Psalm 90:17 says"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.
In this verse, Moses is speaking to the lord during his 40 years in the wilderness with the Israelites. Establish the work of our hands is repeated twice and emphasizes the desperation of Moses. Pleading with god that his last almost 40 years of labor in the wilderness hasn't been in vain.
Deuteronomy 28:8 also written by Moses in the wilderness says, "The lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to." And there it is again, our hands. Moses didn't sit in a cave for 40 years waiting for the lord to do something about all his prayers. He spent that time in the wilderness, growing the kingdom of the lord and nurturing its people.
Both these passages display the need for work and discipline, but Moses understood that only god can ESTABLISH the work of our hands. Only God can make what we do meaningful and lasting—and that a right relationship with God is the necessary ingredient for a worthwhile life.
There are people who pray continually for gods help and guidance but never get off the couch to help themselves. There are also people who work like mules to no end because god hasn't established the work of their hands. They dont have a relationship with him and they work for reasons other than the glory of his kingdom. We all probaly can think of of someone that fits each type. I HAVE BEEN BOTH and i still struggle to find the balance sometimes. Pray, do my best, and leave the rest to god.
Ranching this year had been a prime example. No amount of hard work will make it rain, or keep a fire from burning all our grass. At the same time if i sit on the couch and pray for rain, but dont fix wells, mend fences and be a good stockman then i wont be ready when the lord finally answers my prayers for rain.
We finally got our first measurable moisture for the year, but its going to take a lot more to feed hundreds of thousands of pounds of hairy, hungry, critters. So far the fires all missed our pastures but some people werent so lucky. Pray for them and lift them up. We got more feed shipped in and are ready to keep these cattle on feed as long as needed. The work of our hands will pay off. We had a great run of carne asada this month and met a ton of new customers. Hopefully satisfied customers who will turn into repeat customers.
signing off from the dusty plains were the dust turns to mud and there never seems to be an in-between. Come on by any Sunday and see us. My grandpa used to tell me," If you're going to do it, you might as well be the best at it." Ecclesiastes 9:10 says "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might"
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