Establish the Work of Our Hands

In Psalm 90, Moses writes:

 1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place

    throughout all generations.

2 Before the mountains were born

    or you brought forth the whole world,

    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

 Moses worships God at the outset of his prayer.  He acknowledges that God is his place of safety, security—his home. Moses has a sense of God’s sovereignty over Creation, over the whole world.  Moses’ worship puts all else into perspective.

 Later in the Psalm, Moses goes on to say: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  The Message version translates this as “Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well!”  The Living Bible perhaps says it best: “Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should.”

 These are good reminders.  Are we making every day count in some way that is rooted in God and His purposes for us? If we are living into our God-given calling and purpose, we can know that we are spending our days as we should.

 Moses ends his psalm with some additional thoughts.  In verse 14, he says, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”  This is an excellent challenge not to find our satisfaction in things or other people or even in God’s purpose for us…but in His unfailing love.  This is Moses’, and our, source of joy and gladness.

 Moses’ final thoughts are about our desire for legacy and significance.  He says:

17 May the favor [beauty] of the Lord our God rest on us;

    establish the work of our hands for us—

    yes, establish the work of our hands. 

Or, as The Living Bible says: “May he give permanence to all we do.”

 Rooted in the earlier acknowledgement that God is sovereign and author of all things, Moses appeals to that same Lord to make his and our work last—to make it matter—to give it eternal value. We each desire to make a mark, to have influence, to count now and be remembered after we are gone.  Moses prays that God will make that happen.

 It’s a great prayer.

Consider praying Psalm 90 this week with a special focus on how God wants you to do your work.

 Reflect on what it means to have “the favor of the Lord” rest on you.

 What would it look like in your life for God to “establish the work” of your hands?

For more on this, explore GodGiftsYou.com.

 Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You.: Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and law enforcement leadership for over 30 years.  She has been EquipConnectServe Ministry Director at a 1,200 member church since 1999.  Contact Shirley.

 Photo © Shirley Giles Davis, all rights reserved.