July 17, 2020 • Life for Leaders
Scripture – Psalm 29:11 (NRSV)
May the LORD give strength to his people!
May the LORD bless his people with peace!
Focus
As we pray for our work these days, we ask for strength: strength to persevere in the midst of a seemingly endless pandemic, strength to deal with the disappointments that are so common in this time, strength to work in solitude. We also pray for peace—that is, for healthy relationships, just systems, and an abiding sense of God’s presence in the midst of such disorienting times.
Prayer
Gracious God, as I reflect on Psalm 29 and my work, I find myself echoing the words of verse 11: “May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!”
Indeed, Lord, I need your strength today as I work. I ask for strength to persevere in what seems like an endless pandemic. Even with things opening up more, sometimes it sure doesn’t feel as if we’re getting through this thing.
I need your strength to deal with the disappointments associated with my work. Help me to press on even when I’m discouraged, when things I had hoped for don’t happen, when planning seems almost silly at times.
I need your strength to work alone. Even though I often work by myself, I miss the friendly smile from the people who work downstairs, or the chance to share ideas with my colleagues over cup of coffee. We can do the work all right, but so much of the fun is gone.
I also ask for your peace in the full biblical sense of that word. Help the relationships in my workplace to be healthy. Give us wisdom to create just systems and courage to get rid of what is unjust. I ask for colleagues and for myself that you would give us your peace, the peace that surpasses understanding.
All praise be to you, O God, giver of strength and peace. Amen.
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Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the High Calling Archive hosted by the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: The Peace of the Lord Be With You
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders, and the founder of the De Pree Center’s Flourishing in the Third Third of Life Initiative. Previously, Mark was the Executive Director of the De Pree Center, the lead pastor of a church in Southern California, and the Senior Director of Laity Lodge in Texas. He has written eight books, dozens of articles, and over 2,500 devotions that help people discover the difference God makes in their daily life and leadership. With a Ph.D. in New Testament from Harvard, Mark teaches at Fuller Seminary, most recently in his D.Min. cohort on “Faith, Work, Economics, and Vocation.” Mark is married to Linda, a marriage and family counselor, spiritual director, and executive coach. Their two grown children are educators on the high school and college level.
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Thanks Mark. Jerry Tankersley
Jerry, how great to hear from you! Thanks for the encouragement!