Success #9—Successful Praise

God saw all that he had made, and behold, it was very good. … God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it he rested from all his work which he had created. Genesis 1:31; 2:3

O God our Creator, in your successful rest we do our work. Because you were satisfied with all that you had done, we are able to do. Because you succeeded, we can pursue success as your representatives in every area of our lives. Your precisely fitting all the pieces together was “very good.” Now we are confident of a stable and reasonable environment in which to work out what it means to be created in your image. Oh, that seventh day is so very valuable to us! And even more we value the first day of the week. For you sanctified that day by finishing an even greater work, by creating a more magnificent success. You had delivered up your Son because of our sin, and then raised him because of our justification. You overcame every obstacle to your plan. The nothing of pre-existence did not stop you, and the hideousness of our sin did not deter you, from realizing the fulfillment of your vision. Now as you work for those who wait for you, the final goal comes into view. Every day, as you sanctify each of your children, you draw us closer to the time when we will be able to experience the fullness of what you created us to know. With joy we anticipate the wonder of your glory expressed through the millions of kindnesses that will come to us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.