Summer in the Psalms – Week 9 Day 5
WEEK 9 // DAY 5
ESTABLISH THE WORK OF OUR HANDS
“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.”
Moses ends this psalm—not with despair, but with a request: “Establish the work of our hands.” In this closing line, we see a man who has faced wilderness wandering, disappointment, and mortality, yet still believes that God can infuse ordinary effort with extraordinary impact. He isn’t asking for ease or escape. He’s praying for meaning—a life that matters beyond the moment. And isn’t that what we long for too? Not to just get through our days, but to know our days count. Moses knew that life is fleeting, but he also knew that what is placed in God’s hands can outlast the dust we’re made of. Psalm 90 is a sober reflection on time, frailty, and eternity—but it ends with hope: God can give permanence to the impermanent. He can turn diapers and deadlines into legacy. He can make board meetings, biology class, and bedtime stories part of the divine mosaic of redemptive history.
Whatever the task before us, the real question is not, “Is this job spiritual?” It’s, “Is my heart surrendered in it?” God doesn’t demand glamour—He delights in faithfulness. He’s not asking us to make a name for ourselves. He’s offering to write His name over everything we do. When we invite His presence into our ordinary, we find that no task is too small, no moment too mundane. It’s about living aware that God is already in the room, already in the office, already in the kitchen, already in the carpool line.
As the school year launches and routines return, it’s easy to forget that our most “everyday” actions are invitations for eternity to touch earth. We are simply called to be faithful with what’s in front of us. Work done in love will last. Work soaked in prayer will multiply. Work offered to God becomes an echo that lives beyond us. So let this final week be an offering. Ask the Lord to settle His favor on you. To steady your pace. To shape your legacy. And then hold out your hands and whisper the same prayer Moses did: “Lord, establish this. Make this matter.”
Reflection Questions:
- What daily tasks now feel mundane or empty?
- What would happen if God established one small thing you do today?
- How can you approach your schedule as sacred labor?
- Whose life might be impacted by the faithful use of your hands?
Journaling Prompt:
List the key activities in your week—school, work, home, ministry. Write a short prayer over each one, asking God to establish it for His purposes.
Prayer Starter: Let this simple prayer give voice to your heart for the days ahead: “Lord, establish the work of my hands—not for my glory, but for Yours. Give me wisdom, presence, and purpose this fall.”