Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon Your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue” (Exodus 4:10).
Heavenly Father, You know us completely. You know when [we] sit and when [we] rise; You perceive [our] thoughts from afar...You are familiar with all [our] ways (Psalm 139:2-3). You know our strengths and our gifts because they come from You, and You know our weaknesses and our struggles.
You have assured us, kind Father, that [Your] power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Apart from You we can do nothing (John 15:5).
Lord God Almighty, when we, like Moses are painfully aware of our inadequacies, help us to rely on You. Help us to trust You, confident that Christ Himself gave the [gifts and the calling] to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:11-12).
Wherever You have called us Lord, let us hear Your voice speaking calm reassurance into our spirits, impressing on our hearts the message You spoke to Moses, "I will help you...and will teach you what to do." (Exodus 4:15).
We think now of some of the tasks or situations that cause us to be overwhelmed with doubt, and dread and fear. We lift to You those dealing with difficult parenting circumstances—new parents, or those parenting children with medical, neurological, mental, or emotional challenges. O Lord, help them.
We lift to You those who find themselves in new seasons of life, trying to adjust to loss, or sickness, or major change. We lift to You those in new jobs or roles or difficult work circumstances.
We lift to You those who have been uprooted, or transplanted, or thrust into unfamiliar territory. We lift to You those You have called into a new field of ministry, those who are stepping out with great trepidation into the unknown. All the countless others, anxious and unsure, troubled and overwhelmed.
Teach us to walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). Remind us Lord, that though we may not feel "equal to the task", You are more than enough. Fill us with courage, and confidence, strength and endurance, hope and trust.
Teach us to offer You our limitations, trusting that You will bring beauty and joy in place of difficulty and defeat. Teach us to delight in weaknesses knowing that when [we are] weak, then [we are] strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). Thank You for Your power working in and through us. Thank You for Your presence with us all the way.
To the work! To the work! We are servants of God; Let us follow the path that our Master has trod; With the balm of His counsel our strength to renew, Let us do with our might what our hands find to do.
Refrain: Toiling on, toiling on, Toiling on, toiling on; Let us hope, let us watch, And labor till the Master comes.
To the work! To the work! Let the hungry be fed; To the fountain of life let the weary be led; In the cross and its banner our glory shall be, While we herald the tidings, “Salvation is free!”
To the work! To the work! There is labor for all; For the kingdom of darkness and error shall fall; And the love of our Father exalted shall be, In the loud swelling chorus, “Salvation is free!”
~ Frances J. Crosby ~ 1869
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