Everyone I know strives for some level of success. Whether it’s climbing the career ladder or raising kids, we pursue favorable outcomes. In this mindset I’ve been encouraged to learn from my failures and try again. As (mostly successful) people have told me—failure should be your friend. My retort—but not my only friend.

Moses led a great expedition, filled with dangerous unknowns, and so pursued the Lord’s backing for success: Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

Moses prayed for the Lord to lay the foundations of success for the Hebrew people. He understood that without God’s patronage his wandering nation faced disaster in the wilderness, whether by starvation or conquest or going back to slavery in Egypt.

You and I can pray in the same way. We can ask the Lord to prosper the work of our hands. It may be a new business venture or planting a row of blackberries. Perhaps it involves family or friends or your church community. Regardless, like Moses, ask the Lord for the ability to get started, for sound planning, and for the wisdom to move forward.

Psalm 90:17

Photo by Pauline Bernard