Workday Prayers: Meditating on God’s Wondrous Works
Scripture — Psalm 145:4-5 (NRSV)
One generation shall extol your works to another
and shall declare your mighty acts.
They will recount the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works I will meditate.
Focus
As we meditate on God’s works, we learn how we might do our work in a way that pleases God and contributes to God’s purposes.
Prelude
Genesis 1 reveals God as the first worker. Among God’s works is creating human beings in God’s own image. Thus, we are also workers. This truth is underscored in Genesis as God gives to human beings the tasks of being fruitful and multiplying, filling the earth, and ruling over it.
By meditating on God’s works we learn how to do our work in a way that honors God and contributes to God’s purposes. Of course, we cannot work in precisely the same way God works. We cannot, for example, speak creation into existence. But we can learn a great deal about God’s intentions for our work by paying attention to how God works.
Pray
Gracious God, your works are beyond amazing. I remember what it’s like to gaze into the heavens on a clear winter night, marveling at the bright stars that are so far away I cannot even conceive of their distance from Earth. Or I recall the majesty of the High Sierra, with peaks reaching to the skies. Then there’s the intricacy of the human being . . . and so much more. I marvel at your works, Lord.
When I meditate on all that you have done, how can I respond other than by praising you for your power, glory, and grace?
In truth, there is another response I can make. I can resolve to learn how to work by watching you. Your example teaches me to value excellence and beauty in my work. It calls me to serve others through my labors. Your work as God in three persons encourages me to work in community with others. When I pay attention to how you work, I’m reminded that productivity should never eclipse justice and righteousness.
Help me, dear Lord, to do my work in honor of you. May I set aside time to reflect on your work so that I might imitate you in what I do, how I do it, and why I do it. To you be all the glory, gracious God! Amen.
Ponder Throughout the Day
Meditate on the wondrous works of God.
For Further Reflection
Read all of Psalm 145.
You may also wish to read Psalm 8.
Banner image by Rita Endres on Unsplash.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the High Calling archive, hosted by the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Calling on God in Truth.
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Mark D. Roberts
Senior Strategist
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders,...