She does her work exceptionally well, she works many hours of overtime, she aspires to be a partner in this firm someday.  The firm has billing hour goals for each lawyer, and the goals are often unrealistic. Our young lawyer, being a Christian and a woman of integrity, turns in exactly the hours she has worked, which she knows to be more than most of the other lawyers in the firm actually work. Yet it appears to be less, because everyone else pads their hours on their reports.  She has an annual review coming up, and she knows the subject will surface. Her billing hours are not what the company would like.  What does she say to the managing partner who questions her about her hours? What will she do if she is encouraged to pad her hours? What effect could it have on her career?  The ethical course of action is very clear in this case. It is without question wrong to pad your hours, and she has done the right thing in turning in only what she has truly worked, no matter how it makes her look. The question now is, how does she address this situation during her review without pointing a finger of condemnation at others?   Really her only answer is to focus on herself and keep the focus off others. “Those are the actual hours I’ve worked. I’ve kept accurate records, and it’s an honest accounting of my time.” That's her answer.  If her management should explicitly ask or imply that she needs to turn in more hours, she will then have to address it more specifically. Perhaps she could ask, “Do you mean, then, I should be working more hours, more overtime, in order to bill more?”   If she has already established that she’s working considerable extra hours, this will flush the issue out in the open. It’s unlikely, especially in a law firm, that she will be explicitly asked or told to pad the hours.   However, let’s face the fact, if she doesn’t comply, she might be overlooked by the powers that be. She may discover promotions pass her up, and the partnership she wants isn’t offered.  Can you and I, as marketplace Christians, maintain high levels of personal integrity without adverse effects on our career? That’s the question I posed at the beginning. And the answer is, we should never ask the question. This may sound strange but let me explain.   As Christians in the marketplace, or anywhere else for that matter, we should be so committed to doing what is right—pursuing righteousness—that the consequences of that course of action become inconsequential. It simply doesn’t matter whether it has adverse effects on your career, or whether it advances you. In either case, you’re going to do the right thing.  If this is your heart desire and if you go to God’s Word for guidance whenever you face these sometimes less than clear situations, I can promise you he’ll give you guidance. And when you pursue righteousness and love, with pure motives and a genuine concern for others, you can be certain God will stick by his end of the bargain. As Proverbs 21:21 tells us, you will find life, prosperity, and honor.   To apply Bible standards in our lives on a regular basis takes more strength and power than any of us have naturally and normally. It takes supernatural power. But the good news is Jesus Christ came to this earth, died, and rose again to provide for each of us the power we need to live supernatural lives—lives of integrity, lives that care about other people, lives that are pleasing to God.   I challenge you to recommit yourself to a life of integrity, doing the right thing at any cost. 

Can you and I, as marketplace Christians, maintain high levels of personal integrity without adverse effects on our career? That’s the question I’d like to address. The answer to that question is we should never even ask the question. That may sound strange but let me explain. As Christians in the marketplace—or anywhere else for that matter—we should be so committed to doing what is right—pursuing righteousness—that the consequences of that course of action become inconsequential. It simply doesn’t matter whether it has adverse effects on our careers or whether it advances them. In either case, we’re going to do the right thing. If that is your heart's desire, and if you go to God’s Word for guidance whenever you face these sometimes less than clear situations, he’ll give you guidance. And when you pursue righteousness and love, with pure motives and a genuine concern for others, you can be certain God will stick by his end of the bargain. As Proverbs 21:21 tells us, when we pursue righteousness and love, we find life, prosperity and honor. I don’t think that necessarily means prosperity by the world’s measure, but prosperity in God’s eyes. A healthy and prosperous soul is far more important than a prosperous lifestyle. And the honor may not come immediately; but if God has promised it, it will come. Let me say to apply Bible standards in our lives on a regular basis takes more strength and power than any of us have naturally and normally. But the good news is Jesus Christ died and rose again, to provide for each of us the power we need to live supernatural lives—lives of integrity that care about other people and are pleasing to God. Pray that verse in Proverbs 21:21 into your life: Lord, help me to pursue righteousness and love in everything I do. Help me to simply do the right thing, no matter what the situation is, no matter how alone I may be, no matter what it may cost me. Give me your power to make right ethical choices. I can only imagine what would happen if every Christian in the marketplace started to pray that way every morning before going to work. I’m telling you, it would make a difference in our witness for Jesus. We might find ourselves out on a limb occasionally, but we’re never going to be out on that limb by ourselves. Jesus will be with us, and he has promised we will prosper and be honored if we pursue righteousness and love.

Those of us who daily go to a job know very well what it means to face a world which often does not operate by Christian principles. I’ve been examining integrity in the marketplace. I’d like to present another ethical case study and see how a Christian should respond. Case #3 A bright lawyer works in a prestigious law firm. She does her work exceptionally well, puts in many hours of overtime, and aspires to a partnership someday. Since she is a Christian and a woman of integrity, she turns in exactly the hours she has worked, which she knows to be more than most, if not all, of the other lawyers in the firm actually work. Yet it appears to be less, because everyone else pads the hours on his or her reports. She has an annual review coming up and she knows the subject will surface. Though her work is above reproach, she hasn’t billed the clients for as many hours as others have. What does she say to the managing partner who questions her about her hours? What will she do if she is “encouraged” to pad her hours? What effect could that have on her career? Remember our guiding verse, Proverbs 21:21. Pursuing righteousness—doing the right thing—makes her course of action very clear. It is without question wrong to pad the hours, and she has done the right thing in turning in only what she has truly worked, no matter how it makes her look. The question now is, how does she address this situation during her review? I believe she should keep the focus on herself and off others. There’s no need to point fingers at others but simply to reiterate that she has kept accurate records and turned in actual hours. If her management should explicitly ask or imply she needs to turn in more hours, she will then have to take a more direct approach, stating her principles if necessary. It’s unlikely, especially in a law firm, that she will be explicitly asked or told to pad her hours. However, if she doesn’t comply, she’s likely to find it is costly to her. She may discover promotions pass her up, performance evaluations are not fair, and that partnership she wants isn’t offered. Integrity can be costly. The good guys don’t always come in first in the world system.

We’re continuing our look into integrity in the marketplace. I’m going to look at another example of an ethical decision on the job and see how God’s Word gives us direction. Case #2 You work for a manager who has a large ego and feels threatened by anyone who makes suggestions for improvement. You have an idea that would improve efficiency, save budget money, and serve the customers better. Your colleagues agree, but you must have your manager’s approval to make it work. You’re thinking of ways to make him think it’s his idea, but you’re concerned your plan may border on deceit and dishonesty. However, you’re also concerned with getting the job done. Is there a problem here with honesty? Is this manipulative? If so, is this wrong? Here’s a passage that will give us some guidance in this decision: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). As we practice integrity in a world that often doesn’t, we may appear naive and simple—like sheep operating in a world of wolves. You may have felt that way on your job at times. Remember, Jesus has sent us out exactly that way. If we practice integrity in every area of our lives, it may appear we are at the mercy of all those wolves. But as Jesus went on to say, we are not to be stupid in our dealings, but rather we are to be shrewd. Let me remind you shrewd does not mean deceptive or manipulative. Shrewd means “astute or sharp in practical matters.” Based on that principle, I would think you could find a way in this particular situation to present your ideas in a non-threatening way, dropping seeds here and there, and helping this difficult boss to come to your conclusion. Since the motivation is to do what’s good for the customer, the company and the employees, shrewdness would lead you to find a diplomatic, yet honest way to have your idea accepted. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time (1 Peter 5:6). Allowing someone else to take the credit for what you’ve done is certainly a way to humble yourself. That’s not easy to do, is it? We truly have to be motivated for the good of others to have that kind of attitude.

When Christians demonstrate lives of integrity on the job, they become that Living Word witness to those around them that is stronger than any words they can ever say. My topic is Integrity in the marketplace. It’s become a bottom-line issue for companies and organizations that recognize the benefits of integrity. But for a Christian, a life of integrity is a top-line issue: We are committed to doing the right thing because that’s what Jesus would do. Now, what I’d like to do is take two case studies where integrity is at stake and ask what the biblical way is to deal with them. Case #1 Your departmental manager is not liked by any of the employees. She is very unfair, discourteous, and incompetent. Everyone in the department talks about her in derogatory ways all the time. You’ve been a part of that malicious talk at times. But you’ve decided you don’t want to be a part of that character assassination any longer. How will you keep from getting caught up in this office gossip? Here’s a biblical principle to consider: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29). I will grant you in the world’s view, gossip and backbiting would most likely not be considered unethical behavior, but God’s Word makes it clear that it is. No unwholesome talk out of our mouths—that’s the standard. This is not a moving standard; it remains steadfast regardless of the circumstances. Now, how would you handle situations where others are talking about the boss behind his or her back? Here are some suggestions: Get up and leave if you can. Do it quietly, try not to call attention to it. But walk away if you can. Someone may notice, but that’s okay. If walking away is not an option, try changing the subject. Just find another topic and start in, rather assertively, talking about something else that is harmless and not derogatory. But do it as gently as you can. And then, I would add, don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t think it’s right to talk behind her back.” Or perhaps, “Have you ever talked with her about this?” There may be occasions when you’ll have to state your objections to the gossip. Again, do it as gently and non-judgmentally as you can, but you shouldn’t be afraid to stand up for what you think is right.

Integrity in the workplace has become a hot topic. Corporate America recognizes the cost when there is lack of integrity on the job, and they're trying to figure out how they can put values and integrity back in our good ‘ole American system. It will only happen as individuals put integrity back into their personal lives and make it a high priority. And that will only happen when we are motivated from within, not from without. All the training courses in the world cannot instill integrity into a person’s heart. That must come from a belief system that is committed to doing what’s right, regardless of the cost. If we do what’s right only as a manipulative tool to get where we want to go, only because that’s the “in” thing to do nowadays, we’ll find ourselves waffling all over the place. Doing the right thing takes an internal value system and standard by which we operate. It takes absolutes. If you don’t have an authority and a standard by which actions and attitudes are judged, you will never have integrity—personal or corporate. Relative truth doesn’t work; it’s another name for compromise. If I asked you what was the best book on business ethics, good customer service, and dealing with people on the job, what book would you recommend? Not too many people would ever think of the Bible as relevant to those issues, but let me tell you, it’s the textbook we need. God’s principles, when practiced, will benefit anyone. That’s because he’s the Creator, he knows how things should work and he knows how people are motivated better than anyone else. He wrote the owner’s manual. Whether a person or an organization recognizes God or his principles, when those principles are followed, they bring success. Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor (Proverbs 21:21). Pursuing righteousness and love—there’s the secret to integrity. Righteousness simply means doing the right thing. If you and I are committed to do the right thing in every situation in our lives and to act out of love for other people, we will be people of integrity. Christians in the workplace should always have the highest standards of integrity—doing the right thing with love.

Many business schools are hurriedly designing and incorporating courses on ethics. Seminars and management training are focusing on integrity. There seems to be a sudden awareness of our need for integrity in the marketplace.    Employee theft is a problem of great magnitude, as well as lack of employee loyalty. But, after all, how can you motivate loyalty if you engage in shady business dealings or treat employees unfairly? And now corporate America says, “How can we put values and integrity back in our good ‘ole American system?”  Well, it will only happen as individuals put integrity back into their personal lives and make it a high priority. And it will only happen when we are motivated from within, not from without. All the training courses in the world cannot instill integrity into a person’s heart. That must come from a belief system which is committed to doing what’s right, regardless of the cost.  If we do what’s right only as a manipulative tool to get where we want to go, only because that’s the “in” thing to do, we’ll find ourselves waffling all over the place. Doing the right thing takes an internal belief and commitment and a standard by which we operate. It takes absolutes. And it takes an internal power which many seem to lack.  If I asked you what is the best book on business principles, customer service skills, how to succeed, how to get along with people, how to handle a difficult boss, and how to deal with decisions of integrity on your job, what book would you recommend? Not too many people would ever think of the Bible as relevant to those issues, but let me tell you, it’s the textbook and the authority which we need.  If you don’t have an authority and a standard by which actions and attitudes are judged, you will never have integrity—personal or corporate. Relative truth doesn’t work; it’s another name for compromise. A moving standard which changes based on how you feel versus how I feel or is contingent on circumstances is no standard at all.   The Bible is dogmatic. It gives us very strong guidelines in many areas, with no room for argument. That causes many people a lot of difficulty, because by nature we just don’t like to be told where the limits are. But the interesting thing is, Bible principles work, and they work in the marketplace equally as well as anywhere else.  The best customer service philosophy in the world is based on what we call the golden rule which Jesus set forth 2000 years ago: Treat other people the way you want to be treated. Now, when we base our business philosophy upon this principle, we find we design a dynamite system and way to deal with people, whether customers, employees, or vendors.   God’s principles, when practiced, will benefit anyone. That’s because he’s the Creator, he knows how things should work, he knows how people are motivated, he knows what makes us tick. His principles are based on long-term profit. God doesn’t go for the instant answers most of us look for. He has marvelous strategic insight, and when he sets forth a principle, it is always to our benefit to follow them. So, regardless of whether a person or an organization recognizes God or his principles, when those principles are followed, they bring success.  Proverbs 21:21 tells us, Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.  Pursuing righteousness and love—there’s the secret to integrity. Don’t let the word righteousness throw you. It doesn’t mean perfection or weirdness. It simply means doing the right thing. If you and I are committed to doing the right thing in every situation and to act out of love for other people, we will be people of integrity. And integrity will bring us prosperity and honor.   But more importantly, as Christians in the workplace, it will open a door of witness to those around us that is stronger than any words we can ever say. A life of righteousness and love is a light which cannot be hidden; it is what I call a “question-generating” life, one which causes someone along the way to stop you and say, “Hey, what’s different about you?”  Now in part one and part two, I'd like to look at three case studies where integrity is at stake and ask ourselves what is the biblical way to deal with them. These are only three of many situations you may face, but hopefully they’ll give you some food for thought as to how you can apply biblical principles to your ethical dilemmas.  Case #1  Your departmental manager is not liked by any of the employees. She is very unfair, discourteous to everyone, and in addition, doesn’t perform her own duties well. Everyone in the department talks about her in derogatory ways. You’ve been a part of this malicious talk at times.  But you’ve decided you don’t want to be a part of this character assassination any longer. How will you keep from getting caught up in this office gossip?   First, let me ask a very basic question: Do you think this is a question of ethics and integrity? Is it unethical to gossip about someone, especially if what you’re saying is true? You’re not making it up or enlarging on it. Would this kind of behavior be viewed as a lack of integrity?  Well, let’s go back to our verse in Proverbs 21:21: Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. Remember righteousness is simply doing the right thing.  Here’s another biblical principle to consider:  Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).  I will grant you in the world’s view, gossip and backbiting would not likely be considered unethical behavior, but God’s Word says it is. No unwholesome talk out of our mouths. That’s the standard. Only what will build others up and benefit those who listen. This is not a moving standard; it remains steadfast regardless of the circumstances.  In this case study, we have a difficult manager, one who makes your job difficult, and it’s particularly hard to keep your mouth shut in these situations. But the standard doesn’t change for the difficult manager. No unwholesome talk—that’s it.   Now, if you decide to live your life by this standard of integrity, how will you handle situations in which others talk about the boss behind her back? Here are some suggestions: Get up and leave if you can. Just walk away from the conversation. Do it quietly, try not to call attention to it. You don’t want to announce, “I’m not going to listen to this kind of gossip; I’m leaving.” Not necessary; not a good idea. But walk away if you can. Someone may notice, and that’s okay.   If walking away is not an option, try changing the subject. Just find another topic and start in. Rather assertively, talk about something else which is harmless and not derogatory. That will take some fortitude and guts on your part, but you can do it nicely. Remember, it’s okay if someone notices you’re purposely changing the subject. But do it as gently as you can.  And then, I would add, don’t be afraid to say, “Instead of talking about her, why don't we talk to her?” There may be occasions when you’ll have to state your objections to the gossip. Again, do it as nicely and gently and non-judgmentally as you can, but you shouldn’t be afraid to stand up for what you think is right.   You know, integrity can be costly. If we determine to live our lives by Proverbs 21:21 and pursue righteousness and love in all we do, it won’t always be popular. Jesus told us people like darkness because their deeds are evil. And when our integrity turns a light on and exposes dark areas, we may not be appreciated for it. We must be prepared to pay the price, but we shouldn’t purposely expose someone or make an example out of them.  In part two, we’ll look at some other real-life situations where we have to make ethical choices in the marketplace. I hope you’ll take some time this week to consider the biblical imperative for a life of integrity and ask God to show you any areas in your own life where you’ve let down the bars and lowered the standards.   Pray Proverbs 21:21 this week: Lord, help me to pursue righteousness and love in everything I do. Help me to simply do the right thing, no matter what the situation is, no matter how alone I may be, no matter what it may cost me. Give me your power to make right ethical choices.  I can only imagine what would happen if every Christian in the marketplace started to pray this every morning before work. I’m telling you, it would make a difference in our witness for Jesus. We might find ourselves out on a limb occasionally, but if we simply do what is right, we’re never going to be out on that limb by ourselves. Jesus will be with us, and he has promised we will prosper and be honored if we pursue righteousness and love.  I don’t think this necessarily means prosperity by the world’s measure but prosperity in God’s eyes. A healthy and prosperous soul is far more important than a prosperous lifestyle. And the honor may not come immediately; but if God has promised it, it will come. We can trust him. 

I'd like to briefly recap the story I told about the young boy who was attacked by an alligator. He had jumped into the swimming hole and as he swam out, an alligator swam toward him. His father was nearby, and he ran to the lake to rescue his son. As he reached from the dock for his son's hands, the alligator grabbed his legs, and a tug of war ensued. But this father was not letting go, and he dug his fingers into the boy's arms to hold him. A farmer driving by heard the screams, ran to the lake and shot the alligator. But of course, the boy's legs were greatly scarred, and he spent days in the hospital recovering. When asked to show the scars on his legs, the boy did so, but then with obvious pride, he said, “But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. They are there because my Dad wouldn’t let go.” In Romans 8 Paul tells us those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God, and because of that, we can cry, “Abba, Father.” We are permitted to call the God of creation by an intimate term, a family name, if you please—Abba, Father, Papa. He is our heavenly father, and he will never let us go. I think of a friend of mine who never knew her father; he abandoned her before she was born. Others have fathers who simply neglected them, and still others have fathers who abused them. If that is true for you, your concept of a father is likely warped. But let me assure you God is your heavenly Father, and he is perfect. Don't transfer your negative experience with your earthly father to God, because you will then miss the joy of fellowshipping with him as Father, Abba, Papa. I had a wonderful earthly father who never neglected me or mistreated me, but even he could not promise to never leave me. My heavenly Father can say, I will never leave you or forsake you, and I have full assurance he will always be with me. He will not let me go, and the same is true for you, if you are his child. Let me close with these wonderful verses from Romans 8: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

God will never let go of you! If you have accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life, he is committed to you and will keep you for all eternity. Jesus said, My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one (John 10:27-30). Maybe you're thinking, “Yeah, but Mary, you don't know what I've done. I've committed a sin, knowingly, and I've wandered far from God.” That may be sadly true, but it doesn't change the promise Jesus gave us. If—and that is an important “if”—you have truly been born from above through faith in Jesus Christ, you can't even jump out of his hand. Your own disobedience and sin are not strong enough to break his grip on you. I would remind you of David, a man after God's own heart. You can't go much further wrong as a believer than David did, committing adultery and murder. He tried to cover it up, to bury it and forget it, but until he confessed it and admitted his guilt, he was the most miserable person alive. That's always true for a believer. If you are living in willful disobedience to God's principles, as a true child of God, you will be more and more miserable until you come to full repentance. Read Psalm 51 to remind yourself of David's agony because of his sin. None of us escape the consequences of our sin, whether believers or not, but nothing can separate a true believer from God's love. Not even our sin. I want to encourage you today to come back to God with a repentant heart, with a commitment to forsake your sin and walk in his way, and he will restore to you the joy of your salvation, just as he did to David. My own story corroborates this truth, for I foolishly chose to walk away from my commitment to God's principles for a period of ten years—ten long years. It wasn't ignorance, but it was a willful determination to run my own life and get what I wanted. I failed miserably in that endeavor, and at the end of my emotional and mental rope, I came back to God, truly repentant, and he has proven himself to be a God of great mercy and grace to me. That was many years ago, and I can testify God simply never let go of me. He let me run my own show, until I ran it into the ground, and then he restored me.

Earlier I told the story of a boy who was rescued from the jaws of an alligator by a father who would not let go. And afterward the boy showed with pride the scars on his arm where his father dug in and held on against a much stronger animal who was trying to devour his son. Just as this young boy foolishly and ignorantly dove into the dangerous water where this alligator lived, we as children of God sometimes foolishly dive into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril, and we forget the enemy is waiting to attack. The Bible says the enemy of our soul, Satan, prowls about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, kind of like an alligator. Peter goes on to say, Resist him, standing firm in the faith…And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast (1 Peter 5:9–10). If you feel like you're in the alligator swamp right now and they're ready to take you under, remember God has said if you are called to his eternal glory in Christ, he will himself restore you and make you strong again—after you have suffered a little while. God is not going to let go of you. But why does he allow us to suffer a little while? Unlike the story of the father who fought to save his son, God is not helpless against Satan. He could deliver us sooner rather than later, and we puzzle as to why he doesn't, don't we? There are various reasons God allows his children to endure suffering, and one reason is to bring us to maturity so our lives will bring glory to God. In writing about suffering, James said, Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy (James 5:10-11). James reminds us in retrospect, as we look back to the suffering saints of old, we consider them blessed who persevered through suffering, and he uses Job as an example. In other words, James says, “Get the big picture here. Look beyond your momentary pain and consider what God is doing through your suffering.” Whether your suffering is a result of your wrongdoing or someone else's or it's just the hardships of life, it didn't catch God by surprise, and he intends to use it for your good. He is not going to let go of you, so hang on and trust him. He is a trustworthy God.

Are you in a tough place right now? I want to encourage you to know God will never let go of you. When we are born from above, the Bible teaches us nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. God won't let go of you! Think of Elijah. You remember the story found in 1 Kings 18, where Elijah challenged all the prophets of Baal, with great courage, and their pagan gods could not deliver them. Elijah triumphed over all that evil, proving Jehovah God was the only true God. It was an incredible victory. But the very next day, brave Elijah becomes a coward, fearful of one woman, Jezebel, who has threatened to kill him. And he starts running for his life. Elijah no doubt would have been diagnosed today as having a deep depression, even as being deluded, as he ran for his life. But God didn't let go, and with great patience and kindness, he nurtured him back to strength, taught him some wonderful lessons, and brought him out of that deep funk an even better man of God. Are you there today? Has your faith failed you; are you full of fear? Are you in that kind of deep depression where everything looks hopeless, you feel worthless, and you're sure life is coming to an end—at least life with any meaning? I want to encourage you today to know God won't let go of you. He will patiently guide you back to wholeness, as he did with Elijah. How did Elijah recover? He needed some rest and some nourishment, first of all. When you are physically depleted, it will affect you spiritually and emotionally. So, God put him in quiet place for some rest and nourishment. Then he reminded Elijah of who God is, he helped him get beyond the pity party he was having, and then he sent Elisha to be his companion and coworker. God never let go of Elijah, and if you are his child, he will not let go of you. David wrote: For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock (Psalm 27:5).

Years ago, someone sent me this story, which illustrates a wonderful truth. Let me tell it for you. On a hot summer day in Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. He flew into the water, not realizing as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His father saw what was happening, and he ran toward the water, yelling to his son. The little boy made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father would not let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard the screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred and on his arms were deep scratches where his father’s fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved. The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said, “But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too, because my Dad wouldn’t let go.” Maybe you can identify with that little boy. You have scars, too. Not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some are unsightly and have caused you deep pain or regret. But some wounds are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, he’s been there holding on to you. Think of Joseph. His brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt. Joseph didn't deserve to be so terribly mistreated, but there he was, a slave and a prisoner in Egypt. But God never let go of Joseph, because Joseph never forsook his faith in Jehovah God. And he was used by God to deliver many people, including his own family, from starvation. I wonder how many times, as he sat in that prison, he just wanted to give up. It looked hopeless, but God didn't let go. If you're in what looks like a hopeless situation right now, remember God is not going to let go of you, if you are his child by faith in Jesus Christ. God won't let go of you!

I want to focus on three key pressure points Daniel faced—and three of his friends did as well—as they were suddenly placed in a culture totally foreign to their faith in the God of Israel, the true God.   Pressure Point #1: A Change of Names and Diet  In Daniel one, we read how he and other Israelites, the brightest and the best, were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar and brought to Babylon. They were assigned new Babylonian names. Daniel became Belteshazzar. And they were instructed to eat the royal diet, which was contrary to the dietary laws God had given the Israelites.   Nebuchadnezzar's plan was to transform these bright men into pagans, remove their Jewish identity, and get them to conform to the culture they were in. They would be more useful to him that way, he thought; they would do their best work and be more loyal to him if they abandoned their heritage and their faith.  Could a name change achieve that purpose? No, the only way Daniel and his companions would ever forsake their heritage, identity, and faith in the true God, would be a complete change of heart and mind. And a name doesn't affect the heart.  How did Daniel respond to this name change? We see no indication he objected in any way. This is where the phrase, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is true. “Call me what you like,” is Daniel's and his three friends' responses, because it wouldn't change who they were.  But how does Daniel respond to the dietary change? This does affect him, because he does not intend to abandon the dietary laws of his faith. For this he is willing to take a stand.  What do I take from this?   Pick your fights. There are some things worth standing up for and resisting, and some are not. Many times, we bring pressure and stress into our lives by allowing ourselves to be overly concerned about things which have no lasting value and make no real difference.   We must learn to distinguish between issues of integrity and issues of priority. For example, suppose you're facing an assignment which seems ludicrous to you, a waste of time and resources, an exercise in futility. You must pick your fight. You may determine the damage and wastefulness of the assignment is of such magnitude you must confront it. Or you may realize it's not worth the fight—it's too small. This is not an issue of integrity but one of priority.  On the other hand, if an assignment involves a lowering of your own personal standards of integrity, an abuse of company policy, or unfair service to a customer, now you are facing an issue of integrity. This is a fight worth taking on. How you approach it is another issue. But to stay true to biblical principles, fight you must.  Picking your fight doesn't mean you come on in a combative way. Proverbs 16:21 says: The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction. Pleasant words usually get you a lot further than words of confrontation or judgment.   How many times have you seen a good idea blown by the way it was presented? How many times have you watched a situation blow up into a major issue when, with a different approach, it could have been handled without a major conflict?   On the other hand, how many times have you seen someone back off a needed fight because he didn't have the stomach for it? He wimped out rather than stand up for what he knew was right.  In the pressure points of our lives, particularly on our jobs, we are continually faced with situations where we must pick our fights. We need God's wisdom to do this well, and thankfully, he promises to give us wisdom if we ask.   Pressure Point #2: Speaking Truth Under Pressure  In Daniel two, we learn how Nebuchadnezzar had a strange dream none of his astrologers could interpret. He asked his wise men not only to interpret the dream, but also to tell him what the dream was. Talk about mission impossible! And you think you have a tough boss!  In frustration, retribution, and foolishness, Nebuchadnezzar condemns all the wise men to death because they can't interpret his dream. Daniel goes to bat to save the lives of all these people, recognizing how truly foolish and wrong it is to kill them. And then, after soliciting prayer from his friends, God reveals the dream to Daniel. He approaches the king, declaring he can tell the dream and its interpretation, and he does.  Can you put yourself in his shoes? God has revealed the dream to him, and it is very bad news for Nebuchadnezzar. He can save himself and all those wise men by telling the dream, but does he have to give him the interpretation, which Nebuchadnezzar won't like? Couldn't he fudge it a bit, when he describes this large statue and its meaning?   I would imagine he must have thought, “Either way I'm going to be killed. He will kill me if I don't tell him the dream, but when I do tell him the interpretation of this dream, he's going to kill me anyway.”  Yet, despite the pressure he is under, he chooses to tell the truth, as unwelcome as it might be. This really gets to where we live, doesn't it? Do you tell the truth regardless of the consequences? Do you do the right thing when it may not bring you any good—or it may harm you? In our own pressure points, where we must decide to tell it like it is or put some spin on it, are we, like Daniel, true to the truth, regardless of the consequences?  In Ephesians 6:14 we are told to Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…. Do you leave home each day with this belt on? It's invisible but it's obvious. When you wear the belt of truth, when you are committed to truthfulness, no matter what, it sets you apart from most of the people around you, and it takes a lot of stress out of your life. You don't have to worry about being found out or remembering exactly what you said. The truth will, as Jesus said, set you free.   Pressure Point #3: Facing Jealous Coworkers  In chapter six, we read the familiar story of Daniel and the lions' den. By this time Daniel was much older, at least in his 80s, and verse three says, Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.   Do good work and you're bound to generate jealousy. Have you found this to be true? Hopefully your good work will be recognized by those in authority, as was true for Daniel, but likely it will cause some jealousy as well. Is there anything you can do to keep this from happening?   Daniel didn't seem to be able to. His coworkers tried for a time to find grounds for charges against him in the way he did his work, but the Bible says: They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent (Daniel 6:4).   An old preacher I knew used to say, “Do right ‘til the stars fall out.” Just do the right thing, and the right thing is to work with all your heart, do the best work you can, without corruption or negligence. Obviously the way in which we work, the attitude we have toward others, the way we treat people will have some bearing on how others treat us, but there are people who will hate and despise you because you do things right, because you have a good attitude, because you go the extra mile. It is true sometimes the more you do it right, the more some will look for ways to do you harm. Thankfully these people are usually few and far between, but it only takes one to cause you a great deal of grief and indeed, a great deal of potential harm.   How do you deal with jealous coworkers? Proverbs 27:4 says, Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? If you've ever had to face jealousy—people who were jealous of you simply because you did the right thing—then you can relate to this proverb. Who can stand before jealousy? That green-eyed monster is ferocious.  Daniel's peers were so jealous they devised a plan to get him killed, a clever plan that would make them look good to the big boss and get rid of their hated rival.  Don't be surprised at what jealous people will do, and how cleverly they will try to disguise their jealousy. Daniel could not stand before jealousy, as it turns out. He couldn't stop these malicious coworkers who were out to destroy him. They got their decree signed by Darius: anyone who prayed to any other god or man other than King Darius for the next thirty days would be thrown into the lions' den—and it was an irrevocable decree.   So, at this pressure point Daniel is faced with a choice: to compromise his faith and abandon his daily practice of praying to his God three times a day, with his windows open toward Jerusalem for all to see or face those hungry lions. Did you realize the decree simply said you couldn't worship anyone else for this thirty-day period? So, I'm thinking he could have shut the windows and prayed privately, or just figured, hey, thirty days is nothing; God will understand. I'll show these guys they can't catch me in their evil scheme. I just won't pray openly for thirty days. Isn't it interesting that his coworkers must have been certain he would not compromise his commitment to his God. They knew he would choose the lions' den!  Daniel never pleaded his case with Darius. He never bad-mouthed his evil coworkers. He never protested. He simply refused to change his prayer schedule; he refused to compromise.   Most likely you'll never have to face lions or threatened death for standing firm to your faith. But you could face the death of a job, a relationship, or a career plan. And that could be very costly for you. So, if you're facing some pressure points now—some areas where you must decide if you will stand true to your commitment to Jesus as your Lord and Savior—think about Daniel. Ask God to give you Daniel-courage, the courage to refuse to bend to the culture or be intimidated by their many unbiblical ideas and beliefs, regardless of how our culture has embraced their ways and ideas.  A friend of mine is going through a situation where, because she has been wonderfully born again and delivered from the deceit and lies of the culture, she is facing hatred and condemnation from family members and friends because she no longer agrees with those unbiblical ideas. She hasn't become militant or confrontational. She simply states what she believes when they state what they believe, and for that, she is considered unacceptable. She's paying a price for standing true to her faith, but instead of being angry, she's just so thankful God has shown her the truth and now she's praying for those who are still deceived as she was for so long.  I hope you will take time to read again the first six chapters of Daniel and see how he stayed true to his God amid a very secular and pagan society, in the face of very jealous and evil coworkers. We serve the same God, and he can deliver us as well. 

The Bible never denies or ignores human suffering and emotions. You'll find throughout Scripture God understands and provides a sacred dignity to anger and despair, to injustice and sorrow. Christians are invited to share their grief, not to cover up and “fake fine” and hide their struggles. That's why it's really important for all of us to use this spiritual means of lamenting when we find ourselves overwhelmed by life. I've encouraged you to lament to God when you're baffled and worried. Ask your questions, express your outrage, tell God just how you feel. That's where a lament begins. Lament is often living in the reality of our faith journey—“the already but not yet” aspect of our faith. It's the tension between knowing God is good, he has good plans for you, he is sovereign and in control, while living in a world that is terribly broken and often very evil. Lamenting is an acknowledgement of that tension, sitting in the grief and pain of the present while looking forward to the promise of the future, our eternity with Christ. You will note the Psalms of lament always end with a reaffirmation of trust in God. For example, Psalm 13 begins with how long, oh Lord, will you forget me and begs God for deliverance. But here is how David closed that Psalm of lament: But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me (Psalm 13:5-6). He sets his heart and his mind to trust in God's love, to rejoice in his salvation, and to sing to the Lord. Let me encourage you to follow his example. Pour out the fear, the anger, the confusion, and all the questions you have to God, with total honestly. But don't end there. Always, always confess that you still trust God; you will rejoice again, and recite all you have to be thankful for. Jesus invites you to exchange your heavy burden for his light one because he can handle the heavy stuff; you can't. Leave your heavy burden with Jesus; take his light one. He'll always walk through it with you and bring you out to a good place. You can trust him.

I'm examining Christian lamenting. You could describe it as a prayer language, which God encourages us to use when we're in deep grief or anger or confusion. But this desperate prayer, as raw and painful as it may be, intentionally maintains trust in God's character. Some have characterized lamenting as “crying human but lamenting Christian.” I have a note taped to my desk that says, “Today I will not complain about anything!” It's there to remind me complaining in general is not good, not biblical, and should not be the language of a Christ-follower. Yet when David was hiding in a cave, running for his life from King Saul, he begins Psalm 142 like this: With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord. I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him (Psalm 142:1-2). He complains! Guess he never saw a sign like mine! But here's the thing: David is lamenting to the Lord about a very grievous, frightening situation. There's a difference in biblical laments and sinful complaints. Remember when the children of Israel were in the wilderness, having been miraculously rescued from slavery in Egypt. And what did they do? They complained! They complained about the food, about missing what they had in Egypt, about not having water, and they complained to Moses and to God. That is sinful complaining. I've done more than my share of it, too, haven't you? From complaining about the weather to having to deal with a difficult coworker or not getting a raise, complaints can truly become our language. We have to be intentional about not complaining and griping, and truly learning to give thanks in everything, as the Bible says. But a biblical lament is not a complaint against God; it is an appeal to God, and it's based on trust in who God is, on what he's done for you in the past, on his very character. Lamenting should move you along toward finding that peace that passes understanding, even when your questions are not answered. Complaining, on the other hand, will keep you mired in selfish attitudes and bring you down.

I'm examining the need for and the benefit of learning when and how to lament. Unfortunately, lamenting is sometimes seen as spiritual immaturity. You just haven't learned to trust God, some would say. I want to reassure you God has given us the green light to lament when it is needed. He invites you to pour out your heart to him, no holds barred, and express the deepest sorrow and grief you're going through. And a lament always begins with talking to God first. In Psalm 13 David began with questions—almost accusations to God from his broken heart and his puzzled mind. He prayed, consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death… And again, in Psalm 88:2, let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry! What questions of lament do you need to bring to God today? It could be you've never really allowed yourself to verbalize your questions—the ones that sound like accusations. Like: Lord, I don't understand why you haven't healed my friend. I know you can, but you haven't. Or, Lord, I know it is your will for my son to be born again, but even though he knows the truth, he refuses to accept you. Why? Or, Lord, you know how totally unfair and abusive this situation is at work, and I've prayed and prayed about it. Why haven't you changed it? Maybe those are the kind of questions you've thought, but you've never asked God. You probably won't get answers to all your questions—God is not obligated to answer all our questions—but you will find comfort from bringing those questions to God. Remember, don't neglect the Word of God which will give you guidance and comfort. Talk to God and let him talk to you through his Word. You probably won't feel like reading the Bible or even taking time to pray. That's because when you're in the midst of a troubling situation, your emotions become jumbled messes sometimes. But don't let the enemy keep you from reading the Bible and praying your prayer of lament. Lean into what you know is true, not to your unreliable feelings.

Is lamenting absent from your prayer life? Jesus said in this world we will have tribulation, and that confirms the need we have to learn what lament is and how we should use it. If you don't know how to prayerfully lament when those tribulations come your way, you are missing a marvelous way God has provided for us to deal with hard times and dark days. How should we lament? There is no one right way; for each of us it will be somewhat different and personal. But there is a common thread in the prayers of lament in the Psalms, and that is, you take your lament to God and sometimes it's to God only. Be sure you go to God first with your lament. Often laments begin with a question, like Psalm 13: How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me (Psalm 13:1-2)? Actually, David had five questions of the Lord—five unanswered questions. Five things that puzzled him greatly; five things he wonders if God even knows or cares. Ever been there? Your lament might sound more like how long, Lord, before my prodigal child comes to you? Or, how long will I have to endure this physical problem? Or, how long do I have to put up with a mate who is not true to you or to me? Or how long must I bear this unbearable pain of the loss of my child or parent or mate? Whatever questions you have, your prayer of lament is your opportunity to express what's going on inside of you, even in stark, angry words. Maybe that's what you need to do even today—begin your lament to God. You don't have to sugar-coat it or worry about hurting his feelings. Tell God exactly what's going on inside you. He knows already, of course, but you need to put it into words and pour it out to God.

Sometimes it seems the Bible gives us conflicting guidance. For example, in Philippians 4:4 the Apostle Paul exhorts us to rejoice in the Lord always, and in case we didn't hear him the first time, he repeats, again I say rejoice. Christ-followers should be rejoicing people. That would seem to say we should always be positive, have smiles on our faces, and never feel sad. But then in Romans, the same Apostle Paul tells us to weep with those who weep. King David in the Psalms repeatedly poured out his rawest grief and deepest questions to God. Over half of the Psalms are called Psalms of lament. Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion (Psalm 77:7-9)? That doesn't sound much like rejoicing in the Lord always. In fact, it is a lament—a prayer of pain, a raw, honest expression of grief and sorrow. Think of how Jesus lamented in the Garden of Gethsemane when he confessed My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. And on the cross, he cried out with a loud voice, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? And there's an entire book in the Old Testament called Lamentations! Even a brief survey of Scripture confirms those who follow Christ will have times of lament in their lives. Somehow, we've often overlooked that biblical practice so many Christians feel guilty when they lament. But honest lament is not only permitted, it is encouraged in God's Word. Could it be you need to learn to lament? Please understand I'm not talking about throwing a pity party every time your feelings are hurt! But feeling sorrow and pain and hurt when life throws unexpected bad news or difficult dark days our way should lead us to honest and candid prayers of lament. The Bible gives us some guidance on expressing our laments—laments which lead to acceptance or deliverance or guidance and eventually to joy, whatever your need may be.

Presented by Jenn Miller Let's look at Mary and Martha. You might be most familiar with these two sisters for their opposite personalities—Martha, being type A and consumed by what needs to get done, and Mary being the one who applauded for resting and sitting at Jesus' feet. All throughout the gospel accounts, these sisters and their brother, Lazarus, offered hospitality to Jesus and became some of his dearest friends. But in John 11, word comes to Jesus that Lazarus is sick, actually very sick. The sisters contacted Jesus out of faith. They knew Jesus was able to heal the sick—they had seen his miracles, and they put their faith in him and called on him to come heal their brother. Jesus' response is quite confusing though. Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days (John 11:5-6). If someone you love is extremely sick, and you have the ability to help, wouldn't you get up and rush to their side? Isn't that what love does? The Bible reassures us of Jesus' love for each of them, and yet, he deliberately chose to stay. And he waited. And Lazarus died. When Jesus finally came to Bethany, Lazarus had been dead four days. As we think through lament, I want you to put yourself in Mary and Martha's shoes for a minute. They were trusting Jesus to heal their brother. They implored him to come. They waited and waited. Perhaps they took a break from tending Lazarus' sick bed to go outside and see if Jesus was coming around the corner. But he wasn't. And these two sisters watched their beloved brother die, wrapped his body, and placed him in a tomb. Imagine what Mary and Martha were feeling. Perhaps you know the intense pain of losing a loved one. This year I suddenly lost a family member that seemed perfectly healthy. The shock was jarring and painful. The death of a loved one is absolutely a reason to lament. And yet, as terrible as losing Lazarus was, I think there was an even greater lament for Mary and Martha. They both spoke to Jesus when he arrived separately and the first thing they said was, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Do you hear the pain of confusion? Do you hear the notes of disappointment and feelings of betrayal? I think the deeper lament is that these women put their faith and hope in Jesus and were left disappointed. That is not something good Christians like to talk about, but I have experienced those moments. Have you? Have you prayed earnestly in faith and received an entirely different outcome than you expected? Have you committed yourself to teaching your children faithfully only to watch them fall away? Have you tried to live obediently to the Lord and yet you look at your life, and it is not what you imagined it would be like at all? Do you feel like Jesus has let you down? If you feel that way, know you are not alone. Life can be confusing and disorienting. And when it doesn't make sense and you are hurting, come to Jesus. That is what Mary and Martha did, and it was the first step in their healing. They both shared their feeling of bewilderment and even possibly betrayal that Jesus waited to come, chose not to heal Lazarus, and let him die. Satan wants you to hold that hurt and confusion and let it fester into resentment, bitterness, and unbelief. But when you come to Jesus and honestly pour out your heart, however messy or honest it is, that is when Jesus meets us in the lament. And he met Martha and Mary in two very different ways that show his character. First with Martha, Jesus comforts her with the truth of his character. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25). This was one of Jesus' I am statements, and he chose to reveal himself as the resurrection and the life first to Martha in this moment of deep grief. But he doesn't stop there. Jesus follows this truth with a question. He asks her, Do you believe this? (John 11:26). Friend, in your pain, immersing yourself in the attributes of the Savior is extremely helpful. Jesus is loving. He is your shepherd. He sees and hears your misery. He is powerful to save and works all things for the good of those who love him. But it is not enough just to read these statements. In your pain, Jesus comes to you and asks, “Do you believe this?” Martha could not have possibly understood all that encompassed the truth of Jesus being the resurrection and life. And Jesus didn't expect her to. But with what faith she had in that moment, she responded, Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world (John 11:27). When everything in life is chaos and you can't make sense of your pain, hold on to what you do know about Jesus. Asking why is rarely helpful, but choosing to sit in who you know and have already experienced Jesus to be will comfort your soul. Interestingly, Jesus responds very differently to Mary. She comes to him with the exact same words as Martha, Lord…if you had been here, my brother would not have died (John 11:21). Instead of revealing truth to her, Jesus weeps with her. Friend, you have a savior who is moved by suffering and weeps. I don't know about you, but that is so comforting to me! Jesus might have been moved by seeing Mary in such pain or by his own grief or by his hatred of death as an enemy or all of it. Either way, he wept. And Jesus wept even though he knew the end of the story. He waited to let Lazarus die to reveal himself not only as healer but as the one who can resurrect. He knew Lazarus' time in the grave was almost over, but he still wept. Jesus sees your whole story and knows it will turn out for your deliverance, and yet amid your suffering, he comes along side you tenderly. He doesn't rebuke you for a lack of stoic faith or say, buck up. No, he is the almighty savior who understands our weakness and meets us with compassion. That means the world to me. Mary and Martha did receive their brother back, but in the moments of lament, they didn't know the ending. In their lament they were called to believe the truth about Jesus and experience his tender care. And you and I are called to do the same. No matter what the root of our lament is, the Lord invites us to pour out our souls to him, to believe he sees and hears, and to receive his tender care. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, all who trust in him are promised a gloriously happy ending. But in the meantime, life is hard. May we be women who cling to truth and to the loving care of Jesus himself. Let's pray now to that end. Heavenly Father, you know the burdens and hardships each person reading right now is facing, and none of it is too heavy for you to bear. I pray you would comfort each hurting heart with your tender care. Would you remind each soul of who you truly are—that you are good, that you are working all things to make those who love you more and more into the image of your Son, that you will one day make all wrongs right, that nothing can separate those in Christ from your love. Give us greater faith to believe those truths more and more each day. I entrust each of my fellow lamenting sisters to your perfect care. In Jesus' precious name we pray. Amen.

Presented by Jenn Miller As we continue to look at glimpses of lament from women in the Bible, today we come to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Shortly after Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph presented him at the temple. While there, a man named Simeon was led by the Holy Spirit to recognize baby Jesus as the long-awaited and promised Messiah. He prophesied Jesus would cause the rise and fall of many. But then Simeon turned to Mary and told her another prophecy: that a sword would one day pierce her own soul as well. If you are a mother, you know how much feeling there is in motherhood. I remember having physical reactions to hearing my baby's cry. You feel the pain of your toddler's skinned knee. Mothers share the pain of a child's rejection on the playground, or the deep hurts adolescence can bring. Mary was no different—Jesus was her Savior, but he was also her firstborn son. Can you imagine the agony she felt at the cross as she watched her child ridiculed and tortured? It was a piercing sword to her heart. And Jesus saw her pain from the cross. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved (John) standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home (John 19:26-27). In Mary's deep lament, Jesus comforts her by sending her a person. This is a bit surprising because Mary had other sons and daughters who could care for her physical needs, but at this time, they did not believe in Jesus. Jesus gives Mary John as someone who can care for her soul. Friend, one of the ways Jesus most often cares for his people in their lament is through his church. We are called to bear one another's burdens. Will you give a fellow believer the privilege of walking with you in your pain? I pray today you and I will look for opportunities to care for others who are hurting as well as receive the care of the saints ourselves.

Presented by Jenn Miller What do the women of the Bible teach us about lament? Often when I think of lament, I think of casting the burdens of life at the Lord's feet. But the Bible also instructs Christians to lament their sin. In Luke 7, a woman does just that. We don't know much about her, not even her name. The main detail we are given is she had lived a sinful life in that town. In the verses that follow, she comes to Jesus weeping, her tears dripping onto his feet. She dries his feet with her hair and then anoints them with precious perfume. This was not only a display of worship, but a display of lament over sin. Notice the most important part though—she does not hide from Jesus when he comes to town; she does not wallow in self-condemnation and pity; she doesn't turn to other things to dull the pain of conviction. No, she comes to Jesus with her sin. That is the difference between Satan's condemnation and the Spirit's conviction. Condemnation focuses my eyes on my sin where conviction of the Spirit focuses my eyes on my great Savior's ability and willingness to forgive. Condemnation tells me to run from God and hide, but the conviction of the Spirit calls me to draw near to Christ. And Jesus graciously welcomed her saying, your sins are forgiven (Luke 7:48); your faith has saved you. Go in peace (Luke 7:50). Dear sister, what do you do with your sin? Do you ignore it or try to hide it? Do you defend it or seek to justify yourself? Does shame overwhelm you? Christ is calling you to rightly mourn your sin and agree that it is wrong. But you are called to more than that. Come lament your sin and worship the one who forgives it. Come and receive the truth of the Savior for all who come to him in faith, your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.

Presented by Jenn Miller Have you ever experienced such bitter circumstances that it feels like the Lord is against you? Naomi did. In the book of Ruth, we read Naomi and her family were forced to move to a different country and culture because of a famine in their homeland. Just imagine packing up two children with your husband and leaving everything you ever knew to start again in a new culture. But shortly after arriving, Naomi's husband died. After being there 10 years, her sons married, which probably seemed hopeful and joyous. However, any joy was short-lived as both of her sons passed away too. At this time in history, a woman with no husband, no sons, and no extended male family members had little chance of survival. Not only did Naomi face abject poverty, but all her hopes and expectations for what her life would look like fell to pieces. After coming back to Israel, she quickly tells those who once knew her to not call her Naomi (meaning pleasant) but Mara (meaning bitter). In Ruth 1:20-21 we get a glimpse into how Naomi viewed God in her suffering. She says, Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me (Ruth 1:20-21). Interestingly, Naomi's lament isn't one directed to God—she doesn't come to him with her burdens, but she does attribute her troubles to him. I think this lack of coming to God is what allowed the bitterness to grow. Have you been there? Have you experienced extreme loss and found yourself thinking, “Why would God allow such bitterness to come into my life?” If you are in this kind of suffering today, where it feels like the Lord has dealt you a lot that is more suffering than you can handle, keep reading the book of Ruth. In Naomi's suffering, all she could see was the loss, but throughout the book, God shows that he had not forgotten Naomi. He was actively working for her good. By the end of the story, the people around her are praising God because of how he redeemed Naomi's story and brought joy. Friend, in the depths of your pain, don't let bitterness grow. Bring your pain to Jesus. He will walk with you through it and is at work even now for your redemption.

Presented by Jenn Miller Do you ever wonder if God sees your pain or hears your misery? We are looking at glimpses of the laments of women in the Bible. In Genesis 16, we read the story of Hagar. We find her running away from her mistress after being mistreated. Hagar experienced the loss of her homeland, Egypt, when she was given as a servant to Abraham and Sarai. Here, she is newly pregnant, and what was first joyous, now seems treacherous as the relationship with her mistress dissolves in bitterness and jealousy. She has been mistreated and runs away into the desert. I imagine Hagar felt so alone and afraid. But in verse 7, the Angel of the Lord, a figure representing God, comes to her. In verse 11, the Lord tells her she will have a son, and his name will be Ishmael which means “the Lord hears.” What did the Lord hear? He said he had heard Hagar's misery. It is unlikely that Hagar had a relationship with the Lord before this point, but God says all the groans of misery Hagar faced, he heard. God entered into her pain and reassured her he knew, he understood, he heard. When you are mistreated or are facing circumstances that seem perilous and out of control, know God hears you. He understands the back story and all you face, and he draws near. Interestingly, after God names Hagar's child, she turns and gives God a name. She says, ‘You are the God who sees me.” She names him “The God who Sees.” Isn't that comforting? Hagar goes on to say, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” God hears our pain and he sees. He cares and enters our pain. For Hagar, knowing God was near her in her misery was the turning point in her relationship with God. The Lord sees you today too, sister. He hears and is ready to meet you in your lament. Draw near to the Living God who sees and hears you.

Presented by Jenn Miller Biblical lament is the honest and often raw expression of our pain and sorrow before God, and a striking example of this is Hannah. In 1 Samuel 1, we read that Hannah longed for a child but was barren. If that pain weren't enough, she was constantly reminded of this and ridiculed by another woman. Maybe you have also experienced the intensified suffering of being mocked in your troubles. And it wasn't just one time; verse 3 says this happened year after year. Hannah found herself in a cycle of suffering she couldn't get out of. Finally, she went in bitterness of soul to the tabernacle to weep and pray. In verse 15, she described it as pouring out her soul to the Lord. I love that phrase. Often when I am hurting, the pain wells up within me, and I can feel so heavy and burdened. But just like a glass that is full and ready to spill over, when we come to the Lord in our grief in prayer, we have the opportunity to pour out our souls to him, to bring our burdens to his feet, to share everything we are feeling and thinking. Now, this is not always a pretty process. It wasn't for Hannah. I bet we would describe this as “ugly crying,” not just a sweet dab of the eye when teary, but she held nothing back. The priest Eli was so repulsed he thought Hannah was drunk. But the Lord is not repulsed by our messy expression of need! He delighted in Hannah's prayer. Psalm 62:8 instructs us to pour out our hearts to the Lord. Friend, what are you holding today that is heavy and burdensome? Do you feel like you are about to crack or burst? The Lord bids you to cast your cares on him because he cares for you. Pour out all your pain and brokenness before the Lord today. Tell him how you feel, your fears, your disappointments. The Lord draws near to those who humbly come and seek him. He invites you to spill out your suffering and let him carry your burdens.

There is power in asking. Think about it in the business world. Selling is asking, isn't it? I remember when training for sales with IBM I was taught to ask for the order and not to be shy about it. To ask again and again. And I was carefully taught how to ask. So, there's no doubt that there is power in asking. So, why are we often shy and reticent to ask for something? Well, for one reason, asking for something is humbling, isn't it? It's admitting a need and acknowledging that you don't have total control in some area. You need something that you don't have and you have to admit it. Also, asking sets you up for rejection. The answer could be “No.” Recently I was in a position of asking for something really significant; it wasn't for myself but for an important project at my church. I knew who to ask, but for weeks I procrastinated about asking because I didn't want to get a negative response. When finally I asked, the reception I received was far more favorable and pleasant than I had imagined. But regardless of the response to my request, as long as I didn't ask there was no way I was going to get it! There was a lot of pride in my attitude toward asking. If the answer was no, I would have to tell everyone involved and I might look foolish. Or I might lose their confidence in me. So, instead of asking, I wasted time worrying about how I would look to others if the answer was no. Not only foolish of me, but prideful as well. In the book of James we read, “You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2b). I wonder how many blessings we've missed for ourselves and others because we simply have not asked God. Please understand, I'm not talking about asking for frivolous things or for selfish reasons. But as Christ-followers we have a Heavenly Father who invites us to ask him for what we truly need, for blessings for ourselves and others. He expects us, as his children, to ask him for help, and yet how often we do not have what he would give us because we do not ask. A few years ago, I was stuck in an airport for two days because of weather-related cancellations, trying to get home, trying to locate my luggage, standing in long lines and hoping to get on a flight soon. As I was standing in one long line with probably fifty other people, a woman who looked like she had some authority walked by, and I just nicely stopped her and asked her a question. She said, “Come to my office,” so I followed her and for about an hour she made phone calls and arrangements, and I walked out of there with a free hotel for the night and a seat on a flight the next day. I asked and got special treatment, not because I deserved it any more than the others in that line, but because I asked. As I said earlier, studies show that women are far more reluctant to ask things for themselves than men are. For example, men are more likely to ask for a raise than women are, and when they do ask, women ask for much less than men do. Women will freely ask for the benefit of others but are reluctant to ask something for themselves. Notice how freely children ask for things. They don't hesitate to ask Mom or Dad for whatever it is they want at the moment. And they keep asking until often we parents give in just because they keep asking. Jesus told a parable about a widow who kept asking an uncaring and unkind judge for justice against her adversary. Finally the judge decides to grant her request, not because he wanted to do the right thing, but because she kept bothering him. Jesus said, “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly” (Luke 18:7-8a). In other words, we have a kind and loving God to ask, not a wicked judge, and yet often we give up asking him to meet our needs. Jesus taught us to keep on asking; don't quit. What have you given up on asking for? Jesus taught us to be persistent in asking. In all areas of our lives we have to ask for things if we're ever going to get what we need, succeed at our jobs, complete our tasks. . . whatever! But of course we don't always get what we ask for, do we? What are some of the reasons that we don't get what we ask for? In James 4 we are told: When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures (James 4:3). Motives—what are our motives for asking? Receiving what we ask for depends largely on why we are asking for it. So, we have to examine our motives. Asking God—or anyone else, for that matter—for frivolous things, unnecessary things that are simply for our own selfish desires, just doesn't motivate God or people to want to grant our requests. I remember a woman asking me to pray that God would send her a husband. Well, in itself that's not a bad request, but her whole motivation was selfish: I want a husband to take care of me. I don't like being single. God owes me a husband. That was her attitude, and it wouldn't impress God or anyone else, I don't think. Secondly, we sometimes don't get what we ask for because we don't know how to ask. For example, be specific in what you ask for. If you need some money for a very good reason, not because you've been a poor steward of your money, you should be clear about why you need the money, how it will be used, and how much you really need. If you're asking someone to donate money to a good cause, be prepared to give a good explanation of how the money will be used and the good it will do. When you're asking for a change in circumstances, like a better work environment, instead of asking that the boss make the situation better for you, ask for the change because it will benefit the company or organization. Put yourself in the other person's shoes and ask yourself what would motivate that person to want to grant your request. Maybe you're job hunting right now, or looking for a raise or a promotion. If so, you really need to know how to ask, because the way you ask will in large part determine your success. And the way you ask will be controlled by the questions you ask yourself. For example, do you ask yourself, “What's wrong with me? Why am I not able to find a job?” Those kind of questions will simply discourage you. You're telling yourself negatives that affect the way you behave. Are you thinking: I'm too old, or I'm overqualified, or I'm just not aggressive enough? That kind of thinking just provides you with an excuse for why you're not getting the answers you want. Instead, ask What can I do to make a better impression on an interview? Or, How can I show that my age is an asset and not a liability? Now you're asking yourself questions that can lead to positive results. These are constructive questions, not destructive ones. If you want to ask better questions, begin by examining the questions you are asking yourself. And be ready to change the way you've been thinking. Once again I'm reminded that everything begins in our thought lives. If you think wrong, you ask wrong. If you think according to Philippians 4:8—thoughts that are true, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy—that kind of thinking will lead you to positive, constructive questions. And that certainly includes the questions you ask yourself! I find that I must be intentional about choosing good questions to ask myself—questions that will help me rather than discourage me. I have to bring those questions—those thoughts—into captivity and make them obedient to Christ, as we read in 2 Corinthians 10:5. So, today think about the questions you ask yourself. Are they constructive or destructive? Asking right questions begins with right thinking. Ask and keep on asking. That is a principle that we see in scripture. We are to be askers—and persistent askers, at that. Have you learned the power of asking? We have to ask with right motives, we have to be specific when we ask, and we can't give up easily. That is true if we're asking something from God or from our boss—or anyone else for that matter. There's an important biblical teaching when it comes to asking God for something. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him (1 John 5:14-15). The Apostle John gives us a really startling principle—one that almost seems too good to be true. Whatever we ask, we have! Is that what he said? Yes, that's what he said, but there's a qualifier—if we ask according to his will. So, that means our motive has to be for the glory of God, not just for our pleasure. And it also means that we need to know what God's will is so that we can ask in accordance with it. You can't short-change God's Word in your life, because knowing God's will in any particular situation is a function of knowing the Word better and better. God reveals his will through his Word and through his Spirit, who usually reveals his will to us through the Word of God. So, how much time do you spend in God's Word? Romans 12:1 and 2 says that we can know what God's good, pleasing and perfect will is by offering ourselves as living sacrifices and being transformed by the renewing of our minds. That transformation happens more and more as we immerse our life in the truth of God's Word. Do you see the progression here? We need to know God's will in order to ask appropriately and therefore get what we ask for. In order to know God's will, we must know God's Word and be sensitive to the Spirit of God who resides within us, as Christ-followers. Then, as we are more and more confident of what God's will is, the requests we make to God are more and more in line with his will and he will hear and answer. I want to learn the power of asking God for great things that bring him glory and see the great and mighty things he wants to do. Will you join with me in asking God to teach us the power of asking?

Presented by Lauren Stibgen We have discovered that we were made to lament and examined the examples we have in Scripture through the life of David. What hits the most for me as I read about lament is the deep trust that God's will is always best, and he alone deserves the glory! We have heard parts of Psalm 6 this week, from David's most honest cries to God through his tears that flooded his bed. The ending of this Psalm turns to David's trust, Depart from me all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer (Psalm 6:8-9). There is not an ounce of doubt coming from David. God heard me crying. He heard me pleading and he accepts my prayer. When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid (Psalm 56:3-4). In you, Lord my God, I put my trust…I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame (Psalm 25:1-2). God, I trust you. I trust you. I trust you! David's lament was never absent of his trust in God. A deep and abiding love for his Father that he knew would carry him through in battles and in loss, in highs and in lows. When was the last time you uttered the profound, but simple words, God, I trust you? God, I trust you with my work. God, I trust you with this job search. God, I trust you with this very hard conversation. God, I trust you with this difficult colleague. God, I trust you to care for my needs. God, I trust you when I am afraid I might lose my job. God, I trust you when I don't know how to complete a task. God, I trust you when I feel alone. Did you know this is prayer? Simple, short, and sweet, but it flows from your heart right to God. And it glorifies how he made you to be in a constant and dependent relationship with him! David gave us this example of the pattern of lament and deep trust that he then turned to praise. I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name O Most High (Psalm 9:1-2). Lament. Trust. Praise! How can you use this simple three-word phrase as a reminder in the week ahead?

Presented by Lauren Stibgen Sometimes God seems far away. Many women I speak with have said this very thing from time to time. Despite their prayers, reading the Bible, and going to church, God seemed distant. They feel like there are no answers coming in their distress, and some have even thrown in the towel with long time prayers. This isn't what God has planned for us. I like to remind myself about God's view on time when I feel like he hasn't answered me in a while. To the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day (2 Peter 3:8). In the context of my view on time, it may not feel like very long to God at all! It's likely that David ran from Saul between four and thirteen years. I am sure David's laments to God were very difficult at times. Like, “Hello, Lord? It's your anointed King David. What are we doing? How long?” I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of my foes (Psalm 6:6-7). Not only was David weary, but he was also worn down to the point of tears! God saw every one of these tears David shed. He sees yours too. And David wasn't shy about crying out to God! My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night but I find no rest (Psalm 22:1-2). Ultimately, God was with David every step of the way—even when David felt alone, chased, weary, and deep in sorrow. God wants to hear from you. Lament to God about your weariness, tears, and unanswered prayers. Lament to God when he feels distant and like he isn't answering you. Have you been in a season like this with work? Our adversary may look different than David's, but it could come in the form of being out of work for an extended period, waiting for a promotion, or feeling like you have an adversary at work challenging your every move. Jesus has promised we will have trouble in this world (John 16:33) but also gives us the hope that he has overcome the world! Turn to the Lord in lament today. Be honest. He wants to hear from you.

Presented by Lauren Stibgen Who are you the most vulnerable with? This word describes a state of being easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally. Is there a person you trust the most? Maybe you are blessed to have more than one person to talk to about your most private matters. But who are you vulnerable with about your sin? Let's face the fact. Even those of us who have the beautiful gift of grace of salvation in Jesus Christ still sin. We all do. Even when we are trying to live a life holy and honorable before the Lord. The word is clear about confession. Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy (Proverbs 28:13). James tells us to confess our sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed (James 5:16). What does this have to do with lament? David's life was not all glory. He also sinned and gave us a good example of how to cry out to the Lord in lament for our sin. The story of David and Bathsheba found in 2 Samuel 11 and 12 tells of David's sins resulting from his lust for Bathsheba. In Psalm 51 we see David's vulnerability with God as he laments about his sins. Have mercy on me, O' God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin (Psalm 51:1-2). Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me (Psalm 51:11). Remember the definition of vulnerable? A state of being easily hurt physically, emotionally, or mentally. David lamented to God and did not want to be removed from all the goodness of his presence and filling of the Holy Spirit. Even David recalls I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and you forgave all my iniquity and sin (Psalm 32:5). David's lament also reminds us again of what happens when sin goes unconfessed. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long (Psalm 32:3). In his deepest sin, David turned to the Lord. God wants us to do this too. Sin can make its way into any part of our life, including at work! Take some time to examine your heart and lament to God!

Presented by Lauren Stibgen Are you afraid God doesn't want to hear your complaints? Do you ever have a feeling you are enduring things that shouldn't be happening to you? How about waiting for something good to happen? Why me or why not me? David's life was full of waiting, enemies, and strife! And he knew his direct line to God was the best way for him to cry out! If you read the books of first and second Samuel, you see the long and arduous road David endures to becoming King. Even though he is anointed as King early on by the prophet Samuel, he spends years fleeing from a jealous and hateful Saul. And David was just being himself! First, David was a skilled warrior, and he had a lot of success! He was also a skilled musician who played the harp for Saul when he was feeling mentally unwell. Saul was deeply jealous of David—jealous of his skill, jealous of the favor God showed to David, and jealous of the relationship David had with his son Jonathan. Not only did Saul throw a spear at David, but he charged his entire army to kill him. Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days (1 Samuel 18:29). Sometimes we are confronted with things, and we really don't know why. We are truly being ourselves, giving our best and our all. Are we like David, seeking feedback? In 1 Samuel 20:1, David asks Johnathan, “What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father that he seeks my life?” David never received a good worldly answer from his dear friend Jonathan. In the Psalms, David's laments to the Lord during this time are many, but Psalm 142:1-2 highlights his desperation. With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord. I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him (Psalm 142:1-2). David goes on to talk about how traps have been set for him and that no one cares for his soul. Have you ever felt this? You ask for help and it seems there is none in sight? Have you ever felt like no one cares for your soul? David knew God cared for him, and he poured his complaint to God when he had no one else in the world to ask: why me?! God wants to hear your complaints. He wants to be there to remind you he is for you in this deep time of lament.