iWork4Him PowerThought

During the work week, most people spend 40 hours at their job, 40 hours sleeping, and 40 hours for everything else – including commute time, chores, eating, hobbies, relaxation, and family time. This means, the greatest sphere of interpersonal influence you have is probably your job. Tracy Matthews from Attune said in a recent interview that, " Time spent at work typically consumes the largest sha...

Too often, when we hear the word "generous" we think only of financial giving. But what if God is calling us to be generous with our whole lives – not just our bank accounts? Proverbs 11:25 says, " Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. " What if we redefined generosity as anything that refreshes those around us? In other words, taking time to listen,...

If I had a quarter for every time I'm talking with someone about work and they say, "I just wish I knew what my purpose was," I would be a very rich man. We have been fed a lie in America that there is one exact job that God is calling us to, and if we miss that career path, we have somehow missed His purpose for us. But in Matthew 28:16 Jesus gives us the ultimate calling. He says, " Go and make...

In Luke 9:23 Jesus says, " Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me ." In other words, if you are going to follow after Jesus, you have to be willing for faith to cost you something. Drew Crandall from North East Christians at Work told us in a recent interview that, " It's relatively easy to be a Christ-follower at church on the weekend. But expor...

When you are faced with a difficult person, a disagreement with your spouse, an unfair situation at work, or a complaining coworker – what is your initial response? Is it to open your mouth? Or is it to open your Bible? Too often we speak out of anger, frustration, or even a misguided sense of justice, without first seeking out the heart of our Heavenly Father. This type of response – more often t...

The International Encyclopedia of Human Geography defines Worldview as, " a set of beliefs or a mental model of reality that influences the way people perceive, think, know, and act in the world." When was the last time that you really considered how you view the world? What are the things that influence how you think and act in the workplace on a daily basis? This week, we want to invite you to r...

Have you ever left a conversation where you felt like the other person really understood you and cared about your life? If you have, chances are good that the reason you felt this way was because they genuinely listened to you. The truth is, it's impossible to get to know someone when we do all the talking. Instead, we have to ask questions, pause, and listen to the answer without interrupting or...

Most companies are run with one thing in mind: the bottom line. According to the world, the most important measurement of a truly successful business is profit. But what if money and profit margin aren't how God defines success? Almost every Kingdom-minded company that we've interviewed over the last nine years has said that, in the end, successful and healthy business is all about people  over  p...

We spend more than one-third of our life at work.   Yet sadly, Barna research shows nearly two-thirds of churched adults say it has been at least three years or more since they heard church teachings on work and career,   and yet, the workplace is where most Americans spend the biggest share of their waking hours.  What can YOU do, to introduce your church to the importance of faith and work?   In...

Relationship. Relational.    Is there any better word to describe Christianity that sets our "religion" apart from all others? Our faith is based solely on relationship. And is there any better model for us to follow?   In our life, in our work?  And the basis of this relationship model is LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others,...

Money. We all need it to live. Is your view of money healthy and in alignment with biblical principles?  Is the WAY you use it serving man, or God and His Kingdom.    1 John 3:17  says If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God's love be in that person?   How about your income? How about your company's revenue? Are you tithing...

There is a word that defines the bible, defines Christ, and defines leadership.   That word is LOVE.   But isn't love seemingly contrary to business and how it operates?   Or IS IT?  Did you ever have a bad boss?  What quality of work did you do for them?   Did you ever have a great boss? One that got the absolute best work from you? What was the difference in those two bosses?   I'll bet it was L...

"Why is it important for all Christians in every area of culture to rise up in their calling? Because biblical truth is the highest love for human beings."  That's a quote from Kelly Monroe Kullberg, Founder of the Harvard Veritas Forum.  So, we're wondering…Are you living YOUR calling where you're working? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate YOUR WORK in terms of "a calling"?   Are you enablin...

There is a truth about work that has been lost to much of our culture since the creation of the world. It is that GOD CREATED WORK. He created work for us, to do together and for HIS glory. Genesis 2: 19 So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one.  Work is...

Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look for ways to build a friendship with those you work...

What if our WORK WAS our WORSHIP?  The Hebrew word avodah   means work,   worship,   and service,   altogether! Work: being productive, worship: praising and glorifying God and service: a form of service to the world and our community. We are MEANT to be of service, to be PARTNERS with God in the ongoing creation of the world.    The various usages of this Hebrew word that is first found in Genesi...

How do you make a decision when faced with a MAJOR WORK LIFE CHANGE?   Do you do it alone? Do you ask a bunch of friends?  Do you list out the pros and cons? Is there a biblical model for seeking and knowing God's will?    There is. Here's the way a CEO and his wife used to decide whether to leave their business OR go into ministry in another state. They prayed together on their knees and fasted o...

When's the last time you were UNCOMFORTABLE, OR PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE  in your work?   Discomfort = growth,   and comfort = stagnation.   The people doing the most growing are the ones that submit to spiritual and personal growth, like having a group of fellow Christ followers, who challenge them and hold them accountable, in their professional life, their leadership and b...

After years of meeting with and interviewing people from all types of work and all organizational levels, there is one major truth that keeps bubbling up to the surface.   The investment IN PEOPLE, above all else, pays not only Kingdom dividends, but business dividends as well.   This is what Christ did, and it is the ultimate example of Christ's holy character: Matthew 20:28   says "For even the...

Per a 2015 Barna Group study, only 20 percent of Christian adults are involved in some sort of discipleship activity.  And, less than one-quarter of Christian adults (23%) are currently being discipled by someone one-on-one.  Discipleship in the context of work is known as "mentorship". How about YOU?  Are you allowing someone to mentor you as a Christ follower in your work?     And if you are a "...

I think it's safe to say that the media focuses on, and provides negative news these days.  Should we just take it, and keep feeding ourselves this negativity? How does this affect your work? Do you take it with you?  What are you chatting with your co-workers about?   And are you feeding the beast of "all that's wrong with world"?    Or are you speaking life at work.   We can, and should consciou...

I heard a clever quip the other day about trying to take control from God's hands. God is writing the story of your life: so STOP TRYING TO GRAB THE PEN FROM HIS HAND!   This applies to our work as well. Sometimes we think we are living God's plan for us in our work when we are actually just "taking Jesus with us".  And only praying to Him to ask for blessings on what we are doing at work. How can...

Being intentional seems to be a consistent hallmark of followers of Christ. Because Christ is our best example of intentionality.   Intentionality is defined as being deliberate or purposeful.   How about you? How are you working with intentionality today? In the office, with your co-workers, intentionally representing Christ and showing His love and patience to everyone you come in contact with?...

Have you ever wondered what the benefits would be, if you turned your company over to God? Would the profits fly out the window and productivity take a nose-dive?    We've polled Christ-following employers and their employees and here's what THEY say the benefits are:  Increasingly happier and more stress free employees (which leads to increasing productivity, less absenteeism and much higher rete...

Have you ever experienced a major upheaval in your business or work life?  Something that looked like it was taking you in the opposite direction of where you were headed?  Or was (you thought) the next logical step?   It's highly possible that God is using this to move you to exactly where HE wants you to be.  For HIS work, in HIS time, for THIS season. Let Romans 8:28 encourage you today, and we...