Questions to Consider

Am I giving my best at work, or am I giving only what is required?

If my co-workers replicate my work ethic, which direction is the company headed?

Do I believe in what I’m doing?

Do I have a passion for what I’m doing?

Is work an opportunity, a challenge, a nightmare, or a drag?

What concrete ways can I start bringing God to work with me?

Do I pray for my company, my bosses, my co-workers, and my customers?  If not, should I consider adding them to my prayer list?

LISTENING TO GOD

Use this space to record things that God shows you either through something said in these pages or elsewhere in your life.  And remember:  God’s voice is always soft, gentle, merciful, and patient.  If the voice attacks, that is not God.

Copyright Staci Stallings, 2008

The work I choose to do is an extension of me; the way I choose to do it is a reflection of the state of my soul.

I must focus on the important things, not the merely urgent.

Work, if I so choose, can be a place where my best self can show up.

If my goal is to collect a paycheck, I may soon collect nothing at all.

Excellence in all I do models excellence for others and elevates my character and belief in myself.

God can show me how.

Reaching for my potential at work is part of how God will shape me to reach beyond what I believe I can do and teach me that I’m always more than I think.

Others are there for God to love through me.  They should never be treated as a means to my end or an obstacle to my end.

My team starts with God and me.

Copyright Staci Stallings, 2008

“The key to a successful career is realizing that it’s not separate from the rest of your life, but is rather an extension of your most basic self.  And your most basic self is love.”  –pg. 179, Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

“We could say that most men in the concentration camps believed that the real opportunities of life had passed.  Yet, in reality, there was an opportunity and a challenge.  One could make a victory of those experiences turning life into an inner triumph, or one could ignore the challenge and simply vegetate, as did a majority of prisoners.”  — pg. 93, Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning

“When grace rules, we approach the Bible saying, ‘Lord, show me in Your Word all the ways that Jesus can express His life through me.”  –pg 96, Steve McVey, Grace Rules

“Adding value is not just creating products; it’s finding a way to make sure that more people experience an increase in the quality of life.”  –pg. 463, Anthony Robbins, Awaken the Giant Within

“Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas of life.  But can it really?  Perhaps it can for a limited time in some areas.  But can success in your profession compensate for a broken marriage, ruined health, or weakness in personal character?  True effectiveness requires balance.”  –pg. 161, Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

“Sometimes we carry an attitude at work because we think the job is beneath us, or we resent the fact that other people are the boss and we’re not.  We’re in a hurry to get to the top of the heap.  We don’t realize that, as we spread love, we climb naturally.”  –pg. 213, Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

Copyright Staci Stallings, 2008

1)      Think about what you’re thinking about; start really listening to your thoughts.

2)       Write down your thoughts that are disempowering.

3)      Challenge those thoughts with God’s Truth.

4)      Choose new words, new thoughts, and new truths to take the place of the disempowering thoughts.

5)      Use your new words, thoughts, and truths at every opportunity.  Write them down and post them, or put them in your wallet, or have them with coffee in the morning, or share them with your friend.  Make them a part of YOU, not just words on a paper that you write down and promptly forget about.  Meditate on them, let God speak to you through them, plant them deeply in your heart.

Copyright Staci Stallings, 2008

One of the most powerful ways you can tap into and learn about God’s love for you and your work is to meditate on verses from the Bible.  Here are a few to get you started, but don’t stop here.  Find some more and write them on the Listening to God page!

You can use these God Thoughts in many ways:  as meditations, as verses to remind you what God really thinks about you, as challenges to disempowering thoughts you may be having but are ready to let go of and replace… or all of the above.

Your only limit here is God’s love and your imagination!

“Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”  –Matthew 5:16

“Consider this:  whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.”  — 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

“For we are His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live them.”  –Ephesians 2:10

“So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.  For God is the one who, for His good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work.  Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine like lights in the world.”  –Philippians 2:12-15

“We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing brothers loved by God, how you were chosen.” –1 Thessalonians 1:2-4

“To this end, we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith.”  –2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

“We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.”  –Hebrews 10:24

“Over-work makes for restless sleep.

Over-talk shows you up as a fool.”  –Ecclesiastes 5:3 (TMB)

“Doom, rebel children!” God’s Decree.  “You make plans, but not Mine. You make deals, but not in My Spirit.”  –Isaiah 30:1-2 (TMB)

“God keeps His Word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth.”  –3:3 (TMB)

“God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit.  God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit  God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God Himself is behind it all.  Each person is given something to do that shows Who God is:  Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits.  All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people!”  –1 Corinthians 12:4-10

Copyright Staci Stallings, 2008

Bringing God to work does not have to start with nailing a cross to your cubicle wall.  In fact, it shouldn’t start there.  Instead, consider starting with a kind word to someone you see on a daily basis.

Smile more.

Get interested in the company.

Putting a verse in your wallet to remind you throughout the day that God is with you could be a positive action step.

Breathing and praying silently throughout the day to settle yourself is an excellent idea.

Copyright Staci Stallings, 2008

Let me call your attention to a very special page, the Listening to God page.  This page is left blank for you to record the ways God speaks to you either in this book, through a song or some moment in your life, through a television program or a book, through a sermon or a conversation with a friend.  I want you to begin to listen for the ways that God is speaking in your life.  These are highly personal.  He will speak right to you, but you must be listening with an open heart.  The messages may be about your health or something else important in your life.

Whatever touches you like the brush of an angel’s wing, write it down.  Then go back in your quiet time and review the ways God has spoken directly to you.

Positive Step Suggestions

Call Satan out of your work space.  Cast Satan away from you, your co-workers, and your company.  You need only whisper this in your heart for it to be effective.  I have seen this small prayer stop fights that I had no physical way to stop.  It is powerful.

“Satan, I cast you out and away from me by the Blood of Jesus Christ.”

This is also helpful when disempowering, discouraging thoughts begin to stream through your consciousness about work or co-workers.  (You can also call out fear, or discouragement, or despair, or any of Satan’s other little uglies that are threatening to derail your hope and your healing.)  Understand it is Satan’s lies that are tearing you down.  Call him on it and cast him out of your life.

Change your beliefs about yourself one at a time.  Go through the Prayer Exercise in this chapter with each disempowering belief you encounter.

Learn how much God loves you.  Take the steps He’s asking you to take and learn to accept His love even when you’re at work.

Refuse to entertain thoughts that are not in line with God’s love for you.  If they sneak in, show them the door as soon as you hear them.  Then breathe and remember what God really thinks.

Copyright Staci Stallings, 2008

What follows are suggestions for where to go from here.  They are only that, suggestions.  This is not 9 Steps to a Better You.  This is find the way that works best for you to deepen your understanding of God’s love and what it can do in your life.

Some of these are actual Action Suggestions—things you might consider doing in your career or at work. Most are spiritual suggestions, ways to deepen your connection with God because I believe as Jung does that most problems are actually spiritual problems.  So I’m going to give you suggestions for bringing healing into the area of your work life.

You do not have to do all of these or any of these.  This is not about force or willpower.  Instead, it’s about finding ways to get connected to your True Source.  When you do that, I believe, you will find the healing you need to make accurate decisions about where your gifts are most needed and how best to go about sharing them with the world.

Finally, do not think this is an exhaustive list.  It is not by any means!  It is simply a place to start.

Copyright Staci Stallings, 2008

When I think about my position between God and work, I’m reminded of the story of the Israelites who sent out spies into the land of Canaan.  The spies came back and reported there were GIANTS in the land God had already told them He had given them.  They said, “We are like grasshoppers to these giant men.”  How’s that for a disempowering thought?

When you consider your position at work, I want to you to see it in relation to God.  Are you one of those under authority?  Remember that those in authority over you are under the authority of God.  They are not gods.  They are men—fallible men.  That means they make mistakes.  It also means they can be fearful of not being successful and powerful and thus make bad situations worse.  They may be under many misperceptions about their status on this earth.  It is not your job to puncture their balloon.  It is your job to be excellent in your work for the company, and to witness to God by your life, always remembering that God is first.

If you are a manager or supervisor or owner, I want you to see your position through the eyes of God.  “To whom much is given, much is expected.”  You have a responsibility with God’s help to your customers, your company, and your employees.  Fairness and compassion are yours to model.  Get firmly grounded in God’s love for you so that wisdom flows from your decisions and many are blessed by the fruits of the company.

I believe accurately assessing our position with God in any situation clears up misperceptions quicker than any other thing we can do.  Don’t be afraid of the giants, and don’t equate yourself with grasshoppers.  You have within you the Power of the God of the Universe.  You have His Love, His Compassion, His Excellence.  It’s time to act like it.

Copyright Staci Stallings, 2008

Praise at work can take many forms.  You might want to set a small reminder clock.  When it goes off, take a moment to thank God for something He has done for you today.

Taking a break during lunch to listen to God music, or bringing God music to listen to on headphones if that is allowed can lift the spirits.

Breathing is a very simple way to praise God wherever you are.  Breathe in and say to yourself, “God is with me.  God loves me.”  Then breathe out and say, “Thank You, God.”

Find ways to praise what God is showing you at work to others outside of work.  Share what you are learning.

If He opened one door of understanding for you today, praise Him.  If for one brief second you glimpsed what His love could mean in your life, praise Him!

Copyright Staci Stallings, 2008