Seasons of Life/Vocations Prayer - 9 January 2022

 

LORD God, you told your people, “Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the LORD in all your dwelling places” (Leviticus 23:3). Your directive not only tells us how important sacred rest is, but it also points out how valuable our vocations are; that we have callings, jobs, and careers that are good and worth investing into during the vast majority of our week. Thank you for acknowledging our work, and O Lord, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, you worked six days, making, creating, and calling all things into order. We ask your help, direction and focus in our jobs. Honestly, Father, work can grind down our hearts; bosses can grate against us making Monday a sheer drudgery; customers and clients can almost make us pull our hair out with frustration. Therefore, help us to recapture and be recaptured by Paul’s valuable reminder, “whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3.17).  O Lord, hear our prayer.

We ask you, Lord, to be with those whose calling is to be home, to raise kids, or to care for the homebound. Bless their hands and hearts. As they labor to maintain orderliness in the home; as they give their children safe places to grow up, learn, play, and develop as godly people; as they attend to their aging loved ones, some requiring more help than others; may they all know your pleasure, be filled with your presence, flourish in your provision, and see you profit their important work. O Lord, hear our prayer.

We also ask you to be with those whose occupation, for the present, is to study; whether it’s furthering their education; learning a trade; or preparing for Christian ministry. Thank you for the opportunities we have to learn and grow in learning. May our students gain the proper focus for their studies; retain what they’re learning; fathom the concepts and principles; and be able to effectively put them to good use. And may they come to rejoice in the gift of a good education, rather than grouse or grumble. O Lord, hear our prayer.

Our Father, we pray for those of our folks who have moved into retirement. May their expertise and experiences not become lost to the younger. May their increasing health issues and limitations, as well as their waning energy and capacities not leave them irritable and short-tempered. Instead, may they still invest themselves in the lives and growth of men and women, sisters and brothers who are learning their way and maturing, especially inside the household of God.  O Lord, hear our prayer.

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