May 7
But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7
What a blessing to have work for our hands to do! But what is our work in this life - our occupation, our vocation, our job? In what or whom do we put our faith each day? Only we can answer these questions. We may be busy as bees and not feel gratification from the work we do. Each of us at some point or another must come to terms with what our priorities are, as we daily put forth our efforts. Despite it being a challenge to remain God centered in our work environments today, our work hopefully is our vocation - a gift using the unique talents given to us by God, rather than just a job - the object, money-making. And for some, the work they perform involves no monetary exchange at all! At the same time, it is a blessing for both to be both successfully incorporated!
Discontent, when we experience it, frequently is a signal that our energies are in the wrong place or we are not utilizing the gifts God intended us to use. Those tugs within are a personal call from God, to reflect on what we are considering important in our everyday actions, and to not give up until the work we do is in alignment with the abilities He gave us. In our search to live our lives God centered, we become more cognizant of His direction. There is a deeper awareness that our knowledge and the opportunities to utilize this knowledge are gifts from our Creator. Through our perseverance, courage, patience, tolerance and subsequent peace of mind reflected in our work, it evolves into a contribution we bring to others that is a witness to our love of God.
Repeatedly, we are reminded in this chapter that if we are with God, He is with us; if we seek Him, we will find Him. How God's words throughout Scripture help us to remain strong in our attempt to live our lives as He intends for us, and to have faith that He will not abandon us, that we are not alone in this struggle. God will reward us with the opportunity to do His work, over and over again.
Father, thank you for the gift of work we have the opportunity to do for you.
Copyright© 2014 Kathleen A. Matson
But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7
What a blessing to have work for our hands to do! But what is our work in this life - our occupation, our vocation, our job? In what or whom do we put our faith each day? Only we can answer these questions. We may be busy as bees and not feel gratification from the work we do. Each of us at some point or another must come to terms with what our priorities are, as we daily put forth our efforts. Despite it being a challenge to remain God centered in our work environments today, our work hopefully is our vocation - a gift using the unique talents given to us by God, rather than just a job - the object, money-making. And for some, the work they perform involves no monetary exchange at all! At the same time, it is a blessing for both to be both successfully incorporated!
Discontent, when we experience it, frequently is a signal that our energies are in the wrong place or we are not utilizing the gifts God intended us to use. Those tugs within are a personal call from God, to reflect on what we are considering important in our everyday actions, and to not give up until the work we do is in alignment with the abilities He gave us. In our search to live our lives God centered, we become more cognizant of His direction. There is a deeper awareness that our knowledge and the opportunities to utilize this knowledge are gifts from our Creator. Through our perseverance, courage, patience, tolerance and subsequent peace of mind reflected in our work, it evolves into a contribution we bring to others that is a witness to our love of God.
Repeatedly, we are reminded in this chapter that if we are with God, He is with us; if we seek Him, we will find Him. How God's words throughout Scripture help us to remain strong in our attempt to live our lives as He intends for us, and to have faith that He will not abandon us, that we are not alone in this struggle. God will reward us with the opportunity to do His work, over and over again.
Father, thank you for the gift of work we have the opportunity to do for you.
Copyright© 2014 Kathleen A. Matson