Commit Your Work to the Lord

By: Melanie Moore

I love new beginnings. I'm always excited when a new year rolls around, or even a new month or week! There is nothing like getting a fresh start, and I find it to be the mental reset that says whatever happened in the past is left behind. With a fresh start, we get to try again...

... but then sometimes about halfway through the new year, like where we are now, I start to feel a bit discouraged. My perfect plan for the "fresh start" gets hit with the messiness of life. It turns out that what I'm often looking for in a fresh start is perfection. Then, when I fail to have the "perfect" week, or month, or year, I get discouraged.

I'm learning that perfectly checking off all the boxes on my "to do" list should not be my goal. Instead, I'm learning that whatever I do, I want to honor God with my actions. When unexpected challenges come my way, and all the plans I made for the year start to fall apart, I want to look to God and ask Him what he wants me to do with my time and what he is teaching me in the middle of the chaos of the unexpected.

As I sit on the brink of a new week today, I'm taking a deep breath before writing out all of my plans for this fresh new week. 

Before planning, I am praying that God will guide me in each step. 

Before acting, I am acknowledging that God walks before me. 

Before charging forward with my own plans, I am committing each step to the Lord and knowing that He will establish my path.

Commit your work to the Lord,

    and your plans will be established.

Proverbs 16:3

Today's Challenge

Would you join me in pausing before starting a new week and committing our work to the Lord? Whether it is work we are doing in our homes, outside of our homes, for our family, for those in need, etc. we want to take this moment to commit each detail to the Lord.

Today's Prayer

Lord, we pray today that you will take the works of our hands as an offering to you. May we honor you in each detail of our lives this week, wherever we may work. Help us to work as unto you, Lord, and to be an example to others in our faithfulness and discipline. As we work, please help us to model you in our actions and attitudes. Give us wisdom to know how to plan our days, and health and strength to carry out those plans. May we be instruments of your love to others and may our lives point others to you. In Jesus' name, Amen.