Monday to Glory:

Finding God in the Workweek

“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.” 

Psalm 90:17 

Work is one of the most enduring aspects of our lives. Whether in offices, homes, hospitals, classrooms, or fields, much of our waking life is spent “at work.” The psalmist’s prayer in Psalm 90:17 reminds us that this work—though often unnoticed or exhausting—matters deeply to God.

In my grandfather’s home, the prayer room had words carved in wood above the entrance: “Ora et Labora”—“Pray and Work.” Over the years, that simple phrase has become deeply meaningful for our family. It captures a beautiful biblical rhythm: that prayer is not separate from work, but that both are meant to flow together in a life of devotion. Our hands and hearts belong to God alike.

Eugene Peterson once wrote, “The Bible insists on a perspective in which all of life, including the workplace, is holy, where all of life is lived before God and for God.” There is no divide between sacred and secular when we live in the presence of God. Like David dancing before the Ark or Paul commending the women and men who worked hard “in the Lord,” our daily labor becomes worship when offered in faith.

Richard Foster reminds us, “In the kingdom of God, no task is too small. God takes great delight in taking seemingly insignificant acts and using them for His purposes.” Whether answering emails, washing dishes, or comforting a friend—when done in love, our labor bears eternal fruit.

The Bible reminds us that we were created “to the praise of [God’s] glory” (Ephesians 1:12). Patrick Miller wrote, “Work, when rightly oriented, is a form of praise—an act of bearing witness to the Creator who still works among us.” The God who labored in creation and rested on the seventh day calls us to imitate Him—to work and to pray, to sow and to trust, to labor and to worship. When our work aligns with God’s purposes, it becomes more than duty—it becomes doxology.

So we pray with the psalmist: “Lord, establish the work of our hands.” We do not labor alone. God receives our efforts, sanctifies them, and brings about lasting good through them—sometimes in ways far beyond what we see.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gift of work and the rhythm of work and prayer. Help us offer all we do today as worship. Whether seen or unseen, may our labor bring You joy. Establish the work of our hands and let it bless others, now and for generations to come. Amen.