Prayer: Lord, please help me to rejoice in the gifts You have given to me. May I use them well to serve You and Your people. Thank You for putting me in the perfect school and with the exact people and students where I can be used by You. I pray each one accepts Jesus as Savior. Thank You. Amen

Scripture: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Romans 12:3-8 NIV

Dear Lord, I’m not happy with myself. I see other teachers doing such creative things, and I can’t draw or paint like they do, so my room doesn’t look that special. Denise’s room is all decorated like a deep sea scene, and my room feels so plain in comparison. And Andy – he always comes up with tremendous outdoor activities. He taught the students courage by taking them rock climbing. But I don’t like to climb or hike, Lord!  And Jennifer! She’s so talented with electronics, and she videos her students with such amazing results.

I am so boring Lord! But I can’t change! What are you saying? That you’ve given each of us different gifts and we’re to use them? You’re reminding me that I’m a wonderful listener and that parents open up and tell me things the school has never known because they trust me? You’re telling me that You love the way I encourage students and make them feel wiser and safer?

Thank You, Lord. Help me appreciate the gifts You did give me and not be sorrowful about others who have different gifts. Help me use my gifts well, today, Lord. And help me appreciate others without comparing myself to them.

Copyright Cheryl Skid. To connect with the author, email cskid@ceai.org

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