Seeing Our Work As Holy Ground

When we reflect on our Christian faith, our minds often jump to Sunday mornings, quiet times, mid-week small groups, or a quick prayer before meals. However, God cares deeply about all of our life—including the 40 to 60 hours a week we spend at our job.

God is actively renewing and redeeming all of creation to Himself through the work of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. That means the gospel story directly impacts the Christian life and how we show up in the specific places God calls us, including our work. There isn’t a single, explicit verse on how to be a Christian graphic designer, accountant, personal trainer, or business owner, but throughout Scripture we see God using ordinary people and places to speak, transform, and further His mission. Every vocation is an invitation into God’s broader mission of restoring creation to what it was intended to be.

Lesslie Newbigin puts it this way: “The Church exists in its prime reality from Monday to Saturday, in all its members, dispersed throughout the fields and homes and offices and factories, bearing the royal priesthood of Christ into every corner of His world. On the Lord’s day it is withdrawn into itself to renew its being in the Lord himself.” We are the church scattered each week, vessels of salt and light in our everyday lives.

At our kick off event for the 2026-27  Lunch + Learn series, we sat down with Sarah Arata, an account executive at Smurfit Westrock, and Nate Adams, a local barber, to discuss how what they believe about God shapes the way they see their work. Here’s what we learned from the wisdom of Sarah and Nate.

Understanding the “Sacred Ordinary”

So what is holy ground? Many of us might grow up with the impression that holiness is distant, strict, or confined to church walls. We often wrestle with the barrier of busyness, constant digital distractions, or getting our identities so wrapped up in our careers that we miss God meeting us in our daily tasks.

Yet, if God is with us and has made his dwelling in us, our workplace—no matter how ordinary or mundane—is holy ground.

• Beyond the Water Cooler: God is present when we share our faith with a coworker, but He is equally present in routine tasks. As Jonathan reminded attendees, “God is not just there when you’re evangelizing at the water cooler. He’s there when you’re staring at a spreadsheet, when you’re on a call with a client, and when you’re writing a business proposal.”
• Affirming Dignity: Viewing our work as holy transforms how we view every person we encounter. Reflecting on the relational nature of daily labor, Nate noted, “If you actually believe you are salt and light, then you know every dish is enhanced by salt… You don’t give dignity, you affirm it.” Whether you interact with nine clients a day or manage a massive team, every person you encounter is an image-bearer of God who deserves patience and grace.
• Competency as Ministry: Serving God at work is not an excuse for poor performance. Excellence and vocational competence are our first line of ministry; doing quality work honors God and serves our neighbors well. Providing quality service opens the door for genuine care. In doing her job with excellence, Sarah explains how she has the opportunity to serve her clients: “Let me take these worries away… We’ve got it. We’ll design [the project]. We’ll produce it. It’s going to be taken care of, and you don’t have to worry about that on your plate anymore.” 

Practices to Awaken to God’s Presence

Shifting our view of work requires intentionality and small daily rhythms. Here are some suggestions from Nate and Sarah for practicing the presence of God in the everyday.

• Pray Over Your Schedule: Start the day by reviewing your calendar and praying over every appointment, meeting, or task, while remaining flexible for unexpected interruptions. Sarah shared her personal practice: “Every morning I will look at my calendar and pray over every single one of those appointments… Praying over that helps me get centered and be aware of Him.”
• Threshold Prayers & Pauses: Take intentional pauses throughout the day whether stepping into a room, sitting at your desk, or during a short commute. Using quick moments or 10-minute breaks to reflect or pray helps ground your mind in God’s presence amidst a demanding environment. Nate suggests trying journaling, sketching, practicing brief silence or listening to a guided prayer podcast. Another suggestion is to use small physical cues like pausing at the door of a co-worker’s office or putting a hand on each chair of your employees, to remind yourself who you’re about to serve.
• Distinguish Busyness from Hurry: Having a full task list is normal, but a spirit of hurry prevents us from hearing God. As Sarah observed, “The busyness is fine; it’s the hurriedness behind it that’s the heart issue, because when you’re hurrying through stuff, you’re not open to hearing anything that God’s saying.”
• Rethink Success: True success in the Kingdom of God isn’t measured solely by monetary gain, ego, or the approval of a supervisor. It is measured by how faithfully you love people, steward your time, and cultivate peace. Sarah reflected on this mindset shift: “I’ve realized that true success is loving people… If I am loving my customers well by providing solutions, if I’m working with my co-workers well in a way that’s honoring to God, then that’s success.” Success also means affirming the inherent dignity of your clients, empathizing with them, and listening to them. As Nate described: “When [the client] has something they’re wrestling with and you know that pain; you don’t answer it away, but you’re kind and tender… that’s when Christ shows up.”

Ultimately, recognizing our workplace as holy ground is not about adding more religious obligations to an already packed schedule; it is about receiving the grace of God’s presence right where we are. When we quiet the internal hurry, perform our daily tasks with excellence, and see our coworkers and clients as image-bearers of God, the ordinary routine of a workday becomes a space of divine encounter. As you step into your work this week, remember that God is already at work in your office, shop, or studio—inviting you to join Him in bringing peace and hope to those around you.

What would it look like for you to see your workplace as holy ground this week?

Join Us for Our Next Lunch + Learn!

We’d love to see you next time! Join Faith Co-Op for our next Lunch + Learn gathering on October 20th as we explore the theme: “Praying Without Words.” We will dive into what it looks like to turn your attention to God during meetings, decision-making, and daily planning—learning to view your everyday labor as a continuous prayer to God.

• Date and time: October 20, 2026, 11:30AM – 1:00PM
• Topic: Praying Without Words
• Speakers: Lakweshia Ewing, Nick Pacurari, & Tim Hewitt
• Location: Young Life office, 757 E MLK Blvd

Save your seat; register here!

A Prayer for Becoming More Aware of God’s Presence at Work

Cameron Presson, written for Nashville Institute for Faith + Work

Good and gracious God,

As I prepare to walk into this work day, lead me into Your presence and unfailing love. You who are Immanuel, God with us, have promised to be with me always. 

As the Psalmist asks, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” (Ps. 139:7). You, O God, are the One in whom my soul finds refuge.

On this day, filled with its own to-do lists and tasks that require my efforts and attention, grant me the grace of sensing your nearness. You desire to dwell with me all the days of my life.  

Open my soul to become more aware of Your presence throughout the day, and help me trust that You are with me, even when I struggle to feel so.

Teach me to see this day not as an obstacle in the way of experiencing intimacy with You, but rather as holy ground that You will stand with me on.

Help me see this day as another opportunity to commune with You. Slow my spirit to walk in step with You.

Amen.

Other resources

Pray as You Go Podcast – Daily guided prayers to be reminded of the Lord’s presence in your everyday routine.

Lectio 365 App – Morning, midday, and evening guided prayers to reorient to the Lord throughout the day.