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The Word Before Work: A Monday-Through-Friday Devotional to Help You Find Eternal Purpose in Your Daily Work
A weekday devotional to help Christians connect the gospel to their vocation and appreciate the eternal significance of their work—no matter what it is—from the entrepreneur, thought leader, and bestselling author of Redeeming Your Time.
Perhaps you feel as if the work you do carries less eternal impact than the work of a pastor or missionary. But that’s not how God sees it. Whatever it looks like day to day, your work is ministry and central to God’s plans to restore fallen creation.
As the days of creation reveal, God is quite familiar with work himself. He created humans with unique giftings and interests, specifically so we can pursue his redemptive work in partnership with him.
The Word Before Work features 260 readings—one for every workday of the year—to help you see how your work connects to God’s work in the world. The first four weeks set the foundation by
• what work means in light of the biblical narrative
• why our work matters
• five ways these truths inform how we should work today
The rest of this devotional takes you on a journey through Scripture to explore God’s perspective on the work he has called you to do.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, barista, stay-at-home parent, CEO, or coach, The Word Before Work affirms how God created you for work, why it matters, and the ways it holds significance both now and for eternity.
Perhaps you feel as if the work you do carries less eternal impact than the work of a pastor or missionary. But that’s not how God sees it. Whatever it looks like day to day, your work is ministry and central to God’s plans to restore fallen creation.
As the days of creation reveal, God is quite familiar with work himself. He created humans with unique giftings and interests, specifically so we can pursue his redemptive work in partnership with him.
The Word Before Work features 260 readings—one for every workday of the year—to help you see how your work connects to God’s work in the world. The first four weeks set the foundation by
• what work means in light of the biblical narrative
• why our work matters
• five ways these truths inform how we should work today
The rest of this devotional takes you on a journey through Scripture to explore God’s perspective on the work he has called you to do.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, barista, stay-at-home parent, CEO, or coach, The Word Before Work affirms how God created you for work, why it matters, and the ways it holds significance both now and for eternity.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published November 15, 2022
79 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Raynor
20 books1,411 followersJordan Raynor is a leading voice of the faith and work movement. Through his bestselling books (The Creator in You, Redeeming Your Time, Master of One, and Called to Create), the Mere Christians podcast, and his weekly devotionals, Jordan has helped millions of Christians in every country on earth connect the gospel to their work.
In addition to his writing, Jordan serves as the Executive Chairman of Threshold 360, a venture-backed tech startup which Jordan previously ran as CEO following a string of successful ventures of his own.
Jordan has twice been selected as a Google Fellow and served in The White House under President George W. Bush. A sixth-generation Floridian, Jordan lives in Tampa with his wife and their three young daughters. The Raynors are proud members of The Church at Odessa.
In addition to his writing, Jordan serves as the Executive Chairman of Threshold 360, a venture-backed tech startup which Jordan previously ran as CEO following a string of successful ventures of his own.
Jordan has twice been selected as a Google Fellow and served in The White House under President George W. Bush. A sixth-generation Floridian, Jordan lives in Tampa with his wife and their three young daughters. The Raynors are proud members of The Church at Odessa.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 27, 2024
This devotional is a fantastic resource for Christians working in secular jobs. Its format is ideal for busy professionals, with concise Mon-Fri readings that are all under two pages. This year marked my second time through it, and it remains just as impactful and relevant. Highly recommended for daily inspiration!
December 11, 2022
Disclaimer: A huge thanks to Netgalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for my complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
This is a perfect addition to anyone's morning routine as it is a reminder to put God first and how our work also should bring glory to God. It was a gentle reminder that God cares for our jobs and he called us to live out our purpose at work. The Devotions are structured like the work week Monday-Friday and they are short that one cannot skip devotional time. I highly recommend it!
This is a perfect addition to anyone's morning routine as it is a reminder to put God first and how our work also should bring glory to God. It was a gentle reminder that God cares for our jobs and he called us to live out our purpose at work. The Devotions are structured like the work week Monday-Friday and they are short that one cannot skip devotional time. I highly recommend it!
November 8, 2022
I've been a fan of Jordan Raynor's for years now. I've read all his books and while I haven't read the entirety of this, his newest, I've read an excerpt and it is excellent! Straightforward, clear, encouraging and engaging; a good way to start (or end) your day whatever your "work". Raynor's passion to encourage his readers "to work as onto the Lord" shines through as always.
September 15, 2022
Work is very much a way of life. God ordained it thus making work a gift for mankind. Unfortunately, due to the entry of sin into the world, work has become corrupted in many dimensions, so much so that for some people, work is best described as some kind of a necessary evil. You hate it but you cannot live without it. In a stressful highly charged work environment, I have also heard working people tell me that their jobs suck. Yet, they needed the job to pay their mortgages, bills, and other essential expenses. The popular phrase, "Thank God it's Friday" describes how society views the notion of work. People look forward to the weekend as a way to escape the mundane toil of work. The question remains: Is work really a bad thing? What can we do to make work more bearable? Can work be more than mere survival? How can we redeem work? The simple answer from this book is this: Let the Word of God guide us before we commence each workday. Written like a devotional over a period of 52 work weeks, author Jordan Raynor gives us a daily reflection on Scripture followed by a short exhortation to help us embrace the day with faith and hope. The first four weeks comprise foundational material to anchor readers on the biblical narrative and purpose of work. Mondays and Thursdays contain reflections on Old Testament passages. Tuesdays and Fridays are reserved for New Testament passages. Wednesdays are filled with mid-point interjections with Wisdom Literature. The book is inspired by positive feedback from the author's popular weekly devotional "The Word Before Work." This book extends the project to cover a whole year's workweek. Each week contains devotionals from Monday to Friday. Weekends are excluded. The premise behind this book is to let our faith shine as we venture into the world of work. Not just one day per week but every day of a typical five-day workweek.
My Thoughts
==============
This is a great resource for helping us get a sense of God's purpose before starting the day. In a fast-paced busy society, it is tempting for people to just rush off without pondering upon why how to begin the day. People drink coffee as a habit. They eat breakfast as a routine. They take transit or drive their cars to work as a normal activity. Some Christians swear by a daily Quiet Time before they begin their day. Others do so at different times of the day, like lunchtime, break time, or even at the end of the day. Raynor does not insist that we must begin at the start of the day. In fact, the chapters are quite open for anyone to read at any time of the day. I like the way the book makes me pause to reflect upon the significance of work in the light of God's Word. The uninitiated should find this book a gift to help them in their devotional life. Older believers who already have a devotional routine like Bible reading or using some other classical devotionals can adopt this book as a supplement. Whatever it is, having this book is one thing. The discipline to use it is another. The way to benefit from this book is to actually take time to reflect on the content on a daily basis. Perhaps, after several weeks, we get a hang of the framework and would be ready to come up with our own creative devotionals.
What I appreciate about this devotional is how the author has prepared himself to reflect not just on individual passages but on the whole Bible. He had combed the whole Bible a few times prior to the writing of this book. Readers should feel more assured that Raynor has a pretty good idea of the biblical thrusts as he looks at individual passages. While he is not a biblical theologian, his efforts would make biblical scholars proud.
Our work matters to us. They also matter to God. I loved the way Raynor entitles the book, putting the Word first prior to any forms of work. It reminds us that a good start provides a helpful impetus for the rest of the day. Of course, some might say that the chapters are too brief to really create any impact. My answer would be to see this book as a conversation partner. That way, we let the questions guide our thoughts of God so that in prayer, we can get inspired for whatever work laid before us.
Bestselling author Jordan Raynor helps Christians respond to the radical, biblical truth that their work matters for eternity. He does this through his books (The Creator in You, Redeeming Your Time, Master of One, and Called to Create), podcast (Mere Christians), and weekly devotional (The Word Before Work)—content that has served millions of Christ-followers in every country on earth. In addition to his writing, Jordan serves as the executive chairman of Threshold 360, a venture-backed tech startup which he previously ran as CEO following a string of successful ventures of his own. Jordan has twice been selected as a Google Fellow and served in the White House under President George W. Bush. A sixth-generation Floridian, Jordan lives in Tampa with his wife and their three young daughters.
Rating: 4 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Waterbrook and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
My Thoughts
==============
This is a great resource for helping us get a sense of God's purpose before starting the day. In a fast-paced busy society, it is tempting for people to just rush off without pondering upon why how to begin the day. People drink coffee as a habit. They eat breakfast as a routine. They take transit or drive their cars to work as a normal activity. Some Christians swear by a daily Quiet Time before they begin their day. Others do so at different times of the day, like lunchtime, break time, or even at the end of the day. Raynor does not insist that we must begin at the start of the day. In fact, the chapters are quite open for anyone to read at any time of the day. I like the way the book makes me pause to reflect upon the significance of work in the light of God's Word. The uninitiated should find this book a gift to help them in their devotional life. Older believers who already have a devotional routine like Bible reading or using some other classical devotionals can adopt this book as a supplement. Whatever it is, having this book is one thing. The discipline to use it is another. The way to benefit from this book is to actually take time to reflect on the content on a daily basis. Perhaps, after several weeks, we get a hang of the framework and would be ready to come up with our own creative devotionals.
What I appreciate about this devotional is how the author has prepared himself to reflect not just on individual passages but on the whole Bible. He had combed the whole Bible a few times prior to the writing of this book. Readers should feel more assured that Raynor has a pretty good idea of the biblical thrusts as he looks at individual passages. While he is not a biblical theologian, his efforts would make biblical scholars proud.
Our work matters to us. They also matter to God. I loved the way Raynor entitles the book, putting the Word first prior to any forms of work. It reminds us that a good start provides a helpful impetus for the rest of the day. Of course, some might say that the chapters are too brief to really create any impact. My answer would be to see this book as a conversation partner. That way, we let the questions guide our thoughts of God so that in prayer, we can get inspired for whatever work laid before us.
Bestselling author Jordan Raynor helps Christians respond to the radical, biblical truth that their work matters for eternity. He does this through his books (The Creator in You, Redeeming Your Time, Master of One, and Called to Create), podcast (Mere Christians), and weekly devotional (The Word Before Work)—content that has served millions of Christ-followers in every country on earth. In addition to his writing, Jordan serves as the executive chairman of Threshold 360, a venture-backed tech startup which he previously ran as CEO following a string of successful ventures of his own. Jordan has twice been selected as a Google Fellow and served in the White House under President George W. Bush. A sixth-generation Floridian, Jordan lives in Tampa with his wife and their three young daughters.
Rating: 4 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Waterbrook and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
November 15, 2023
The latest book from best-selling author Jordan Raynor (Master of One, Called to Create, Redeeming Your Time), is a Monday through Friday devotional. The first four weeks of the devotional is dedicated to helping you build a foundational understanding of what God’s Word says about your work. The rest of this book will walk you through the whole of Scripture, focusing on the passages most relevant to your work, organized as follows: Mondays: Old Testament; Tuesdays: New Testament; Wednesdays: Wisdom Literature; Thursdays: Old Testament; Fridays: New Testament. The author also provides an additional website where he has included free resources to help you dive deeper into the topic of each day’s reading.
I enjoyed using the devotional throughout 2023, and recommend it to you. The readings are relatively short, so that you can read them prior to digging into your work each workday.
Here are 25 of my favorite quotes from the book:
1. Work isn’t a necessary evil or a meaningless means to an end. Work is dignified, meaningful, and good in and of itself.
2. Work existed prior to the Fall, and thus, work was designed to be worship.
3. Work isn’t hard because it is inherently evil. Work is hard because we still live in a fallen world.
4. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, plumber, or mother, your work matters because it is a means of glorifying God.
5. Care about those you work with beyond their productivity, and invest time to get to know the “whole persons” that surround you Monday through Friday.
6. When we do our work well, we have the great privilege of glorifying God and serving others through the ministry of excellence.
7. Rest is one of the most powerful ways we can preach the gospel to ourselves.
8. If you want your work to be worship—a means of serving God rather than yourself, a true calling on your life—then you must prioritize regular time in the Word.
9. You aren’t responsible for the fruit of your labor. God is. Your job is merely to steward your talents and opportunities faithfully.
10. God doesn’t necessarily call us to be the best in our fields, but he does call us to do our best with the talents and opportunities we have been given.
11. As your work gets busier, make it even more of a priority to spend time with the Lord each morning or evening.
12. To make the most of the time God has given us, we must get clear on the work we believe he has called us to do and develop the habit of saying no to opportunities—even really good ones—that distract us from our essential mission.
13. Work matters deeply to the Creator God, as he prizes both beauty and function.
14. Creativity is central to who God is and who we are as his image bearers.
15. How can you glorify God without words today? By creating an excellent product, loving your co-workers as yourself in every decision you make, and seeking to serve rather than be served.
16. Whatever your work is, do it with excellence and genuine love.
17. As Christians, we believe that the primary purpose of our work is to glorify God and serve others.
18. The Lord has called each of us to use our chosen vocations in intentional ways to win the respect of outsiders and make disciples of Jesus Christ.
19. When you do your work with integrity and justice, in accordance with the Lord’s commands, you bring him delight.
20. Do your work today knowing that every interaction, project, meeting, and moment is an opportunity to bring glory to God!
21. Your labor is nothing less than the hands and feet of God at work in the world. May that truth give you a sense of purpose, responsibility, and grace today!
22. God hasn’t called us to be the best at what we do. He has called us to do our best with what he has given us to steward
23. Believer, there is perfect, fully redeemed work awaiting you on the other side of the eternal thoroughfare. And there is also the Sabbath rest you and I are craving.
24. Work, which is currently marred by sin, will be perfect worship once again when the present heaven comes to the New Earth
25. Perseverance is the path to mastery, and mastery is the path to service, and service is the path to sustainable joy in our work.
I enjoyed using the devotional throughout 2023, and recommend it to you. The readings are relatively short, so that you can read them prior to digging into your work each workday.
Here are 25 of my favorite quotes from the book:
1. Work isn’t a necessary evil or a meaningless means to an end. Work is dignified, meaningful, and good in and of itself.
2. Work existed prior to the Fall, and thus, work was designed to be worship.
3. Work isn’t hard because it is inherently evil. Work is hard because we still live in a fallen world.
4. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, plumber, or mother, your work matters because it is a means of glorifying God.
5. Care about those you work with beyond their productivity, and invest time to get to know the “whole persons” that surround you Monday through Friday.
6. When we do our work well, we have the great privilege of glorifying God and serving others through the ministry of excellence.
7. Rest is one of the most powerful ways we can preach the gospel to ourselves.
8. If you want your work to be worship—a means of serving God rather than yourself, a true calling on your life—then you must prioritize regular time in the Word.
9. You aren’t responsible for the fruit of your labor. God is. Your job is merely to steward your talents and opportunities faithfully.
10. God doesn’t necessarily call us to be the best in our fields, but he does call us to do our best with the talents and opportunities we have been given.
11. As your work gets busier, make it even more of a priority to spend time with the Lord each morning or evening.
12. To make the most of the time God has given us, we must get clear on the work we believe he has called us to do and develop the habit of saying no to opportunities—even really good ones—that distract us from our essential mission.
13. Work matters deeply to the Creator God, as he prizes both beauty and function.
14. Creativity is central to who God is and who we are as his image bearers.
15. How can you glorify God without words today? By creating an excellent product, loving your co-workers as yourself in every decision you make, and seeking to serve rather than be served.
16. Whatever your work is, do it with excellence and genuine love.
17. As Christians, we believe that the primary purpose of our work is to glorify God and serve others.
18. The Lord has called each of us to use our chosen vocations in intentional ways to win the respect of outsiders and make disciples of Jesus Christ.
19. When you do your work with integrity and justice, in accordance with the Lord’s commands, you bring him delight.
20. Do your work today knowing that every interaction, project, meeting, and moment is an opportunity to bring glory to God!
21. Your labor is nothing less than the hands and feet of God at work in the world. May that truth give you a sense of purpose, responsibility, and grace today!
22. God hasn’t called us to be the best at what we do. He has called us to do our best with what he has given us to steward
23. Believer, there is perfect, fully redeemed work awaiting you on the other side of the eternal thoroughfare. And there is also the Sabbath rest you and I are craving.
24. Work, which is currently marred by sin, will be perfect worship once again when the present heaven comes to the New Earth
25. Perseverance is the path to mastery, and mastery is the path to service, and service is the path to sustainable joy in our work.
October 24, 2022
Read More Reviews Here
Easy, quick and still impactful. This is a great devotional to help those of us who are not in ministry and feel like we are not moving towards God's word know that is NOT how God sees it. If you feel as if the work you do carries less eternal impact than the work of a pastor or missionary, you are wrong. That's not how God sees it. Whatever it looks like day to day, your work is ministry and central to God's plans to restore fallen creation.
This was a great addition to my quiet time in the morning getting in the word of God and reminding myself that even though I am not in ministry my work is still important to the mission of God. Our work matters to us and it also matters to God.
Final Thoughts:
This would be a great gift for any person who wants to explore God’s perspective on the work He has called them to do. It is a great resource to getting into the word of God every morning with a biblical focus.
Disclaimer: Thank you Netgalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Easy, quick and still impactful. This is a great devotional to help those of us who are not in ministry and feel like we are not moving towards God's word know that is NOT how God sees it. If you feel as if the work you do carries less eternal impact than the work of a pastor or missionary, you are wrong. That's not how God sees it. Whatever it looks like day to day, your work is ministry and central to God's plans to restore fallen creation.
This was a great addition to my quiet time in the morning getting in the word of God and reminding myself that even though I am not in ministry my work is still important to the mission of God. Our work matters to us and it also matters to God.
Final Thoughts:
This would be a great gift for any person who wants to explore God’s perspective on the work He has called them to do. It is a great resource to getting into the word of God every morning with a biblical focus.
Disclaimer: Thank you Netgalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
November 11, 2022
I really love Jordan's emphasis on making our work count for Christ and eternity. The weekly emails of The Word Before Work are so motivating and inspirational, I've been enjoying them for years. I know I am in for a treat with this Monday-Friday devotional. On the practical side I love that fact that I can just pick up a book without the pressure of feeling like "I don't have time" to read. His impactful book, "Redeeming Your Time" really turned my life upside down in a good way and set me on a new path that has been life changing. I am expecting the same with this daily devotional. I can see myself carrying this book around in my backpack and using it as a tool to share Christ, as all of Jordan's work is scripture saturated. I can't wait to get my hands on this devotional to encourage myself and others in our daily work. I think every workspace and office should get a copy where everyone can read it. Thank you, Jordan, for writing this book, it is much needed in our hurried world. I think this will be my #1 stocking stuffer of all time!
January 9, 2023
I almost like the corresponding Word Before Work website more than the book haha! Raynor does a great job at reproducing the material there and making it easily accessible from wherever you are--whether you want a phone/tablet/computer-based version, or an actual book.
The devotional is on the lighter side, with a short couple of verses and longer devotional that will certainly prompt the reader to be thinking about God, their work, and everything in between. Right now I'm looking for something a bit meatier in my devotional time--but I can definitely appreciate this devo's place in quiet time. Written by someone not in full-time ministry, for those also not in full-time ministry--like me! Yay!
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The devotional is on the lighter side, with a short couple of verses and longer devotional that will certainly prompt the reader to be thinking about God, their work, and everything in between. Right now I'm looking for something a bit meatier in my devotional time--but I can definitely appreciate this devo's place in quiet time. Written by someone not in full-time ministry, for those also not in full-time ministry--like me! Yay!
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
November 19, 2022
I am a big fan of Jordan Raynor and absolutely love the Word Before Work so far! Starting my day with the Word Before Work has become an essential part of my morning routine. Jordan has an amazing way of connecting our work with the Word. It's incredible how, when delving into the daily devotional, I'll have a lightbulb moment or will move throughout my day with a certain ease. These devotionals are also super easy to digest, short, and just really well done. I highly recommend this for anyone who values their work and wants to start their day on the best possible foot!
November 9, 2022
Great format and content! I have read some excerpts from this book and it is the perfect layout and length for daily reading before beginning my workday. I look forward to adding this reading to my daily morning routine.
Jordan's insights into how scripture affirms and even expects work from us are refreshing and insightful. The perfect balance of exhortation and encouragement at the beginning of the day.
Jordan's insights into how scripture affirms and even expects work from us are refreshing and insightful. The perfect balance of exhortation and encouragement at the beginning of the day.
November 14, 2022
I've enjoyed the podcast and miss the daily experience when it changed to weekly instalments. This book puts a Kingdom perspective of work as worship back in my morning routine Monday through Friday. Each devotional feels on my level – not simplistic, not heady, but speaking to me with a depth of insight and wisdom that leads me to action. I'm grateful to have Jordan Raynor's Word Before Work to guide my work week once more.
November 19, 2022
I read my Bible, devotionals, pray and sit still to hear from God. I’m excited to add The Word Before Work to my weekday routine now. It’s only been a week since I got my book and already finding practical ways to think about faith and work that makes sense and aligns with the truth of God’s Word— setting the tone for my day each morning. I’m encouraged and more prepared for whatever comes my way. It’s a good resource to add to the entrepreneur’s toolkit.
Want to read
November 10, 2022While I’ve only read an excerpt of this book, I’ve greatly enjoyed and benefited from the emailed weekly devotionals of the same name. If you’re looking to follow Jesus in todays context, this devotional provides valuable insights and encouragement as we navigate the day-to-day challenges, thoughts and questions on how we can glorify and honour God in our walk.
December 11, 2022
Another great book by Jordan Raynor. This book is a great help for me to understand why I am working. It also encourages me to be excellent at everything I do since this is one of the ways in praising God. This is a great partner to get connected with God and His Words before starting my day. Thank you, Jordan Raynor, NetGalley, and WaterBrook for the opportunity to learn why we work.
February 17, 2023
My three star review isn't based on the book's content (I love Jordan's work), but on the fact it wasn't what I was expecting. This book is good for those who work corporate jobs or put a lot of worth in their careers in my opinion. I am someone who works to live, not live to work so I didn't really need a devotional encouraging me in my job.
August 16, 2024
Love Jordan Raynor and anything he writes! This was no exception. The concept is unique - a Mon-Fri devotional about work and our relationship with the Lord. Each say is biblical, practical, and soul-stirring. Great length as a supplement to daily Bible reading. And I appreciated the mix of OT, wisdom books, and NT.
November 8, 2022
While i have not read but an excerpt from the book, my conversations with Jordan and the materials i have read from his sharp and sound mind are worthy of anyone who is looking for wisdom on work and God's Word. Enjoy!
November 9, 2022
I'm so excited for this book to come out! I've been enjoying Jordan's weekly devotional newsletter for a long time now, and I'm eager for more great content!
November 10, 2023
wonderful devotional!
I loved reading this every day before I start work. Very practical and insightful! I am hoping there is a sequel.
I loved reading this every day before I start work. Very practical and insightful! I am hoping there is a sequel.
December 9, 2023
Good but after 6 months sounds the same each day. Need to break it up. Good content
November 13, 2023
It continues in the tradition of the weekly devotional that I’ve subscribed to and read faithfully for years. Jordan is a thoughtful, engaging writer whose words encourage the reader to dig a little deeper and wrestle with the ways our work , no matter our profession, can glorify God. I can’t wait to get my copy
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews