Got
Five Minutes?
By Letitia Suk
“Take
five minutes to pray for your work each day and see what happens,” was the
challenge proposed by our pastor to the congregation years ago. I remember
thinking something like, “Duh!” Of course, I already pray at least five
minutes a day for my work...don’t I?
Surely all the praying-on-the-run I did each day for all the flying curveballs
added up to more than five minutes.
The
nudging continued so the next morning I grabbed a timer on the way to my prayer
chair, set it for five minutes and began to pray specifically for my work. Wow,
that timer took a long time to ding! Challenge accepted—I was ready to see what
would happen.
Like
many of us, my work is multi-faceted. So I decided to give a minute to each of
the five areas for my day-to-day projects. It seemed like one minute would be
easier that five. I know, wimpy, right?
The
first minute I gave to my coaching clients. They invested time with me to bring
focus and intentionality to their lives and I wanted to give them my best work.
My writing got the next minute. The current projects, the longed-for projects,
my skill and wisdom in putting words on a page. Good thing the timer rang
because it was easy to zone off into work mode instead of praying.
Speaking
ministry was next. Events already scheduled and those I wanted to schedule. For
my communication skills to grow and for lives to be changed. A lot for one
minute.
My
part-time chaplain work got minute #4. Patients, sensitivity, staff and overall
blessing for the hospitals.
The
last minute I saved for specific work stuff on that day’s agenda: marketing,
blogging, networking. This time the five minutes flew by.
He
was right—things happened! I felt more partnered with God in all aspects of my
work. Not just that I was working for
Him but with Him as I laid the
concerns out each day. I saw clearer productivity and greater results.
All
these years later, I still set my timer most days. My work depends on it.
Each
day holds 1440 minutes...hard to claim a legitimate excuse for not finding five
of them to invest in prayer over your work. You might be amazed at the return.
Letitia
(Tish) Suk, www.letitiasuk.com, invites women to create
an intentional life centered in Jesus. She blogs at hopeforthebest.org and
authored Getaway with God: The
Everywoman’s Guide to Personal Retreat) and Rhythms of
Renewal. She is a speaker, personal retreat guide, and life coach in the
Chicago area. Find Tish: https://www.facebook.com/Letitia.Suk.Author/
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