The LORD brings death and gives life; he sends some down to Sheol, and he raises others up. The LORD brings poverty and gives wealth; he humbles and he exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the trash heap. He seats them with noblemen and gives them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; he has set the world on them.
1 Samuel 2:6-8
Father God, I bow before You this day, acknowledging that You are sovereign. You are in control of all things; there is nothing beyond Your reach. I confess that I often believe that I can make happen all that I put my mind to. Yet, I know that nothing is further from the truth. Though I own my effort, You own the results. It is mine to pour myself into the tasks at hand. It is Yours to produce the outcomes, whether good or bad. I confess that far too often I believe that I can affect how things turn out. As a result I either have an inflated sense of pride regarding what happens or deep sense of failure regarding what does not happen. And this regardless of my efforts in the matter. I pray today for faithfulness to stay the course, giving my all to the tasks at hand, but not getting caught up too much in the results. Help me view them as feedback regarding what I should and should not do in the future rather than indicators of success or failure. Through them show me how I can be a better servant to You and others, and help me to grow both socially and spiritually. Help me to overcome my sense of value being attached to the results. Instead enable me to find peace and comfort in knowing that I am loved by You, and satisfaction in knowing that I have done my best because of my love for You. Thank You for this unmerited favor and the eternal promise of good success that I have in Christ Jesus. It’s in His Name I pray. Amen.