CONVERSATIONS
WITH GOD
The Whole Story: Life's Work
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Archived Conversations with God​​​​​​
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Day 1
Joy and Work
Here is a great follow up to our sermon on Sunday:
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-to-find-joy-in-your-work
Verses: Psalm 92:4, Hebrews 12:2, Philippians 2:13
Prayer Topics: Meaning, Purpose, Motivation
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Day 2
Seeing Work's Glory
For many people, going to work is a necessary evil. Most Americans work for the purpose of putting food on the table and saving for a future where they don't have to work, seeing work as a phase that should be completed as soon as possible. Some people are trying to skip the work phase of life altogether, opting for van life or quiet quitting. The bible story begins with God working, and in John 17 Jesus refers to his work as the glorification of the Father. When we look at Jesus' ministry, we see him healing the sick, raising the dead, and proclaiming the kingdom. When you look at your work, perhaps you see something else entirely, like boring drudgery or barely tolerable hostility. There are certainly times when we need to look for a new job, but many times we need to look at our job differently. Jesus made the blind man see, and sometimes we are that blind man. Is it possible to proclaim the kingdom at your work? If not through your words, can you do it through your actions? Is it possible to bring healing? Can you raise the spiritually dead? It is important to recognize that no matter what you do, you really do something else. When I was a cook at J.B.'s restaurant I saw my job as cooking food, but that was incorrect. My job was to serve people, and no matter what you do, that is what you really do. There is another job that is happening as I serve people, and that is to serve God and glorify Him. To understand some beginning steps on how to do that, check out this article:
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-to-glorify-god-at-work
Verses: 1 Corinthians 10:31, John 15:5, Psalm 40:16
Prayer Topics: Intention, Proficiency, Communication
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Day 3
Work as Gift
Most of the time, we say we "have" to go to work. It is an obligation, a necessary evil. But what if this view of work is incorrect? What if work is a gift? Check out this article to explore this idea further:
https://ourdailybread.org/article/work-a-means-of-self-fulfillment-and-gods-glory/
How could work be a gift? In creation, we see that God works to display his glory.
Psalm 19 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above[a] proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
We have stated previously that joy is the experience of glory. Whenever we experience joy, it is because of the glory of something. We enjoy a meal, a beautiful sunset, or a good joke. All of these things must first be created, and all of us at some point have the experience of joy through the creation of something we are proud of having created. In work, we glorify God by reflecting Him, and we also get to expand our own abilities and our own glory as we become more and more like Him. In addition, we have the joy of our creation creating joy in other people. Work is truly a gift we have been given, so how will you enjoy it today?
Prayer Topics: Joy, Abundance, Reward
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Day 4
Work, Service, Worship & Joy
In the Old Testament the priests would serve in the temple, and that service was counted as worship. In the creation story, Adam and Eve were given the task of cultivating the garden, and that cultivation was related to worship. How do we know? In Latin the word for worship and the word for farming or gardening are derived from the same root - cultus. Our work should be a source of Glory to God and a source of joy for us just as worship should. To dig into this subject more, check out this article:
https://www.touchinglives.org/devotionals/serve-gladly
Verses: Psalm 100:2, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Isaiah 58:10
Prayer Topics: Praise, Cultivating, Creation
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Day 5
Thanks to Sylvester Warsaw, Jr for our devotional today
“At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:” ( Daniel 9:23). Prayer is essential to experiencing the fullness of God to be in sweet constant communion with God therefore prayer isn’t an option it’s mandatory. We’re encouraged to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Philippians 4:6-7 tells us there’s a posture in prayer, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God: and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Supplication means to pray humbly and earnestly as we make our request known to God. Prayer is intimacy with God and when we’re His we should want to know Him and His will. David said it like this in Psalm 27:13, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” Prayer isn’t selfishness, it's the ultimate posture of our responding in love in obedience to God for His will to be done here on earth because His Word comes from Him therefore His will is settled in heaven, Psalm 119:89. Prayer allows us to see the hand of God at work as He works His will against the work of darkness in this world, Ephesians 6:11-20; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.
The unfortunate reality that many don’t have their prayers answered is because their prayers are selfish meaning their prayers are for the satisfying of the flesh and that’s against the will of God, James 4:1-17. When prayers are selfish they’re aligned to this world order therefore they’re enemies of the cross Phil. 3:17-21. God’s Word teaches us we can know Him and His will and that we don’t never have to assume His will because of asking subjectively what would Jesus do. God is alive and active! God isn’t stagnant meaning He doesn’t want us ignorant of Him and His expectations for all called by His name. There’s no greater joy in this life than being in relationship with God the Father in and through Christ Jesus as the Holy Spirit reveals to us more and more about Jesus and His will to redeem man. Jesus tells us this in John 14:12, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” Like Elisha prayed in 2 Kings 6:17, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see” this should be our prayer also. Open our eyes Lord that we may behold You!