WEBVTT - A Prayer to Wisely Steward Our Resources

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<v Speaker 1>Life Audio. Thank you for listening to your Daily Prayer,

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<v Speaker 1>a podcast dedicated to helping you find the words you

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<v Speaker 1>need to connect with your Father in Heaven. No matter

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<v Speaker 1>what is going on in your life today, you can

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<v Speaker 1>trust that God wants to hear from you. Right after

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<v Speaker 1>this short word from our sponsor, you will pray to

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<v Speaker 1>today's prayer to wisely steward our resources. Together. A Prayer

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<v Speaker 1>to wisely Steward Our Resources written by Sophia Briger read

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<v Speaker 1>by Kerrie Eichberger. Produce fruit in keeping with repentance, and

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<v Speaker 1>do not begin to say to yourselves we have Abraham

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<v Speaker 1>as our father. For I tell you that out of

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<v Speaker 1>these stones God can raise up children. For Abraham, the

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<v Speaker 1>axe is already at the root of the trees, and

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<v Speaker 1>every tree that does not produce good fruit will be

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<v Speaker 1>cut down and thrown into the fire. What should we do, then,

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<v Speaker 1>the crowd asked, John answered, anyone who has two shirts

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<v Speaker 1>should share with the one who has none, and anyone

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<v Speaker 1>who has food should do the same. Look three verses

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<v Speaker 1>eight through eleven. I frowned at the expiration date printed

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<v Speaker 1>on the package. There were only four eggs left, which

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<v Speaker 1>meant my family had eaten most of the dozen, but

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<v Speaker 1>I still looked at the remaining shapes in the package,

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<v Speaker 1>thinking of how they could have been used in a meal.

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<v Speaker 1>Waste not, want not is an old saying that has

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<v Speaker 1>become somewhat of a cliche, but I could not help

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<v Speaker 1>thinking of what my grandmother and mother used to say

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<v Speaker 1>while I tossed the expired eggs into the trash. Usually,

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<v Speaker 1>I make it a habit to utilize what we have,

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<v Speaker 1>knowing how difficult it can be to have enough. This time,

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<v Speaker 1>the date had crept up on me. Images of families

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<v Speaker 1>in my town and around the world flashed in my mind.

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<v Speaker 1>So many people on Earth, individuals who are made in

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<v Speaker 1>God's image, struggled to obtain sufficient food, and yet here

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<v Speaker 1>I was throwing away surplus and had expired guil nagged

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<v Speaker 1>me as I cooked dinner. Scripture tells us that those

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<v Speaker 1>who have more than enough have a responsibility to share

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<v Speaker 1>what they have with those in need. John the Baptist

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<v Speaker 1>included this instruction when he addressed the crowds who came

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<v Speaker 1>to him seeking baptism. True repentance leads to transformation and character,

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<v Speaker 1>and in effect action, the Lord had already revealed this

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<v Speaker 1>principle to his people Israel, such as in the command

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<v Speaker 1>to love one's neighbor, not taking a person since cloak

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<v Speaker 1>as a pledge, or refraining from harvesting a field a

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<v Speaker 1>second time were practical applications of this command. Likewise, in

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<v Speaker 1>the early Church, Christ followers regularly use their resources to

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<v Speaker 1>bless those around them. They shared what they had with

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<v Speaker 1>those in need. Such generosity came from the Holy Spirit's

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<v Speaker 1>work as he produced the spiritual fruit of love and

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<v Speaker 1>kindness in their lives. Since they had been washed and

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<v Speaker 1>made new by the Spirit, the priorities of their lives

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<v Speaker 1>looked different from what they had been before they knew Jesus,

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<v Speaker 1>they had been transformed. For Christ followers today, the same

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<v Speaker 1>call remains. We are to act justly and to love mercy,

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<v Speaker 1>and to walk humbly with your God. Wisely using what

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<v Speaker 1>we have to help others is a natural overflow of

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<v Speaker 1>our relationship with the Lord. We will care for the

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<v Speaker 1>poor and feed the hungry as if we were directly

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<v Speaker 1>caring for ours. So let us give thanks for the

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<v Speaker 1>resources we have, whether great or small, And if we

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<v Speaker 1>already have enough to meet our basic needs, let us

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<v Speaker 1>not waste what we have, but rather find ways to

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<v Speaker 1>share with others. In doing so, we honor the one

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<v Speaker 1>who has given us more than we could ever imagine

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<v Speaker 1>or deserve. Let's pray, Lord, forgive me for the times

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<v Speaker 1>I have wasted my resources. I live in a society

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<v Speaker 1>that values gaining more and often more than I need,

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<v Speaker 1>while at the same time promoting wastefulness. As I lean

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<v Speaker 1>into my relationship with you, help me to reorient my

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<v Speaker 1>priorities around what you care about. Justice, mercy, compassion, love

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<v Speaker 1>and kindness. Produce in me by your Holy Spirit, the

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<v Speaker 1>actions that come from faith. Let me live with contentment,

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<v Speaker 1>being thankful for the necessities you provide. Let me live

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<v Speaker 1>with open hands and an open heart, so that I

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<v Speaker 1>am quick to think of others when I utilize my resources.

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<v Speaker 1>Guide me to how I might give from any area

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<v Speaker 1>of surplus to bless those in need and in every circumstance.

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<v Speaker 1>And I care for others as if I were directly

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<v Speaker 1>serving You, my Savior and your name, Jesus, I pray Amen.

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