- Work cultivates discipline - a discipline for exercising, exhibiting, and receiving the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives. The Message version of Galatians 5:22-23 shares it this way,
But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
- The ache we sometimes experience in the workplace is related to a ruling spirit of manipulation and control, manifesting as confusion. When we suit up with our armor, we rely on God's strength to enable peace and clarity. Ephesians 6:13-18 in The Message Bible shares it this way,
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
The projects and initiatives we advance are part of a Holy Fight against the enemy who intends for the downfall of mankind. We need divine assistance, perspective, connections, patience, etc.
- There is a natural principle of sowing and reaping. You plant tomato seeds, you expect to harvest tomatoes. In the enemy's perversion of earthly systems, there's a temptation to harvest from places where we didn't plant. In corporate culture, the work cycles seem nonsensical; you plant a seed and 2 weeks later someone comes by and says it was the wrong seed, so you dig up the seed, and then find that the soil was contaminated, and then when you report the contamination someone tells you to overlook it, and then you know that in the contaminated soil the seed requires 4 weeks to germinate, but someone comes along and says to harvest whatever comes up after 1 week. Madness. So you may experience difficulty in ordering your work. Seek God's clarity on the divine order, and ask for a provision of his grace - a grace that may even come from the overflow of divinely appointed leaders he allows to care for you.
God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. (Galatians 6:10-12 MSG)
