The Purpose of Your Business

Business is a blessing. I'm here to directly contradict those who think that business is a necessary evil. If that were the case, then God probably wouldn't have sent Jesus to the family of a small business guy. If business were a necessary evil, then Jesus wouldn't have been managing the family business after Joseph passed away. I believe business was designed to be a blessing to the owners of the business, the family of the owners, the customers, the vendors, the employees, and the community around the business. Any company that's not doing these things is a business that won't be around for very long. How do I know that God intended for business to be a blessing? I read my Bible.  

Let's look at two things. First, when Jesus was asked which was the greatest commandment, what did He say? He said this: love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself. He said these two commandments summed up the entirety of the law and the prophets in the Old Testament. It's pretty simple. Love God, love people. If you do this in business, people will love your product. If you don't do this in business, eventually, you'll end up out of business or maybe even in jail. We need to remember that Jesus was a business guy. He performed most of his miracles in the marketplace, and most of his parables are in the marketplace context. He understood that loving God and loving people could transform the marketplace. Early believers in the Roman Empire did just that. 

Let's take a look at the Old Testament. Is business talked about there? Of course! It was—many times. Many Old Testament patriarchs are business people— for instance, Abraham. Abraham’s corporation was so large he had 300 armed guards. His flocks were so numerous he needed a small army to protect them. His assets were so great he employed tons of people. Abraham's business was a blessing to himself, his family, employees, customers, and the community around him. The people in Canaan loved Abraham because he was a blessing to so many. 

When we operate a business to be a blessing to ourselves, a blessing to our family, a blessing to our vendors, a blessing to our customers, a blessing to our employees, and a blessing to our community, we have the best chance of our business succeeding. When we operate our businesses with these five things in mind, our world and the world around us will be transformed. God intended business to create excess so that the business would still bless those who didn't work within the business. For instance, a stadium building in the local community. Not only does the stadium employ people, it inspires business owners to start businesses around the stadium, like restaurants, clothing stores, bars, and transportation businesses. One business can cause many other businesses to flourish.  

Let's look at your business: 

• Is it a blessing to you? Do you come home every day knowing how blessed you are? Is it a blessing to your family? Are they grateful for how it provides for them? Are they grateful for how the business fits into the fabric of your family?  

• Is your business a blessing to your vendors, do you pay them on time and a fair rate?  

• Is it a blessing to your customers? Are they blessed by the quality of your product or service?  

• Is your business a blessing to employees? Are they paid well? Are they treated well? Do they know they are valued as a person?  

• Finally, is your business a blessing to the community? Does the community you operate within know how much you love them? Does your generosity flow out the front door of your business onto the streets around you? Do you take from your excess and bless others so they can flourish too?  

You've been blessed not just to increase your status of living but to increase your status of giving. Is it reflected in your business? If you haven't been able to answer all of these questions in the affirmative, take some time to be strategic on how your business can be a blessing to everyone it impacts.

TAKE THIS TOPIC FURTHER:

Listen to or watch show 2006: Your Business is a Blessing

Subscribe to the daily iWork4Him PowerThoughts

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

"I'm Just a _____"

One phrase has more successfully defeated and sidelined more Christians in the history of Christianity than any other. One statement believers make that couldn't be more false but is believed almost 100% of the time.  One false belief that acts, in effect, as an epidemic in Christianity. This one phrase needs to be eliminated in the hearts, minds, and souls of every believer in Jesus, and it needs to start today in your heart.  What's this phrase? Keep reading! 

The phrase that sidelines and defeats more believers is this “I’m just a _____.” “I'm just an accountant, I'm just a car salesman, I'm just a teacher, I'm just a lawyer, I’m just a lineman, I’m just a nurse, I'm just a construction worker... what kind of difference can I make?  I am thinking of quitting my job and working in a ministry to make a real difference!” 

This statement, "I'm just a ‘blank’ and can't make a difference,” is wrong.  God designed you in your mother's womb and wrote into your very DNA the specific gifts, talents, and abilities you needed to succeed in the calling that is on your life.  If you're good with numbers, good at acting, or good with electrical work, or a really good plumber or teacher, why would you quit your job so you can make a difference in a place where your gifts, talents, and abilities may not apply?  I apologize on behalf of everyone who has ever preached or taught that the highest calling in the Kingdom is the office of a pastor or foreign missionary.  I know how it made you feel.  I know how it made me feel.  It made me feel second class. It made me feel like what I was doing on a daily basis didn't matter. 

Here's the truth: in the Kingdom of God, there are all kinds of people. Not one of them looks the same, and all have a unique set of talents, abilities, and spiritual gifts. God takes who you are and the gifts, talents, and abilities He gave you and places you in a career path or an occupation where those skills can be used best to bless everybody around you, including your customers and vendors. He gave you those talents so that you could take those skills out there to bless others and then be a blessing to those you work alongside by being Jesus to them. If everybody got a job in a church or on the foreign mission field, who the heck is gonna tell people in the marketplace, in school buildings, in government buildings, and on Hollywood Blvd about Jesus? 

The job that you have, the work that you do, and the people that you work with – none of that is by chance! The people that you work with need to meet Jesus, and you may be their only opportunity. If you quit your job, who's gonna tell them?  If you quit your job, who's gonna show and demonstrate the power of a transformed life? If you quit your job and work in a church or run off to the foreign mission field, how will the people in the workplaces of America today ever be introduced to Jesus? 85% of the population is not going to church today, but they go to work because they need to make money. Your unique gifts, talents, and abilities enable you to go places that a pastor and missionary would never be welcome, but you're welcomed there every day. Just remember that. 

You're not just an accountant, bookkeeper, salesperson, nurse, teacher, government worker, electrician, and so on.  You are a believer in Jesus Christ who has been uniquely equipped to live out your faith while being an accountant, bookkeeper, salesperson, nurse, teacher, government worker, electrician, and so on.  Praise God!

TAKE THIS TOPIC FURTHER:

Listen to or watch show 2005: The Power of Connection

Subscribe to the daily iWork4Him PowerThoughts

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Does God Fit Into Your Routine?

Every morning we get up and get out of bed. It's routine. I imagine most of you, even those of you who still work from home, get up, get out of bed, and even eventually brush your teeth. The point that I'm making is that we have a routine most mornings. We get up, shower, dress, eat breakfast, and then get our day started. Some of you have a commute to work, and some of you walk down the hallway to work. No matter what it is, you have a routine. Does God fit into that routine? 

As Jesus followers who are on mission in our workplace mission fields, we must prepare ourselves daily for our work. We can't just rush around all morning long, hop in the car or run down the hallway without being ready for the place God is sending us today. We shouldn’t jump into our work truck, walk the parking lot of our car dealership, arrive to the maintenance shack of our lumber yard, get in the cab of our heavy equipment, or sit in the driver’s seat of our taxicab without preparing our hearts properly. Whatever your work is, we can't just rush in and get started. We need to be ready. 

If you're reading this blog, you've probably already committed to allowing God to be the God of your work.  You've realized that your workplace is a mission field, that it is your place of ministry, and that there are many lost and hopeless people who need to meet Jesus on that mission field. You realize that you may be the only Jesus they meet. But we need to prepare our hearts for the day. 

Before I even get out of bed in the morning, I pray. I use that time in bed before I touch my phone to pray for my family, my wife, my kids, my kids’ spouses, and my grandkids. I use that time to ensure that I'm interceding on their behalf. I also lift up my day before the Lord, ask Him to guide my steps, and prepare my heart for whatever unknown things are ahead. When I get out of bed, I go to my living room and grab a stack of books. I've got a couple of devotional books, my prayer journal, and my Life Application Study Bible. I used to try to get through the Bible every year, reading three chapters daily. But recently, a friend of mine from Colorado has encouraged me to change this approach. 

I now look at the chapter I'm going to read and try to find one verse that resonates with where I am right now in my walk with Christ. I want to focus on that verse throughout the day. I write that verse in my prayer journal, then I write down what it's saying to me. I write down some cross-references and what they are saying to me. I want to dwell on those verses and the truths of the Scriptures, so they penetrate my heart. And as I mentioned, I also read several other devotionals. I have some that are in books and some that I get via email. Recently I started getting devotionals from Steve McLean from www.hiswordatwork.com. These email devotionals are specifically designed for workplace believers to encourage them before they head off to work for the day. They’ve been powerful for me, and I hope you’ll check them out. Our latest podcasts can also be a real blessing to you during your commute or other recreation. We're always highlighting the stories of amazing believers like you who are living out their faith at work. 

TAKE THIS TOPIC FURTHER:

Listen to or watch show 2004: Put Some Pep in Your Prep

Subscribe to the daily iWork4Him PowerThoughts

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Change the Way You Think

I really can't deny it. I spent 20 years thinking, “I want to quit my job and go into full-time ministry.”  I knew I had a calling on my life. My wife Martha had a calling on her life too. As 13-year-olds, we had both committed our lives to full-time ministry. We thought that meant we would work in a church or be foreign missionaries. It was so frustrating because that door just seemed to keep slamming shut in our faces. 

But we knew we had a calling on our lives that was entrepreneurial. We both loved business. I had natural sales abilities. Martha had natural organizational and accounting capabilities. We felt so much confusion. So much frustration. So much wasted energy and guilt. Never on a Sunday did we hear a sermon that helped reconcile the conflict that battled within. 

We had tried twice to enter seminary—slammed door each time. We had applied for jobs within a church twice—slammed door. By the time we got to age 40, we had given up. We had resolved that our work was our work, and our significance was derived when we volunteered at church. This is a theological nightmare! Nothing in Scripture supported the frustration we were experiencing, and nothing at church on Sunday resolved the turmoil we were dealing with. 

Praise God for my friend Bob. In 2006 he shared a resource with me written by Os Hillman. It was a series of devotionals, and in that series, I learned for the very first time that my work mattered to God, that my workplace was my place of ministry, and that my workplace was a mission field. I was naturally gifted to be in sales and administration, and God wanted to use those things for His glory and His honor in my workplace mission field. You cannot imagine my relief when I realized my journey toward full-time ministry was complete. My mind started to shift into living in a new paradigm. A paradigm where my work mattered to God, no matter what my job was. 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.” This was the beginning of the journey to change the way I thought about full-time ministry. 

About seven years later, God launched the ministry of iWork4Him so that millions of believers could come to the same understanding that I had come to. Our mission as an organization is to purposefully equip Christ followers to live out their faith vibrantly at work. Why? Because the job that you hold, the work that you do, the people that you work with – none of that is by chance. The people you work with need to meet Jesus, and you may be their only chance. 

You are a missionary in full-time ministry on a workplace mission field. Praise God! 

TAKE THIS TOPIC FURTHER:

Listen to or watch show 2003: Don’t Quit Your Day Job

Subscribe to the daily iWork4Him PowerThoughts

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Prayer Changes Things

I remember growing up in the 70s & 80s, and there was this trite little statement: “Prayer changes things.“ I don’t think I really understood what that statement meant. I read my Bible and knew that prayer was powerful, but I didn’t understand the phrase, “Prayer changes things.”  But I do now.  

When I began the journey that ended up being iWork4Him, I started that journey by praying during my morning commute. I was praying for my bosses, my coworkers, and my employees. I thought that my prayers would change them. I thought that by praying for them, their spouses, and their children, I would start seeing a miraculous difference in them. Do you know what I really found out? Prayer changes things. But the thing I noticed that changed first was that it changed me.  

I started to see these people differently. I began to have more empathy for them. Less anger or frustration for them. I started to see them as creations of God, and it changed things. It changed me. That was something I didn’t anticipate. Now, mind you, I also saw that my change started to impact them. I started to be more loving, more kind, more merciful, and more graceful. As I prayed for them, I became more palatable to them. It opened up opportunities for me to pray with them, and they started to see that I really cared about them. 

Now, not all of my bosses appreciated that. I had four bosses then, and one didn’t want to hear about Jesus at all. He thought I was an idiot because I was a Jesus follower. That’s unfortunate, but the other three bosses really appreciated it. One of my bosses became a believer. Another re-dedicated his life to Christ. The other boss didn’t have a life-transforming experience that I know of, but he often thanked me when I prayed with him.  

My challenge to you today is to recognize that the statement “prayer changes things” is, in fact, totally true. When you start to pray for people, it starts to change you. And that’s the beginning of the transformation of becoming a workplace minister. We need to change so that others can benefit from us living out our faith vibrantly at work. Prayer changes things. Guaranteed! 

TAKE THIS TOPIC FURTHER:

Listen to or watch show 2002: Is It OK to Pray People to Pray?

Subscribe to the daily iWork4Him PowerThoughts

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

There's Just One Tier of Believers in the Kingdom!

The body of Christ is made up of many parts; none is more important than the other.  (1 Cor 12:12)  

Do you really believe this statement?  Do you ever feel unimportant in the Kingdom of God?  Like who you are and what you do is on a lower tier while others are on a higher one?  I sure did. I was so frustrated because I knew I had a call on my life to full-time ministry, but I WAS NOT a fit for being a church pastor. I also knew I was an entrepreneur.  I could not reconcile the pull between the two.  I thought they were polar opposite callings.  Boy, was I wrong!  

Modern church culture emphasizes the importance and prestige of working in full-time ministry as a pastor, foreign missionary, or the like.  There’s a theological misunderstanding that the top jobs in the Kingdom are missionary and pastor, but that’s simply not true!  There is no “tiered system” in the Kingdom of God.  All parts are critical.  Pulpit Pastor and Foreign Missionary are just two of the critical jobs.  We need to grasp that our ministry can happen wherever we go and in whatever we do.  Call to mind the familiar Bible verse 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” All. That means all jobs, in all situations.  

I don’t want you to waste your time thinking, “I just want to quit my job and go into full-time ministry!” You don’t need to quit your job to do this.  You just have to shift your mind to a new way of thinking – as it says in Romans 12:2: “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." When we change the way we think, we see the wide world in front of us, the people God uniquely put in front of us to love on and be Jesus to. The people we need to pray for and eventually pray with.  The people we need to introduce to Jesus through the vibrant living out of our faith.  

This week we pay special attention to you, the everyday workplace believer, and your role in bringing God's Kingdom here to earth. Just because you're not a pulpit pastor or a foreign missionary doesn't mean you're not in full-time ministry. Your workplace is your mission field!  And in that mission field, you may be the only Jesus that your coworkers, vendors, supervisors, or clients ever meet.  The job that you hold, the work that you do, and the people you work with - none of that is a coincidence! Those around you need to meet Jesus, and you may be their only chance.  

So, stop the wrong thinking that you should quit your job so you can go into ministry. That mindset makes you think less of yourself and your giftings, and that's not right. Take the time to shift your thinking to seeing your job as a ministry on a mission field of lost and hopeless people.  

Martha and I talk with Charlie Self about tiering in the kingdom in this week's podcast. Be sure to give it a listen!

TAKE THIS TOPIC FURTHER:

Listen to or watch show 2001: You’re a 1st-Tier Citizen

Subscribe to the daily iWork4Him PowerThoughts

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

What's Your iWork4Him Story?

It all started with my new job. Commuting 90 miles to work. I made a commitment to not turn on the radio for the morning commute. I wanted to learn how to pray. My new job had so much adventure built in, but I wanted this job to be different. I prayed for my family on the way to work and others who had specific prayer requests, but then my world got rocked. One day, in my email inbox, my friend Bob sent me the Today God is First devotional from Os Hillman. For the first time in my life, I learned that God loved my work and that my workplace was my mission field. I was floored. For years I had tried to go into full-time ministry in a church, but this devotional told me that I was in ministry already and my workplace was my mission field.  The paradigm shift began in my thinking.  

With the new reality that my work was, in fact, my place of ministry, my workplace mission field, I modified my workplace commute prayer time. I still prayed for my family, but I added my bosses, my coworkers, and eventually my employees. I noticed a funny thing happening. I started to see these people differently. I think I was seeing them the way God saw them. I grew in empathy and love for them, and I really started seeing myself as a minister in my workplace. Now, mind you, it was a real job with real demands and deadlines; but when I could, I started to serve my co-workers over and above what I was required to do. This selfless serving of others caused them to see that something was different about me. I started to see my faith relevant to my work. My paradigm was shifting, and my heart was encouraged.   

I knew that more was needed to shift my faith paradigm at work. I needed to really know the people I worked with. Martha and I started creating ways to get to know people outside of work to develop real lifetime relationships. We had people over for dinner, we went out after work, we ate lunch together. I made it my intention to know more about them as people than just what their job had them doing. I learned their spouses’ names, their kids’ names. I learned what bothered them and what encouraged them. At the same time, I let them know who I was. I shared about my family, my dreams, my struggles. We just shared life. I started to see the real people I worked with. And I began to see something.  

When you work with someone day in and day out, you start to know what their normal is. After I started praying for people, I had a better sense when things were off. I could tell when their demeanor was different, when they weren’t doing okay. I learned to ask, “How are you doing today?” and I really wanted to know the answer. When they responded with “I’m fine,” then I would respond: “Really? Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional? Really, how are you doing?” Then I would be quiet and let them share what was really going on. When they were done sharing something from their heart, I learned to say, “Thanks for sharing that with me. Can I pray about that with you right now?” I never got turned down.  Mind you, this took a couple of years to develop, but you can do it, too.  

God taught me how to shift the paradigm of work into a place of work interlaced with ministry, but none of these actions would have mattered if my work wasn’t excellent. Excellence needs to define who we are at work. Looking back, I made plenty of mistakes along the way, but I was able to pray with tons of people, made lifelong friends, and even participated in leading one of my bosses to Jesus and another to rededication.  iWork4Him was born out of this story. Would you take the time to tell us your “iWork4Him” story? 

Take this topic further:

Listen to or watch shows 1999: The Birth of iWork4Him and 2000: iWork4Him 101

Subscribe to the daily iWork4Him PowerThoughts

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

God and America

There is no question that today's America is not the same America our Founding Fathers created. Since the very first day our Fore Fathers declared independence from Great Britain, the enemy has been working overtime to destroy a country built on freedom. Still, today the United States of America remains the freest nation in the world.

 The United States is known for many good things, like spreading freedom, democracy, and the Gospel; however, we are also known for spreading various ills worldwide. We are not a perfect nation – after all, we are full of imperfect human beings. But, as we look to celebrate our country's 246th anniversary, I encourage you to take some time to thank God for our great country. From sea to shining sea, mountains to deserts, plains to waterfalls! Our country is a vivid place of unprecedented and unparalleled adventure, excitement, and intrigue. It's also a country that has been profoundly shaped by faith for many generations.

 I realize that it's hard at times to celebrate when our country has fallen into such disrepair. But remember: our God allowed our country to form under the most incredible adversity. Adversity builds character and draws us to our knees before His throne. Romans 5:3-5 says, "We also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

 I recommend that this Fourth of July, you reach out to your neighbors, friends, coworkers, and employees and invite them to your home to celebrate the great country that we do live in and to share the bounty that we all experience!

And for the areas you don't feel so much like celebrating, pray. Pray for our country and that our leaders (and really all of us) would be drawn to our knees in thankfulness.

 Happy Fourth of July, America! 

- Jim

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Our Favorite Summer Reads

One of the most popular book genres is “Beach Reads.” Those books you can take with you on a summer vacation or holiday and casually read while you stare at the ocean. This summer, we want to give you some beach reads that can do more than entertain you – they could change your life!

 Over the last nine years, I have read well over 500 books for the iWork4Him show. Many of them are excellent, and a few have made a lifelong impact on me! For instance, Halftime by Bob Buford, the study Identity and Destiny by Tom and Pam Wolf, and a book on the Holy Spirit titled Our Unfair Advantage by Dr. Jim Harris. More recently, I’ve been enjoying Lead Like It Matters to God by Rich Stearns. Again, each of these books has made a lasting impact on me. In fact, I often keep copies of them handy to give away!

 And if we are talking about impactful books, I can’t help but mention the trilogy that Martha and I wrote in 2020. iWork4Him, sheWorks4Him, and iRetire4Him. And I don’t say that just because we wrote part of them… we also collaborated with over 50 other leaders in the Faith and Work Movement to put together a series of resources that are genuinely applicable no matter what stage of life you are in! Each one was written in a casual, easy-to-understand voice with a focus on helping you to activate your faith in whatever part of life you’re in. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to check them out online at iWork4Him.com/bookstore!

 Finally, it’s easy to highlight all kinds of books, but I want to tell you about the GREATEST book; it’s one I’ve read repeatedly, year after year, and I never get sick of it. It’s a compilation of 66 books written by 43 authors over 1,500 years. It covers genres such as poetry, narrative, law, history, wisdom, and prophecy. It’s called the Bible. The Bible holds every answer to every question I’m looking to answer; either it’s written in the text directly or through the stories recounted within its pages. If you haven’t read through the Bible entirely in the last year, I recommend you do! Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and powerful…” and it is! Every time you read through it, God will reveal new things to you. I find that the New Living Translation, in chronological order, in a Life Application Version is the best for me. So, I invite you to read the Bible and really learn how God intends for us to live every day!

 There are so many incredible books out there that I can’t possibly mention them all here on the blog. However, Martha and I have our reading lists published on the website so that you can see some of our current picks and recommendations! And if you are looking for something more specific or aren’t sure where to start, email me at Jim@iWork4Him.com and I would be more than happy to give you a book recommendation! Enjoy your summer reading!

- Jim

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Take the Challenge

I get asked so many times in so many places, “How do I get started with turning my workplace into a workplace ministry?” The answer has five short steps, and I learned them from God directly as He taught and shaped my own heart and ministry.

 The first step is to start praying daily for the people you work alongside and do so by name. By praying for them by name every workday, you’ll begin to see supernatural change, mainly in your own heart. You’ll start to see your coworkers, employees, and bosses the way God does. You’ll gain His heart for them instead of your own (easily irritated one).

 The second step is to look for ways to serve your coworkers, employees, or bosses over and above what your job requires you to do. This speaks to your character, and let me tell you. It makes a BIG impact. When you serve others above what you’re required to do, it shows that you care. And more importantly, it shows that God cares.

 Step three is to look for ways to befriend those you work with. This involves getting to know them outside of the workplace. It’s one thing to have professional relationships, and it’s another thing to have relationships that span the time both in the office and outside of it. When you invite people into your personal life, it allows them to see who you really are. It also lets them see how your faith is interwoven into everything you do!

 Step four involves prayer again. When you pray for the people at work daily, you get used to what they look like and how they act daily. That means when someone comes into the workplace, and you notice that their demeanor is different than usual, you have the opportunity to ask them how they are REALLY doing. And mean it. And when they say fine, you can say this great line from The Italian Job, “F.I.N.E. So, freaked-out, insecure, neurotic, and emotional. How are you really doing?” And then listen. When you notice somebody just isn’t themselves and give them the opportunity to share why, it opens a big, wide-open door. The fourth step is looking for ways to pray with people when you notice they’re having a rough day. After they’re done sharing say, “Can I pray with you about that?” I’ve never had anybody tell me no. When people are hurting, they are very open to prayer.

 Finally, the last step is really all of the steps. Step five is to, above all else, do everything you do with excellence in your work. Be the best and brightest employee in your position! If your work is anything less than excellent, what does that say about God? How are you reflecting the work that He is done in your life? Excellence is a fruit of Christ-like character.

 I want to challenge you to put these five steps into action this summer! I promise if you do, you’ll see God do amazing work in your workplace and in you! To take the challenge, check out the iWork4Him Nation Covenant – a written commitment to yourself to do these five steps and engage in your workplace ministry.

- Jim

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!