Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands.
— Psalm 90:17 NASB
As we approach Labor Day this coming Monday, we pause to give thanks for the gift of work and to pray for the sphere of Business and the Marketplace in America. The official purpose of Labor Day is to honor and recognize the social and economic achievements of the American worker and the essential contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, freedom, and well-being of our country. Whether we are entrepreneurs, business owners, organizational leaders, managers, employees, or volunteers, each of us has been given opportunities to contribute through the work of our hands. Psalm 90 reminds us that our greatest desire should not simply be to work harder, accomplish more, or become more successful, but to ask God to place His favor upon what we do and to confirm, establish, strengthen, and give lasting significance to the work of our hands.
Last Thursday afternoon, we had the privilege of attending the celebration of life service for Dick Eastman, former President and CEO of Every Home for Christ for and a longtime member of the National Day of Prayer Board of Directors. Rick Warren described Dick as a man who “lived with priority, served with humility, prayed with intensity, and shared with generosity.” What a remarkable description of a life and a legacy—and what a powerful standard for each of us as we consider our own work. Whatever our role or responsibility, the people with whom we work and serve should encounter something different in us because we belong to Christ. May they someday remember us as people who lived with priority, served with humility, prayed with intensity, and shared with generosity.
This Labor Day, let’s pray beyond jobs, businesses, profits, productivity, and economic prosperity. Let’s pray that God would raise up men and women who understand that the workplace is also a place of ministry and influence. Pray for business owners and organizational leaders to lead with wisdom and integrity; for managers to serve those they lead with humility; for employees to work faithfully and wholeheartedly; and for believers throughout the marketplace to carry the presence and character of Christ into every meeting, conversation, decision, transaction, and relationship. This is the kind of work we can confidently place before the Lord and pray, “Confirm for us the work of our hands.”
LET'S PRAY
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of work and for every opportunity You give us to serve, contribute, create, lead, and provide. Today we pray for the Business and Marketplace sphere across our nation. Give wisdom and integrity to business owners and organizational leaders. Strengthen employees, managers, entrepreneurs, and volunteers to work faithfully and honor You in all they do. Teach us to live with priority, serve with humility, pray with intensity, and share with generosity. May our words, decisions, attitudes, and actions reflect the character of Christ to everyone with whom we work and serve. Let Your favor rest upon us, Lord, and confirm the work of our hands. Yes, confirm the work of our hands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Rejoicing in Hope,
Dion Elmore
Vice President
