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The following content is the main page content.Mid-day Prayers
Midday prayers 2012: Your Gift? Discover & Celebrate!
February
Using our Gifts
Monday: Opening our gifts
God’s gifts are not to be left wrapped, put on the shelf and admired from afar. The wrapping is to be eagerly torn off, the contents examined, instructions read and the purpose of the gift thoroughly explored.
We come to our Heavenly Father
with spiritual hands open.
We receive with thanks
the gifts he places into them.
With gratitude we receive our gifts.
In faith we open our gifts
looking to God to show us their use;
trusting in him to explain
his loving instructions.
In faith we open our gifts.
With joy we learn to use our gifts
delighting in their function;
employing them to serve others;
doing all for the glory of God.
With joy we use our gifts.
Amen
All of the gifts are produced by one and the same Spirit.
He gives them to each person, just as he decides.
1 Corinthians 12:11
Tuesday: Eagerly using our gifts
Our loving Father has chosen his gifts to us for our delight and his purposes.
Let us eagerly embrace the plans has for their use; not holding back or envying the gifts of others.
Loving Father,
we delight in the gifts you have chosen for us;
we readily place them at your behest.
Eager for opportunities to use them;
to play our part in your loving plans.
We will not hide away our gifts
like talents buried underground,
never to see the light of day.
We will seek out ways to employ your gifts
to enhance the lives of your people;
to lessen the sufferings of those in need;
to contribute to making a better world.
We will uncover our gifts;
eagerly bring them into the light,
to be used for the glory of God.
Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you.
1 Corinthians 14:1
Wednesday: Using our gifts well
Our gifts from God are not given in full bloom; they need to be cultivated through use. But as we develop their promise, others will be blessed and we will know deep fulfilment.
Lord, we thank you for your blessings,
given to us in buds of gifting,
ready to blossom and bear fruit
as we set our hearts
to using them well.
May the Holy Spirit work in us
to develop our abilities,
our creativity and personal qualities,
that we may reach the full potential
of all you have bestowed upon us.
Holy Spirit,
nurture our desire
to use your gifts well;
for the blessing of others
and our delight.
To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given,
and they will have an abundance.
Matthew 25:29
Thursday: Using our gifts together
No matter how many gifts we have and how proficient we are in their use, we still benefit from those of others. We need to share our gifts together for the greater good.
Lord,
we each have some gifts,
but none of us has them all.
We each have something to contribute to others,
and equally something to receive from them in turn.
We each need each other,
and our lives are impoverished
if we attempt to go it alone.
You call us all to be part of your body
with a unique role to play within that,
but by the same token we belong to an interdependent whole
in which every member is of vital importance.
Teach us, then,
not only to exercise our own gifts wisely
but at the same time to appreciate those of others,
and so may we grow together,
building one another up in love,
to the glory of your name.
Amen
Nick Fawcett: Prayers for all Seasons (Kevin Mayhew 1998)
We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.
Romans 12:5-6
Friday: Using our gifts faithfully
God seeks those who are trustworthy in the use of their gifts. It is not on the size of our gift that we are judged but on our faithfulness in using it. As we give tirelessly we receive greater blessing from God.
Lord, you have given us the gift of life.
Let us faithfully use it to be a light to the world.
Lord, you have given us the gift of time.
Let us tirelessly use it in ways that further your kingdom.
Lord, you have given us the gift of love.
Let us selflessly use it to bring hope and joy to others.
Lord you have given us gifts unique to ourselves;
some clearly visible, others unseen to the many.
Whatever gifts we have received from you
let us be faithful in using them well.
Amen
Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling
this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities.
Let’s celebrate together!
Matthew 25:21
Saturday: Using our gifts to glorify God
In all our delight and fulfilment in using our precious gifts we have one ultimate aim - to glorify the giver, our generous Heavenly Father. All that we do and achieve should be for the glory of God.
We have received the gift of life;
may the way that we live bring glory to God.
We have received the gift of creation;
may our stewarding of nature bring glory to God.
We have received the gift of relationships;
may our care for each other bring glory to God.
We have received manifold abilities;
may our use of our talents bring glory to God.
Generous Giver, Holy God,
we glorify your name.
Amen
Everything should be done in a way that will bring honour to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:11
Wave of Prayer for Mothers’ Union
Lord, we pray for
Mothers’ Union worldwide.
Today we pray for the people and work of:
1 - 5 Nigeria: Kabba & Bida; Southern Africa: Lebombo & Niassa;
Uganda: Kampala; Canterbury: Bath & Wells
6 - 10 Southern Africa: Natal; Central Africa: Northern Malawi & Luapula;
Uganda: Mityana; Nigeria: Oke-Osun; Canterbury: Birmingham
11 - 15 Southern Africa: Free State; Nigeria: Ibadan North & Nsukka;
West Africa: Sekondi; Rwanda: Shyogwe; York: Blackburn
16 - 20 Uganda: Busoga; Southern Africa: Mthatha & Umzimvubu;
Nigeria: Jalingo & Kubwa; Sudan: El Obeid; York: Bradford
21 - 25 Southern Africa: Matlosane & Johannesburg; Nigeria: Oturkpo;
Melanesia: Banks & Torres; Uganda: West Ankole;
Canterbury: Bristol
26 – 29 The World Wide President and Provincial Presidents, All Trustees & Mothers Union Committee Members
A moment of silence is kept.
We bring before God our prayers for the world and ourselves.
Intercessions
Final Blessing
We leave this place
rejoicing in our heavenly gifts;
eager to use them well
for the glory of God.
Amen