Blessed to Be a Blessing

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below. She went and told the man of God, and he said, Go, sell the oil and pay your debts.

You and your sons can live on what is left. Blessed to be a Blessing, written by Nancy Gaviannis During my years as a journalist, I enjoyed telling other people's stories, but I was trained to not share my own opinions. So years after I had felt God call me out of my journalism career, when I increasingly felt God directing me to write a blog and speak about Him, I was a little nervous about sharing my thoughts, especially about my faith. As I started blogging, I was afraid I'd run out of things to say. But week after week, I found encouraging words and insights to share. The more I wrote, the more ideas flowed.

The same is still true now. I have witnessed in my own life how God has filled me with more joy and inspiration when I've poured out my gifts and talents to serve others. In 2 Kings, we read about a poor widow who went to the prophet Elisha for help. Her late husband's creditor wanted to seize her two sons. All she had at home was a small jar of olive oil. The prophet instructed her to collect empty jars from her neighbors and to keep pouring oil into the containers. They brought the jars to her, and she kept pouring. She kept pouring until all the jars were miraculously filled.

She could pay her family's debts with the extra oil. God is faithful and always provides. He's blessed us with gifts and talents and resources to be a blessing to others. Let's not hide or dismiss our gifts, but use them for His glory.

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness and provision even when our resources seem small. Help us to trust in Your abundance and use the gifts You've given us to bless others and bring glory to Your name. Thank You, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. As you go about your day, reflect on these questions.