Prayer As We Work - In Office or Remotely
Monday July 6, 2020
WORKING REMOTELY
It’s going to be interesting to see, as economies reopen around the world, how many companies will change the way they do business going forward. We’ve all stood on the little markers on the ground as we’ve lined up to go to the bank or to enter a store. That’s one clear sign of things being different. While many folks were laid off from their work, a large percentage shifted their work from the office to their home. Many of us smiled last week as we saw yet another person have their “online expertise interview” upended by the child of the woman being interview.
In one of the news feeds that I read from day to day they recently posted an article “What the Dutch can teach the world about remote work.” While the percentage of people usually working remotely before the coronavirus outbreak was about 4.7% in the UK and 3.6 % in the US, 14.1% of the Netherland’s workforce reported usually working away from the office. Finland is the country named as the one most catching up to them.
It is interesting that 59% of those working remotely in the US would like to continue working that way as much as possible once restrictions are lifted. One way some companies are looking to save money is reducing the amount of expensive office space they need to lease.
We know that God reigns from His throne in heaven and that Jesus left heaven to come to earth to put on human flesh, to live among us and then die on the cross to take on Himself the punishment for our sins. Today we can bring all of our lives, including our work lives to Him because He has long distance perspective of time and eternity in which to view our lives and the closeness of His Holy Spirit living in us to be able to help us sort out proper priorities and focus for our ongoing work/family balance. Let’s pray about these issues today.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for all the things You provide for us each day – including work, and the ability for many of us to now work remotely. We are blessed with technology and communication tools that let us connect with others as needed and enjoy more time at home with family.
As we work remotely we pray to be those who operate with integrity, giving proper time and focus to the work we have committed to do, accurately reporting time given to a project. Help us to be accountable to you God and as Your word says that we would work with all our heart, as working for You and not merely for our boss. Hep us to not become lazy or undisciplined or sloppy but to do all we can to maintain a good working approach that honours both our employer and our family/home environment.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
since you know that you will receive an inheritance
from the Lord as a reward.
It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24
We were made to work together and sometimes when working on a project at home alone we feel disconnected. Help us to find and nurture the contacts
Let us consider how we may spur one another
on toward love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:24
Would you help us to be intentional about paying attention to our colleagues even as we did when we were in the same office together. So many people need a listening ear and someone who cares. Would You help us find appropriate ways to do that even while we work apart. And not just to complete the office work/projects that we are responsible for, but that together we would find ways to do good and show compassion and generosity across our community. It's easy to get more narrowly focused when we are living in isolation but we know that You want us to continue to be sensitive to others and to reach out to minister and encourage.
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.
Exodus 20:8-10
Help us to continue to honour You Lord, by making time to rest and seek You and worship You. When work is just a few steps away it’s easy for it to distract us from other things that are good for us to be involved with. So, help us to work well and hard during working times and to clearly separate ourselves from that work when it is time to rest, and play, and worship.
Well Lord, we could pray about many things related to work and working remotely but for now we want to give thanks that You are not remote from us. You are with us. You are co-labouring as we give ourselves to the tasks at hand. Our prayer today is that:
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
Psalm 90:17
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