In these days of restrictions and isolation due to the Corona Virus, many of us are having to work from home. For some, this is not a new experience. For others, it is completely foreign. Working from home can bring great blessings, and provide new and creative opportunities to explore. It can save us travel time which we can now spend doing other activities with family or on our own. However, working from home can also bring some unwelcome battles into our home environment.

For some, they will be alone and unseen. For others, there will be more than one person working in the confines of a small house. For others, children will need to be cared for and occupied. And, as the Lord warned Cain, “Sin is crouching at the door.” We might just find the isolation and loneliness too much. We might find ourselves falling into sin– bad habits, or just ‘one-offs’ when our patience and persistence run out. It might be idleness, anger, lust or greed that gets the better of us. With all the time spent on computers and the internet, it would be easy to give in to temptation– whether that be addiction to the game of Solitaire pre-installed on your machine, or something more sinister. Others will struggle with ‘switching off’, working til late at night and never really leaving work.

…working from home can also bring some unwelcome battles into our home…

As we learn what this ‘new normal’ will bring, now is the time, early in these days to prepare and protect ourselves and our families from all that might creep into our homes and our lives that is not welcome or wise for our us. Now is the time to say, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

It will be good to establish good habits early in these days. Routines which include exercise, connecting with others, time in the Word and time in prayer. To help us all in these days, here is a simple resource for prayer and devotion through our ‘home-work week’ (our week of work at home). I pray it might help you begin and end each day of work in the knowledge of God’s all-sufficient grace and mercy. May it help and enable you to ‘switch on’ and ‘switch off’ at the appropriate times.

establish good habits early

• You can print it off and fold it into five if you like, and use it as a book mark. (Print double-sided, flip on short-edge)

May the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:10-11