“Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well.”—1 Peter 4:10 (CEV)
Rather than have a New Year’s Resolution, every year I pick one word along with a scripture. For 2025, my word has been Focus and my verse was Philippians 4:8. “In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.”
With helping with the care of my mother, focusing wasn’t always an easy task for me. However, when I would turn my gaze back to Jesus, Philippians 4:8 was much easier for me to live out in my life. I didn’t always get it right, but Philippians 4:8 helped me to redirect.
I have been praying for a word/scripture for 2026. I felt the Holy Spirit impressing the word, Create on my heart. I am not exactly sure how He is going to implement this. I have felt this nudge to branch out more with my knitting. I don’t know if God will open the door for me to volunteer somewhere to do this, if He has specific people He wants me to teach or if He is going to take me in a totally different direction.
I can only be obedient when I feel as if He is leading me to do it. He knows the bigger picture. He only needs my willing spirit to accomplish wherever He directs me.
Along with my word, create I was lead to 1 Peter 4:10 for my scripture focus for the year. I really like the Contemporary English version; “Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well.” Notice it says, each, of us has been blessed. God doesn’t skip you in the gift giving.
The question I was convicted with when reading this scripture was; Am I wisely using my time and talents to please God? Are you?
A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. By allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us, we become a vessel of His love. We become the hands and feet of Jesus in our broken and hurting world to those who desperately need to know Him.
We advance God’s kingdom agenda by committing our time, talents and treasures to Him. We don’t have to be wealthy to be generous. Having a willing heart to serve where He is guiding us is the only requirement.
For 2026, I plan on embracing my God given talents to contribute to His Kingdom, wherever I am led. If you haven’t picked a word or scripture yet for next year, you still have a few days to pray over it. Remember 1 Peter 4:10.“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)
Father God,
I ask for creativity and courage to use my God given talents for Your glory. Open my eyes to opportunities to shape and create a life that aligns with Your will for me. I lift those up to You who aren’t aware of the gifts You have given them to serve You. Reveal to them one of the many wonderful gifts You have blessed them with where they can serve others in the name of Jesus. I pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
December Verse
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”—Romans 15:13
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.