Finding Your Creative Bones® 365-Day Devotional © 2023
God, you have gifts to offer the world through me.
Now there was a certain man of Zorah of the family of the Danites, and his name was Manoah; and his wife had never given birth to a child. And the angel of the Lord came to the woman, and said to her, See now! though you have never given birth to children, you will be with child and give birth to a son. Now then take care to have no wine or strong drink and to take no unclean thing for food; For you are with child and will give birth to a son; his hair is never to be cut, for the child is to be separate to God from his birth; and he will take up the work of freeing Israel from the hands of the Philistines. (Judges 13.2-5 Bible in Basic English (BBE))
The child was Sampson. Sampson was born as a chosen one of God destined to defeat the Philistines after the Philistines had ruled his people for 40 years. God had led them to be under the Philistines, and Sampson was his way to remove them from the Philistine rule.
We have all heard stories of Sampson's strength. His strength was brought on as needed to serve God's will. As long as Sampson remained the Lord's, he was gifted the power of the Lord.
We may not be Sampson, but is it impossible to consider that we are also God's tool? He empowers us in language, skill, strength, etc., to serve him as he desires. As a child of God and a believer in Jesus Christ, you have gifts to offer the world. You may have had a time when you were amazed that you could accomplish something. That could be an example of when you were given whatever was needed at that moment.
Prayer:
Father, I am only a person trying to be my best. But I do believe there have been many times when I surprised myself with what I could do. I don't know that I took a moment to thank you for these gifts and these moments. I most likely, without a thought, took credit for them. That was probably an error on my part. As I grow older, I realize that your presence is the anchor of my life and that, as my anchor, you do not tie me down. Instead, you lift me on the waves of life, and you let me drift safely as I learn so that I can accomplish your will. Accept my thanks today for your stability, strength, education, and all the occasions I neglected to thank you. Amen.

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Word of the Day
ANCHOR
Read the scripture in context on the Bible in Basic English (BBE) website.
God, you have gifts to offer the world through me. Please, flow them through me.
Another beautiful prayer, I remember the story of Sampson so well.
Much gratitude to the Creator for our miraculous gifts to serve and love one another. Thank you, Cindy, for passing on the knowledge that we are all created in God's likeness and possess tools to be shared with the World. Sending lots of love.
A good reminder to stop complaining about what the world has done to you and think about what to give back.