Can we keep it real for a moment? There have definitely been some mornings where you pull into the parking lot of your workplace and dread getting out. You unfasten your seat belt, turn down the radio, and sigh—loudly. Then, if you’re spiritual like me, you begin praying: “Lord, cover me, my mouth, and don’t allow my facial expressions to give me away.” Blink once if this has happened to you. For when the chaos at work gets to be too much, here are three spiritual practices that I believe can improve your work life.
Meditation
Beloved, your mouth can be the most powerful weapon you have and if it isn’t contained and controlled properly, you can really cause irreparable damage. When you’re being pulled in too many directions, when your boss doesn’t give you a good review, when a coworker is trying to throw you under the bus, or you haven’t taken a lunch hour in two weeks, you need to meditate. When you don’t get the promised promotion and have to train the person who did, you need to meditate. When it feels like you’re about to blow up and say something that may leave you unemployed, meditate. Exodus 14:14 says, “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” And Romans 8:26: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” You don’t have to fight every battle with words, let the work of your spirit do the heavy lifting.
Offering Kindness
Yes, honey, you read that right and don’t try to skip over it, because though it is easier to say than do, it is what we have to do. See, when we offer kindness to those who don’t know how to give it, God rewards us. Luke 6:35 states, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.” And if this isn’t enough, remember all the times God was kind to you when you were anything but kind to Him. Kindness, just like forgiveness, isn’t for the other person but rather for us. Ephesians 4:32 reads, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” It’s tight but it is also right and it will help you in those moments you find yourself face-to-face with someone who has never been kind to you. Just keep telling yourself, “My kindness will pay off,” because it will.
Balance
How many times do you hear people speaking, in a spiritual sense, about balancing your life? Balance is an important spiritual practice we must adhere to. If you don’t, you run the risk of getting burned out and when you get burned out, you tend to get bitter and bitterness leads to anger. And if you didn’t know this, the enemy lives in and gets strength from our anger. Philippians 4:5 says, “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” Tell people what you can and cannot do, making it known. You cannot do it all, no matter how strong you think you are. It takes a lot to balance God, family, friends, work, hobbies, etc., but it can be done. You just need to balance it in a way that makes sense to you. And please, do not be afraid of saying “No but thank you” sometimes.
If all else fails, go into the bathroom stall and pray because prayer never fails. And nobody should bother you in there. These are just a few spiritual practices to help improve your work life. Sometimes, when everything seems to be overwhelming and it feels like the walls are closing in, close your eyes, breathe, and surrender it to God. He never ceases to amaze me with His ability to show up just when you need Him. Meditate, offer kindness, balance your life, and pray.