Worship Songs and Hymns for the Overlap of Work, Worship and Service

Have you ever watched an exciting movie scene with the sound muted? Without the music, something essential is missing. Music adds emotional weight, brings meaning to the moment, and helps us feel the story more deeply.

In much the same way, God has given us music to stir our souls and inspire us to live with devotion, even in the ordinary work of our everyday lives. Yet it can be hard to find songs or hymns that speak directly to the enterprises we steward and the work we do within them.

A few years ago, in a previous M3 Weekly article, we shared several hymns and songs that affirm the sacredness of work and promote a biblical view of enterprise and stewardship. This week, we return to that theme and introduce three more songs—each from a different tradition or style, but all expressing biblical truths about our work.

We encourage you to take a few minutes this week to listen to one or more of these songs. Let them become part of the spiritual soundtrack that plays in your soul as you walk in the calling to which God has called you.

Day by Day

By The Porter’s Gate (Work Songs project)

This modern hymn is gentle and reflective, celebrating the value and beauty of everyday work done in fellowship with the Lord. Each verse highlights how different vocations can enable us to participate in God’s work of redemption and restoration. For instance:

Server, you remind us of our Savior’s bowl and towel
Teacher, you are raising up a child to be kind
Lawyer, give us hope that justice one day will surround us

The chorus becomes a simple prayer:

May God’s kingdom come
On earth, His will be done
Lord, be close to us
Lord, have mercy on us
Lord, please put Your hand on us
Day by day

Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go

By Charles Wesley

This classic, traditional hymn is a prayer of dedication, offering our daily work to God’s glory. Wesley weaves deep theology into each stanza, reminding us that all labor can be a context for worship.

The second stanza beautifully exalts God’s wisdom and commits us to devote ourselves to realizing his presence in all we do:

The task your wisdom has assigned,
O let me cheerfully fulfill;
in all my works your presence find,
and prove your good and perfect will.

We Seek Your Kingdom

Commissioned by the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity and Thy Kingdom Come.

This newer hymn, set to the tune of “Abide With Me,” proclaims Christ’s lordship over every sphere of life and asks God to use our everyday lives in his transformation and redemption of the world.

Lyrics include:

Before all things, in Him were all things made
Inspiring culture, media, and trade
May all our work serve Your economy
Transform, revive, and heal society

If you are interested in more hymns related to a Christian view of our work, check out the list of over 100 Hymns About Work created by The Theology of Work Project.

Verse of the Week:

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Psalm 128:1-2 (ESV)

This Psalm, a “Song of Ascents,” provides a wonderful scriptural example of songs of worship addressing the “labor of your hands.” May God fill our hearts and minds with songs and hymns of praise in our labor this week.