Letting Our Work Bolster Our Spiritual Strength Despite Ourselves and Worldly Disturbance

Work can be source of spiritual strength when we perform our tasks with sincere intention, with proper attention and devotion. Let's try to bolster our spiritual strength with our work today. 

Of course, the way forward will likely be more struggle than a snap. Building a strong spiritual life takes both effort and courage.

If we engage in the struggle to build our spiritual life, we will grow closer to God. The mere fact that it can be, or usually is, a struggle tells us we have obstacles to overcome. A simple way to find these obstacles to to look at ourselves and at the world.

Our sins and failings always present stumbling blocks to even the most devoted and sincere Christian. That's just part and parcel of our fallen human nature. 

As for the world, how often it distracts us! We must learn to deal with these distractions. 

Imagine such distractions as a color palette held by - you know who. Yes, the devil is real. And he can try to emulate even the greatest artists in his ape-like fashion of imitation. 

Why a color palette? Because he can constantly mix colors and present distractions first one way then the next. If we succeed in avoiding the drone of daily news "headlines" (and we really should have this down pat by now!), he will simply take brush to palette and come up with a headline or two that seems like - this time - we really need to pay attention. 

Of course, sometimes we do need to take heed. The recent hurricanes in Florida - two in a row - demanded attention from those in harm's way. Perhaps even if we weren't in harms way, we could have prayed that they would not hit with such fury. 

But generally, "the news" won't be so important and urgent - just a distraction.

Take all the distractions you've anticipated and successfully fended off. The devil knows these as well. He's got his color palette ready. So if you're distracted in some surprising or disturbing way when you shouldn't be, don't get down on your self. Just pray for the grace to get un-distracted.

With that in mind, here are some verses from Psalm 39 that could oppose all these distractions. The Psalmist is not distracted. He is somehow oppressed, attacked. We see how he turns to God. We see his faith. We can, with God's grace, do the same whether we face distractions or something even more serious in our work day today. 

Here now, verses 11 - 15:

11 I have not hid thy justice within my heart: I have declared thy truth and thy salvation. I have not concealed thy mercy and thy truth from a great council. 12 Withhold not thou, O Lord, thy tender mercies from me: thy mercy and thy truth have always upheld me. 13 For evils without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I was not able to see. They are multiplied above the hairs of my head: and my heart hath forsaken me. 14 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me, look down, O Lord, to help me. 15 Let them be confounded and ashamed together, that seek after my soul to take it away. Let them be turned backward and be ashamed that desire evils to me.

Next time a few more helpful verses from Psalm 39...