iWork4Him PowerThought

When unexpected things happen, when crises come, when you are let go, or passed over, or disappointed, or get a bad diagnosis… where do you put your faith? The phrase "do not be afraid" can be found in the Bible 365 times; one time for each day of the year! It is the most repeated command in Scripture, and for good reason: life can be difficult. In fact, before his ascension to heaven in John 16,...

In John 17:17, Jesus prays for his followers saying, " Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. " But what does Jesus mean by sanctify? The Greek word used for sanctify in this verse is hagiazo and it means to separate something – to set it apart – for an intended purpose or mission . In other words, Jesus intended that all those who follow after him would be set apart for a unique purpose...

Have you ever felt unsure about your future or about a big decision in your life? Maybe you're feeling that way right now – confused, uncertain, and discontent . Perhaps you feel paralyzed by fear of making the wrong move or wrong choice. In these seasons, when everything seems dark and foggy, how do you move forward with confidence? James 1:5 in The Passion Translation says, " If anyone longs to...

1 Corinthians 12:27 says, "All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it." I love it when the Apostle Paul talks about all the different parts of the body of Christ because so often, we get caught up in comparing ourselves to someone who was designed to function differently. But the truth is, no matter which part of the body of Christ you are, you are essential, and your r...

God loves our work! Why? I'll give you a hint – it's not because He's a workaholic. It's because work is an opportunity for God to partner with us for the salvation of souls! When we head to our jobs each day, we have an opportunity to not only make a paycheck but to engage in Kingdom purposes! 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, " So we are Christ's Ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak...

Why do you go to work? Something gets you out of bed and on the clock. Is it for a paycheck, to get experience, or to feel like you're making a difference? All of us have a reason. If you paused and assessed yours, what would the answer be? For nine years we have opened the iWork4Him radio show and podcast by asking: Who do you work for, really ? This simple question gets at the heart of the matte...

Have you ever had a coworker who seems to get all the breaks and suddenly, the green-eyed monster of envy rears its ugly head? Envy is birthed out of comparing our lives to someone else's and being dissatisfied with the difference. But here's the thing: comparison is a dangerous game. When you become preoccupied with watching someone else's life, you miss the things that God wants to do in your li...

There is a trick that some realtors use when they are showing a property or doing an open house: they put a batch of cookies in the oven right before the potential buyer comes through the door. The buyer is then met with the comforting aroma of warm, gooey cookies which give them a sensation of home. Good smells draw people in and invite them to stay awhile. 2 Corinthians 2:16 in the Passion Trans...

Have you ever heard the old adage , " you have two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you speak? " Well, it's true! Nobody likes to be run over with somebody else's words! James 1:19 says it this way, " Everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak." What is your speaking to listening ratio? Do you tend to overrun the conversation, or do you wait to hear what other pe...

When was the last time you pushed yourself to do something that made you uncomfortable at work - whether volunteering to learn a task outside of your usual job duties, offering to take on a new project, or making friends with another employee? Moving outside of your comfort zone may feel awkward or stressful at first, but it is also the best way to grow! And in order to become a mature person – pe...

How do you define success? Being promoted? Achieving a certain number of social media followers? Reaching a particular income level? Well, Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines it simply as, " a favorable or desired outcome." Take a moment today and consider how God's desired outcome looks different than the world's. In Matthew 22, Jesus tells a lawyer there are two main things we should desire in...

God is up to something. He is not idly sitting by up in the Heavens, uninterested and uncaring about the matters of earth. He is intimately involved . Luke 12:7 says that "He even counts every hair on your head!" And as if it isn't already crazy enough that the Lord of All cares about our day-to-day lives, He doesn't stop there. He asks us to join Him in His work! Let me say that again: the Maker...

We live in a busy world. If we aren't in a meeting, or working on a project, or going to an appointment – we are looking at our phones, or answering emails, or hopping on a video conference. Technology has made work accessible ALL. THE. TIME. Not just from nine to five. But as Mahatma Gandhi once said, " there is more to life than increasing its speed." So, how about you? Are you running so fast t...

When you have a major decision to make or a faced with a "fork in the road" in your career, whose opinion do you seek out first? Do you ask your friends? Your partner? Do you make a list of pros and cons? Do you just avoid it? Although we've all probably done each of these things, there is a BETTER way: ask the one who already knows everything about your past, present, and future. When we get on o...

Have you had a performance review in the last year or two? If you have, how did you do? Did you need improvement? Did you meet expectations? OR did you EXCEED expectations? Because here's the thing: when you do good at work, people notice. Your quality of work is, in itself a witness to who God is… a God of goodness, of care, and of EXCELLENCE. Colossians 3:23 says, "Work willingly at whatever you...

If I had one hundred dollars for every time someone said, "I want my life to have a purpose, so I am thinking about quitting my job to go work in a church or Christian nonprofit" I would be a very, very rich man. There is a myth that has been circulating through theological communities for decades: that in order to have a Kingdom impact, you have to work in a four-walls church, a ministry, or a fo...

What is the first question someone asks you after an introduction? I'd be willing to bet that 9 times out of 10 its "So… What do you do for work?" That question may feel fine and dandy when you are in a high-powered position or working your dream job – but for most people it's uncomfortable to be instantly framed by their employment OR lack of employment. We live in a society that equates our valu...

Every paycheck you've been putting a little away for retirement. But once that money enters your 401K, what happens to it? Well, usually it gets invested into a whole bunch of companies. But did you know that many of the companies you may be investing in are actually supporting activities that blatantly go against Scripture! Proverbs 16:8 warns against this by saying, " Better is a little with rig...

Most people consider a vocation to be a career that they feel a strong draw towards or that they are particularly suited to. But as Christ-followers, we look at vocation a little bit differently. Dr. Chip Roper from the  Voca  Center in New York talked with us recently about the biblical view of vocation, which is simply a divine call to God's service or to the Christian life. From this perspectiv...

God formed Adam and Eve on the sixth day of creation… making their first full day in the Garden of Eden the Sabbath – a day of REST. God is gracious so He didn't start them out on a Monday … instead, God emphasized the importance and holiness of spending time in his presence FIRST,  before  the work week begins. He asks us to look to him FIRST. Rest in Him FIRST. And only then, after worshiping, r...

Matthew 5:14-16 says, " You are the light of the world… No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. " When you go to work, do you switch off your faith? Do you put your belief under a bowl? O...

The workplace is the largest mission field in the world, yet many Christ-followers don't engage in their calling as missionaries because they don't know how to share their faith at work. Fear around rejection, offending someone, or saying the wrong thing are just a few of the barriers that prevent believers from bringing the good news of the Gospel to their coworkers, employees, and clients. But h...

65% of the population will never go into a four walls church – that means that over half of the people in the U.S. will never hear about Jesus from a pastor or dedicated ministry. BUT here's the good news: almost everyone will be employed during their lifetime, which makes the workplace one of the LARGEST mission fields in the world – a place where we, as ambassadors for Christ, are given free acc...

In today's culture, respect for our elders and wisdom, has been replaced by idolizing youth and outward appearances. As Christians, we believe that ALL human beings are created by God in His image. Therefore every person has inherent dignity and creator-ordained worth. To be created in the likeness of God means that each person bears His image and with it, a value beyond our unique characteristics...

I recently had my concept of "neighbor" challenged. Does neighbor mean only the people in my neighborhood? The ones we live near ? Actually, in a broader sense, it is anyone "living or located near another ". That means the folks all around us at work, in the next cubicle. The teacher in the next classroom. The person exercising next to us at the gym. Our neighbors are everywhere and the Lord had...