A couple of years ago, on Labor Day, I posted a few prayers I found in an old prayer book that seemed suitable for the day.
Here are three more rich prayers about our labor in the Lord.
O Lord, renew our spirits and draw our hearts to thyself, that our work may not be to us a burden but a delight; and give us such a mighty love to thee, who thyself didst work as a craftsman in wood, as may sweeten all our obedience.
O let us not serve thee in a spirit of bondage, as slaves, but with cheerfulness and willingness, cooperating with thee in thy work of creation; for the glory of thy holy name.
– Benjamin Jenks, author, Prayers and Offices of Devotion, for Families and Particular Persons Upon Most Occasions (1697)
O Almighty God and Heavenly Father, who by thy divine providence has appointed for each of us our work in life, and hast commanded us that we should not be slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving thee; help us always to remember that our work is thy appointment, and to do it heartily as unto thee.
Preserve us from slothfulness, and make us to live with loins girded and lamps burning, that whensoever our Lord may come, we may be found striving earnestly to finish the work that thou hast given us to do; through the same Jesus Christ our Saviour.
– English churchman Edward Meyrick Goulburn (1818–1897)
And one more (forwarded to me by an SMI member in 2023):
O Lord Jesus Christ, who at the carpenter’s bench didst manifest the dignity of honest labour, and dost give to each of us our tasks to perform:
Help us to do our daily work with readiness of mind and singleness of heart, not with eye-service as menpleasers, but as thy servants, labouring heartily as unto thee and not unto men, so that whatever we do, great or small, may be to the glory of thy holy name.
– Theologian John R.W. Stott (1921–2011)
Happy Labor Day from all of us at SMI!
