When I think about how I can console Jesus suffering on the cross, the prospect can seem daunting. How can I even begin to quench his thirst for my love?

Lately, I’ve been convicted by the idea of offering God the first fruits of my day and of my work. During Lent, I tried to make a concerted effort to give back to him the best fraction of the gifts he’s given to me. Not only is it a helpful reminder to practice gratitude, but it’s also a way of demonstrating to myself and to God that nothing I have is ultimately mine. It all belongs to him.

At Mass, I frequently remind my children during the preparation of the gifts that we are entering into an opportune time to send up to God our own offerings — prayers of petition and thanksgiving — so that they might return to us with abundant grace. By generously and joyfully sharing our time, talent, and resources, we can participate even more fully in God’s kingdom.

Here are some practical tips to offer God the first fruits of your workday:

Morning

Begin with a prayer as soon as you wake up (yes, before you reach for your phone). It can look like a quick prayer of thanksgiving for the fact that you even woke up at all, followed by whatever moves you. Personally, I prefer formulas and memorized prayers, so I usually throw up a Guardian Angel and Saint Michael prayer and a morning offering to the Sacred Heart.

If you don’t already have a morning offering prayer, here’s the one I use:

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world for the salvation of souls, the reparation for sins, the reunion of all Christians, and for the intentions of my friends and family and those of the Holy Father this month. Amen.

St. Josemaría Escrivá calls this time where you offer the first moments of your day to God “the heroic minute,” and it’s a game changer when it comes to infusing your day with prayer.

Throughout the Day

I’ve found it helpful to collect what St. Francis de Sales calls bouquets — insights gained in meditation, favorite lines of scripture, or quotes from holy reading — whose fragrance I can enjoy throughout the day.

They’re helpful phrases, images, and thoughts to call to mind in mental prayer as I go about my daily work. Frequently, I’ll ask God to give me the strength of his will, asking in particular for the strength of the wild ox. It’s a line from Psalm 92, where the author praises God for giving him the wild ox’s strength. Even though I spend most of my time behind a laptop, if I’m lacking motivation, the idea of God’s will animating me to the point where I’m like a wild ox is pretty invigorating!

Another option is to invoke the Holy Spirit before you embark on a new task, whether it’s something you’re dreading or something you’re eagerly anticipating. The Spirit is with us when we need motivation as well when we’re happy, so it’s never a bad idea to say, “Come, Holy Spirit,” either to yourself or out loud, before you transition to a new activity or phase of your day.

A Living Sacrifice of Praise

As we look back on our Lenten observance and assess how well we kept our resolutions, it’s a good idea to make new resolutions to carry forward into the Easter season and into Ordinary Time.

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are not just for Lent! They’re for every day, at work and at home. After all, we’re exhorted in Romans 12:1 to offer our body as a living sacrifice and throughout the Psalms and in Hebrews 13:15 to continually offer “a sacrifice of praise.”

In practice, that means offering God the first fruits of our day and our labor. It looks like the prayer, fasting, and almsgiving of Lent, carried out continuously from our first waking moment. When we give back to God our very best, and give it to him first and foremost, it bears even more fruit: in our conduct, in our work, and in the world around us.

Maggie Phillips is a freelance writer and military spouse with three small children and an incredibly patient husband. Follow her work at mrsmaggiephillips.com and on Instagram at @maggies_words.