Article by Joey Keith
“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17
New season, new opportunities, new battles, new…everything. Growing up, I remember hearing my grandma pray for God’s favor over her life, favor over her family, and favor over her church. I never really understood what that was or why she would pray for that specifically. Over time, I have tried to gain a better understanding of the Biblical aspect of favor, and here is what I came to understand.
Biblical favor is God’s gracious kindness resting on someone’s life, not because they earned it, but because God chooses to give it. Favor is not about popularity, ease, or success by the world’s standards; it is about God’s presence, approval, and purpose at work in and through us.
His favor is His kindness resting over your life. Why do we pray for God’s favor…Because we need His favor. In ministry, we need His favor for every place we are called, but it is also something that we cannot take for granted.
Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses, spoken by a leader who understood both the frailty of human life and the greatness of God. After reflecting on how brief our days are, Moses ends with a heartfelt request: that God’s favor would rest on His people and that the work they do would truly matter. This was my grandma’s prayer – that God’s favor would rest on her, her family and on her church.
This verse reminds us that effort alone is not enough. We can be busy, productive, and even well-intentioned—yet still miss lasting impact if God is not the one establishing our work. Moses doesn’t ask for success, recognition, or ease; he asks for God’s favor and foundation. He understands that only what God establishes will endure.
The repetition—“establish the work of our hands”—reveals deep dependence. It’s a prayer that says, “Lord, without You, what we do will fade. With You, even ordinary work becomes eternal.” Whether our hands are building, serving, leading, fixing, teaching, or encouraging, this verse invites us to place all our labor under God’s authority.
Whether in ministry or in everyday vocations, Psalm 90:17 is both humbling and hopeful. It frees us from the pressure to make everything happen on our own and refocuses us on faithfulness. When God’s favor rests on us, He gives purpose to our labor and meaning to our days.
You may not always see immediate results, but when you place your work in God’s hands, He gives it purpose and permanence. Keep going. Keep serving. Keep trusting. Ask for His favor, and rest in the assurance that He is at work—establishing what you’ve placed before Him, one faithful step at a time.
Today Matters
Joey Keith
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