Christ strengthens me

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, 

to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. 

Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, 

both to abound and to suffer need. 

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11–13

Work to live

I always get this saying mixed up..."work to live instead of live to work" is the correct saying.
     We are supposed to work if we're able. Exodus 20:9 says: "Six days you shall labor and do all your work," (I won't get into the Sabbath discussion). So, God intends for us to work in order to live but we weren't put here only to work. I also look at it as there are some people who do their job only because it pays the bills. They don't like their jobs but in some instances, it allows them enough money to do the things they do love to do.
     However, if there's a way for you to enjoy your job and earn enough money to pay your bills, that would be ideal. Think how much happier we would all be. You just need to ask God where He wants you to be. Pray about it. I can't stress this enough.
     I'm one of those people who believe when one door closes, another opens; that God will guide me to do His will. I believe in what Matthew 7:7-8 tells me: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." 
     Go ahead. Ask. See what happens. I bet it is amazing!

*****

Let's pray for someone we know who is unhappy with their job. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Work to glorify God

     Yesterday we touched on the idea that no matter what you do, do it for Christ. So, when you're toiling away at your job, just remember you are serving Him, and He will use you to honor Him and to fulfill His plan for you.
     I found a great article online while I was researching this week's topic and wanted to share it with you:
 "Work for God, from your joy in him, for treasure far greater than money, recognition, or comfort. Bring those dreams to your day job, instead of looking for happiness in your dream job." 
Written by Marshall Segal, Staff writer, "The Secret to Job Satisfaction" March 15, 2017, found at desiringGod.org

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (emphasis mine)

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

Colossians 3:23

*****

Let's pray for someone we know who is unhappy with their job. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

How to have job satisfaction

IMAGE: VICKY LETA / MASHABLE
found at https://tinyurl.com/y4hb7qqm

     I believe at the root of all discontent is attitude. Let's say you had an absolutely nasty job that you hated with every fiber of your being. We'll use as a random example: "septic tank technician." I know very little about this job except what I learned from watching an episode of Dirty Jobs, and I realize that the people who do it must not mind it, and maybe even get used to the smell after a while, but to me, it seems like a nasty job. (Kudos to those who do this job, though.) They make on average $16.20/hour (not nearly enough, in my opinion).
     You wake up one morning and think, "I just can't do this another day." So, how can you motivate yourself to go to work and not hate every single minute?
1. Pray. Ask God for strength. Ask Him to show you His will for you.
2. Make a plan and complete one step each day. You may spend a month or more researching other jobs, or figuring out what this job can prepare you for. Talk to your boss and see if there is a job advancement track for your job. Setting and attaining goals gives hope. You may find that you'll need to go back to school to learn new skills. Most schools have a career center which offers resources and job placement.
3. Ask yourself the hard questions:
What are my interests? What am I most passionate about?
Why did I take this job in the first place?
Why do I hate it now? Is the root of my discontent really the actual job or is it that I dislike a co-worker? What can I do to smooth things over with that person? Do I really dislike him or am I jealous of him for some reason? If you're the only person who doesn't get along with him, maybe the problem is you and not him.
Is it pride? Am I embarrassed about what I do?
Do I feel unappreciated? Am I in a rut?
Use those answers to assess your next move.
Finish the sentences begun in the above photo:
I am ...
I want ...
I love ...
I have ...

In the short-term, things you can do this morning:
- pray, ask for help.
- look your best, whatever that means to you. I can tell when I'm depressed about my job because I'll just throw on whatever's on the top of the laundry pile; I'll skip the make-up and jewelry, and I'll wear a sweatshirt sweater instead of a nice sweater.
- remember always that you are representing Christ. What you do during your day job is serving Christ (I'll add scripture for this tomorrow). Be an image-bearer and servant of Jesus.
- smile and greet strangers. Ask them how their day is. If you know their name, use it. Say "Have a blessed day, Betty," or at least, "Have a good day."
- take pride in what you do; whatever it is that you do.
- go the extra mile without expecting anything in return.
- throughout the day: pray.

Try those things for today and tomorrow we'll talk some more.

For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart 

with which he has toiled under the sun? 

For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; 

even in the night his heart takes no rest. 

This also is vanity.

Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, 

and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. 

This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.

Ecclesiastes 2:22-24

*****

Let's pray for someone we know who is unhappy with their job. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Are you satisfied with your job?

How happy are you with your job?

We spend the prime portion of our lives, the better part of our days working at a job. Ideally, our jobs entail tasks that we like to do, that allow us a sense of accomplishment and worth. Ideally, we're working in a pleasant environment with people we like. Ideally, we feel joy (for the most part) in our chosen profession. I'm sure there are people who have that ideal and enjoy an optimal work-life balance and get paid their worth and are able to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.

For others, it's the total opposite. We work to pay the bills. We hit the snooze three times every weekday morning before dragging ourselves out of bed, dreading the day before it even gets started. Our morning routines are so bare-boned and timed so meticulously that we make it to work exactly on time, never a minute early so as to avoid spending the least amount of time there as possible. Once at work, we go through the motions which have become so monotonous that our bodies can practically perform the tasks on auto-pilot. This at least allows our minds to drift off to more pleasant thoughts, (or dwell on the dismal fate of our daily toil.) We talk to co-workers, feigning interest in their small-talk, all the time watching the clock until it's time to go home. Once at home, we're so emotionally drained that we can't accomplish anything other than the bare minimum of what needs to be done to get us through until the next day when it all starts over again.

That is no way to live.

Tomorrow we'll talk about ways to move toward a job filled with promise and reward.

*****

Let's pray for someone we know who is unhappy with their job. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power