Devotions/YouVersion – Page 3

49. Lead Through Prayer – Power of Prayer at Work

September 2, 2025

Scripture Reading: Psalm 25:1-5

Pressure to make decisions, solve problems, and boost performance is the norm in many workplaces. That pressure can weigh you down. Prayer is a powerful tool for turning to God so you can release the pressure and ignite your leadership.

The writer of the Psalms faced extreme challenges in his work, too. Hundreds of people reported to him. Competitors sought to kill him. His future was often uncertain. In the midst of the daily chaos, the psalmist turned to God in prayer. Psalm 25 can serve as a template for your own prayers.

The prayer opens with offering your inner-most self to God. “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul” (Psalm 25:1). These words help remind you to whom you belong.

It continues with an affirmation of your relationship with God. “O my God, in you I trust” (Psalm 25:2). When you’re unsure about what to do, you can trust God to guide you.

The prayer then asks God for insight. “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me” (Psalm 25:4-5).

You can ask God for insight into the unique problems you face during your day. There are many ways God can give you the answer. You might get understanding by reading the Bible and seeing scripture in a new light. Or you might hear advice from members of your Christian community that changes your way of thinking. Or God might give you insight directly in your time of prayer. All these are ways that God leads you in truth, as it says in Psalm 25:5.

When you need guidance at work, a quick prayer can connect you to God and open the doorway to God’s truth, helping you to work and lead in the best possible way.

Prayer: God, I lift up my soul to you. In you I trust. Show me your ways today. Amen.

Further Exploration: Read more about Psalm 25 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.

48. Finding Work Life Balance – Prioritizing with Jesus

August 25, 2025

Scripture Reading: John 15:5, Ephesians 5:1-2

The term “work-life balance” falls short because it suggests that life can be neatly divided into equal parts to which we can assign equal importance. What we actually find is that life is messy and poses problems of priority at important moments. In her book Living a Purpose-full Life, Jan Johnson writes, “If each day is about knowing and loving God, that day’s activities will flow out of a divine common sense.” Holding life in proper priority requires us to constantly reorient our lives around Christ.

In Christ, what we see modeled is not balance but a great deal of consistency, a great deal of peace, and a great deal of certainty and purpose in the midst of some dramatic circumstances. Christ’s faithfulness was not measured by his life’s efficiency or some vague perception of balance. Jesus’ faithfulness was reflected in his willingness to do whatever God asked of him.

We can find opportunities to glorify God in every part of life—the entire day’s activities, not just the so-called “religious” tasks. Throughout the day as we face decisions about how to spend our time, we can ask ourselves how we can use our time to draw closer to God or demonstrate a characteristic of Christ to those around us. Some days that might mean working a little longer in order to complete a project on time, because Christ is faithful to keep his word. Other days we might take time off to care for a sick friend or spend a special day with our kids, as Christ valued and honored relationships in his life. At other times, it might mean getting rest and exercise, because our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit through which we experience God and serve others.

Prayer: Jesus, I confess that apart from you, I have no good thing. I pray that you would be glorified as I seek to love you with all my heart and mind, and to honor you with my time and actions. I pray that you would instruct me and fill me with joy in your presence. Amen.

We hope this plan encouraged you. You can 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.

47. Finding Work Life Balance – Find Your Play

August 18, 2025

Scripture Reading: Luke 18:15-17

Play is not just for kids. If you are under pressure at work, a playful spirit can lead to balance, creativity and good health. Play relieves stress, increases physical and mental fitness, and introduces new ways of learning. Play reminds us how it feels to be a child—innocent, everything new. God is inviting us to play each time he points our hearts to beauty.

An article entitled “The Importance of Play for Adults” turns to psychiatrist Dr. Stuart Brown for a definition of play. The focus of play, Dr. Brown observes, is “on the actual experience, not on accomplishing a goal” and the activity “is needless.” You do it for fun, he says.

In our hyper-productive world, we need to learn how to play again. Play is not a one-size-fits-all pursuit. If we’ve been “all work and no play” for months on end, we’ll need to experiment to find what fits us.

Are you the type to belt out ‘90s tunes, take your dogs for a walk, or meet up with a friend for coffee? Find your play. Let it work in you to remind you how to be like a little child. Though we mature in our faith, in some ways we must remember to become like little children. After all, “the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Prayer: Lord, I know you didn’t intend for me to live a life dictated by work. Help me recognize the ways I can find small moments of joy, rest and play in my hectic life. Help me be refreshed. 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.

46. Lead Through Prayer – Your Body is a Temple

August 11, 2025

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:19, Romans 12:1

According to 1 Corinthians, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Temples are not objects to be worshipped, but they must be kept in good condition so that we can use them for worship. Practically speaking, it is through the vehicle of our bodies that we experience and come to understand God’s love. It is also the instrument we use to serve others. Therefore, to the best of our abilities, we are to take care of and honor our bodies. Getting adequate rest, nutrition and exercise can be forms of worship to God.

Prayer: Jesus, I pray that you would help me honor the life you have given me by honoring the body you have given me, to the best of my ability. 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.

45. Finding Work Life Balance – Balancing Work and Family

August 4, 2025

Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:40

The hard work of marriage, parenting and maintaining healthy relationships is a holy calling. God’s work includes loving our spouse and raising our children. The more we grasp what it means to serve the Lord in every aspect of our lives, the more we will be able to make wise and difficult decisions about how we invest our time—for God’s purposes and glory.

Honoring the call to family and healthy relationships requires setting boundaries on our work, making intentional commitments with our time and establishing sustainable rhythms of life.

We live in a culture that highly favors achievement. The more activities we manage to fit into our schedules, the fuller our lives are supposed to be. Sixty- or seventy-hour work weeks are signs of dedication, and our kids are constantly shuttled between sports teams and piano lessons. Multitasking is the norm, to the extent that we actually need ad campaigns telling people not to text and drive.

This is the wisdom of the age; ours is supposed to come from somewhere else. It’s easy to pressure yourself to do as much as you possibly can. The next time you are considering taking on that “one more thing,” ask yourself (and your family!) how it will affect the people you love. Sometimes the high calling of our daily work is having the faith to say “No.”

Prayer: Jesus, help me, I pray, to see my life from your perspective. Help me to know that I am honoring you, not only when I do my job, but also when I devote myself to my family and the relationships you’ve called me to. 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.

44. Lead Through Prayer – The Rhythm of Daily Prayer

July 28, 2025

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:35

The Bible depicts Jesus—busier than anyone around him—praying about the work and the people God sets before him every day. His first priority of the day is to connect with God. Amid the pressures of working life, daily prayer may seem like a luxury we can’t afford to indulge. Jesus, however, couldn’t imagine going to work without prayer, much as most of us couldn’t imagine going to work without shoes.

Daily prayer is a difficult practice for many Christians. Between early morning family responsibilities, long commutes and late nights at work, it seems almost impossible to establish a consistent routine of prayer.

Regular time set apart for prayer is a good thing, but it is not the only way to pray. We can also pray in the midst of our work. One practice many have found helpful is praying very briefly at multiple times during the day. “Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families,” found in the Book of Common Prayer, provides brief structures for prayer throughout the day. You can also try one-sentence prayers when moving from one task to another, praying with your eyes open or offering thanks silently.

You might not notice change at first, but over time prayer can increase your capacity to both receive and give God’s love and grace.

Prayer: Jesus, help me establish a rhythm of prayer that connects me to your love and your Spirit every day. 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.

43. Finding Work Life Balance – Unplug

July 21, 2025

Scripture Reading: Luke 5:15-16, Matthew 11:28-30

A smart phone provides nearly constant access to the noisy crowd of humanity. Anybody can call us at any time. They can also email us, or message us or just broadcast their personal noise into our pockets through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Jesus understood the danger of noisy crowds, so he regularly withdrew to the wilderness to pray. This is one reason why his yoke is easy and his burden is light (Matt. 11:28-30). It is not just that he offers an alternative to rules-based religion. He offers us grace and the means to experience grace daily through prayer.

We have to make it an ambition to pray and lead a quiet life. There will always be more work to do! There will always be a crowd to celebrate our good work. The crowd praised Jesus for what he did, so he withdrew. He stopped healing people in order to pray. Jesus did not come to do good deeds and work hard to redeem the world by the sweat of his brow.

Jesus Christ redeemed the world by his very nature, which could not be constrained by death. We must have this same mindset as Jesus Christ, and, like Jesus, we must withdraw daily and visit with God. God will remind us of our very nature. He will say, “You are my child.” And when we remember who we are before God, our daily to-do lists will be manageable and good. Our obligations will seem light. After prayer, we will be able to pick up the phone and serve the crowd without anxiety.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me retreat regularly from the noise of the world, from too much work, from too many social events, from excessive entertainment, from smart phones that deliver the crowd constantly into my pocket. And after I retreat to you, Lord, help me return to the crowd with the ability to hear its joy and serve as Jesus did. 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.

42. Finding Work Life Balance – Sabbath

July 15, 2025

Scripture Reading: Luke 6:1-5, Exodus 20:8-10, Mark 2:27

In Luke 6:1-5, it is the Sabbath, and Jesus and his disciples are hungry. They pluck heads of grain in a field and eat the kernels. Some Pharisees complain that this constitutes working on the Sabbath. Jesus responds that David and his companions also broke the sacred rules when they were hungry, entering the house of God and eating consecrated bread. Jesus concludes, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

This suggests that keeping the Sabbath is grounded in understanding God’s heart, rather than developing increasingly detailed rules and exceptions. The essence of the Sabbath is not choosing one particular day of the week over another. What we need is a proper rhythm of work and rest that is good for us, our families and those we serve.

When we stop our work on the Sabbath, we acknowledge that our life is not defined only by work or productivity. Author Walter Brueggemann put it this way, “Sabbath provides a visible testimony that God is at the center of life—that human production and consumption take place in a world ordered, blessed, and restrained by the God of all creation.” In a sense, by resting, we renounce some part of our autonomy, embracing our dependence on our Creator.

Sabbath rest comes down to an act of trust. To observe it, we must dare to trust God to provide for our needs. It is a reminder that life ultimately depends not on our hard graft, but on God’s provision and grace. This is a challenge—both for those who struggle with the prospect of not having enough and for those who struggle with the peril of not recognizing what is enough.

Prayer: Jesus, help me trust you. I pray that I would honor the Sabbath not out of legalism, but with an understanding of the Father’s heart. 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.

41. Finding Work Life Balance – When Work Becomes an Idol

July 7, 2025

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 4:6, Isaiah 30:15

True rest brings us into a right relationship with God and with others. When we experience this kind of rest, we feel revitalized, more alert, more creative and more human. Our capacity to love others, as well as our desire to be in relationship, increases. A deficiency of rest can compromise the quality and meaning of our work and negatively impact our health, family and personal lives.

Difficulty entering into rest might indicate that we’ve made an idol of our work. As fallen and broken human beings, we might devote ourselves to work in the vain hope that it alone will bring us meaning, purpose, security or happiness. Our work can become driven by a desire for perfection, worth, admiration or status. Perhaps some of us define success by comparing ourselves to others and working to have more than they do. Still others of us may use work to avoid dealing with other areas of life. We sacrifice our health, our families and our discipleship on the altar of excessive work.

The idol of work might fool us for a time, until we are passed over for promotion, fired, laid off or retired. Then we discover that work comes to an end, and meanwhile, we have become strangers to our family and friends. Fulfillment doesn’t come from frenzied work. It comes from rest and repentance. And strength comes from quietness and trust, trust that who we are in Christ is enough.

Prayer: Jesus, if I’ve made work into an idol or even an addiction, I repent and ask you to heal my wayward heart. Help me to take the steps I need to enter into true rest. 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.

40. Finding Work Life Balance – Rhythms of Work, Rest and Play

June 30, 2025

Scripture Reference: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Remember the parable about the bad servant who spent too many hours at the office and the good servant who had a flexible work-from-home telecommuting arrangement so he could spend more time with his kids? No? Jesus didn’t tell any parables like that. You would think the Bible has a lot to say about work-life balance. But it’s hard to find passages that speak directly to the issue. In fact, the Bible doesn’t make a dichotomy between work and life because in the ancient world, work, life and family life were often integrated.

The problem with the work-life “balance” concept is the image of two competing forces: one always prevails over the other, except for those rare moments when “life” and “work” are in perfect tension. However, in Jesus’ own life, and throughout scripture, we don’t see “balance.” What we do see is rhythms of work, rest and celebration, all centered on loving God and others.

Today, many of us seek “work-life balance” because we yearn to find not just balance in our lives, but also health, wholeness and joy. Millions of us are working so much that our lives feel off kilter, our bodies tired, our spirits depleted, our souls drained, our relationships strained. Our challenge is not how to balance “work” and “life” so much as how to live a balanced, fruitful life that comprises healthy, blessed rhythms of work, rest and play.

In the next eight days, we’ll explore some elements of a healthy, godly life rhythm, as well as some of the things that can keep us in unsustainable ruts.

Prayer: Jesus, help me be fully present in all the areas of life that you’ve called me to. I pray that I would glorify you by establishing healthy rhythms of work, rest and play. 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.

Called To Work

Category: Devotions/YouVersion

49. Lead Through Prayer – Power of Prayer at Work

48. Finding Work Life Balance – Prioritizing with Jesus

47. Finding Work Life Balance – Find Your Play

46. Lead Through Prayer – Your Body is a Temple

45. Finding Work Life Balance – Balancing Work and Family

44. Lead Through Prayer – The Rhythm of Daily Prayer

43. Finding Work Life Balance – Unplug

42. Finding Work Life Balance – Sabbath

41. Finding Work Life Balance – When Work Becomes an Idol

40. Finding Work Life Balance – Rhythms of Work, Rest and Play

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