Daily Toil

Heavenly Father,

You have ordained humans to work.  It is good for a man to toil when he is young.  Yet unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.  So I ask you to go before me in all of my tasks of the day.  Empower me to do them in love so that you may be glorified.  Give me the endurance to persevere in joy to accomplish all I can today.  Do not let me yield to the temptations of sloth or minimal effort.  I labor as unto you.  But also make me mindful of others around me who need compassion and encouragement.  Make me a shining light amid the cold reality of the daily travails.  Be present in my mind and heart, keeping my thoughts on things above in each moment of respite.  Transform me into the man you have called me to be as much through my job as through holy time.

In the name of him, who does all he sees the father doing.  Amen.