Ora et Labora: An Invitation To Live "All In"
Monastic Living & Being Fully Committed
Living an All-In Life for God's Glory
Can I teach you a little Latin? Repeat after me—“Ora et labora.” This centuries-old phrase, meaning "pray and work," is rooted in Christian tradition. In fact, it originated from Saint Benedict of Nursia (circa 480–547)1 as a guiding principle for monastic life.
I find this extremely interesting. ‘Pray and work’, a guiding principle- not just for monastic life, but the purposed life.
Honestly, monastic living is something that grabs my attention when I read or study it more. Not because I want to wear drab robes (does anyone else think of that when they think of monks?) In reality, I find it’s intriguing because it represents someone fully committed to something deeper and bigger than themselves.
It challenges me to think about a life fully dedicated to inviting God into every aspect. How am I practicing a life committed “to more” as a husband, parent, friend, pastor, employee, friend? It’s something we can all ask ourselves for our own context.
While I don’t feel called to the monastic lifestyle, I find the latin phrase of “ora et labora” incredibly powerful because it highlights the importance of dedicating one’s life fully to a cause. A life of purpose demands full investment—it requires us to go all in.
Paul speaks to this kind of commitment in Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." This verse and pursuit, calls us to invite Christ into every aspect of our lives—our work, our relationships, our ambitions—so that everything we do glorifies Him. We can pursue a committed life.
But in contrast to this, I find as a culture, we hesitate to fully commit. Things like fear of failure, uncertainty, and doubt hold us back.
“What if we make the wrong move? What if it costs too much?”
Yet, when we choose to go all in for God, we give ourselves over to the possibility that everything can change. Our work becomes more than a job; it becomes a mission. Our daily tasks transform into opportunities for worship. When we welcome God’s plan into our purpose, we step into a life that is marked by passion, dedication, and divine impact.
It is a life lived with a purpose driven mindset, to see “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Living “all in” for God is a commitment every Christian is invited to join.
When we live a life with intention something happens. A person who lives with this level of commitment stands out—it’s unmistakable. They pray before decisions. They seek God’s presence in every detail. They live with a sense of mission that is contagious.
It’s a lifestyle represented where one is in daily pursuit of the more. More of God, more awareness of his presence, more openness to his desire to move. It’s a life in search of doing ‘everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.’
The Power of an All-In Life
I’ve seen individuals, organizations, and ministries that have fully embraced this mindset, and the results are extraordinary.
When a ministry is all in, things just seem to work. The team members know they are part of something bigger than themselves. Things aren’t always perfect, but their is a common mission. They show up early, stay late, and serve with joy. Creativity flows, passion ignites, and lives are changed.
This isn’t new, we see this in the early church which embodied this all-in mentality:
"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." —Acts 2:42–47
These early believers were fully committed to God’s mission, and their lives bore undeniable fruit. The church grew because of their faithfulness. Because they were devoted to things of the kingdom, their number grew in people finding Christ as their savior.
Life Without An ALL IN Intentionality
On the other hand, when someone isn’t fully invested in bringing glory to God, it’s just as noticeable. They drift through life feeling uninspired, complacent, and restless. There’s a tension—a nagging sense that they were made for more, yet they remain stuck in the status quo.
I am not attempting to shame anyone. Over the years, I have encountered people who struggled with complacency. It overflows into everything. Without purpose, work becomes mundane, relationships feel transactional, and faith loses its vibrancy. A life without purpose is a life weighed down by dissatisfaction.
But when someone goes all in, you can feel it. It’s compelling. It’s inspiring. And it’s exactly what God calls us to. The “ora et labora” is an invitation to live a life of more. A life that we were designed to live.
Practicing "Ora et Labora" in Everyday Life
So, how do we live a life that is fully dedicated to God’s glory? The principle of ora et labora provides a guide:
Sanctify work – Prayer infuses work with meaning and makes it pleasing to God.
Transform time – Every moment becomes an opportunity to glorify Him.
Balance work and prayer – (edited as I didn’t like original wording) They should flow together.
Live out love – Faith is demonstrated through love in daily actions.
Be mindful of others – Prayer helps us stay aware of the needs around us.
Find rhythm in life – A well-ordered life reflects God’s design.
So today, I am committing to try. It doesn’t mean I will be perfect, nor will it mean that I am ultra successful. It just means I am setting my intentions on being faithful to a faithful savior.
I am challenging myself to integrate prayer into my work, to let God shape my tasks, and to live with purpose in every moment. I’ve witnessed firsthand how God can redeem the smallest task and bring light through my attitude and words. So here we go, I may not be a monk, but I can live a dedicated life. Simply put, I can practice ora et labora— a life of praying and working with a heart fully surrendered to God.
Scripture: Colossians 3:17
Prayer:
Father, I commit my work, my time, and my purpose to You. Help me to glorify You in all that I do. When I am hesitant, remind me of Your faithfulness. When I grow weary, renew my strength. May my life reflect a heart that is fully surrendered to Your plan. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Video: A worship song I am really enjoying right now-
Dominicus Scribe. Rule of Saint Benedict. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021667984/>.
Adam, I really appreciate your post here. I have been reading a book by Pete Greig called “How to Pray,” and even teaching the Prayer Course he created to my youth group students. He uses some examples from the early fathers and mothers of faith (and monasticism). I think I will include what I learned from you here about Ora et labora in their lesson this week! Another book I wanted to recommend that shares on how to incorporate things like the Benedictine Rule of LIfe is Emotionally Healthy Leadership by Peter Scazzaro. I, too, am feeling drawn to glean from these monastic practices, looking to incorporate them more into my own life. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!
Love this, Adam! The various monks and monastics throughout church history are some of my favorite things to learn about.