A Morning Liturgy for Embracing God’s Purposes in Daily Work

Opening Prayer:

Creator God and sustainer of all things,

Thank you for always being present with me.

Speak to me now through your word, by your Spirit, in this time of prayer and reflection that the purposes I pursue in my daily work would align with your own.

Read:

2 Cor. 5: 17-20a

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling[c] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.

Pray:

Loving God,

In your kindness, through the work of your son Jesus, you have saved me from sin and death and drawn me into your family as your own beloved child.

Thank you.

Apart from anything I have done to merit your favor, you have created me anew. You have lifted me out hopelessness and given me life, energy, gifts, and abilities to steward for a time and season, with the privilege of being able to invest them in your redemptive work in the world that will matter for all eternity.

Thank you.

Read:

Psalm 67:1-3

May God be gracious to us and bless us

and make his face to shine upon us,

that your way may be known on earth,

your saving power among all nations.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;

let all the peoples praise you!

Pray:

Holy Lord,

I confess that there are times when I approach my work with a perspective that reflects the inward-focus of my own flesh rather than the call you have given me to partner in your restorative mission.

Forgive me for the moments when I make work a self-salvation project:

The times when I seek peace through my own performance rather than through your work on my behalf -

The times when I desire significance through the name I can make for myself rather than in being known by you -

The times when I look to my work for fulfillment when I know full well that only you can satisfy the deepest longings of my heart.

By your grace, reorient my heart and mind each day around the blessings that you have spoken to be true of me through Jesus.

Help me to respond to your generosity by mirroring your heart in my own interactions and initiatives at work, that by your Spirit within me others would come to know something of your love, creativity, order, compassion, and justice.

Read:

John 20:19-21:

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Help me to approach each day with intent, knowing that the places I go and the people with whom I interact are no mere coincidence.

I go to work each day as one who is sent by you.

In your kindness, you choose to include me in your project of bringing renewal to all of the broken things of this world — one that you will surely complete.

You are the God who brings life from death. All things are possible with you.

Strengthen me for the work to which you have called me, refine me through my work to become more like you, and give me joy in journeying with you each day in this place where you have positioned me to serve.

In Jesus name, Amen.