“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)
For the past several years, rather than make a New Year’s resolution, I pray for God to give me a word and scripture to focus on for the year. Last year, my word was, Light along with Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Repeating that scripture every morning served as a reminder to try and bring the Light of Christ with me throughout my day.
This Year God impressed on my heart the word, minister along with 2 Chronicles 15:7; “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” One of Dictionary.com’s definitions for the word is, “to give service, care, or aid;” For 2023, I will continue to knit items for When We Love, baby hats, children’s hats for the low-income schools our church sponsors as well as give away my Knit, Pray, Share items in my community.
I am not sure what other ways God wants me to minister, but I have no doubt, He will reveal it to me. I have felt His nudge to cut back on some activities, so that my calendar is not packed like it was last year. I feel as if I was given 2 Chronicles 15:7 for this year to encourage me to keep knitting, praying and sharing my gifts with those that make a difference in my day. I don’t do it for the accolades, I do it for Jesus, but I am human and some days, I can’t help but wonder if the recipients appreciate what I gave them. God is telling me, Lisa, stay strong, don’t quit doing it. One day you will see the fruits of what you are doing.
Now could that day be when I go to be with Jesus? I don’t know. The reality is, that doesn’t matter. What matters is I keep doing what God is calling me to do. I am to use my hands, heart, words and voice to minister to those who need encouragement. The God’s Word Bible translation of 1 Peter 4:10 reads, “Each of you as a good manager must use the gift that God has given you to serve others.” I encourage you for 2023 to find a way to use your God given talents to serve others.
I forgot to share something that happened when I gave away one of my gifts right before Christmas. For my birthday, my husband took me to Cancun. One of the hostesses (Tessa) at the restaurant where we ate breakfast each morning, knew it was my birthday. For both breakfast and lunch she had a special dessert brought out to me with a candle and others singing Happy Birthday. During our stay, she always greeted me by name with a big smile and sometimes even a hug.
Last minute, I packed some of the hair scrunchies I had tagged with Romans 15:13. On our check-out day, I felt as if I should give one to Tessa. I told her I knit things to give to people who make a difference in her day. I let her know I pray for the person as well as included my favorite scripture on it. Even though she could speak English, there was still a bit of a language barrier.
As she pointed to the tag, she said, Biblia? Then her eyes filled with tears, she pointed to the sky and said, You are my angel, today it has been one year. God knows. She kept hugging me and thanking God. I don’t know what she meant by it had been one year, but whatever sad thing that may have happened to her a year ago on that day, God was able to use me to give her comfort.
What a loving God we serve. He can use something as simple as a hair scrunchie with a scripture to let someone know how much He loves and cares for them. He knew the sadness that lay behind her pretty smile she was giving to every person she was greeting on that day. Had I not listened to that nudge and given her that gift, not only would I have missed out on seeing God’s love for one of His children, but Tessa wouldn’t have gotten to experience it either.
How many times do we ignore God’s prompts? Is God pricking your heart right now as you are reading this? If so, don’t question it, respond to what He is asking you to do. Where is God wanting you to focus for 2023? Has He given you a word or scripture to guide you? I don’t know where you are or what word would be good for you, but God does. Pray about it and He will reveal it to you.
Father God,
Forgive me when I ignore that nudge to share Your love with someone. Open my eyes and ears to who and where You want me to minister this year. I give You thanks for the people You put in my life to help fulfill Your plans for me in 2022 and know You will continue to provide for me to accomplish where You call me for 2023. I lift those up to you who are struggling with what their gifts are. Reveal to them a word/scripture to place their focus on for this year. Lead them to opportunities where they can serve in their community. It is the name of Jesus that I pray these things. Amen.
January Verse
“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)
If you are knitting or crocheting gifts to give away, please make sure you tweet @KnitPrayShare or share your projects on the Knit, Pray, Share Facebook page or Instagram using the hashtag #KnitPrayShare. Be sure to attach a tag to whatever gift you make.