Praying As Workers and Work Places Adjust Again To Whatever The "New Normal" Is

 At this time last year in July – on the 6^th – I shared these thoughts.  “It’s going to  be interesting to see, as economies reopen around the world, how many companies will change the way they do business going forward.  We’ve all stood on the little markers on the ground as we’ve lined up to go to the bank or to enter a store.  That’s one clear sign of things being different.  While many folks were laid off from their work, a large percentage shifted their work from the office to their home.”

Well, things did not stay open for long, did they?  There were a variety of scenarios across Canada and around the world of some things open, some things closed, some schools open, some school closed – and a revolving opening and shutting over the next year until now.  In place after place reopening plans are at various points in their steps or stages to “getting back to normal.” 

The US/Canada land border crossing restrictions were loosened slightly on Monday with Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are fully vaccinated being able to cross back into Canada without having to go into the 14 day quarantine period.  So many families have been separated for so many months.  We pray that more and more families will soon have the same opportunity to be together.

We are all praying that businesses will have some flexibility as working conditions normalize in these next months and work either in offices or from a distance – and I better add – we hope things normalize!!

We know that God reigns from His throne in heaven and that Jesus left heaven to come to earth to put on human flesh, to live among us and then die on the cross to take on Himself the punishment for our sins. 

The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity.  Psalm 9:7-8

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.   John 3:16

Today we can bring all of our lives, including our work lives to Him because He has long distance perspective of time and eternity in which to view our lives and the closeness of His Holy Spirit living in us to be able to help us sort out proper priorities and focus for our ongoing work/family balance. 

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.  Psalm 121:8

Let’s pray with these reassuring truths in mind:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for all the things You provide for us each day – including work, and the ability for many of us to now work remotely.  We are blessed with technology and communication tools that let us connect with others as needed and enjoy more time at home with family. 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.    Colossians 3:23-24

As we work remotely we pray to be those who operate with integrity, giving proper time and focus to the work we have committed to do, accurately reporting time given to a project.  Help us to be accountable to you God and as Your word says that we would work with all our heart, as working for You and not merely for our boss.  Help us to not become lazy or undisciplined or sloppy but to do all we can to maintain a good working approach that honours both our employer and our family/home environment.

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  

Hebrews 10:24

Would you help us to be intentional about paying attention to our colleagues even as we did when we were in the same office together.  So many people need a listening ear and someone who cares.  Would You help us find appropriate ways to do that whether we work in the same space or miles apart.  We pray that together we would find ways to do good and show compassion and generosity across our community. 

Well Lord, we could pray about many things related to work and working remotely but for now we want to give thanks that You are not remote from us. You are with us.  You are co-labouring as we give ourselves to the tasks at hand.  Our prayer today is that:

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.  Psalm 90:17

I have no idea what is going to happen over the next month, two months, six months as vaccinations increase and hopefully variants settle down and begin to disappear among us.  Hopefully there will be some normalization in work environments.  But whatever that is, today we are called to work well and that's what we want to do with all God has given us.  So let's have a great day doing that.