Prayers for Workers: Seeking God’s Guidance in Everything

Scripture – Psalm 25:4-5 (NRSV)

Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
+++teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
+++for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.

You can read all of Psalm 25 here.

Focus

God cares about every part of our work. Therefore, we ask for his guidance in everything related to work. Whether we’re making a sale or coaching an employee, building a spreadsheet or shaping a just workplace, cleaning an office or leading a meeting, building a cabinet or teaching a student, all of it matters to God. May we learn to seek and to be open to God’s guidance all day long, in all that we do.

Prayer

Lord, today I ask for your guidance. With the psalm writer I pray, “Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.” Show me today how I should walk in order to honor your and contribute to your work in the world.

There was a time, Lord, when I would pray like this about my work though limiting your guidance to only certain aspects of my work life. I’d want you to guide me in my relationships, in my ethics, in my witness. I still want those things and ask you for them. But now I understand that you care about so much more in my work. In fact, you care about everything: how I think and plan, how I write and speak, how I manage and sell, how I create and lead. Whether I’m cranking out a spreadsheet or standing against racism in my workplace, you care. It all matters to you. So, when I ask you to know your ways, I mean in every little part of my work.

The psalm writer says “I wait for you all day long.” This reminds me that my openness to you shouldn’t end when I say “Amen” at the conclusion of this prayer. I need to keep the line open, to keep on speaking to you and listening for you. Teach me, Lord, to wait for you throughout my workday.

May I work today with you, for you, in you, and for your glory. Amen.

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Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Commentary on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: God’s Guidance in our Work (Psalm 25)