Worship at Work – A Song and a Prayer for Today

It isn’t only the act of gathering in a church building once every Sunday morning. Today it may take place at a workstation with three web pages open in the computer, in the warehouse amidst deliveries, in transporting kids to school, or in an over-running meeting. Work worship is usually not like being on a stage or surrounded by an expanding band; rather it is like a subtle change in focus, being aware of whom one is serving in the work process.

Many of today’s stresses arise from the idea that everything depends on one alone: the impending deadline, the troublesome co-worker, or the figures which have to balance out by the end of today. It is very possible to go through a busy work day bearing the weight of all this alone, without even stopping for a second to turn it over somewhere else. However, worship, even in its minimal and rough form, is actually nothing but a stoppage, a few seconds of realization that today one is not alone here anymore.

You do not have to wear headphones and listen to an entire set of worship music for it to be considered worship. Singing a verse while brewing coffee in the morning, listening to a hymn quietly during the commute, or repeating a line in your mind before tackling a difficult conversation—these are all valid forms of worship while working. The goal of workplace worship is not to drown yourself in loud music; instead, it is about being mindful.

If you want to choose a song that will accompany you throughout the day, then try the song “Way Maker” by Sinach. This song was written by Nigerian singer Sinach and was first released in 2015; from then on, it became one of the most popular worship songs of the previous decade, with covers of the song produced by other artists such as Leeland and Michael W. Smith and translations made in many languages. The lyrics are composed of simple phrases that repeat themselves – Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, Light in the Darkness –, and each of them focuses on identifying who God is rather than on trying to describe a feeling or a situation; this helps remember the phrases easily even when there are lots of activities going on. The chorus states that God is “working” even when you “don’t see it,” or when “it looks like” he is not moving.

A prayer for today

God who opens doors, thank You for being awake to my day. In the areas where I am stretched today, remind me that You are still at work, even when I don’t realize it. In the places where I am tempted to shoulder all of today’s load alone, remind me that it was never intended to fall on my shoulders alone. Give me the grace to do good work today with integrity, and to see Your handiwork in the everyday moments.