Five Ways to Bring God Into Your Workplace
Have you ever wondered if God actually cares about your Monday morning inbox?
We can see God in church on a Sunday, or when we’re facing a big decision, but in the ordinary grind of work life, our perspective can shift. Between mundane meetings, deadlines and difficult colleagues, it can be a struggle to bring God into our workplaces.
Without realising it, we can begin to compartmentalise our lives, filtering God into only the “holy” or “sacred” parts of our week. But God wants to be involved in our 9–5, our weekly meetings, our exams, our school drop-offs and our lunch breaks.
Peter Irvine, former managing director of Gloria Jean’s Coffees, has spent decades building a global brand while keeping faith at the centre of his work. Here are five ways his experience can help you bring God into your own workplace.
1. Stop Treating Faith at Work Like a Time Slot
One of the most common mistakes is thinking faith belongs in a particular part of the day. Peter puts it plainly: “Our faith is seven days, 24 hours a day. It’s not just two hours on Sunday.”
For those of us used to switching into “work mode” the moment we clock on, this can be a challenging shift. Bringing God into your workplace starts with letting go of the idea that He is only relevant before nine and after five. Instead, every decision, conversation and deadline becomes part of the same faith we live out on a Sunday.
2. See Every Part of Life as Equal, Not Ranked
Many Christians default to the phrase “God first, family second, job third”, but Peter offers a different way of thinking about it: “I think it’s all equal and God plays the key role in all of that as a balance.”
Rather than treating each area of life as a competing priority, this approach sees God as present through all of it, in the boardroom just as much as at the dinner table. It is a small shift in perspective, but one that can change how we approach work each day.
3. Practice an “Attitude of Prayer”
Prayer at work does not have to mean closing your eyes at your desk. Peter described it as a lifestyle: “I’m not closing my eyes driving down the road or sitting at the desk. But Lord, this particular situation is not going the right direction. You’ve got to give me some wisdom in how I deal with this.”
He explained that answers to those prayers can come in unexpected moments. “I’m up in the shower when it comes. I can be in church and someone’s speaking. I could be watching television or listening to radio, which may not even be Christian.”
When we begin to pray about the ordinary situations we face, we can become more attentive to the ways God is at work in them too.
4. Hand Stress Back to God, Deliberately
Long hours and mounting pressure do not disappear simply because you are running a faith-shaped business. Peter was honest about this, saying he worked just as hard at Gloria Jean’s as he did earlier in his advertising career.
His response has been a conscious, repeated act of surrender. “Constantly handing over situations back to the Lord and say, look, here it is. I’m taking it over again and trying to run it myself, but here it is, I’m listening, let’s move forward.”
He also pointed to the importance of real rest, including encouraging staff to take proper holidays. Sometimes bringing God into your workplace also means knowing when to step away from it.
5. Let Confirmation, Not Just Feeling, Guide Big Decisions
When Peter faced the enormous decision to buy the global Gloria Jean’s brand, he did not act on a single impulse. Instead, he described a process of testing the idea over time, asking hard questions and watching for God to confirm the direction, even when the deal appeared to collapse.
For everyday decisions at work, this might look like slowing down, seeking wise counsel and looking for confirmation rather than chasing every new idea that feels exciting in the moment.
Remembering Everyday Faith
None of these five habits require a dramatic career change or a new job title. They simply invite God into the space you already occupy, whether that is a coffee shop counter, an office desk, a hospital room or a studio.
Bringing God into our workplaces often begins with small, consistent habits that shape the way we think, respond and make decisions. Over time, work becomes less separate from our faith and more like another place where we can walk closely with Jesus.
Article supplied with thanks to Vision – a non-profit, follower-funded Christian media ministry taking God’s Word to every corner of Australia and beyond through broadcast, online and print media.
Feature image: canva.com
