Being   A   Faithful   Servant  

His   master   said   to   him,   ‘Well   done,   good   and   faithful   servant.   You   have   been   faithful  over   a   little;   I   will   set   you   over   much.   Enter   into   the   joy   of   your   master.’   (Matthew  25:23)

Father,

You   have   wonderfully   supplied   me   with   spiritual   gifts.   I   did   nothing   to   earn   or   deserve   these  gifts.   You   have   given   me   these   gifts   out   of   your   abundant   generosity.   These   gifts   are   intended  to   be   used   for   your fame   and   honor.   They   are   not   primarily   for   my   own   glory,   pleasure,   or  delight.   They   are   not   to   be   used   to exalt   myself.   Rather,   you   have   gifted   me   so   that   I   might  highlight   your   glory,   and   so   that   I   might   draw   attention   to   you   and   all   your excellencies.   My  gifts   are   to   be   used   to   show   the   world   how   great   you   truly   are.   Thank   you   for   the   wonderful, undeserved   spiritual   gifts   you have   given   me.

Lord,   I   am   often   tempted   to use   my   gifts   for   my   own   glory,   honor,   and   advantage.   Forgive   me  for   that   selish,   sick   desire.   Forgive   me   for   taking   the   good   thing   you   have   given   me,   and   then perverting   its   use.   Please   help   me   to   harness   all   my   gifts   and   abilities   for   your   glory.   Help   me  orchestrate   my   gifts   to   create   a   symphony   of   praise   to   you.   I   want   to   spend   every   ounce   of  my  strength   in   your service.   Guard   me   against   laziness   and   selishness,   which   would   prevent  me  from using   my   gifts   to   serve   you   and   to   serve   others.   Guard   me   from   pride,   which   would cause   me   to   use   my   gifts   for   my   own   glory.

*Today   please   give   me   opportunities   to   use   my  gifts to  draw  attention  to  you.*

How  astonishing   it   is   that   you   promise   to   reward   me   for   my   pitiful   attempts   at   serving   you!  So   often   my   serving   is   stained   with   selish ambition.   Yet   in   spite   of   that,   you   still   promise   to reward   me.   What   a   generous,   patient,   gracious,   big-‐hearted   God   you   are.   Help   me   to   be  faithful   over   whatever   tasks   you   have   given   me,   no   matter   how   small   or   seemingly insignificant.  Help   me   to   use   my   gifts   diligently,   no   matter how   unimportant   the   job  may seem.   When  opportunities  to   serve   arise,   let   me   be   quick to   seize   them.   Your   primary concern   is   my   faithfulness   to the   divinely   appointed   task,   not   the   task   itself.   My   job   is   to   be   a faithful   servant,   your   job   is to   make   me   a   fruitful servant. Help   me   to   be a   faithful   servant.