Brian Maunder : Blue Collar Prayers (Part 1) by Brian Maunder

Blue Collar Prayers. (Part 1)

I wrote these 10 prayers about 8 years ago whilst working in a sheet metal factory with a bunch or awesome guys making doorframes. I scribbled them onto little pieces of oil stained paper as the thoughts worked through my heart and mind. Peace.

Father, thankyou for the gift of another day. Thankyou for giving us another day to experience life. We pray that today, as we work, we remember that there will never be a day quite like this one; it is a one-off, unique experience. May we treasure it as that. Help us to remember your love towards us, and your presence that can empower us. Father, we know we aren’t perfect, we are human and have faults, but we pray that as we do our best, you’ll make up for the difference; you’ll pick up where we fall short and that today will run smoothly. We leave it in your hands. We know that even though we aren’t perfect, we aren’t just forgiven… there’s more to you than just forgiveness. Father, thankyou that you are our sufficiency. We pray that you protect us from injury in our work, be it physical, emotional, relational or spiritual. Give us wisdom and strength for the tasks ahead. Amen.

Lord, sometimes it feels like we’re banging our head against the wall. Even as we do the job well, we get a sore head from the experience. Father we pray today that we recognise that you are bigger than the walls we face, and that in comparison to your incredible universe, our problems are really quite small. However, to us, they are big, and we have to deal with them. Father, we pray that today we sense your presence in our lives as we work, and that we work in partnership with you. We know that not only are you powerful, but merciful, so as we tackle today’s workload, may we treat others, as you have treated us; with kindness and respect, knowing that your power will enable us to do it.

Father, thankyou for another day. We acknowledge that our lives are totally dependent on your goodness to us. The air we breathe, the food we eat, the ground we walk on; everything needed to live is provided by you. However, we also acknowledge that we need to work to make provision available to ourselves and others. Father, we pray that you continue to provide for us the things we need so that we can do our job safely and efficiently. We pray for wisdom and a quick mind to solve problems with creative intelligence. We pray for physical strength and endurance and a healthy body to resist and confront the physical stresses of the day. We pray for emotional and spiritual strength to enable us to feel secure and free in ourselves and our actions, knowing that your presence fills our universe, and your grace and power works in, through and with us as we devote our work to you.

We pray that we maintain our true identity within our work culture remembering that our workmates, although made of the same stuff as ourselves, may tackle similar battles in different ways. May communication lines be open, and hearts strong as we embrace today’s work. Amen.

Father, these early mornings sometimes seem to kill me. My body is still recovering from yesterday’s work and a sleep-in would be just excellent… but here we are again, pushing the grindstone. Lord, give me strength, starting from the inside. Give me strength of mind and will to know that whatever I face today, I am more than capable of fighting it, because you are with me. Thankyou Father that you are with me even now in my sleep weary state, and you are powerful and mighty. Your fresh energy sweeps across the sky every morning and from it reflects the beauty of your creative genius. Father, I pray that your presence fills my heart like that sky, and that fresh energy from you fills my being, and that your glory may reflect in my life. Lord it’s wonderful that I can call you Father. I love you Lord.

Father it’s hard to keep motivated at times. Here we are again, doing what we do, back here at the old familiar, pushing the plough, grinding the millstone. It’s hard to keep motivated at times, because sometimes it seems as if all this hard work is for someone else’s benefit. With all the bills recently, I don’t have much to show financially for all this sweat, and my financial goals seem to be unobtainable. All I do is continue on this seemingly circular pathway of events, trying to make ends meet. It’s wearing me down Lord.

I suppose that I could blame the way of my life on you, on myself, or on the systems of the world. I could get “shirty” with my workmates or my job…but it’s just the way things are. These events that make up my day to day existence are not at fault. However, if I am not careful, all these stresses could culminate into a deadly brew if I see them incorrectly. All these “cares” could poison my heart... towards life and you. Father I don’t want this. Help me see things from your perspective, not from a covetous, fearful, limited or human perspective. I must understand that all my needs will be met by you this day Lord.

Father I want to be pure before you, so that when I look into your sky, or see your creation, I know with fullness, who it belongs to and who I belong to. Father, keep my motivation high. May my work be a work of active devotion to you Lord, and not a way of passive acceptance for the way things are; not just a way to “pay the bills”. Help me Father to remember that you are indeed bigger than all my problems and that in your hands, I am actually living the best life there is. Amen.