Finding Holiness in Jesus

In the hustle and bustle of our daily work, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by stress, competition, and the temptation to compromise our values. As believers, we have a powerful resource in prayer, a direct line to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Today, I want to share a prayer that focuses on inviting God’s holiness into our workplaces and actively resisting the negative forces that can so easily creep in. Feel free to use this prayer as a guide, adapting it to your own specific needs and circumstances.

A Prayer for My Work

Dear Lord Jesus,

You are my Savior and King, the one with all authority. Your sacrifice on the cross and your resurrection have conquered sin and death. I come before you today, acknowledging your power and holiness.

Lord, I specifically lift up my work life to you. I ask that you would bind every force of darkness that seeks to distract me from my tasks, corrupt my integrity, or ultimately harm my well-being in this workplace. In Your mighty name, I claim the power of Your precious blood to protect my life, my body, my mind, my will, and the very environment in which I work.

I stand against every human sin, every worldly temptation that comes my way, every attack from the devil, and any unclean spirit that tries to operate through feelings of pride, anger, lust, fear, division, or even simple laziness. Your Word assures us:

“Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” — Matthew 18:18

I actively bind the sinful nature within me that constantly fights against Your Spirit (Galatians 5:17). I choose to remember that, as someone who belongs to Christ Jesus, this sinful nature has been crucified with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24).

Lord, the workplace can often be a breeding ground for challenges. The pressure to succeed, the competitive atmosphere, and the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) pressure to compromise my beliefs can be intense. In these moments, I especially ask for Your holiness to be my guard. I bind every sin that so easily hurt me – those habits and tendencies that trip me up time and time again (Hebrews 12:1). I pray for Your grace to run this race of work with endurance and with a pure heart.

Specifically, today, I bind:

• The temptation of pride in my accomplishments.
• The lust of the eyes that can lead to discontentment.
• The crippling fear of what others may think or do.
• Any tendency towards gossip, bitterness, or envy towards my colleagues.
• The spirit of procrastination and the pull of laziness.
• Any urge to compromise my integrity or engage in deception.

And in the place of these negative forces, Lord, I ask that you would release the beautiful fruits of Your Holy Spirit into my work environment: love for my colleagues and the work itself, joy in the tasks I undertake, a sense of peace amidst the pressures, patience when things are challenging, kindness in my interactions, genuine goodness in my actions, faithfulness to my responsibilities, gentleness in my demeanor, and self-control in all situations (Galatians 5:22–23).

Your Word gives us clear direction:

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” — James 4:7

Jesus, I consciously submit every moment of my workday to You. May my work be more than just a job; may it be a sacrifice of praise, something holy and pleasing in Your sight (Romans 12:1). Let me shine as a beacon of Your light in this world, right here in this office, in this very place where You have positioned me.

Surround me with Your spiritual armor each day, Lord: the belt of truth to keep me grounded, the breastplate of righteousness to protect my heart, the shoes of the gospel of peace to guide my steps, the shield of faith to ward off doubt, the helmet of salvation to guard my mind, and the sword of the Spirit, which is Your powerful Word (Ephesians 6:10–18).

I place my trust in You completely, Lord Jesus. I know you are fighting for me. Sanctify me through this work, and use me for Your glory.

In Your mighty name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Reflect and Apply:

Take a moment this week to reflect on this prayer. How can you actively invite God’s presence into your workplace? What specific negative forces do you need to bind in your situation? And how can you intentionally cultivate the fruits of the Spirit in your interactions and tasks?

May your work be a place where holiness flourishes and negativity is overcome through the power of Jesus Christ.