Posts Tagged ‘economy’

 

Gratitude for Work

Posted on: March 5th, 2017 by Alden

First-Day-on-JobThis is a simple prayer of gratitude for having a job. It can be easy to take for granted at times, especially with a challenging job or a difficult boss. This prayer appears in the Labor Day section of This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day, along with a social justice prayer “Against Worker Exploitation.” Optional language appears in [brackets].

Gratitude for Work
God on high,
I’m grateful for the opportunity to work,
To contribute,
To provide for my well-being
[And the well-being of my family].
Let me use this gift for good,
In service to others
And Your holy name.

Remember the poor and the homeless,
The needy and the unemployed,
So that they find dignity and fulfillment
In the works of their hands
And the works of their minds.
Rescue them from the shadow of fear.
Bless all who are jobless with a livelihood
So that they know health and happiness,
Security and peace.

Source of goodness and life,
Grant me success and prosperity in all my endeavors.
Grant me the ongoing joy of fruitful labor.

© 2017 CCAR Press from This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers For a New Day

Postscript: See also the social justice prayers “Against Worker Exploitation” and “Against Poverty.”

Please check out my Meet the Author video and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” For notices of new prayers, please subscribe. You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo Source: Career Rocketeer

On Starting a New Job

Posted on: March 1st, 2015 by Alden

First-Day-on-JobHere’s a prayer of thanks for beginning a new job. It is one of several prayers about employment and unemployment, including: “Upon Losing Employment,” “Upon Gaining Employment” and “On Professional Achievement.” Optional text is shown with [brackets] and word choices are separated with slashes (“/”). Parnasa is the Hebrew word for livelihood; it encompasses more than just a job, including the ability to provide a full life.

On Starting a New Job
G-d of sustenance,
Thank you for the gift of this job,
This opportunity for parnasa,
This opportunity be a productive
Contributor to the economy
[And renewed financial well-being].
May this new job be a source of blessings
For me [and my family].
Let this be the springboard to
[Professional / career / entrepreneurial / managerial] success.

Bless those still in need of employment.
Grant them income and livelihood
So that none suffer the lack of financial resources,
So that they know health and happiness,
Security and peace.

Source of goodness and life,
Grant me success on this new path
And prosperity in all my endeavors.
May this be an opportunity to learn and to grow,
In the joy of fruitful labor.

Blessed are You,
G-d of bounty and grace,
Who has seen me through my hour of need
And brought me the gift of work.

© 2015 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: Here’s a related social justice prayer “Against Worker Exploitation.”

Please check out my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer,” and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo Source: Career Rocketeer

 

Upon Gaining Employment

Posted on: June 28th, 2012 by tobendlight

On the Job for VictoryIn the next few days I will sign a contract to work for an Israeli health information technology company. I started work two weeks ago. For those who don’t know, the work week here in Israel is Sunday to Thursday. I’ll be commuting to Tel Aviv about two days each week and working from my apartment in Jerusalem the other days. And there will be some travel to the U.S. I am grateful for this opportunity.

Upon Gaining Employment
G-d on high,
With gratitude I begin a new job,
A new opportunity to contribute,
A new chance to provide for my well-being
And the well-being of my family.
Let me use this gift for good
In service to others
And Your Holy Name.

Remember the poor and the homeless,
The needy and the unemployed,
So that they find dignity and fulfillment
In the works of their hands
And the works of their minds.
For I once stood in the shadow of fear and loss
When my employment ended.
Bless all who are jobless with a livelihood
So that they know health and happiness,
Security and peace.

Source of goodness and life,
Grant me success on this new path
And prosperity in all my endeavors.
May this be an opportunity to learn and to grow,
In the joy of fruitful labor.

Blessed are You,
G-d of bounty and grace,
Who has seen me through my hour of need
And brought me the gift of work.

© 2012 Alden Solovy and www.tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: Here’s a prayer to be said “Upon Losing Employment” and a prayer “For Work.” See also: “Against Worker Exploitation,” it’s one of my prayers for social justice.

For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” For notices of new prayers, please subscribe. You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter. If you like this prayer, please post a link to Facebook, your blog or mention it in a tweet.

Photo Source: WikiMedia Commons

For Work

Posted on: August 22nd, 2011 by tobendlight

Here’s a prayer for those seeking employment. Choices for the reader are shown in [brackets]. To listen along, click on the triangle in the bar below. The text follows.

 

For Work
G-d of the laborer and the professional,
Of the craftsman and the entrepreneur,
Of the clerk and the executive,
Bless us with skill and wisdom
So that we may find employment
And financial security.
Give us energy and fortitude,
Courage and hope,
As the economy [struggles to revive][slows][remains uncertain].
Help us to discover hidden talents
And new strengths that are valued by employers.

As I begin another [day][week][month][year]
Of unemployment,
Help me to remember all of Your gifts,
So that I can envision a prosperous future.
May I find work that provides meaning and sustenance.
May opportunities become plentiful for all.

Blessed are You,
G-d of bounty and grace.

© 2011 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: Here’s a prayer to be said “Upon Losing Employment” and one to be said “Upon Gaining Employment.” This is a prayer “Against Worker Exploitation.” Here’s a link to an annotated list of prayers for social justice.

Please check out my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer,” and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo Source: Deccan Chronicle

Upon Losing Employment

Posted on: February 17th, 2011 by tobendlight

This prayer is to be said when losing a job. Adapt it using choices in [brackets]. To listen along, click on the triangle below. The text follows.

Upon Losing Employment
G-d on high,
I stand in the shadow of fear and loss
As my employment comes to an end.
I have no way to see or to know
How my livelihood will be restored
Or my financial obligations fulfilled.
Grant me determination through these difficult times.
Grant me strength and courage to use this moment
As an opportunity to examine my life, my goals and my needs.
Help me find a way to meet my commitments to my
[Family][children][parents][friends][and][community].

Source of goodness and life,
Watch over me in this challenge.
Protect me from bitterness and resentment.
Open my heart to understanding and forgiveness.
Grant me the patience and energy to persevere.

Blessed are You,
G-d of bounty and grace,
Who provides sustenance of body and spirit
In the hour of need.

© 2010 Alden Solovy and www.tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: Here’s a prayer “For Work,” one said “Upon Gaining Employment” and more about emotions that may come with a job loss: “Doubt,” “Shame,” “Fear” and “Anger.” This is a prayer “Against Worker Exploitation,” one of my prayers for social justice.

For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” For notices of new prayers, please subscribe. Connect with To Bend Light on Facebook and on Twitter.

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