GOD DOES NOT LEAVE US EMPTY-HANDED
Recently, I awoke several times in the night with a specific passage on my mind: the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-29. In this well-known story, a wealthy master gives his servants different amounts of money before going on a long journey—one receives five talents, another two, and another just one. The thought that came to mind was that God will never send us out empty-handed. God always equips us for the task we have been given. The two-talent servant is not expected to produce the same output as the five-talent servant. You are never expected to be someone you are not or to do something God has not equipped you to do.
In his leadership books, John Maxwell discusses the law of the lid, which sets a limit on leadership ability. But having a leadership lid, or being a two-talent leader, is no less important. I prefer to call it being uniquely designed for a specific God-given assignment. Keep in mind that the reward for faithfulness is the same for the five-talent and two-talent servant (ref. Matt. 25:21 & 23).
The sad commentary in this story is the one-talent servant. His failure didn’t happen because his portion was small; it happened because of what he chose to do with it. Paralyzed by fear of failure and perhaps convinced that his small asset didn’t matter, he hid it in the ground. When we look at our own lives and claim we don’t have enough talent, time, or money to make a difference, we are essentially saying that God failed to equip us properly. His master called him “wicked and lazy.”
Your hands are not empty. “Little is much when God is in it!” Whatever God has placed in your care today, find an immediate way to use it for His glory. It may require stepping completely out of your comfort zone, sacrificing your personal time, or giving well beyond your current comfort level. Trust His infinite provision, step out in faith, and remember that, no matter how small it may feel, your hands are full of God’s potential!
Thank you for your faithfulness!PRAYER – (Post from my morning journal (July 2, 2025)
While serving as a pastor of a local church, before the church service, a few of us would sometimes gather in a Sunday School room for prayer. Not wanting to go through the motions, I would often pray, “God, give us a spirit of prayer.” Before leaving the room, we felt the presence of the Holy Spirit as people called out to God with a desire to pray.
Yesterday morning, I was reminded of this prayer while reading E.M. Bounds’ devotional, “The Power of Prayer.” He states, “This desire is God given and heaven-born.” Sometimes, we go through the motions of prayer, but today I pray for a “spirit of prayer.” A heartfelt desire to pray. One that the Holy Spirit prompts me to cry out, Abba Father.
God desires and “delights in our prayers” (Proverbs 15:8b).
“Lord, give me the ‘spirit of prayer’ today as I cry Abba Father!”
“And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, ‘Abba Father'” (Galatians 6:4 NLT).
THIRSTY – (Post from my morning journal (June 26, 2025)
While serving as a pastor of a local church, before the church service, a few of us would sometimes gather in a Sunday School room for prayer. Not wanting to go through the motions, I would often pray, “God, give us a spirit of prayer.” Before leaving the room, we felt the presence of the Holy Spirit as people called out to God with a desire to pray.
Yesterday morning, I was reminded of this prayer while reading E.M. Bounds’ devotional, “The Power of Prayer.” He states, “This desire is God given and heaven-born.” Sometimes, we go through the motions of prayer, but today I pray for a “spirit of prayer.” A heartfelt desire to pray. One that the Holy Spirit prompts me to cry out, Abba Father.
“And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, ‘Abba Father'” (Galatians 6:4 NLT).
Every time I come to the well, Jesus is always there. The Apostle Paul tells us that when we are weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9). John records the words of Jesus: “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!” (John 4:38). Jesus is always ready to satisfy our thirst for Him.
This morning, I come to the well that satisfies my thirst and fills my cup until it overflows. “My cup runs over!”
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over” Ps. 23:5 NKJV).
PEACE – Post from my morning journal (June 22, 2025)
Early this morning, I was sitting in the quietness of my home during my devotion time when I heard a jet flying seemly lower than usual over my house. (I live close to a small airport.) Regardless of how any of us feels about the current news that many of us awaken to this morning of the bombing in Iran and Israel, I must admit hearing the sound of the jet gave me an eerie feeling.
I sat quietly for a few seconds as the sound of the jet passed over, and the sound faded away. It made me think about anyone who lives in a war zone and how they must feel as they hear eerie sounds coming from the sky. It made me wonder about the thoughts that traveled through their mind.
The mysterious sound of a low-flying aircraft made me stop and pray, asking God for peace. Today, take a moment to pray for peace in our nation and around the world.
“He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire.Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”(Psalms 46:10,11 NLT)