Tag Archives: talents

Prayer for Today

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 Created Chosen Called

Bible reading challenge:

Read all the scriptures referenced at the bottom of each pray.

September 16, 2015

God, the Father of heaven and earth, show me what I have in my life that I can give to You to help Your people. Lord, help me to see beyond the obvious, to look past what I see with my natural eye that may stop me from giving my best.

Father, I give you all my past hurts and shames that are holding me back. I give You my less than stellar esteem of myself and exchange it for esteeming myself in Christ Jesus. In Christ, there is no condemnation. In Christ, there is no shame. In Christ, my uniqueness is my strong suit for carrying out the tasks You prepared for me before the beginning of mankind.

Savior, help me to know and understand, through Godly wisdom, that I have been ordained by You for service. I have been given my gifts, talents and abilities to be utilized by You to help further the kingdom of God here on earth.

Give me the courage to use my gifts for You. Give me the courage to ignore what people may say and listen to only what You say so I may use my gifts as You have deemed appropriate. Give me Your strength and endurance so I can fulfill Your will for my life.

I believe You will answer my prayer. I thank You in advance for Your faithfulness to Your word over my life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Scripture references:

Deuteronomy 31:6

Psalm 139:16

Proverb 19:21

Romans 8:1

Romans 12:1 – 21

I Corinthians 2:9

Ephesians 2:10

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Go With What You Know

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Slingshot

 

I Samuel 17:38 – 39

“Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off.”

In the scripture above David was going out to kill Goliath. That was his plan from the beginning; to kill the person who was bringing reproach against the God of Israel. Yes, there were other people who heard Goliath’s threats and they planned to do nothing. Yes, there were people who were better prepared, with more experience and better equipped than David to battle Goliath but they didn’t have the heart, the passion or the resolve of David to protect the name of the Lord.

Everyone is always talking about how David went out to kill Goliath with a slingshot and five smooth stones but I think David went out with much more than human eyes can see. First, David went out to kill Goliath with history. He knew what God would do in order to protect him. God had given David the strength to fight and kill a bear and a lion, two foes that were mightier and fiercer than any man.

Second, David went out against Goliath with courage. To fight a bear and a lion in order to save some sheep means David had a level of courage locked in his DNA that not everyone has at their disposal. It’s like the Marines, policemen, firemen or another first responder; while everyone else is running away from terror or a disaster, they are running towards it. Not everyone has what it takes to do these types of jobs. David had what it took to lay his life on the line for some sheep; certainly, he had what it took to lay his life on the line to protect the name and character of his God.

Third, David went out to kill Goliath with equipment he was accustomed to using when he was in battle. Saul tried to give David his equipment but David declined because Saul’s equipment didn’t fit David; it was not designed for the type of fighting David was used to doing.

There are things that God has told, or will tell, you do to that looks like someone else is better qualified to do, but they don’t have what it takes. They don’t have the heart, the passion or the resolve to do what God needs to have done. That’s why He’s asked, or will ask, you to do it!

You have everything you need to do what God has asked, or will ask, you to do. You have the history, the internal resolve and the equipment you need to get it done!

Oh yes, there is one more thing about David that should be admired and imitated; he didn’t procrastinate! He went out to kill Goliath right away. He didn’t give himself or anyone else time to talk him out of it.

When God asked us to do something we need to move out quickly and go with what we know!

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” James 4:17

 

 

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Out of the Box

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Created Chosen Called

August 12, 2015

Genesis 1:26

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

When I purchase a rose for my garden, I have a plan. I know where I’m going to put the rose, the nutrient levels I need the soil to possess and how to feed, water and protect the rose until its root system stabilizes in its new environment. I have a plan that the rose doesn’t know anything about.

The rose is shipped to me in a plain brown cardboard box. There is nothing in the box with the rose except other bare root roses that I may have purchased at the same time. If I purchased a single rose, it is in the box by itself.

I can only image how the rose must feel when I plant it in its new place. It goes from being in a dark empty box without soil or water into an open air space with at least six hours of sunlight, soil, vitamins and food. What a shock to its fragile system!

I’m sure if my roses could complain they would. They have probably become use to living in the dark bareness of the box but, in order to live, the rose must have the sun, soil, water and food, things that the roses can’t get while in the box. So, they may have become accustom to living in the box, if they stay there, they will die.

Yes, God does the same thing to and for us. You and I ask God for growth; financial, spiritual or personal growth so we can do more, have more or become more for the Kingdom of God. He answers our prayers and responses to our request. He begins to move us from our dark and confining boxes to new places where we can grow. And what do we do? We complain!

We wanted to grow where we were, in the confines of the boxes we have put ourselves in! We don’t want to change, we don’t want other things to change, we don’t want to do anything different, and we just want to grow where we are. Sorry! It doesn’t work that way!

God did not create us to be confined to dark, lifeless boxes. He created us to live in His Son and in the sun. What does that mean? It means God created us to live our spiritual lives in the light, soil and be feed by the life of His son AND to live our natural lives in the abundance here on earth. God never designed us to live in lack or less than. Neither in this life nor the one to come.

In order for us to grow, God has to move us to a place where the totality of who we are can be used and displaced as we experience new things. God is taking out of our boxes because He wants us to live and not die in the dark empty lives so many of us are now living.

Yes, it’s time to come out of your box!

“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” II Corinthians 9:10

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You Were Chosen

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Picked out

 

Matthew 22:14

“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

When I chose a rose for my garden, I don’t pick it based on one characteristics of the rose; I pick it based on the totality of the rose. So not only do I pick a rose based on its color, I chose it on how the blooms are going to look. Will the blooms have lots and lots of petals or just a few?  I chose it based on the fragrance; is it lightly fragranced or is it heavily fragranced?  Does it smell like honey or does it smell like a traditional rose?

I also look at the type of leaves the rose is going to have. Will the leaves be bright green and shiny or will they be a matted green? I also look at the stem of the roses; will they be long-stemmed so I can use the rose in a single rose vase or will they be short stemmed so I can use them in an arrangement?

So you see, everything that the rose is goes into my decision-making process of whether or not I’m going to plant the rose in my garden. Yes, each facet of the rose is important, but one piece without the others doesn’t make the rose what it really is. It is the totality of the rose plant that makes the rose what I want in my garden.

God does the same thing with us. When God chooses us to do a particular assignment He chooses us based on the totality of who we are; our temperament, the things that we’ve gone through in order to bring us to the place where we are now, our looks, our background and upbringing. All these things make us who we are and are the reasons God chooses us for our assignments.

Unfortunately, all too often we look at ourselves through the eyes of the world system and only see what we think the world sees when it looks at us. The world system says over and over again, we have to be super model thin in order to be considered worthy of being called attractive. The world system says we have to be rich or famous in order to be counted amount those whom others should listen to. The world system says we have to be educated with the right type of degrees and from the right schools or we’ll be outsiders and not allowed to join them at the popular table. But, no matter what the world tells us, it does not stop God from doing what He’s going to do and it shouldn’t stop us from doing what God has assigned us to do.

If God has given you an assignment, and He has given us all an assignment, what the world system says about you doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. When God gave each of us our assignments, He has already measured the totality of who we are and He knows we can successfully complete the assignment.

The world system only knows the labels it has placed on us. God knows who He created us to be.

 

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” I Corinthians 1:27

 

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Dying on the Vine

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Tomator rotting on vine

I Corinthians 12:4-6

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in men.”

For the first time in my life I decided to grow a vegetable this year. I was talking to the farmer where I purchased my flowers and told her what I wanted to do and she suggested a table top tomato plant. She said they were easy to grow, easy to maintain and I could put them someplace where I would see them every day so they wouldn’t die on the vine.

She was correct on all points: the table top tomatoes are easy to care for and maintain, plus they sit on my deck so I see them every day and I can watch them as they flower, fruit and mature right before my eyes. If only our spiritual gifts were as easy to grow, maintain and watch. Maybe then so many Christians wouldn’t allow their gifts to die on their spiritual vines.

There have been several times I almost gave up writing Daily Prayers and Words for Today. I often thought “no one reads them any way” or “what I’m doing isn’t helping anyone” or, and here’s the best excuse I had for giving up this portion of my ministry, “who am I to try to help people live a fuller life in Christ. I struggle with stuff every day, how can I help them?”

During these times of defeat I’d still write the Daily Prayers and the Words for Today but I wouldn’t send them out. Then, I’d get an email from someone saying, “hey, where’s the daily reading?” Sometimes I’d know the person but often times I didn’t. I realized that what God had me doing in this portion of my ministry was important and helpful to people other than just me. And, if I continued to be selfish with what God was giving me, then the fruit that other people needed would die on the vine in my spiritual garden.

We all have spiritual fruit which grows out of our gifts. EVERYONE has at least one gift, according to I Corinthians 12:11, given to us by the Holy Spirit and, the Holy Spirit made the determination of who got which gift.

Sometimes we allow our fruit to die on the vine because we don’t value the gift we’ve been given. Selah!

“All these are the works of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”

I Corinthians 12:11

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Coming Out of Someone Else’s Normal, Into My Destiny – Part I

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Children of the King

I Samuel 16:1 – 13

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”’

 I Samuel 16:7

David was a shepherd boy and in the eyes of his father and his brothers that was all he was ever going to be.  When Samuel came looking for the next king of Israel, David wasn’t even called to come from the fields to be inspected by Samuel until all his brothers had been rejected by God Then, God instructed Samuel to ask for David.

People judge us by how they see us; our hair, complexion, our size, height, weight, how we carry ourselves and our clothes. We are also judged by our reputations, what people have heard about us before they’ve even met us.

We judge others, and sometimes we judge ourselves, by our outward appearance. We judge other people by their outward appearance because we can’t judge the heart.  We judge ourselves by our outward appearance because we don’t esteem ourselves.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 states God has placed eternity in the heart of men.  In other words, God has placed, in our spiritual DNA, a desire to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives. God created in our innermost person a need to reach our potential.

There are times in our lives that people want to pigeonhole us, just like David’s father and brothers wanted to pigeonhole him. They want us to conform to what they think we should look like, think and act. But God doesn’t put people in boxes. God does not require that we all follow the same formula.

Look around you and you’ll see that God loves diversity! There are singers, music composers, administrative executives, engineers and day care providers. There are secretaries, computer programmers, doctors and teachers. The list of vocations goes on and on and, in ever vocation there are Europeans, White Americans, African Americans, Asians, Middle Easterners and other ethnic groups. Some are tall, some are short, some are thin, and some are full figured.

Whatever you are, you are the right one for the purpose God has given you! Are you sitting still and allowing your eternity to eat away at your spirit person because you don’t think you measure up? Only you can answer that question.

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Living Above Mediocrity,

 

Anita Wamble

E-spirational – Divine Inspirations

Sharing God’s Word: Motivating God’s People

www.espirational1.com

Prayer for Today

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Just because your pastLenten season challenge: Read the scriptures that are referenced at the bottom of each prayer every day during this Lenten season!

February 26, 2015

Father, over the course of my life I have allowed some of my dreams, gifts, talents and abilities to die on my spiritual vine. Today and going forward, I am calling life into the dry bones of my spiritual life.

I allowed circumstances and situations to move me from Your plan for me because I couldn’t see how it was going to work. I didn’t have the money or things weren’t going my way. NO MORE!

I will no longer allow my current situation to dictate my future.  By faith I will allow Your plans, purpose and my future hope in Christ Jesus to dictate my life. I know I serve a God who is willing, able and will do the impossible to resurrect the dry bone in my life.

I am ready to pursue everything that You have for me Lord. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Scripture References:

Ezekiel 37:1 – 14              Romans 11:29 – 32

Psalm 85:10 – 11             Romans 13:14

Proverb 3:5 – 6                Hebrews 11:1 – 2

Romans 1:17                      I Peter 4:10

 

Prayer for Today

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February 20, 2015

Father God, today I purpose to walk into my full potential in everything with my whole heart. I will not operate holding back or reserving anything that needs to be expended in order for me to fulfill my appointed course in You today.

I cast down excuses, lies deceptions, denials and procrastination. I throw off guilt, shame, laziness and slowfulness. I run full tilt into that which You have designed for me today. In Jesus name. Amen.

Scripture references:

Ephesians 3:17 – 20

Romans 1:8 – 10

Proverbs 14:8

II Corinthians 4:2

Ephesians 4:17 – 25

Psalm 139:16

Prayer

 

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Prayer for Today

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February 19, 2015

Good morning Father God! Thank You for this day and the many blessings You have determined to bestow upon me today.

Please help me to have the right perspective on things. Life is short but eternity is forever. I want to work on and walk in the things that are going to follow me into eternity. I don’t want the work I do here on earth to have no heavenly gain.

Father I want to start each day with my priorities in place and a tentative plan for where I will invest my time and energy. I want my life’s focus to be about what matters to You.

Lord don’t let me be complacent or use denial and lies as excuses for not doing what You’ve purposed for me. Please clearly give me your priorities for this season of my life. Guide and direct my steps so that I may fulfill Your plan and purpose for my life. In Jesus name. Amen.

Scripture references:

Proverbs 14:8

Proverbs 23:23

John 16:13

I Corinthians 9:24

 

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I Have What It Takes

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The systems of the world are designed to take our confidence and destroy how we view our gifts, talents and abilities. The world system says, “If you’re not rich, you’re not worth anything.” The world system will tell us, certainly women, “If you’re not stick figure thin, you’re not beautiful.”

But God placed greatness in us when He created us. He put hopes and dreams in our hearts and minds from the beginning. Many of us, including me, have put our dreams on hold and ignored our passions and gifts because we have believed what the world says about us. But, God has given us everything we need to do everything He has asked us to do.

I challenge you to get up every morning and tell yourself, “I have what it takes. No matter what God has asked me to do, I am the right person for the job.”

Taken from the book It’s Still Relative, the Word of God for Today’s World pages 81 and 82*

“Lord please help me to see my gifts, talents and abilities as You see them. Father help me to lean on You; the author, perfecter and finisher of my faith, and not on my own understanding. Help me Father, to understand the great power You placed in me at the time I accepted You. The power that allows me to be self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency that abides in me.”

“Lord, renew my mind so that I understand that there is nothing too difficult for You to perform through me if I yield all my members to you. You are my strength and my shield. Thank you Lord! In Jesus’ name Amen.”
*Used with author’s permission.

To purchase the book use this link or, go to amazon.com and key in: Anita Wamble “It’s Still Relative God’s Word for Today’s World” target=”_blank”>http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Anita+Wamble&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AAnita+Wamble