Devotions/YouVersion – Called To Work

59. Conflict at Work – Coming to a Solution

November 10, 2025

Scripture Reading: Acts 6:1-5, 11:2-18

Some workplace conflict stems from different points of view about how to handle a matter or decision. This can actually be a good thing if it causes us to see things from a new perspective. None of us has perfect knowledge, unlimited wisdom and totally pure motives. So we benefit from coming up against people who see things differently, if we are willing to work creatively together to resolve our differences. We have a few examples of this type of conflict in today’s verses, from the book of Acts.

A helpful pattern emerges from the book of Acts that is useful for work conflicts:

1. Listen Carefully: Listen carefully to the concerns and perspectives of your co-workers. Who are the stakeholders that will be affected by your decisions? How can you best serve all parties?

2. Assess Honestly: Assess the strengths and weaknesses of various courses of action and concerns. They have to be acknowledged to be addressed.

3. Discard Prejudices: Be willing to change old attitudes and prejudices in light of new information.

4. Think Creatively: Create a new solution together.

Prayer: Jesus, you say in your word that if we lack wisdom, especially in the midst of our trials, we can ask you, and you will give generously. I ask for the patience and humility necessary to truly listen and submit to you. I pray for the wisdom to come to a solution. Amen.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

58. Conflict at Work – Be Spiritually Grounded

November 3, 2025

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:10-18

The book of Ephesians reminds us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” In other words, we live in a fallen world, and there are factors beyond our control that contribute to the difficulties we face at work. We shouldn’t expect even the best workplace to be perfect. But we should expect the Spirit of God to be with us all the time.

In response to workplace struggles, Ephesians tells us to put on truth, righteousness, peace and faith. We are to remind ourselves of our salvation and gird ourselves with the word of God. We are to “pray in the Spirit with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

This means that we can always trust God to take care of us, so that we don’t need to be tempted to engage in unethical behavior, slander and anger. The powers of evil may indeed threaten, oppress or even cause us harm at work. But we don’t need to resort to dirty deeds to defend ourselves. Truth, right relationships, honest conflict resolution and faithfulness are the best ways for us, whether we are in good situations or bad. These are things we should request the Holy Spirit to give us.

This approach may not deliver overnight results. However, over time, we may find that we have more patience, fortitude, hope and love than we thought possible. And we know that Christ is victorious over every power of darkness and evil in the end.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I need your help when I experience darkness and evil at work. Help me to put on the armor of righteousness, peace, truth, faith, your Word and the joy of your salvation. Help me rely on your Spirit daily. I pray for the people who make my work difficult. Please bless them. I confess my own reluctance to love, and I admit that sometimes I’m the one who is difficult to work with. I pray for the ability to submit to you, knowing that you care for me. Amen

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

57. Conflict at Work – Always Hope for the Best Outcome

October 27, 2025

Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:2-8, Colossians 3:12

In the book of Philippians, Paul asks two women, Euodia and Syntyche, to come to peace with each other. Stop nurturing resentment, he tells them, and think about what is “honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent and praiseworthy” in the other person.

God’s spirit empowers us to love others and to hope for the best, just as we ourselves are embraced by the love and hope of God. Our natural reaction in conflict situations is often to assume the other person is hopelessly wrong—ignorant, stubborn, selfish, foolish. Why bother trying to restore our relationship—it will never work. But the love of God—for us and for them—gives us true hope that both they and we can change for the better.

It may help if we remember that many changeable factors contribute to the way people interact on any given day. The other person—or we—may have had a poor night’s sleep, a fight with a loved one, a financial setback or other life issues. We may have different ways of speaking or acting that give an incorrect impression. For example, a joke may come across the wrong way, or a word may be taken as an insult, even if it wasn’t meant that way. And we have different preferences for handling stress. Some like to have time alone to think, while others like to resolve things quickly and publicly.

The good news is that with God’s help there is hope. What seems like an intractable conflict today may become an opportunity for a deeper relationship tomorrow. Focus on the factors that may help move things forward, rather than impugning the other person’s motives. With prayer, we can ask God to help us be gentle and humble, see the good in others and let go of our anxieties.

Prayer: Jesus, help me to see those I am irritated with, hurt by or in conflict with, with the hope and love that you provide. May I be slow to anger. Instead of judging them, may I be a blessing to them. Amen.

Further Exploration: Click to read more from the Theology of Work Project about resolving conflict in Philippians.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

56. Conflict at Work – Be Quick to Listen

October 20, 2025

Scripture Reading: James 1:19-21

Christians need to listen well, both to people and to God. “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19). You listen, not as a technique to influence others, but as a way to let God’s word “rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness” (James 1:21). Listening well to others removes our anger and arrogance. When others speak words that we do not welcome—words of disagreement, criticism or dismissal—it is easy to respond in anger, especially in high-pressure situations. But doing so usually makes our position worse and discredits our witness as Christ’s servants.

When approaching a co-worker about conflict, you must set aside your self-justification long enough to listen to what the other person has to say. This is very difficult! But it works. Your goal at first is not to come to agreement, but just to understand the other person’s point of view. Say something like, “I realize that this is coming between us, so I want to start by listening to how you see things.” Then listen without interrupting. Repeat back what the other person said without modifications or corrections. “I think you said…. Is that right?” You may have to try several times until you get it so the other person can respond, “Yes that is what I said.” Success!

Now ask the other person to listen to your perspective and repeat it back to you, just as you did for him or her. Repeat until the other person actually repeats what you said, without asking the person to agree with it.

Now you both understand the other person’s point of view. You may still disagree. Yet most of the time, the feeling of being heard and respected is so wonderful that both of you have a new energy and sense of working together. Now you can begin to find a solution to the conflict that you can both live with.

Prayer: Dear God, It is difficult to listen and not defend my own position. Help me approach conflict with meekness, humility and a heart that is willing to truly understand another’s perspective. Amen.

Further Exploration: Click to read more from the Theology of Work Project about listening in James 1.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

55. Conflict at Work – Go and Address the Person Directly

October 13, 2025

Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:15-17, Matthew 5:23

How do we restore broken relationships? In Matthew 18, Jesus gives us a template for dealing with someone who has wronged us. He does not say, “Get even!” or “Strike back!” or “Prove that you were right.” Instead, he lays out a process that begins with seeking one-on-one to be reconciled.

Even in the healthiest workplaces, conflicts arise. When they do, the only effective resolution is for those in conflict to engage each other directly, not to complain to others. Rather than play out a conflict in front of an audience, meet with the person privately.

In the age of electronic communication, Jesus’ approach to “go” directly to the other person is more important than ever. All it takes is a name or two in the “cc:” line or one press of the “reply all” button to turn an ordinary disagreement into an office feud. Even if two people could keep an email chain to themselves, the possibilities for misunderstanding are multiplied when an impersonal medium such as e-mail is used. Therefore, unless doing so would put you in danger, it is probably best to take Jesus’ advice literally, “Go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone.”

If you’ve been hurt, take the first step toward reconciliation, even though it may make you feel awkward or vulnerable. Likewise, if we believe we’ve hurt someone, Matthew 5:23 makes it clear that we should go and get right with him or her. Either way, it takes humility to be the first to say, “Hey, there’s something that’s been weighing on me. Can we talk?”

Sometimes conflicts aren’t resolved one-on-one. In that case Matthew 18:16 tells us to seek help from others with the appropriate skills and authority. This does not mean complaining to other people, but finding the right person(s) to help us resolve differences with the person we’re in conflict with.

Prayer：Jesus, your command to go and be reconciled is difficult. I ask for you to both strengthen me with your might and soften my heart to hear from your Spirit. Amen.

Further Exploration：Click to read more from the Theology of Work Project about conflict resolution in Matthew 18.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

54. Conflict at Work – The Value of Right Relationship

October 6, 2025

Scripture reading: Matthew 5:6, 5:9, 2 Corinthians 5:18

We all experience conflict at work. Sometimes workplace conflict makes us think that work is a hostile place for our Christian faith or values. But in reality, the Christian faith is superbly capable of helping us bring good results out of the conflict that inevitably arises at work. It’s as if Jesus has gone ahead of us into our workplaces, standing ready to bring reconciliation and transformation in the place we spend most of our waking hours.

It begins with Jesus’ words “Blessed are the peacemakers.” When we think of “peace” we tend to think only of stability, tranquility, the absence of conflict. But the Hebrew word for peace, shalom, means life flourishing in community. Shalom is far more than absence of war and conflict. It draws together ideas of justice and righteousness. Shalom is a thriving fullness of life as it ought to be: whole, healthy and balanced.

Peacemaking, therefore, means engaging in conflict in in ways that resolve underlying disagreements while actually strengthening our relationships. It means treating people with justice and respect, even while we’re in conflict with them. It definitely does not mean ignoring conflict. “Keeping the peace” by evading issues at the office can result in a false peace: difficult issues go undiscussed, arguments linger unsettled, the mission of the organization suffers. Working honestly with our co-workers through disappointment, misunderstandings and anger restores relationships.

Our faith helps us be open to working through conflict because Jesus is our model. God sent his only Son to reconcile us to himself by means of a cross. That’s how important God thinks it is to do the hard work of restoring relationships.

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for the gift of peace I have with you through Christ. Through you may my relationships become more peaceful and healthy. As a recipient of your peace, I have been called to be a peacemaker. Help me to embrace this calling. Give me eyes to see, not only obvious conflict, but also that which lies beneath the surface. May I use every opportunity you put before me to work for genuine peace. Amen.

Further Exploration: Click to read more from the Theology of Work Project about the value of right relationships.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

53. Lead Through Prayer – Pray for Others

September 29, 2025

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:7-13

Through your work you have the opportunity to impact many people. There are the people you see every day who are influenced by your attitude and your prayers. There are also people you don’t see on a daily basis who experience the benefits of your work. You have the chance to ignite all these people through short purposeful prayers throughout your workday.

Prayer in the workplace doesn’t need to be a big production. It could be a quick “please” or “thank you” whenever a new person crosses your path.

One customer service representative made a habit every time the phone rang of saying “Thank you, God, for the person I’m about to talk to.” The prayer didn’t take longer than one ring to say, and it changed the way this worker approached the phone call. As a result, whoever was calling left the interaction feeling blessed.

Jesus said, “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words” (Matthew 6:7). You don’t need to devote hours of time to prayer in order to bring God into your workday. Quick prayers are enough.

Martin Luther said that prayer should be “brief, frequent, and intense.” Whoever crosses your path today, whether it’s a customer, a coworker, or the person who empties your trash can, take a moment to pray for them. Expect God to do the rest.

Prayer: God, be present in my work today. Lead me through prayer, and teach me how to lead others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Further Exploration: If you enjoyed this plan, find more plans from the Theology of Work Project at www.theologyofwork.org/devotions

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

52. Lead Through Prayer – Pray for Your Coworkers

September 22, 2025

Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:2-9

People were created to live and work in community with one another – in other words, with other people. Different perspectives improve the product of your work, but differences can also be a source of conflict.

The letter to the Philippians gives this advice to coworkers in conflict with one another:

“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God… whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:6–8).

If you’re stuck for a way to pray for your coworkers, thank God for anything that is honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent, or praiseworthy in them (Philippians 4:7). It may take a while to come up with a list, but it’s worth the effort. Focusing on what’s positive in someone else changes your heart and allows God to work in your working relationship.

God promises that his peace “which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) will come into your heart and mind when you pray for the people around you. You can start experiencing that peace by seeing the good in the people you see every day. This simple prayer could ignite a whole new level of excellence in the work that you produce individually and together.

Prayer: God, bless my coworkers today. Help me see what is honorable, pure, and praiseworthy in them. Thank you for the people I work with. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Further Exploration: Read more about Philippians 4:2-9 in the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

51. Lead Through Prayer – Pray for Your Bos

September 15, 2025

Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-3

You might get so wrapped up in your own work responsibilities – including keeping the boss happy – that you forget your boss needs prayer as well. No matter what kind of relationship you might have with your boss, the Bible urges you to pray for him or her.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 says that all people who are in “high positions” deserve multiple types of prayers.

The Bible uses three terms – “supplications, prayers, and intercessions” – to remind you to pray for your boss (1 Timothy 2:1). Pray that your boss is blessed with wisdom to make good decisions. Pray that God gives him or her success at work. And pray for God’s peace in the midst of uncertainty.

1 Timothy 2:2 also lists another way to pray for your boss: thanksgiving. It may seem counterintuitive to thank God for your boss, especially if you have a difficult one. But 1 Timothy 2:2 says to pray for “all” people in high positions, not just the ones you like. Look for something about your boss you can thank God for. For example, you can be grateful that your boss has to make the difficult decisions and face the consequences, not you. Or perhaps you’re grateful that you have a job at all. If so, thank God in prayer.

The promise of prayer is that you can lead a “quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:2). It allows you to be a peaceful presence in your workplace. Praying for your boss changes you in a positive way, and you might just see positive changes in your relationship with your boss too.

Prayer: God, bless my boss. Help my boss make good decisions. Give both of us success in our work. Grant me a peaceful workplace today. Amen.

Further Exploration: Read more about 1 Timothy 2 in the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

50. Lead Through Prayer – Pray for Your Company

September 8, 2025

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 29:4-7

The Bible encourages you to pray for the place where you work. Your prayers could open doors to more people coming to know the Lord. And it’s good for you too, according to Jeremiah 29.

“Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7).

Seeking the welfare of your company is important, whether or not the people in charge believe in God. In Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles, the Israelites were being asked to pray for the Babylonians – people who were actively hostile to God, and who had drawn the Israelites into captivity. Even so, God told the Israelites that praying for the Babylonians would be the key to the Israelites’ blessing.

By blessing others, you’re blessed too. This has always been an integral part of God’s Covenant. God expressed the link to Abraham in this way: “Abraham shall become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him” (Genesis 18:18).

God’s provision is so great that there is always enough to go around. Making prayer part of your leadership could bring greater blessings than you currently imagine.

Prayer: God, grant my company financial success. May the work I do today bring blessing to those I serve. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Further Exploration: Read more about Jeremiah 29 in the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

Called To Work

Category: Devotions/YouVersion

59. Conflict at Work – Coming to a Solution

58. Conflict at Work – Be Spiritually Grounded

57. Conflict at Work – Always Hope for the Best Outcome

56. Conflict at Work – Be Quick to Listen

55. Conflict at Work – Go and Address the Person Directly

54. Conflict at Work – The Value of Right Relationship

53. Lead Through Prayer – Pray for Others

52. Lead Through Prayer – Pray for Your Coworkers

51. Lead Through Prayer – Pray for Your Bos

50. Lead Through Prayer – Pray for Your Company

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