Thought for Day - 25 August

Thought for Wednesday 25 August Proverbs 3:5-6 NIVUK “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” The first step for me doing these ‘thoughts’ is prayer because I know that if God is not with me in the writing of it, it will be nonsense. Sometimes I’m not sure about what I’ve written, but in those cases it is not because God has misspoken, it is my understanding of His words. I really need to pay attention when listening for God’s voice giving me the inspiration for a subject, then sit quietly (yes I can!) until the words come to me. This is true, no matter what we are about to do. We must ask God for advice then listen for His voice, before deciding if we are stepping onto the right path for us. Even as he was making us, He had decided on the task He wants us to carry out. In Romans 12:6-7 Paul says, We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach… God has given each of us a gift, which we should be using to build His Kingdom here on earth. However, we have also been given the gift of free will because God doesn’t want us to be forced to love Him, love cannot be forced if it is to be true. God wants us to choose to love Him. This means that some people use their gift in other ways and unwittingly help to build the kingdom of the evil one. We each are responsible for using our gift the way God intended. Just as we, when we give a gift, like to see it used for it’s purpose, so it pleases God to see His gifts used for their purpose. Prayer Heavenly Father, we come to You today to thank You for all the gifts You have bestowed on us. Help us to use them in the way You intended when You granted them. Father, we know that without Your guidance, we may stumble onto the wrong path. Help us to stay focused on Your will at all times. Amen,