52 Workday Prayers: Psalm 24 - Everything Belongs to the Lord

The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it;
for he has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the rivers.

Psalm 24:1-2

Prayer

O God, creator of all things, the whole earth belongs to you, the mountains and plains, the lakes and rivers, the oceans and seas. From the outer crust to the innermost core, this earth is yours because you made it and it exists for your glory and pleasure.

Everything in this world belongs originally and ultimately to you, Lord. Yes, I might claim ownership of my home or car, my business or computer, my bank account or investments. But, in reality, I’m just a steward of what you have entrusted to me.

So, whether I own “my own” business or work for someone else, I acknowledge that everything is yours. What I make with my hands or create with my strength or organize with my mind, it all belongs to you. The technology that makes my work possible also belongs to you, including electrical grids, roads, digital conferencing platforms, and, yes, even the Internet.

Those who live on this earth also belong to you. Though they may not know your name or recognize your sovereignty, they are yours. Even if they deny you, your claim upon them remains.

Help me as I work, Lord, to see those with whom I interact as people who belong to you. May I recognize that they bear your image and thus are worthy of respect and kindness. May I seek your justice in my workplace, whether in the way I run my business, the way I treat the person working beside me, or the way I exercise authority delegated to me.

The earth is yours, Lord. All of it. Including me and my work. May I honor and glorify you through my work today. Amen.

Ponder Throughout the Day

The earth and all that it contains belong to the Lord.

For Further Reflection

Read all of Psalm 24, paying attention to what the Spirit of God is stirring up in your heart, especially in relationship to your work. Talk with God about what you are thinking and feeling.

Once again, I would encourage you to consider this famous line from Abraham Kuyper:

There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human life of which Christ, Who is Sovereign of all, does not cry: “Mine!”

This quotation comes from Kuyper’s speech at the opening of the Free University in Amsterdam in 1880. You can read an English translation of this speech here.

This prayer is part of a collection: 52 Workday Prayers: Learn from the Psalms How to Pray through Your Work. To purchase this devotional and small group guide, visit the De Pree Center store.