Encouraging Notes

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ONE STEP AT A TIME!

To each one of us, God has given gifts and talents needed to fulfill his grand purpose for our lives. Without comparing our gifts with others, we must pursue what God has called us to do, one step at a time. As we look at the word of God, we can see that God is very serious about us being faithful with what he has given to us.

Jesus used a parable to help us to understand this very subject. The story he told was of a landowner who was going on a long journey. The man brought his servants together and gave them specific amounts of money called talents to manage. To the first servant, he gave five talents. To the second, he gave two talents, and to the third, he gave one talent. While the master was on his long journey, the first two servants put to work what they had been given and doubled their value. Because of how they used the little they had been given, they were promoted with blessing and greater responsibility. But this was not the case with the third servant. Take a look. 

“Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers so that when I returned, I would have received it back with interest.

28 ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:24-30

God is not concerned with how much you have, but rather what you do with what you have. When God has given us a talent, ability, or resources, doing nothing with it to bring about God’s purposes brings judgment. Understand that God wants you to prosper more than you want to prosper! It is critical that we use what God has given us, even if it seems like it’s not as good as what others have. 

My future does not depend on how I compare with others but on my willingness to, by faith, step out and use what God has given me for his glory. Don’t ever minimize what God has given you! He can multiply whatever you place in his hands! He doesn’t need your ability; he needs your availability! 

Is there something you know God is calling you to do? Does it seem scary and out of reach? Don’t worry about the final destination; take one step, then another step, then another step! You know how to eat an elephant, right? One bite at a time! If you will step out and do what God is calling you to do, you will see that he has you covered! Your best life will unfold before you! In God’s eyes, it is best to do something, anything, lest you do nothing. So, what is God calling you to do? Here is some good advice: Don’t worry and don’t be afraid! Believe God and start putting to work what God has given you. As you do, God will bless what you put your hands to! The secret is to just keep pressing forward… 

ONE STEP AT A TIME!

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