Handle WIth Care

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

—Galatians 5:13 NIV

Dear Lord Jesus,

How can we praise you enough for your blessings?  Most of the time we focus on our needs or what we haven’t seen accomplished.  We pray our vision becomes one which recognizes every perfect work you do each day.  We pray for you to open our eyes so that we recognize your precious work not only in our hearts, but also in others. We pray not only for our needs. We all have loved ones who don’t know you—illnesses which hang on—physical pain that weakens—emotional pain that wounds—despair that can lead to depression. Lord, we seek you to change us. We yearn for more of you—to surrender our rights—to be your temple—to become the potential that you see. All of these and more, we lay at your blessed feet.  Broken and spilled out, we come, Lord. You were broken and spilled out for us. Now healed by your love at Calvary, we lay these needs upon your strong shoulders, and rise to peace and victory in your presence.  Fill us with your power, Holy Spirit, and with humility to handle each spiritual gift you impart with great wisdom. Guided by you with care and discernment, your gifts can heal a breaking heart—encourage a struggling soul—raise a life to walk in newness of life. The potential is limitless.

Keep us humble in your power, Lord Jesus. We have the capacity to speak hope and life. We also have the capacity to speak discouragement and death. Our actions and reactions can either encourage life or offer death. We are either a blessing or a curse to someone else. It is our choice to live a surrendered life—to honor another person’s heart more than our own. When we choose you, Lord, your Spirit is ours. You impart your life to us without reservation. But with the power you impart, comes the responsibility to handle your spiritual gifts with respect and caring—with grace and compassion.  When living the freedom of your power, it can be so easy to indulge the flesh—suddenly to find that we are not surrendered to you but to our own desires. Make us broken so we can be healed, filled, empowered, but always broken in your humility. Continually make our surrender your power. Never let us make it greater or less than your purpose. But always as you wish. 

Copyright © 2017 Lynn Lacher