When I graduated from high school, I had my life all planned out. For years I had felt God calling me into ministry, so naturally I planned to attend Seminary…. But then God asked me to take a right turn in my vocation - He asked me to go into business. At the time I didn’t understand how I could feel called to ministry AND the marketplace, but today I can look back and see that all those years WERE ministry and that he was laying the groundwork for iWork4Him. Isaiah 55:8 says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts…And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” We don’t have the big picture, but GOD DOES! So, how about you? Are you saying NO or NEVER to something that God is asking you to consider? Try removing the word NEVER from your prayer life – and see what God does.

1 Corinthians 6:19 says, “do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is IN YOU, whom you have received from God?” Whoa! Think about that for a moment: the Holy Spirit… the very presence of God… lives INSIDE of our bodies! How crazy is THAT! The God of the universe has taken up residence inside of us, where He not only guides us as a wise counselor but also intercedes on our behalf and empowers us to carry out the good works that prepared in advance for us. If God lives in us, and works through us, then it makes sense that our lives should demand a supernatural explanation! Are you living life in your own power or in God’s power? Take a moment today and pray that the Holy Spirit would do something through you that you couldn’t possibly do on your own! – something that demands a supernatural explanation.

Why is it that the grass always looks greener on the other side? Well, in today’s world it’s because the grass probably has a photo filter on it! Did you know that the average person spends two and a half hours scrolling through social media per day?! That’s more time than it takes to workout, make dinner, and clean the house! This constant access to the edited highlights of our friends’ and coworkers’ lives leads us to compare, compare, compare. But Proverbs 4:27 says, “Do not turn to the right or the left, keep your foot from evil.” PAUSE. Looking too much at the filtered lives of those around us can lead to jealousy, discontentment, resentment, and envy. PAUSE So, instead of going on your phone or tablet and comparing your life to your neighbors’ vacation photos, take a moment today to stop and thank God for the blessings in your own life!

Chuck Proudfit -- founder of the ministry At Work on Purpose -- told us on a recent show, “to start thinking like a journalist...” What does that mean? And what exactly do journalists do? Well, they find where the story is, and then they join it! And like journalists, we, as Christ-followers, have the opportunity to find what God is doing and join him! Ephesians 2:10 in the Message Translation says, “God creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” Are you a spiritual journalist - seeking out God’s story? Take a moment today and ask the LORD what he is up to in your office, in your home, or in your neighborhood. Then pray about how you how you can join in His good works!

As Christ-followers, our witness can become compromised when we act or speak out of a place of anger and frustration that leads us to wrongfully blame, shame, or hurt someone else. Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you THINK. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” But how do we change the way we think when we are cut off in traffic, passed over for a promotion, or hurt by someone’s words? Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership suggests this practice: when you’re angry, pause and write down your thoughts. Then, write next to them what kind of thoughts God wants you to have for the situation or person. This puts GOD back in control rather than your circumstances or the people around you.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Life is full of seasons and activities. With so many things begging for our attention, how do we find balance? Dave Zillig from Equilibrium breaks it down into five core areas that must be healthy for our lives to truly thrive. The fifth of which is Finances, and it’s no surprise it made the list. Money is mentioned in the Bible more than 800 times! Why? Because it can be used for good and is also a source of temptation and sin. Mismanaging or seeking after money can cause all sorts of issues in EVERY area of life. BUT healthy money management is spoken about in Scripture as part of being a good steward of your resources. What role does money play in your life? Is it an idol? Or a resource for the Kingdom of God?

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Life is full of seasons and activities. With so many things begging for our attention, how do we find balance? Dave Zillig from Equilibrium breaks it down into five core areas that must be healthy for our lives to truly thrive. The fourth of which is Fitness. In 1 Corinthians Paul writes that our bodies are a temple for the Holy Spirit within us and thus are precious. What does that mean? That we should take care of ourselves by eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Because when we care for our physical body – our whole life benefits. Are you taking care of your temple OR are you treating it like it’s disposable? Think of one healthy habit to incorporate into your work week!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Life is full of seasons and activities. With so many things begging for our attention, how do we find balance? Dave Zillig from Equilibrium breaks it down into five core areas that must be healthy for our lives to truly thrive. The third of which is Friends. God designed us to function within a community of people, and friendships are an integral part of that. Even Jesus had friends, 12 of them! The Psalmist wrote that a good friend is more precious than gold – and it’s true - good friends are hard to find! And sometimes being a good friend is just as hard! Do you take the time to invest in and pray for friends? How about to befriend and pray for your coworkers? Take time to be a good friend this week.