From Rest to a Renewed Mind: How God’s Word Shapes Our Work
Devotional week 3
"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." — Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
As the year gathers pace, with full diaries, constant decisions, and mounting pressure, we are invited to something that feels simple, yet deeply formative: to pause before God. This pause is not about stepping away from our work. It is about making sure our work is not shaped only by urgency, pressure, or other people’s expectations. Intentional stillness sustains our daily calling and gives direction to the choices we make each day.
Rest creates space to listen to God and to realign our thinking. In the ongoing flow of tasks, meetings, deadlines, and responsibilities, it is easy to begin reacting on autopilot. Over time, we may find that our decisions are driven more by pressure than by wisdom. When that happens, the misalignment begins within, even when everything appears functional on the outside.
This is where the Word of God becomes central. In Joshua 1:8, the Lord calls His people to meditate on His Word day and night — not as a ritual, but as a way of living with discernment and integrity. The promise is not rooted in human effort alone, but in a mind continually exposed to and shaped by God’s truth. Rest is not the absence of responsibility; it is the space where God reshapes our thinking before we act.
Paul echoes this truth in Romans 12:2, calling us to the renewal of the mind. Transformation does not come merely through better schedules or faster decisions, but through the reforming of our inner criteria. A renewed mind changes how we respond to pressure, handle conflict, engage with difficult people, and make ethical choices at work — even when the context itself remains challenging.
As we step fully into the year ahead, the invitation is not simply to work harder or more efficiently, but to work from a renewed interior. Rest before God prepares us for wiser decisions, more faithful responses, and a presence that reflects the gospel in the places where we live, work, and serve.
Challenge
This week, set aside a brief but intentional moment of pause with Scripture. Read Joshua 1:8 or Romans 12:2 slowly. Ask yourself: Which patterns of thinking are shaping my decisions at work? Bring that reflection consciously into your daily routine.
Prayer
Lord, in the midst of pressure and routine, slow our inner pace. Use Your Word to renew our minds, align our thinking, and guide our decisions. May our everyday work reflect who You are, even in demanding contexts. Amen.