Day 23 — Skilled Hands

“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”

— Proverbs 22:29 (BSB)

Think about the guys who are really, really good at what they do: a pro athlete, a master carpenter, a brilliant surgeon, a great musician, an amazing mechanic. How did they get that good?

Some of it is gifts God gave them. But most of it is practice. Thousands of hours of practice. Showing up day after day. Doing the boring drills. Learning from mistakes. Getting a little better every time.

Proverbs says: “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings.”

In Bible times, the most skilled craftsmen, writers and advisors often ended up working for the king. Their skill opened doors. People noticed. And today, it’s still true: when you get really good at something, it opens doors, and gives you more chances to serve and make a difference.

Joseph was skilled at managing things, and he ended up running Egypt. Daniel was skilled at learning and wisdom, and he served kings. David was skilled with a harp and a sling, and both of those skills brought him before King Saul.

So what skills could you be building right now?

• Pick something and practice. An instrument, a sport, drawing, coding, woodworking, writing, cooking or a language.
• Stick with it when it gets hard or boring. That’s when you really grow.
• Find a coach or teacher. Learn from someone who’s better than you.
• Practice for God. Your skill is a gift to use for Him, not just for yourself.
• Be patient. Skill takes time. A lot of time.

But remember: being skilled isn’t about being famous or important. It’s about being faithful with what God has given you. God might put you before kings, or He might put you in a small workshop, a classroom or a hospital, serving people nobody else notices. Either way, skilled work done for Him matters.

Think about it: What skill would you most like to get really good at? What would it take?

Try this: Pick one skill and practice it for at least fifteen minutes every day this week.

Dear God, thank You for the abilities You’ve given me. Help me work hard to build my skills, stick with it when it’s hard, and use my skills to serve You and others, wherever You put me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.