21 Days of Fasting & Prayer
Day 11 Practice Your Gifts
BE STILL Spend 2 minutes in stillness and silence with God
SCRIPTURE God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)
DEVOTION
Your gifts are not for you. There, I said it! Well, technically the Bible said it. As I mentioned at the end of yesterday’s devotion, there are people waiting for us to move into our gifts. Why? Because our gifts are meant to serve and edify one another. God did not create us to be lone wolves (or should I say sheep) and there is an impact in this world that He has for us to make. Isn’t that exciting?!
While today is titled “Practice Your Gifts,” if I could give it a sub-title I would say “A Continuous Journey.” Some of us have already identified our gifts and taken the step to walk in them. Great! Now if you’re anything like me, sometimes distractions, fear, uncertainty, doubt, or temporary waiting periods get us to stop using them continuously. They lie dormant and sometimes we realize we haven’t used them in quite some time. We took a few steps but haven’t continued walking down the path.
Today is a charge to stay the course. For any of us who started walking in our gifts but stopped operating in them along the way, let’s dust off those cobwebs and keep going. For those who have walked and kept walking, keep it up! Remember, our gifts are not for us. What God has put inside of us will inspire, uplift, edify, clarify, disciple, and do so much more for this world. This world needs what is inside of us. The kingdom of God needs what is inside of us. Let’s continuously practice and walk the path set out for us!
What gifts, if any, have you identified but allowed to lie dormant in your life? What event(s) led to your gifts being put on hold?
Who has been impacted (or who would you like to impact) by the gifts you have inside of you? Are there specific people, community groups, or regions of the world?
PRAY IT OUT
Adonai, Your word says that You who began a great work in me are faithful to complete it. I stand firm on that promise today. I know that there is nothing impossible with You – there are no obstacles, distractions, fears, worries, anxieties, financial issues, health issues, time management issues, and the like that Your power cannot help me through. I know that You have given me gifts that will help edify the body of Christ and I am grateful for them.
There are times that I put a pause on the race that has been set before me. No matter the reason why, today I decide to stay the course. I will leave my past in the past, forgetting what is behind me, and press forward. I know that my gifts make room for me, and I will practice and use them. When I am fearful or frustrated, I know that Your word can help me. Direct my footsteps according to Your word, and I will make sure Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I stand in the promises of Isaiah 41:10 that You are with me, You are my God, You will help me, and You will uphold me on this journey. Give me the strength and strategy to stay consistent in the name of Jesus! Amen