A prayer for relying on God instead of our efforts by Christine Brown, read by Lea Martin.

Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom, Psalm 9012.

May I watch a pair of barnswallows toil away at building a nest along the edge of the front

porch.

Your efforts proved fruitless.

A few seasons ago, we added a row of screen on the ledge to prevent the mud-based

nests these active birds would build each year, but this pair would not be deterred, as

evidenced by the row of mud globs from one end to the other.

They tried one spot, and when that didn't work, they moved to the next, on and on until

the sunset late in the evening.

I watched and wondered if they'd wear themselves out.

At the end of the day, the result was lots of work and no rest to show for it.

I'm a lot like those barnswallows.

Wired for work, I rush, rush, rush to get the job done.

All the while, not realizing I'm relying on my own efforts.

I love how the Living Bible translation expresses Psalm 9012.

Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are, help us to spend them as

we should.

When we remember each day as a gift, we can release our striving and rely on God for

the results.

God is the essence of all that is good, learning to trust in Him rather than our own

abilities will bring peace.

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