The Fine Art of Bestowing
Testimony★★★★Our Father, as we bow our heads and humble our hearts, we gratefully acknowledge thy presence. In thee we live and move and have our being. We give thee thanks for the privilege of worship. When doubts harass us and we are unaware of thy care and concern, help us to know that round our restlessness flows thy rest, that in the midst of our weakness is thy strength.
When we think we are free from any thought of things eternal, something within us challenges us to be better and greater than we are. Save us from foolish choices made through our lack of complete knowledge both of ourselves and of thee. Because we know thou art good and wise, we offer thee both what we are and have. As unworthy as we are of it, give us that blessedness which goes far beyond our understanding, but which happily can be a part of our experience.
We know that what we have belongs to thee, having come to us as thy gift. 453 Teach us, we pray, the fine art of bestowing what is ours, even when it belongs to thee, so that our talents, our possessions and our lives will all be in tune with thy purposes for us and all mankind.
In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.
The point
A prayer acknowledging God's presence, seeking rest, strength, and wisdom, and asking to learn the fine art of returning our talents, possessions, and lives to God's purposes.