Congregational worship is a traditional component of the Sabbath. One fellow used to say he didn’t go to church because when he went, all he could do was think about work. He said it wasn’t right to go to church when he knew he’d be pre-occupied with thoughts from the office.
This guy might be an extreme example, but I think it is relatively common for career-driven people to find themselves thinking about work while they attend worship services. Knowing they should be focusing on God, such thought typically brings a certain amount of guilt to these mental wanderers. Congregants should be listening to the preacher, the thinking goes. Prayers and hymns should be offered with heavenly thoughts, not ideas for balancing the budget. The GEO Principle, however, can alleviate a measure of that guilt.
If you bring God to work, it becomes clear that it is acceptable to bring work to God. Congregational worship is a suitable time to offer up to God your work-related worries. Depending on the format of services or Mass where you attend, you may want to arrive early or stay a little after everyone else leaves to give yourself time to pray specially about your work situation.
Are you dealing with a spreadsheet problem in accounting? Offer it up to God. Describe it and outline the options for resolution. Concerned about market pressures, hiring conditions or real estate prices? Share your fears with the Almighty. Pray for discernment. God wants to help you, and that starts with you asking for his help. The GEO Principle acknowledges that God wants to assist you with professional concerns as much as he wants to help with any other concerns.
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