Your Desk, God's Altar Author Diane Draeger Encourages Christians to Take Their Faith to Work When Noah stepped off the ark, he immediately built an altar to thank God for safe passage during the Flood. Throughout history, altars have served as tangible reminders of God’s presence, as reassurances of God’s care for His people. Today, when Christians think of altars, they usually envision the place at the front of the church where they bring offerings, prayers, and thanks. But altars shouldn’t be limited to churches, says Diane Draeger, founder of Faith2Work, a ministry for working women. In her new book, Your Desk, God’s Altar (Pleasant Word, 2006), Draeger asserts that a person’s work station can and should function as holy ground—as an altar where one meets with God on a daily basis. Just as the altar is the focal point of many churches, a work area is the focal point of many people’s jobs. “How you approach your desk can make all the difference in your experience at work,” she writes. Time Stewardship Creating an altar out of your workspace involves much more than having a tidy desk, however. It includes conducting yourself appropriately at work, which begins with arriving at work on time. “Time is a gift from God; we should be good stewards of the time we have,” explains Draeger. Stewarding time wisely includes: Giving your employer an honest day’s work rather than checking personal e-mails, trolling the Internet, or shopping online when you’re supposed to be working. Avoiding overscheduling yourself to prove how much you can accomplish. Using your break time appropriately. Rather than reading trashy romance novels, Draeger suggests reading something “more substantial that might encourage conversation.” Draeger discovered that her hobby of knitting is a great conversation starter. “I knit baby blankets for a pregnancy center during my breaks. People always ask me who the blankets are for. When I tell them, it leads into interesting conversations.” First Fruits In Proverbs 3:9, God asks those who love Him to bring Him their best—their first fruits. Draeger points out that working moms can offer God their first fruits every morning as they begin their work day. “Try to visualize your desk as not just a metal or wood object, but as a spiritual realm,” Draeger advises. “At the beginning of your work day, put your hands on your desk and silently pray, ‘Lord, let whatever goes over this desk today be from you.’” Praying over your desk won’t eliminate the stress from your day, cautions Draeger, but it puts the day into a different perspective. “Committing your workday to God keeps you a little more humble; it helps you view yourself as part of the bigger picture rather than thinking, ‘it’s all about me.’” You can continue to give God your first fruits throughout the day by showing genuine interest in co-workers, being receptive when people approach, and avoiding water cooler gossip that undermines others and undermines your credibility as a Christian. God’s Armor Arming yourself for spiritual warfare is also imperative, says Draeger, especially when company policies prohibit you from discussing your faith at work. You may need to find subtle ways to remind yourself of God’s presence. Draeger suggests the following: Tuck a favorite Bible verse under your desk blotter. Launch a screen saver that reminds you of your relationship with the Lord. Use a daily calendar or mouse pad with passages from Scripture. Play Christian music softly if your employer allows it. “Ask God to bless your workplace, whether it’s a factory floor or a high-rise office,” recommends Draeger. Your workplace, even it it’s a difficult or unpleasant one, may be your place of ministry. “You attitude, your behavior, and your outlook may be the only Gospel your co-workers see or hear.” ### For more about Diane Draeger’s ministry for working women, visit www.faith2work.org. Writer’s Bio: Laura Christianson (www.laurachristianson.com) is a freelance writer from Snohomish, Washington. > back