A Prayer for a God-Honoring Work Life

As Christians with regenerated hearts who are also new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), we desire to honor God in everything we do, including our work. Being a Christian is not just about leaving our former life of sin behind but also about doing what is right, pleasing, and glorifying to God. The heart behind it is not just to be a good person; it is because we are saved in Christ that we desire to do such things. 

Holy Spirit, You are our Helper, Who always brings to mind the truth of Your Word. Always remind us of the mercies of the Father toward us in the person of Christ, and may this continually spur us to be zealous in doing that which is honorable in the eyes of the Father when it comes to work. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Why Pray for a God-Honoring Work Life?

We should pray for a God-honoring work life because, first of all, this is what every genuine believer should desire. If before we continually sinned and delighted in our sins, now that we are in Christ, what is earthly in us is put to death, as written in Colossians 3:5-10. Now we put on the new self, which is being renewed in the image of God. In Ephesians 4:22-24, it is written that we are to leave our former manner of life now that we are in Christ—abandoning our life of sin and putting on the new self, which has been created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

This means that, as Christians who encounter the mercies of God in Christ, we are to leave whatever dishonest, evil, and wicked ways we have when it comes to work. We are to do that which is righteous in the eyes of God and live in integrity. (He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. In Proverbs 10:9), it is written that he who walks in integrity walks securely. Also, in (The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. Proverbs 11:23), it is written that the desire of the righteous ends only in good, while the expectation of the wicked ends in wrath.

 

If we truly are believers who are a new creation and have a new heart, we will turn away from our evil ways at work and seek to do what is righteous in God’s eyes. We will also hate what God hates and love what God loves. In (The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 8:13), it is written that the fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.

In Christ, punishment has already been served. We desire to do that which is holy and righteous and turn away from anything evil because in the Gospel we have encountered the kindness of God toward us. Knowing that we present ourselves, holy and acceptable, as living sacrifices to God and live a life of worship as written in Romans 12:1-2, we do not conform anymore to the patterns of this world, but we soak ourselves in the Word of God to discern and do what is pleasing to Him. 

That is why we pray for a God-honoring work life and to be a blessing in the workplace through our doing things honestly and pursuing excellence. It ought to be the desire of every genuine believer to honor and glorify God in everything they do (Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31), knowing that we work heartily for God and not for men (And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24).

 

Another reason we should pray for a God-honoring work life is that Christ called us to become the salt and light to the world. Wherever we work or however God has placed us, we are to be the salt and light in that place. How, then, can we be the salt and light? We do that primarily by preaching Christ to those who don’t know Him because Christ is their ultimate need. We also become the salt and light of our work when we do our work honestly and with integrity and pursue excellence as we go along. There is a great disconnect if we preach Christ yet are dishonest, lazy, and terrible in our jobs. Our lives will be the first Bible that others will see.

How Can I Pray for a God-Honoring Work Life?

We pray for a God-honoring work life out of the desire of our hearts to honor and glorify God. We do this by praying and asking God for the grace we need to live out a God-honoring work life. As Christians, we already know how we ought to do this—working with integrity, being the salt and light, being excellent at work, preaching Christ in the workplace, being faithful in what we do, etc. However, most of the time we know more than we can actually do. Therefore, the best thing to pray to God is to ask Him for the grace we need to live a God-honoring work life. In (Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16), it is written that in Christ, we can be confident that we are able to approach God’s throne of grace and ask Him for the graces and mercies we need.

Father in heaven, I come before You to ask You for the grace I need to make Your Word a reality. Just as You commanded me to be holy as You are holy, have integrity, and glorify You in everything I do, let me also be the same at my workplace. I would need Your grace for me to do this. Thank You, because if Your power were able to cause the birth of millions of galaxies during Creation, how much more strength do You have than what I need to accomplish an honorable work life for You? In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Living a God-honoring work life is not something we can expect to do perfectly. However, God’s grace continues to work in us just as God continually chooses to work in the lives of other people. Ultimately, we are utterly dependent on His grace, which empowers us to live a God-honoring work life.