"You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today." (Deuteronomy 8:17-18)
Father of the Heavenly lights, we are surrounded by Your goodness and Your bounty. You "make grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts..." (Psalm 104:14-15)
Lord, all we have comes from You. The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1). In Your wisdom and greatness, You have designed intricate eco-systems, and a perfect balance and rhythm in nature. (Psalm 104; Job 38-Job 41).
From You, Lord, originated the knowledge and wisdom handed down through the ages—the methods, and processes, and foundational principles for life-sustaining production (Isaiah 28:23-29). All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent (Isaiah 28:29).
We pray today for our daily bread. Forgive us for all we take for granted. Forgive us for all the ways we have been ungrateful—in arrogance we have not only refused to give You credit for Your gifts of creation and of livelihood; but we have even taken credit ourselves for what You have provided in Your magnificent wisdom. Forgive us for all the ways we think we "got this" when we don't. Forgive us for the greed and selfishness that defy the stewardship You have given us over Your creation.
Today Lord, I thank for all You provide. Every good and perfect gift comes from You.
Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.
~ O Worship the King ~ William Kethe, pub.1561
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