Work. There is a reason that is a different word entirely from the word 'VACATION'! Ever had a work hassle? Issue? Ever been involved or responsible for a project that you could clearly see was headed south and it caused you anxiety? If not - praise the Lord! Hopefully my story will prepare you for that eventuality!
So I'm not having fun at work. Wretched situation. Fantasizing about time off - ANY time off. Communication a big fat ZERO. I'm frosted. And the Mr. says to me: We battle not against flesh and blood but against...? And I think...
Hmmmm... And it takes time. More time than I'd like to admit. Each meeting I attend - I now spend time monitoring my internal 'fire'. I start rehearsing my lines: I battle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities... Here's the actual verse:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12
Slowly it gets easier. I perceive my triggers going off - I go to my SWORD, I recite the verse. I remind Jesus this is His battle. I'm very focused on me, my heart, my response.
But then - an amazingly beautiful thing happens! I realize there is SO much more to my employment than me! More than an employment contract and a paycheck! It happened like this:
VACATION! Woohoo!
Time away complete - I return to work. First day back in the office. DELUGED by horror stories for the first 2 HOURS! A co-worker tells me: It is amazing we get anything built our processes are so messed up! Another co-worker - eagerly anticipating retirement - laments: Things haven't been this bad in the entire duration of my employment! I am amazed at how drastically things generally went off the rails in 4 short days.
However, my response? In conversation with my colleagues, I laugh, I point out the irony and humor in the situations, I encourage. Inside my head: I'm AMAZED at my response. It is like I am untouched by this onslaught of - uh - DARKNESS. Hey - that's exactly what it is! DARKNESS! Rulers of the darkness have been at work! Bells jangle in my head - I can DO something about this!
Slowly it dawns on me - my presence in the office brings with it a covering of peace, a protection to my coworkers from the rulers of the darkness!!! Not by virtue of anything I have done - but because of who Jesus is! Each morning we talk on the way into the building. I ask Him to accompany me, to change hearts and minds in the building and the companies herein represented to bring honor and glory to Him. I ask for the Holy Spirit, the angels, Jesus and the Father to accompany me as I move throughout my day in the office. I know it is in His will to do this and I believe He does! And they do! In fact, THIS very morning, my first day back in the office, I have again requested His presence. And I am confident He is with me.
With all the rantings and discouragements out of the way, an amazing thing happens as I observe and begin to work through my backlog of emails. Hey - my backlog isn't bad at all! It is as though my corner of work has been untouched. A colleague reconnects - his issues from the past 4 days are now resolved. In fact, each person's issues are resolved in about an hour from our conversation! Things have returned to a relative state of "normal"! I quickly leave my desk, find a quiet spot and burst into praise to the Father of lights from whom all blessings flow!
Truly Father God, You are worthy of ALL PRAISE! I thank You for Your goodness to the children of men. I praise You for the blessing my employment is to my family as well as to ME! I confess all the times I have complained about it because I couldn't see outside of my own self-interest. Please continue to minister to my co-workers and grow me so You can use me to reach them. Thank You for Your heart of love that never grows weary....
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