Corona Devo 687

King David dedicated all these gifts to the Lord, as he did with the silver and gold from the other nations he had defeated… ~2 Samuel 8:11

King David was a man's man. We've all been given different gifts, talents, and abilities from the Lord, and one of David's was military courage and strength.

God gives us our gifts, not for our glory, but for His. And David fought hard in the name of the Lord. The list of David's victories and spoils over God's enemies was long and filled many graves (for example, see 2 Samuel 8:1-6).

But David was doing what God created him to do. And he was dedicating His gifts to the Lord.

Military strength might not be our gift, but something is, and most likely, we have a variety of areas that God has "gifted" us in so that we might glorify His name, and dedicate our gifts to the Lord.

The question I hear scripture asking today is, "Are we dedicating all these gifts to the Lord?" (2 Samuel 8:11).

Lord, may we stop for a moment to realize the areas of influence and ability that You have blessed us with, and may we dedicate all these gifts to You. Amen.

One of my best friends has journeyed a life-path crowded with health issues over the years. One issue and condition after another seems to burden her body and yet she dedicates her gifts to the Lord along the jagged way. Her parents were both great cooks and she inherited that love and gift of food. She labors to make her family beautiful meals and she shows up to most doctor's appointments, treatments and even surgeries with a pan of goodies for the doctors and nurses serving her. But she is doing what God created her to do. And she is dedicating her gifts to the Lord.

My husband and son have a good time making videos and posting on Twitter. They both have gifts in graphic design and also creativity.  But what turns people's Twitter-heads is the kindness in their posts and the encouragement in their follow-up-tweets to others.   The online world knows ridicule and cynicism but you just don't find kindness everywhere.  You do find it in Jesus, however, and my guys are doing what God created them to do and they are dedicating their gifts to the Lord.

Family friends of ours have a zest for the Lord and a heart for helping others. For many years they used their financial, emotional, administrative and spiritual gifts to run a recovery ranch for women trying to "get back on track". It sounds "lovely", but the reality is it's hard work helping others to maneuver messy pasts meshing with hopeful futures and starting fresh with Jesus. But they invested their hearts and gifts to provide a safe place to have-a-second-chance. Just like Jesus does with us, over and over again. They were doing what God created them to do and they were dedicating their gifts to the Lord.

What has God created us to do?  Do you like to write, sew, sing, visit, paint, fix things, teach, garden, mentor, organize, coach, sponsor, hug?  We have all been gifted in different ways by our Heavenly Father to shine for our Heavenly Father. 

God gives us our gifts, not for our glory, but for His.

King David dedicated all these gifts to the Lord, as he did with the silver and gold from the other nations he had defeated… ~2 Samuel 8:11

If we are not dedicating all these gifts (or any of them) to the Lord, then today is the day to start figuring out how.

We just aren't living up to our Godly potential until we do.  And we'll know it when it happens.  When we are using our gifts as God intended us to, and for His glory, it feels similar to a sprinter hitting full stride, a singer hitting the perfect note, and being loved within a family.  It just feels right, because we are doing what God created us to do and we're dedicating our gifts to Him.

Lord, may we stop for a moment today to realize the areas of influence and ability that You have blessed us with, and may we dedicate all these gifts to You. Amen.

Blessings, 

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 

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