Blue Collar Prayers. (Part 2) by Brian Maunder

Blue Collar Prayers. (Part 2)

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.  

Prayers 1-5 are in the previous Blog.

6.

Father I thank you that you are big enough to take squarely the hard knocks of life. Like when people insult you and take you for granted, or want things from you that you know you cannot give. I pray Lord that today, I can be like you in this regard and if it gets difficult, help me face things squarely. May the struggles of life not negatively influence my heart, my actions, my drive or my passion, but may they spur me on to new levels of adoration of Your greatness.

Father, there are all sorts of people to deal with today, with all sorts of attitudes. Some may rub me up the wrong way. The work culture itself may seem a million miles away from your glory and appear to slam the door on your goodness. It all may seem a bit tough at times. However…Here in this factory, this is where I am and this is where You are, and this is where we all belong for now.  My workmates and me, we are all in it together and I’m so glad that by your example, you showed that it’s your intention to hang out with people like us.  Lord it’s your good intention for us to know the reality of your presence in the work environment. Raw humanity and truthfulness, jokes and friendly banter, does not scare you off or catch you by surprise. 

You’ve seen and heard it all before and you enjoy real people being themselves.  You understand the conflict that a human heart must sometimes endure as it deals with human limitations in real life work. You understand that this stress can overwhelm us at times. Lord, thankyou for loving us though it all. Fill us with understanding to realise that whereas human power has limitation, your power doesn’t. May we overcome in your name. Amen.  

7.

Father, thankyou that you are always with us, and that your presence permeates creation in every way.  Thankyou Lord, that you made me, dust as I am, to live to have my own identity; and you have surrendered your power enough for me to make my own choices and understand the power of these choices. Help me to remember that as I interact with others… that we are all created by you.  May even those people who turn away from you, remind me about how great you are. You allow us all free will and the opportunity to choose, and have made yourself vulnerable to be rejected and hurt by us. It is amazing that you care and respect us so much Lord.

With this in mind Lord, I pray that you teach me to choose wisely in the decisions and actions I make today. I pray that my choices do not work against the natural order of things but work in line with your will. Amen        

How did a LifeFM sticker end up on this machine? I don't know.  

8.

Father I thankyou for the example of your son. I’m so glad that he is one of us, one who knows what it is to use his hands to earn a living. I’m so glad that he provided for his family by the sweat of his brow and through his job. His example showed that ordinary work and the jobs that need to be done go hand in hand with your plan for us, which is constant friendship, reliance and companionship with you in every day things. This is the good life, what it’s all about Lord. Those moments in our day when we are content with who we are and what we are doing because we love you and knowing that you are working in us and through us. Co-workers with you Lord, the divine carpenter. Knowing you are with us fills us with joy Lord. May we have many moments like these today Father, and may we use our job, as an anvil to shape our character into Your likeness.

9.

Lord, your faithfulness to us had created another beautiful sunrise and we thankyou Father that you have given us another day.  Lord, we acknowledge the poverty of our fallen nature that is so weak that even those seemingly good aspirations and intentions that we can perceive in our sin weary state, even these things seem way beyond us, beyond our abilities. Father, we need your help, your goodness and purity to permeate our lives and actions to make up for our shortcomings.  Help us Lord in our strivings and bless our work. Help us achieve your purposes in our lives. Amen.

10.

Lord, even though life can seem secure and I feel in control of things, for me to think that I am independent and in no need of you reveals the pitiful state of my human nature. Pride can so easily blind me to your reality. There’s no doubt that you created the universe and all in it, and to think that I am something when I’m not is just foolishness. My time here on earth in only a blink of an eye compared to your eternity, yet I am so thankful that you have let me experience this moment. Help me Lord to experience time here, not in pride, but in adoration of you. Father help me this day to be a person who follows the way of the rest of creation, not in rebellion of your laws, but operating within them. This is your good will Lord, as it is the way that works best. Empower me to do it today. Amen. 

Brian Maunder is the author-illustrator of the 

children's picture book Polly's Little Kite.

Website: brianmaunder.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PollysLittleKite

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/book/show/20862325-polly-s-little-kite

Review: www.goodbookreviews.org.uk