iWork4Him PowerThought

72% of people who get up and go to work every day think “nobody cares about me”. That's a WHOLE LOT of hurting people that will never experience God's love. So, what if we just took God's love to them? What if there was a chaplain in the workplace that looks just like them, that meets them where they are; to just listen, pray and love them?  Workplace chaplains DO exist and are more and more common in today's workplaces! And THAT is the gospel!  Echoing Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 9, “When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.”  So, we challenge you, look into finding a chaplain for your people and transform your workplace into a place where people are loved. 

Changing the world. We all have that secret desire, don't we?  Changing the world in Kingdom terms is not measured in the BIG, the BIGGER and the BIGGEST actions in our life and work. It's the opposite. Changing the world happens, one person, one word and one action at a time. It can be as small as a smile, a kind word, or a self-less act of service. It's counter-intuitive, just like the work of Christ. So how about you?  Would you like to change the world? Would you be willing to start today, changing the corner of the world where God has placed YOU?  We invite you to start changing the world RIGHT NOW, with ONE smile, ONE kind word, and ONE kind action. 

Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant. 

Jim: Welcome to the iWork4Him Power thought for the day, we are Jim and Martha Brangenberg with iWork4Him   Martha: Do you ever feel like quitting your job? Even though it's a good job and it pays well.  Jim: We mean quit your perfectly good job so you can go into full time ministry. Have you ever had that thought?  Martha: If you are like us, you feel the need for significance in your work and you feel like a job in a church or a Christian non-profit is the only way to go.  Jim: We are here to help stop the madness. The job that you hold, the work that you do and the people that you work with, none of that is by chance.  Martha: The people that you work with need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance.  Jim:  Try this thought on for size. Your workplace is your mission field. Pay attention today at work and see if you meet any people who need to meet Jesus – and don't quit your job.   Martha: For more about iWork4Him and the iWork4Him podcast, go to iWork4Him dot com.  That's iWork the number 4 Him dot com.  

With the new reality that my work was in fact my place of ministry, my workplace mission field, I modified my workplace commute prayer time. I still prayed for my family, but I added my bosses, my coworkers, and eventually my employees. I noticed a funny thing happening. I started to see these people differently - the way God saw them. I grew in empathy and love for them, and I really started seeing myself as a minister in my workplace. In addition to the demands of my new job, I started to serve my co-workers over and above what I was required to do. This selfless serving of others caused them to see that something was different about me. I started to see my faith relevant to my work. My paradigm was shifting, and my heart was encouraged. Who can you start praying for today?  And then watch what God does to your heart. 

It all started with my new job. Commuting 90 miles to work. I made a commitment to not turn on the radio for the morning commute. I wanted to learn how to pray. My new job had so much adventure built in, but I wanted this job to be different. I prayed for my family on the way to work and others who had specific prayer requests but then God rocked my world. One day, in my email in box, my friend Bob sent me the Today God is First devotional from Os Hillman. For the first time, I learned that God loved my work and that my workplace was my mission field. I was floored. For years I had tried to go into full-time ministry in a church, but this devotional told me that I was already in ministry at my work.  You are in your mission field at work. Let that sink in today. 

Martha: Welcome to the iWork4Him Power thought for the day, we are Jim and Martha Brangenberg with iWork4Him   Jim: When you woke up today did you find yourself celebrating the first day of the work week or did you find yourself dreading it?  Martha: It seems that most of us suffer from TGIF syndrome instead of adopting the TGIM revolution. We need to start Thanking God its Monday.   Jim: you see, God designed our work to have purpose and fulfillment. He also designed it so that He could work alongside us, bringing us His wisdom along the way.  Martha: What is it going to take for you to switch from dreading Monday to celebrating it?    Jim: If you are like me, it is going to take a Romans 12:2 Paradigm Shift. We have to stop copying the Behavior and Customs of this world and allow ourselves to be transformed and allow God to change the way we think.   Martha:  Every Day your work matters to God. Let's start celebrating Mondays.   For more about the iWork4Him podcast, go to iWork4Him dot com.  That's iWork the number 4 Him dot com. 

Have you ever considered that God wants to use YOUR business influence, the position He's put you in, as a “platform” for Him? A stage on which to do your work while others watch and see HOW you work? If you lead just ONE person or have interact with groups of people inside OR outside your business, like vendors or, contractors, then you have a platform. A platform designed by GOD for you, for such a time as this. That you would work for His glory, show His characteristics of caring, courage, diligence, fairness, integrity, respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness. So how about you? When they watch you work do, they see YOU, or do they see Christ?   

What's the fastest way to get what you DON'T want?  Tell the Lord “I will NEVER _________________” Yep, just ask any other Christ follower who's made the mistake of saying something like that.  You WILL end up being exactly where YOU said you would NEVER be or DOING something you said you would never do.  Our thoughts are not God's thoughts and His ways are NOT our ways. We don't have the big picture, but God does.  So how about YOU? We're challenging you to remove the word NEVER from your vocabulary and to replace it with scripture, such as Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 

I try to keep my heart pure and intimate with Christ, so I can be a source of light and encouragement to the people I work with. That's the faith at work philosophy of a millennial professional we interviewed. What a beautiful philosophy of how we can really prepare and BE Christ at work. So how about you?  Is your heart pure and intimate with Christ so YOU can be a source of light and encouragement to YOUR co-workers?  How about today, before stepping into work, you prayed this prayer: Father, purify my heart, that may I BE Christ to everyone I work with today. Use me Father, to be a source of light and encouragement to everyone I work with. In Jesus's name. 

Heard this great reminder from a manager of a Christian Retail company “The biggest challenges in my life and work have been when I have forgotten WHO God is, or WHO I AM in Christ.” So how about you? Are you in the midst of a challenge at work? If so, CLING to the words of God. Remind yourself right now who you are IN HIM, not the words of what the world tells you. Here are just a few: I am a child of God, I am Jesus' friend, I am a NEW creation, I am an heir with Christ, I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God and I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. 

The wonder-woman complex. It's an unrealistic belief that we as women need to be everything to everybody. Where did that come from? And what's it doing to us? What if instead of trying to BE wonder-woman, we commit to be who God created us to be. .... To get to know our spiritual gifts, talents, strengths, and then went in search of God's heart, to find our true calling? .... What if every woman of faith lived and worked their calling? How much different would our world, our nation, our state, our city, our community, our home, our workplace be?  So how about you? Are you tired of being something other than what God created you to be?  Visit us online to find resources to change your wonder-woman complex into your true calling. 

Relationship. Relational. Is there any better word to describe Christianity that sets our “religion” apart from all others? Our faith is based solely on relationship. And is there any better model for us to follow? In our life, in our work?  And the basis of this relationship model is LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing.   Are you a NOISY GONG in YOUR workplace? We invite you to SHIFT to LOVE in your workplace today. 

I think it's safe to say that the media focuses on, and provides negative news these days.  Should we just take it, and keep feeding ourselves this negativity? How does this affect your work? Do you take it with you?  What are you chatting with your co-workers about? And are you feeding the beast of “all that's wrong with world”?  Or are you speaking life at work. We can, and should consciously choose what we WILL and WILL NOT listen to. Philippians 4:8  exhorts us: And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. We invite you today, to observe WHAT you speak at work, and shift it to glorifying God. 

Per a 2015 Barna Group study, only 20 percent of Christian adults are involved in some sort of discipleship activity.  And, less than one-quarter of Christian adults (23%) are currently being discipled by someone one-on-one.  Discipleship in the context of work is known as “mentorship”. How about YOU?  Are you allowing someone to mentor you as a Christ follower in your work?  And if you are a “seasoned” professional, Are YOU making it a priority to intentionally mentor a next generation co-worker? We encourage you to pray about mentorship this week and ask the Lord “Who would you like me to mentor Lord?” and “Would you provide a God-honoring mentor for me?” 

After years of meeting with and interviewing people from all types of work and all organizational levels, there is one major truth that keeps bubbling up to the surface. The investment IN PEOPLE, above all else, pays not only Kingdom dividends, but business dividends as well. This is what Christ did, and it is the ultimate example of Christ's holy character: Matthew 20:28  says “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” When we invest in our employees, the next generation, or future leaders in our workplace, we are giving away our life as a true Christ follower.  What is ONE commitment you will make today, to start investing in the life of another in YOUR workplace? 

There is a word that defines the bible, defines Christ, and defines leadership. That word is LOVE. But isn't love seemingly contrary to business and how it operates? Or IS IT?  Did you ever have a bad boss?  What quality of work did you do for them? Did you ever have a great boss? One that got the absolute best work from you? What was the difference in those two bosses? I'll bet it was LOVE. Love that respects, listens, appreciates and builds up. 1 John 3:11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Said another way, control disconnects. Love connects. This connection (which is actually LOVE) translates to the bottom line.  We invite you to pick ONE DAY AT WORK THIS WEEK, and TRY IT. 

I heard a clever quip the other day about trying to take control from God's hands. God is writing the story of your life: so STOP TRYING TO GRAB THE PEN FROM HIS HAND! This applies to our work as well. Sometimes we think we are living God's plan for us in our work when we are actually just “taking Jesus with us”.  And only praying to Him to ask for blessings on what we are doing at work. How can we know when we've succeeded in FOLLOWING Christ in our work?  By changing our mindset to one of FOLLOWING, vs. LEADING.  Why not start your work day with a prayer like this: Father, today, I commit my hands to YOUR work. As you lead me, may YOUR will be done and may YOU be glorified in all I do. Amen.   

Being intentional seems to be a consistent hallmark of followers of Christ. Because Christ is our best example of intentionality. Intentionality is defined as being deliberate or purposeful. How about you? How are you working with intentionality today? In the office, with your co-workers, intentionally representing Christ and showing His love and patience to everyone you come in contact with? Most days we may just be unconsciously going through our work day. We invite you to begin today by going before the father and asking Him: "Here's all I have, what do YOU want me to do with it today? What is YOUR priority today, Lord?" And then living that out as we step into our work, and every other place our feet may wander. 

Are you feeling as though you're just going to work on auto-pilot? That you can do your work now, with your eyes closed, with one arm tied behind your back?  When's the last time you asked God to stretch YOU, in your work? Comfort is not a place Christ-followers should be camping out in. .... So how about you? Are you brave enough, to ask “Lord, will you stretch me today? Will you put me to better use, in the place where you would have me be? Will you bless me today with the work you have chosen for me, at this time in my life?  .... Hebrews 11:6: And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. 

If you are like me you jump up out of bed, check for emergency text messages, check the weather, rush through your morning devotional time so you can get on to the real work of the day. Just recently Martha and I were reading a book by Kim Avery “The Prayer Powered Entrepreneur” and she suggests a different approach. Kim suggests that when we have our morning quiet time, be quiet and ask our Lord what His priorities are for us today. Instead of letting distractions rule our day, ask the Lord to prioritize our day so His will is done. I'm going to try this from now on, and maybe you would like to do the same. Lord, what is at the top of your priority list for today? I pray that I can do this the rest of my life, what about you? 

Every one of us in ministry. What? No, you say, I'm a CPA, I'm an engineer, I manage people at a construction company.  Yes, and you are called to be an Ambassador for Christ there.  The Apostle Paul agrees, as he wrote to the Ephesians, in Chapter 6 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God's ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.  If Paul can be an ambassador in chains in prison, then we (without chains) can too….wherever He placed us. And God placed YOU in YOUR SPECIFIC WORKPLACE for a reason. For HIS REASONS, not our own.  

Are you dreading Monday? Do you start to lose your joy come Sunday evening? .... What if instead of dreading Monday, you LOOKED FORWARD TO IT? What if instead of moaning about Monday, you prayed away your dread, and replaced it with thanks, and joy and intention? .... To pray that come Monday morning, you would FEEL GOD in your work, as you work. That your work would glorify God, that you would be the best Ambassador for God your workplace has ever seen? .... So how about you? Are you ready to be used by God in your work? To see Monday as a tremendous opportunity, to enjoy your work and to glorify God, and maybe even give your co-workers a glimpse of our Heavenly Father. 

There is a truth about work that has been lost to much of our culture since the creation of the world. It is that GOD CREATED WORK. He created work for us, to do together and for HIS glory. Genesis 2: 19 So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one.  Work is NOT a PUNISHMENT, it's a GIFT. And God wants to JOIN US in it. Every day. He DELIGHTS in it. He is our team-mate, just as He was with Adam. He brought the animals TO Adam to name. So how about YOU? Won't you invite God to work WITH YOU today? WHEREVER He has placed you? 

As a business leader, if you turned your business over to God, what would that look like? What would be the result? Hundreds of business owners we've interviewed over the past eight years have done it. They say the result is a DEEP sense of peace vs. stress, pressure, and tension. And a new, deepening understanding of their role as a STEWARD of God's business, vs. “being the OWNER of it”.  What would it take for YOU to be ready to turn YOUR organization over to the Lord's ownership today?  We invite you to place Christ in your org. chart as CEO, and commit right now, to shift your mindset from ”OWNER to STEWARD”. 

What if our WORK WAS our WORSHIP?  The Hebrew word avodah means work, worship, and service, altogether! Work: being productive, worship: praising and glorifying God and service: a form of service to the world and our community. We are MEANT to be of service, to be PARTNERS with God in the ongoing creation of the world. The various usages of this Hebrew word that is first found in Genesis 2:15 shows us it was God's ORIGINAL DESIGN and DESIRE that our work and our worship would be a SEAMLESS WAY of living, as it was thousands of years ago. What about YOU? Are you making the work of YOUR hands every day AVODAH? You're invited today to start worshiping God with your work.   

What if today, we committed to operate our businesses from a philosophy of “It's not about WHAT we sell or HOW MUCH we sell, it's about the LIVES we TOUCH and CHANGE.”  That's “God's way of doing business”. And it's the exact OPPOSITE of everything we have been taught as professional business people. But isn't that always God's way? This counter-cultural philosophy is rooted in Matthew 6:33: But seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. What is the Lord asking YOU TO DO as a next step in seeking first HIS Kingdom in YOUR workplace? 

Money. We all need it to live. Is your view of money healthy and in alignment with biblical principles?  Is the WAY you use it serving man, or God and His Kingdom.  1 John 3:17 says If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God's love be in that person?   How about your income? How about your company's revenue? Are you tithing from your corporate revenue stream? Have you ever considered it?  We challenge you today, to pray about your personal and corporate tithing. And ask God HOW YOU should be using the income He's blessed YOU WITH to serve your fellow man, God and His Kingdom. 

For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.  So how about you?  Are you resting from your work? Are you taking a day off every week and keeping it holy? Are you honoring God with your business and keeping the Sabbath, not only for yourself, but for your employees and customers?  Two of the giants in retail, Hobby Lobby and Chick-Fil-A are closed on Sunday, and their profits are up!  The world says “you're crazy to close on Sunday”, but God says differently. If you're working on Sunday, or asking your employees to, we challenge you to go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him “How can I honor you by keeping the Sabbath holy?” 

I learned something new talking with a Physical Fitness company owner in Nashville. The only gift God has given us that we can control 100% is our body. What we eat, how we take care of it, what we feed it, if we are exercising it. Reminds me of Luke 11:36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you. Never thought of that.  That we have an obligation to glorify God with our body, and that body is the vehicle that either enables us to work with excellence or not.  What will YOU do today, ensure your body is primed to work in excellence unto the Lord? 

Have you ever experienced a major upheaval in your business or work life?  Something that looked like it was taking you in the opposite direction of where you were headed?  Or was (you thought) the next logical step? It's highly possible that God is using this to move you to exactly where HE wants you to be.  For HIS work, in HIS time, for THIS season. Let Romans 8:28 encourage you today, and we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. God is orchestrating it all, for His glory. This week, as you experience upheaval in your work life, why not turn to Romans 8:28? And even place a copy of it on your desk?

Humility. The term "humility" comes from the Latin word humilitas, a noun related to the adjective humilis, which can be translated as "humble", but also as "grounded", or "from the earth", since it derives from HUmus (earth).  The greatest leaders, including our Lord have it. CS Lewis said: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of YOURSELF LESS.”  What if TODAY, you and I, thought of ourselves less at work, and started to think MORE about others.  James 4:10 says it best: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. And how about Psalm 149:4 For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.  How will YOU work from a place of humility today? 

Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work with, outside of work, where real relationships can develop. 4th Look for ways to pray with people when you see them having a rough day. And 5th, all along be a person of excellence, in your work. Do these things and you will see your workplace transformed by God right before your eyes. We call this the iWork4Him Nation Covenant. 

Kathy Branzell, President of the National Day of Prayer says: there's the idea that when I work, I work, but when I pray, God works.  So how about YOU? Are you working, when you should be praying?  Are you starting work first, before you pray? Are you taking God's place for the results by over-working?  There's a beautiful balance we can obtain between work and prayer. We can choose to pray first, then work. And then pray, staying in constant contact with the Lord to guide and direct our work, vs. all that extra-efforting stuff. Psalm 127 says: It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.”  We challenge you today, to incorporate prayer INTO your work, and trust God for the results and experience a little of His rest. 

Are there ROCKS in YOUR schedule? ROCKS are IMMOVABLE commitments. Those priorities that are unchangeable.  As a working Christ-follower, what are some of YOUR ROCKS? Here are some of mine: Time with the Lord. Family commitments. And anything I have given my word to, to be there.  Is WORK one of YOUR ROCKS? If it is, maybe it's time to look at that rock, and decrease its size, or the amount of space it's taking on your calendar. Don't' let Luke   20:18 define how you live and manage your life.  “Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.” So how about YOU?  Is work a stone YOU'RE stumbling over?  How about crushing that rock and use it to make a path to more time with family?

Heard this the other day: The principles never change, but the methods always do.  What a solid management philosophy this makes for us Christ followers. Principles are defined as:  fundamental truths that serve as the foundation for a system of beliefs. Our biblical core beliefs are the basis of who we are and what we do. And that applies to how we work, lead and manage. But the methods, those change, based on the circumstances, and the people involved. So we need to be flexible, not rigid. Deeply rooted, but like the branches of a tree, sway with the wind. So how about you? Are your principles well rooted but flexible enough for change?

Some things in life are more challenging than others. Like finances. And even more challenging: How do we glorify God with our finances?  If you think you've mastered your finances, there's a next step, a better way to glorify God with them. To transform the money we make from working for the Lord, and seeing that it is invested in Kingdom building. It's called Biblically Responsible Investing and it's transforming the way Christians look at the money they invest, and where they invest it. So how about you and your finances? .... Are you willing to look at every dollar and steward it even more for God's Kingdom?   If you are, we invite you to pray about it, and go to our website for next steps on how to transform your finances into the ultimate Kingdom resource.

When people around you at work succeed, do you find yourself happy for them or feeling bad for yourself? It can be easy to compare our career path to someone else's and come out feeling like we missed our chance at moving up - but the truth is that everyone's journey will look different. Galatians 6:4 says, “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else.” So next time the temptation to compare yourself to a coworker comes up, take the focus off of others and put it back on the work God has given you to do today. Because when you work with excellence, you bring honor to God… and that's the measure of TRUE success! 

Is God building another testimony for you, through your workplace? Often, hard times come in our work, and we're called to respond as a Christ-follower. Not react with fear, self-pity, anger, resentment or push-back. But with a keen sense and trust that God is sovereign in our work. That He may have brought something to an end, for His Glory, not our punishment.  So how about YOU? .... Are YOU going through a hard time at work? And if you are, how are you responding?  We recommend first taking it to prayer, and asking the Lord what He wants you to know about the situation, how you can grow from it, and what does he want you to do next, for His glory?  Then take some time and pray for those you work alongside for the tough time they are going through too. 

How do you measure your work success?  We're referring to eternal success in your work.  One way is to ask yourself:  Is my workplace better off because of having me work there?  Have I changed it for the better?  Would my co-workers say that I am a blessing to work with?  A roofing business owner in Florida told us he takes an inventory every year, looks back at the year to see what benefit or good he has added: to his customers, his employees, his community and his family.  So how about you?  WE invite YOU to incorporate this “taking inventory” process by adding it onto your calendar once a month. David Jeremiah said, “If we don't take inventory every once in a while, and give thanks to God for the great things He has done for us, we get totally out of perspective.” Make sure you take time to ask the question of yourself today “IS my workplace blessed because I work there?“ 

Is God leading your work? How do you get the point where you can say YES, He is.  Here're a couple of ideas to get you started. First, read a book or listen to faith at work podcasts that introduce you to the concept of working for the Lord. Second, pray and ask God to show you how and where He is at work in your work today. Three, take a faith at work devotional and put it on your desk. Before you turn on your PC, read the devotional and pray that God lead you in your work.  This might take some consistent practice, like changing a habit, to shift your mindset. So how about you? Colossians 3:23  is a GREAT verse to put on your desk, so it reminds you WHO you work for: 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 

As we start our work week, let's remind ourselves of our calling to our work and God's plan for our work. Declare this now as you head to work today, walk to your office, or sit down to do your devotions. … “My workplace is my mission field, a place of full-time ministry… My workplace ministry manual is my Bible. …My calling to my workplace is not a second-class calling…. I dedicate my workplace as a mission field for God, and because of Jesus in my life, I am committed to celebrating the work that God gave me….AMEN” 

Are you a leader in your organization? If so, what are you doing to care for your team members? Your employees?  Are you ignoring the big stresses in their lives? If you are, it could be costing you in a big way. For example: The divorce of a $60,000 a year employee will cost $86,000 in lost productivity.  There are legal, low cost remedies to helping your employees get the help they need to calm the sometimes raging seas of their lives. So how about YOU? Are you turning a blind eye to the pain in your workplace? Wake up! Look and listen, and seek to put benefits and programs in place that make employees lives easier. And commit today, to start being the good shepherd. The one who sacrifices his life for the sheep. 

At work, sometimes we walk away from a meeting or conversation and think to ourselves “Boy, that person sure needs some fixing.” But, in reality, if we took a moment, and thought more carefully about it, maybe even looked a little deeper, we may just see what needs to be fixed is US, not them. Leaders know this. They know that the organization is a reflection of WHO they are and WHO they are being.  A leader knows that before their “team needs fixing”, THEY need fixing first.  So how about YOU?  Are you a leader that leads knowing they need to fix themselves first? Or are you the leader that looks at all the fixing everyone else needs to do? We challenge you today, if you have a thought about someone else, to first look at yourself, and see what needs to change. 

I wonder how much of our life is lived from a place of “taking”. Not consciously, but just getting up and living our life, as we go to work and just delve in. I've found my unconscious self is pretty selfish. If I don't pray first, submit in obedience, my day, my hands, my mouth, eyes and ears, to serve all those I come in contact with, I'll just spend all day at work taking what I need and want. .... So how about you? Are you living your life and workday taking? .... We challenge you today, to stop unconsciously working, and living as a taker. But to set up your day from a place of “How can I be a giver today? How can I contribute to everyone I come in contact with?” 

Wisdom. It's defined as knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action. Wisdom goes beyond KNOWING what is right and into DOING what is right. God calls us to be wise in everything that we do – constantly seeking out what is true and right in his eyes and then acting on it. James 3:17 says, “The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” Are you living out the wisdom from above in your workplace? Before you speak or act this week, consider if what you are about to do is carrying forward peace, mercy, fairness, and sincerity. If it isn't, pause and ask the Holy Spirit to give you His wisdom before you move forward!

As Christians everything about us should be changing. When we were born again, it wasn't just a one-time event. We are to be changing daily…remember the word “sanctified”? We are being “set apart” to be dedicated to God's use.  And to that end, we're to be changing and growing more Christ-like every day, to be conformed to His image. So how about you? Would those you work with say you're a better co-worker today than you were 6 months ago?  Would your manager say you're a better team member today than you were last month? Would your CEO say you're a better executive this year than you were last year? 2 Timothy reminds us:  If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. We challenge you to pray to be conformed and changed today so that someone may notice and ask about it tomorrow. 

Mutual respect. It's when two people show respect for each other. .... Respect is defined as the process of honoring someone by exhibiting care, concern, or consideration for their needs or feelings.  This should be a HALLMARK of us as Christ followers. And even more apparent at work, with our colleagues. To respect them as co-laborers AND as fellow sons and daughters of God. .... Author Dina Dwyer-Owens says it's been her experience that When we hold ourselves accountable and show mutual respect to others, it's amazing the respect that comes back.  So how about you? Are you living mutual respect in your work today? 

When's the last time you really saw your co-workers?  .... Saw them as real three-dimensional people?  Not just a co-worker, workplace mate or just an employee?  When's the last time you remembered, that they're a son or daughter of God? .... That they were created, like you, by God, for a purpose. That they are worthy. That they have a life, and that life is just as important as yours.  That they're on a journey, their own journey, just like we all are.  .... So how about you?  We invite you today, to put on God's view of each person you work with, and to see Christ in each of them. And then watch the supernatural transform your work relationships and your workplace. 

Ahhh rebellion. Its' the sickness of youth but perhaps, there's still some rebellion in our hearts as adults.  Is there some ONE or some THING that you're rebelling against at work?...You may be doing it unknowingly… “under the table”…undermining, backbiting, using sarcasm or pushing against another's ideas or leadership in subtle ways. Romans 13:1 and 2 is clear: Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. So how about you?  Won't you commit to glorify God, by submitting to YOUR authorities at work? 

After a conversation with Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, of Love & Respect, I'm rethinking the way I go about being a peace-keeper. Here's what he said: Sometimes, as peace keepers we hedge on the truth, or just lie, to keep the peace. .... So let's apply that to our workplace. Are you unknowingly hedging on speaking the truth in work situations, to keep the peace? How can you know? You'll probably have a niggling in your spirit, an unsettledness. So what can we do to know when to speak the truth: We can check in with the Holy Spirit in the moment, before conversing, and pray for wisdom for how and when to speak.  Keeping the peace may not be what best serves the organization. But speaking the truth is.  So how about you?