Praising God for My New Job - Opportunity to Overcome Old Patterns

Wishing everyone a wonderful Sabbath!!

I just wanted to praise God and give Him thanks for this last week.  On Tuesday I started a new job.  I have not had a paid job outside the home since November 1996.  Our first son, Michael was born in January 1997, closely followed by Daniel in August 1998.  With the health challenges that Adrian & Daniel have had, life has been full enough for me staying home.  Now that Daniel is well settled in the Special School with transport provided by the school bus, we thought I might be able to get a part-time job during school hours instead of fund-raising each year for Daniel's therapy needs.

After 15 years out of my profession, I never thought I'd be able to get back into it.  But through a coincidence looking online, I found a position locally, applied, got the job and here I am back working as a Physiotherapist, although with a difference - as an Injury Management Consultant.  It does not require me to be up-to-date with my clinical skills (although I will be doing some assessments/programs in the aged care arena), as most of my work will be in managing return-to-work programs for injured workers.  It will be a bit of learning curve for the rehab consultancy & insurance work, but the learning comes with the job.  

My branch manager is a Christian, openly talks about his faith, and is understanding of my position on the Sabbath. He has created an atmosphere of blessing - encouraging his staff; creating a happy, positive & fun team to work with.  He tells me that the owner of the whole business has created that staff culture in the entire organisation, and is really generous to reward his staff with bonuses.  It's almost like they are operating via a "channel of blessing" structure!  God has given me a job in a pretty neat company!  

I am really pleased we live in a rural city - no traffic jams and only a 5 minute car trip to get to work.  There is plenty of flexibility - I can work from home if I need to (laptop & phone supplied) - so long as the work gets done, and the outcomes are achieved.  That may be necessary sometimes due to Daniel's needs.  I am only starting with 3 days per week, and by the end of the year I should be working full-time.  That is such a blessing, as going straight into full-time work would be a bit of a shock to the system!

One very important thing I am thankful for:  My lovely husband has been taking over much of the care of Daniel, and doing lots of the duties in the home I usually do.  I have been blessed to come home to a cooked dinner each night.  He is so supportive.  It is wonderful when the one above you in the channel is pleased and encouraging you in your new adventure!  I am truly blessed.

Although this new job is going to help our family financially, I believe the biggest reason God has found this job for me is a spiritual one.  Firstly, I will be able to meet a lot more people in our community, pray for them and be a witness for our Lord; and secondly, for my own personal growth.  During all the working years previously, I was steeped in getting my value from achievement and performance.  This brings with it the fear of not being "good enough", which kills creativity.  It is an independent mind-set:  feeling that I had to find within myself the ability to do my work, not having learnt dependence on my Heavenly Father.  

So now I have the chance to overcome some more remnants of the "old man" and become a new creature in Christ Jesus.  I can now ask for the Spirit of God to dwell within me, to be the wisdom I lack, to be the efficiency I lack, to be the "lateral thinking"/"thinking outside the box" that I lack for my new job. I have a new opportunity to learn entire dependence on God as I work.  I can have His love for others, His compassion for those who are injured, His peace (rather than fear and turmoil) in my heart as I work, His confidence and His blessing that I may be a channel to bless others in the community.

Philippians 3:13 & 14: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:10: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Ephesians 4:22-24: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.