A Prayer for Work: A Prayer to End the Day

At the end of your workday, do you ever stop and pray? A prayer to end the day, release the stress, slow your pace so you can “be present” for life outside of the workplace — home and family and church and friendships.

At the end of the day, you may feel like you made absolutely no head way at all. The mountain of work you started with may have grown bigger and more complicated. Worse yet, you may have missed a deadline or miscalculated an estimate. You may be kicking yourself at a mishandling of a situation and the tension and friction in the workplace is out the roof.

But at some point, you have to close down your computer, shut the door on your office and walk away. Remember — it’s only one day in the scheme of 364 other days of the year. Do what you can to make things right before you end your workday, but then it’s time to let it go.

Take a moment and breathe… release this day into the hands of the One who offers rest. Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you and empower you to be able to approach the rest of your life with grace. (Psalm 55:22)

Here’s a prayer to end the day:

Father, I release this day into your hands. I thank you for the work accomplished and the victories of the day. I turn over to you my frustrations and I ask you to cover my shortcomings with your grace. Restore my soul as I shift my mind off work and turn my attention to the people and other moments in my life that matter.

I push off anxiety and depression so I can receive your rest and experience the joy you offer as I live my life for you. I cast off every weight that would try to keep me from pursuing your plan for my life and work. I fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith and all that concerns me.

Help me to be present in every way for the rest of this day and prepare and enable me for tomorrow and all that it brings. My life and my work are in your hands. In Jesus’ name, amen.