Work Hard - God Will Give you Rest

Work Hard - God Will Give you Rest. This past week I was on vacation at home with no plans other than a big “to do” list that I made for myself. Instead of spending time relaxing and doing “nothing” I chose to take care of things around the house I had not had the time to do in the past three years. So I wonder, why did I choose to be busy during my week off when I could have chosen to be relaxing doing nothing? Why do I feel that if I am not being productive all day long and every day, my self-worth suffers?

While all the things I did at home were needed and enjoyable, like organizing my office and printing pictures for my photo albums, I could have just watch lots of TV, lay in the sun, go shopping, or visit with more friends. Why do I feel like I have to be producing something all the time and feel guilty if I just sit for a moment? On the other hand, I am so busy during the normal week days when I’m working that I don’t have time to do certain things I like to do at home. Therefore, I decided to take time off work so I could focus on those things and get them done…

I believe the times we’re living in encourage us to always be busy and occupied doing something. Working women face the bigger challenge to perform at work and also take care of our homes. Is our society making us this way? Or is it my personality that wants to be busy all the time? Send me your comments.

Today, I would like to share one of the devotionals from my book, Devotions for Working Women, that cautions us to not burn out and simply seek the rest we need in God. Enjoy!

Work Hard, but not to an Extreme. God Will Give You Rest.
# 15
Psalm 127:2 (NLT)
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.

Many women work too hard, work long days, and end up exhausted, with nothing left to give their families, and get burned out. For some women, it has caused them their health or their marriage. They end up having a nervous breakdown, heart disease, and many other illnesses or disorders.

God wants us to have a balanced life. He is a God of order and balance. We are to be diligent and work hard, but then we need to trust God and know “He gives rest to his loved ones.” As we pray and ask the Lord on a daily basis to balance our day, we will accomplish everything He wants us to do for that day and be satisfied. We can pray David’s prayers: “Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by any evil… Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord; point out the right road for me to follow” (Psalm 119:133, 25:4 NLT).

God rested on the seventh day, and we should too. Don’t work so much that you miss life going by right before your eyes. Make time to be with your family and loved ones. This will actually give you renewed energy to go back and work hard again. Set a goal to work more efficiently and effectively versus working long hours.

Remember, the Bible says it is useless to work so hard unless God is in it. He will give you rest.

Be Thankful for What God Has Done

Be Thankful for What God Has Done. When things are going well, we forget to thank Him for his goodness. When things are not going well, we mostly ask God to help us and also forget to thank Him for what He has done in the past for us. Today I want to encourage you to be thankful for what God has done and continues to do in your life-always. This devotional from my book Devotions for Working Women will help us stay on track. Enjoy!

Be Thankful for What God Has Done
# 284

Psalm 9:1 (NLT)
I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.

God loves the heart of a thankful person. When we are thankful to Him for all the things He has done for us, He wants to bless us even more. When we are going through bad things or circumstances in our lives, we tend to forget all the blessings God has given us in the past. It is in those times we need to remember what God has done for us and truly thank Him for every gift and blessing He has given us.

When we bring these things to our remembrance, it helps us get through the current situation. Our faith also increases, and we are able to trust Him again through yet one more thing in our lives. Thanking God is vital to our success in every area of our lives.

At home, thank Him for your house, husband (if you are married), children (if you have any), your friends, and family. At work, thank Him for your job, your boss, your employees (if you are in management), your peers, and friends. Thank God for letting you be His child. Tell people of the marvelous things God has done for you.

Always Help Others

Always Help Others. Every day we have opportunities to help others around us. However, we miss the opportunities because we are too busy with our own issues. Many times those opportunities don’t present themselves again. Today, I want to encourage you to take the step and help someone at the time that person needs you not when it’s convenient for you. In the workplace God will give you opportunities to help your employees, peers or even your superiors. Don’t miss them. Act on them. Today’s devotional encourages us to do so.

Be Willing to Help Others
#263

Proverbs 3:27 (NLT)
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.

As we grow in our careers and become more successful and influential, we will enjoy many more opportunities to help develop and guide other individuals. As a leader, it’s important to not withhold good from those who deserve it—especially when we have the power and ability to help them.

When you help others, it shows you are not afraid of sharing success. Some of those you helped will remember you and be loyal to you in the future. You should also never forget those who helped you get where you are today. You can help others in several different ways. Sometimes it may be a word of recommendation for a promotion, encouragement for a project well done, or praise for individuals in front of their colleagues. Not only is helping others a rewarding experience, but in the end you will gain their favor and be a witness to them of the love of God.

Cultivate a Thankful Heart

Cultivate a Thankful Heart. It’s been a few weeks since I wrote in my blog. It’s been very busy in my life but I also had time to go on a great vacation with my family. Now, I am enjoying time at home and spending some quality time in prayer. Today, I want to encourage you to cultivate a thankful heart toward God. He is always there for us and, like a human father, enjoys when we are thankful to Him for everything He does for us. Today’s devotional reminds us to be thankful and how to do it.

Cultivate a Thankful Heart by Sharing what the Lord Has Done
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Mark 5:19 (NLT)
But Jesus said, “No, go home to your friends, and tell them what wonderful things the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.”

Jesus performed a miracle in a man’s life by casting out many evil spirits. The man immediately wanted to leave his town and go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to go home instead and tell his family and friends about everything the Lord had done for him.

We all have a personal story or testimony to tell others about God’s mercy and what He has done for us. It is important to keep this in remembrance and share it with others. This is the best way to win someone to the Lord. By sharing, we also record His deeds for us in our hearts and cultivate a thankful heart.

Having Jesus in our lives is a gift we must share with others. The best place to start sharing is with our own family and friends because they know us well and can see the changes in our lives more clearly than strangers. In the workplace we must be careful because there will be people that will not want us to share anything about our relationship with the Lord. However, God will give us opportunities to share at the appropriate moments and with people who need to hear our story. We can share our life story in a way that is personal, yet non-intrusive to others.

Therefore, don’t be afraid to share what the Lord has done for you in your life. Do it as a gesture of gratitude toward God. It is the least you can do in return for all He’s done for you.

Don't Worry About Tomorrow

Today is a new day and I encourage you to thank God for everything He has done for you and don’t worry about tomorrow. He is in control and He will guide each one of your steps if you let Him. Today’s devotional reminds us that God gives us grace for each day.

Don’t Worry about Tomorrow
301
Matthew 6:34 (Weymouth)
Do not be anxious, therefore, about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own anxieties. Enough for each day is its own trouble.

Do you worry about tomorrow? Do you worry about losing your job? Did you know that worry is the opposite of faith? Fear and worry rob us of God’s peace and rest. In His Word, God tells us to not worry. In fact, He commands us not to worry. Why? Because worry shows lack of faith and trust in Him. When we worry, we are telling God that what He says in His Word doesn’t work, so we are coming up with a better solution ourselves.

Did you know that God has feelings? God, as a Father, gave up His only Son and sacrificed Him so we may have life. By worrying, we are saying that what Jesus did was not worth it to us and that hurts God. Yet He doesn’t keep track of hurts, and He forgives us on a daily basis.

God gives us grace for one day at a time. Each day has its troubles—sometimes big and other times small—either way, we must confront and resolve each one.

Therefore, don’t worry about the tomorrow. Give it to the Lord. Work hard today and know that He is in charge and in control of your life.

Three Key Traits Leaders Must Have

Three Key Traits Leaders Must Have. If you are in any position of leadership or want to become a leader, I encourage you to learn more about the traits God gave Moses to look in people when he was going to form his team. Today’s devotional talks about these important traits that we all must have in order to be godly leaders.

Three Key Traits Leaders Must Have
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Deuteronomy 1:13 (NLT)
Choose some men from each tribe who have wisdom, understanding, and a good reputation, and I will appoint them as your leaders.

Wisdom, understanding, and a good reputation are the character traits God told Moses to look for in the leaders Moses was to appoint to help him lead His people. These are key traits you must have to be a successful leader. The question is how do you acquire them? Wisdom is a gift from God you can simply ask for if you’re lacking it and He will gladly give it to you. In these days, you need godly wisdom not worldly wisdom to do your job. Understanding comes the same way, by asking God to open the eyes of your understanding, so you are enlightened by the truth of His Word. Only by reading His Word, meditating, and studying it, will you acquire the knowledge that only comes from Him.

By doing God’s Word and obeying His commandments, you establish a good reputation. When you don’t compromise what you believe and always do what is right and pleasing to God, He rewards you with good reputation. As a Christian, you are responsible for having a good reputation because you represent Him here on earth.

Therefore, ask God to show you if you need to develop as a leader in any of these areas.

Always Have a Thankful Heart

Always Have a Thankful Heart. Last week the Lord gave me one of the desires of my heart – to finish my undergraduate degree. I have no words to thank God for that gift and for fulfilling His promise in my life. Today, I just want to say thanks to the Lord with a thankful heart for everything He has blessed me with. I want to share this devotional with you because it reminds us where our success comes from and that we are nothing without God.

Don’t Forget Where Your Success Comes From
# 290
Deuteronomy 8:10 (NLT)
When you have eaten your fill, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

For most of us it is easy to be humble when we are starting out our careers, when nobody knows us, and we are at the bottom of the ladder. But as we grow in our careers, obtain promotions, education, and higher positions of responsibility and visibility, we become vulnerable. The Bible warns us it is in our times of success when the enemy enters our lives through pride—but only if we let him.

God doesn’t mind if we are successful. In fact, He wants us to succeed in every area of our lives. But He does ask us to “not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt” (v. 14).

The key to staying humble is to give God the glory for every success, gifts, talents, or material wealth we may have. Moses told the Israelites God took them out of Egypt and performed all those miracles so that “you would never think that it was your own strength and energy that made you wealthy” (v. 17). I believe the same applies today. We all have an Egypt to be rescued from and God does miracles for all of us. Our part is to always remember God loves us and that’s why He rescues us. Praise the Lord your God for everything you are and have—including your job.

Find Rest in Jesus

Find Rest in Jesus. Today I just want to encourage you to give all your worries and burdens to Jesus. He is always ready to receive them. We were not meant to carry the load of life alone. Jesus is our companion and the One who guides every one of our steps. This devotional will help you continue your journey knowing you have Jesus along the way.

Give Your Burdens to Jesus and He Will Give You Rest
# 100
Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

As working women, we may often feel weary. Sometimes our burdens are so heavy we can hardly make the next step. This is a scripture we need to get a hold of and personalize. Let’s give our burdens to Jesus. He is there for us. He wants to take them. God is pleased when we give our burdens to Jesus because that act tells Him we trust Him and believe in Him fully.

Our rest starts in our spirit and soul. Jesus promises us that rest. When we have rest spiritually, we have peace, and that peace eliminates the stress of our burdens.

Praise God for your job and thank Him for the grace and strength He gives you to do all that He has called you to do on a daily basis. For those of you who are single working moms, don’t despair. You are not alone, and Jesus wants to help you carry your burden. Jesus tells us in verses 29 and 30, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”

Scripture is Inspired

Scripture is Inspired. Today I want to encourage you to read the Bible—the Word of God. The Bible contains advice we can use in our everyday lives. Sometimes we wonder how we can get wisdom and answers to ethical situations we do not know how to resolve both at work and at home. The Word of God does have the guidance and instruction we are all looking for. We just have to read it! This devotional reminds us of how God prepares us and equips us in life. Enjoy!

God’s Word Prepares and Equips Us
# 120

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.

God wants each one of us to do something. He has a plan and a purpose for every person. But He doesn’t expect us to go figure it out on our own. He provided us with a manual full of instructions, wisdom, and revelation to prepare us and equip us. He gave us the Word to use on a daily basis as our guide.

The Bible provides us direction for every area of our lives, including business. It teaches us what’s right and wrong and how God expects us to behave and perform in the business world. Let’s use it, spend time in it, and meditate on it day and night. We need it, and God knew it.

Help Others

Every day we are faced with opportunities to help others in the workplace. In today’s devotional, I would like to encourage you to find those situations where you are able to help those around you—especially if you are in a leadership position. Don’t be afraid to help people by sharing your knowledge and tips for success. God will reward you for helping others when you are in need of help.

Be Willing to Help Others
#263

Proverbs 3:27 (NLT)
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.

As we grow in our careers and become more successful and influential, we will enjoy many more opportunities to help develop and guide other individuals. As a leader, it’s important to not withhold good from those who deserve it—especially when we have the power and ability to help them.

When you help others, it shows you are not afraid of sharing success. Some of those you helped will remember you and be loyal to you in the future. You should also never forget those who helped you get where you are today. You can help others in several different ways. Sometimes it may be a word of recommendation for a promotion, encouragement for a project well done, or praise for individuals in front of their colleagues. Not only is helping others a rewarding experience, but in the end you will gain their favor and be a witness to them of the love of God.

Live Your Life for Christ

Live Your Life for Christ. This weekend is special in the lives of Christians because it’s the weekend we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and what He did for all of us. Today I want to encourage you to live your life for Christ. Love Him, believe in Him, and trust Him—every day of your life! I want to share this devotional with you because it reminds us of what the Father did through Jesus—all for us to be able to be with Him in eternity. Happy Easter!

With God All Things Are Possible—Including Salvation
# 150
Matthew 19:26 (KJV)

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible

In the verses prior to this one Jesus confronted a rich young man who always kept all of the commandments and followed the law. But when Jesus asked him to sell everything he had and give the proceeds to the poor, he couldn’t do it “for he had great possessions.” Then, when Jesus told His disciples that it was very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of heaven, His disciples were astounded and asked him, “Who then can be saved?” (v. 25).

We in our own ability cannot be saved. We cannot purchase salvation because Jesus already did that when He died on the cross for our sins. Jesus is not saying rich people won’t go to heaven. It is a matter of the heart. People, rich or poor, who put their trust in riches, will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Those who put their trust in God, and love Him above all, will.

No matter how many good deeds we do in this world, if we don’t accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we will simply not go to heaven. Jesus is the only way to the Father. That is His only plan of salvation for humanity. There is no other. For us it is impossible to go to heaven on our own but with God all things are possible—including our salvation.

Seek Jesus. He is the truth, the light and the way. John 3:16-17 (NLT) say, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.” Romans 10:9-10 (NLT) says, “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.”

God is Faithful

God is Faithful. Work can bring a lot of stress and issues into our lives. How we handle them makes a difference and has an impact in our daily lives. But when we incorporate God in the picture, He brings us a different perspective and new ideas we didn’t think about before. Today I want to encourage you to entrust your spirit into God’s hands and let Him help you. This devotional reminds us of His faithfulness.

God Is a Faithful God
#178

Psalm 31:5 (NLT)
I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.

When you are distressed, entrust your spirit into God’s hands and believe that He will help you. He is a faithful God and is always there for you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. But the process of believing takes trust and faithfulness on our part also. We are to be faithful to make time to spend with Him, in His presence—just because we love Him. God is faithful at keeping all His promises. His Word is full of promises for us. When we are faithful to read His Word, we will find more and more of His promises. In time of need, we can then stand on the verses where a specific promise is written and remind God of His faithfulness.

Therefore, give all your work-related issues to God. Put them in His hands, and He will help you.

God's Benefits

God's Benefits. Today I want to encourage you to learn about the benefits that God has provided for you. Read today’s devotional and thank God for the wonderful benefits that you can enjoy when you walk with Him every day of your life.

Know Your Benefits
#126
Psalm 103:1-5 (NKJV)
Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Nowadays, companies strive to offer great benefits to their employees. Yet nothing compares to the benefits we have for being children of God. Psalm 103 gives us examples of those benefits. But how do we obtain them?

We seek God first—above all things (Matthew 6:33 NLT)
We accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior (John 3:16, Romans 10:10 NLT)
We believe and accept all of His promises. We appropriate them by faith and we live by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT).

Knowing who we are in Christ and that we are God’s precious children is a revelation that we must obtain. Once we have that revelation in our hearts we can be successful in every area of our lives—both at work and at home. Therefore, know your benefits and thank God for them.

Pursue - Wisdom Cries Out in the Streets

Pursue - Wisdom Cries Out in the Streets. Lately I have been praying for wisdom and insight in my life. It seems there is always so much going on and too many decisions to make that we are bound to make a wrong turn unless we act carefully and have the wisdom of God. As we face the daily decisions of our lives we need God’s wisdom but we need to desire it and ask Him for it. Today, I want to encourage you to seek God’s wisdom with all your heart and He will give it to you by sharing this devotional from my book Devotions for Working Women.

Pursue Wisdom with All Your Heart
#355

Proverbs 1:23 (NLT)
Come here and listen to me! I’ll pour out the spirit of wisdom upon you and make you wise.

In Proverbs 1:20, Wisdom cries out in the streets looking for people and can’t find anyone who is willing to listen and become wise. God wants to pour out His Spirit of wisdom upon us but we have to desire it. We have to search for it and appreciate it like the most valuable treasure we could ever find or have. Wisdom is a treasure because it is by wisdom we understand what it means to fear the Lord, and we gain knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:5 NLT).

The Bible exhorts you to “Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight and understanding. Search for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure” (Proverbs 2:2-4 NLT). Therefore, make an effort like never before to pursue wisdom. Seek it more than your career, job, or business.

Trust the Lord with your Heart's Desires

Trust the Lord with your Heart's Desires. Today I want to encourage you to trust the Lord with everything you have going on in your life. When we give Him the opportunity to act and help us He does. I would like to share this devotional that reminds us that God will give us the desires of our hearts when we trust Him.

God Gives us the Desires of Our Hearts
# 303

Psalm 37:4-5 (NLT)

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.

God places desires in our hearts. When we delight in Him (take time to be with Him, spend time in His presence, and fellowship with Him), He will give us those desires. When we commit ourselves to do everything unto the Lord, He will help us achieve our goals. In other words, when we spend time with Him, we give Him an opportunity to change us, to exchange old desires with new ones. Therefore, when we desire what He put in our hearts, He will help us achieve those desires because He put them there in the first place.

Are you spending enough time with the Lord to give Him the opportunity to place those desires in your heart? What kind of job do you desire to have? Are you in the industry you desire to be?

Obedient Faith

Obedient Faith. It takes faith to obey God—at all times and in all circumstances. In the workplace it is even more difficult because of our desire to fit in versus staying away from situations that may hurt us in the future. Today’s devotional reminds us to obey God in faith and we will experience His blessings.

Obey God in Faith
#245

John 15:14 (NLT)
You are my friends if you obey me.

Luke 11:28 (NLT)

“But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

Jesus went to the cross by faith, knowing it was the only way humanity would be saved. This is the ultimate sacrifice and example of obedience by faith that Jesus as a human did.

Many times God asks us to do things that don’t make sense in our minds. Other times we simply don’t want to do them. It is in those instances we must obey in faith, knowing God always wants the best for us and He orders our steps.

In the workplace, you will have many opportunities to obey or disobey God. For example: if you see a group of employees telling dirty jokes or gossiping, your flesh may want to participate just to fit in, but your spirit will be telling you, “No, stay where you are.” Obey God by keeping your heart pure and not hearing corrupt communications. Remember, it is easier to disobey. But even when it is difficult to obey God’s direction in your life, obedient faith is worth it and you will be blessed.

Confidence - Why are you so afraid?

Confidence - Why are you so afraid? Today I want to share with you a devotional that reminds us to trust God in all circumstances—no matter what they are. It asks some key questions we cannot forget when we are in the midst of the storms in our lives and are experiencing difficult situations. Read this devotional and reflect on it today.

Have Complete Confidence and Faith in Jesus
#310
Mark 4:40 (NLT)

And he asked them, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in me?”

Jesus and His disciples were in their boat crossing a lake when a fierce storm arose. The disciples were afraid they were going to drown and went to wake up Jesus who they found peacefully sleeping in the back of the boat. Then Jesus asked His disciples the question above. It is insulting to Jesus when we have Him in our hearts, yet don’t have faith in Him to deliver us from the storms.

When we accept Jesus into our hearts as our Lord and Savior, we are telling Him we believe in His ability to save us from everything—including going to hell. How can we believe He saved us from eternal damnation in hell, but we don’t have enough faith to believe He can get us through the storms in our lives?

When Jesus was inside the boat with His disciples and a storm developed all around them, He was sleeping in peace. How could He do that? Simply because He had complete confidence in His Father, and He knew that no matter what was going on in the world around Him, the Father would take care of Him. This is a revelation we must appropriate in our hearts.

If you accepted Jesus, then He is in you now and all that He is and represents is inside of you, in your spirit. Having Him in your life means you have His power, His anointing, peace, love, joy, and everything else God wants you to have to be successful in Him.

Meditate on this today and know that Jesus is in you. Have complete faith, trust, and confidence in Him. Know that no matter what you are going through in your life, Jesus is in control, and He will deliver you.

The Biblical Mindset of a Lifelong Learner

The Biblical Mindset of a Lifelong Learner. In today’s world we need to continue to learn and hone our skills in order to succeed in the workplace. But we cannot forget that in order to deepen our relationship with God we also must continue to learn of His things and more about Him as our Father. In today’s devotional, I would like to encourage you to adopt the biblical mindset of a lifelong learner for both work as well as the things of God.

Acquire a Lifelong Learning Attitude
#260
Mark 4:25 (NLT)

To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them.

Jesus encouraged His disciples to always be open to listen and continue to learn from Him because the higher their desire was to learn, the more they understood. On the contrary, people who don’t care or listen to the things of God drift away and forget even the little they know.

To be successful in the corporate world and our personal lives, we need to adopt the biblical mindset of a lifelong learner. This is true in the natural as well as in the spiritual area. We cannot grow in our spiritual journey with God if we don’t spend time learning from Him and are not open to His daily teaching to us. Jesus, through His Holy Spirit, is willing to teach us how to live our lives and be successful in every area.

Jesus said those who are open to His teachings will receive more understanding because the things of God are understood with the spirit, not with our human minds. When we open our hearts to learn about the things of God, our spiritual understanding is illuminated and we receive revelation—the moment when we “get it.”

Purpose in your heart to be open to the biblical mindset of a lifelong learner and adopt a learning attitude both professional and spiritually. This will ensure a well-balanced successful life here on earth.

Spend Time with God

Spend Time with God. When we look at our schedules we can get overwhelmed at how much there is to do, how many commitments we have in our lives (both from work and from family), and how little time we have left over for ourselves. But we need to also “schedule” time with the Lord for He is the only source of true strength and refreshing. Today’s devotional reminds us to spend time with God.

Spend Time Alone with God
#185
Mark 1:35 (NLT)

The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray.

Praying before the day began was a common practice of Jesus. He often went alone to pray, just to be with His Father. By being with God, He got refreshed, renewed, and strengthened to continue His mission. Jesus gave us an example of how we can accomplish our mission here on earth.

Each one of us has a mission appointed by God that only we can fulfill. But we need to spend time with Him in order to follow His direction and to have the spiritual and physical strength we need to do His will. Sometimes, we are so tired we just need to be in His presence and wait for Him to speak to us. We need to rest in Him and quietly worship Him. Other times, we need to cry out for help and dump all of our problems and frustrations on Him. There will also be times of celebration when everything is going well. We must not forget to meet God in those moments too; celebrate with Him, and thank Him. That pleases Him.

Even if you don’t have a place of wilderness in your home, choose a place where you can meet Him regularly. Soon that place will become like a sanctuary, where you go and rest in God. You need to be aware of God’s presence in everything you do and include Him in your daily life. You also need time alone where you give Him your undivided attention, where you can talk to Him without interruptions and listen to His heart. This is the only way you will be able to accomplish what He’s called you to do. When you are refreshed spiritually you are better able to focus on your work and experience more success in your job.

Pray Fervently - Ask God First

Pray Fervently - Ask God First. The end of year and beginning of a new one can be sometimes overwhelming at work. If we add to that the holidays and anything else that is going on in our lives we end up over loaded and burnt out. Today I want to encourage you to pray fervently and ask God for help first, before you get to the point of feeling overwhelmed. Ask Him to give you the grace to get through the mountain of things you have in front of you and He will help you. Today’s devotional encourages us to seek Him first and pray fervently. Enjoy!

Go to God First and Pray Fervently
#158

James 5:16
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has a great power and wonderful results (NLT).

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (KJV).

When we become born again we are made righteous by the grace of God. He listens to our prayers and responds.

Whenever you have a need of any kind, pray first. Ask God for wisdom, grace, strength, favor, peace—whatever you need—and He will help you. Always examine your heart to make sure your motives are right. Then pray with fervency from your heart, not casually, but with passion. The Bible tells us it is that kind of prayer that has power and brings wonderful results.

In your job, when your workload is overwhelming, pray for God to help you by multiplying your time and giving you ideas to become more efficient. When you are out of balance and work has taken over your life, ask God to help you prioritize your priorities and bring you back to balance. Don’t leave prayer as your last option because nothing else worked. Go to God first and apply this principle to every area of your life.