Don't you just love when you can see one's passion and calling intertwine with each other? It's one of the most captivating images. When you see one's passion and calling come together, you realize this person is exactly where he or she needs to be-right here, right now. Because it's in those same few moments that your eyes are opened to just how alive they are. Folks, when our passions and our callings come together, we glow with the glory of God. It's the perfect combination.
When God made you, He knew exactly what He was doing.
When God made you, He smiled because He was the one who breathed life into you.
When God made you, He blessed you.
When God made you, He gifted you.
You.
The gifts that God gives you must be put to use! For none but His glory and His glory alone.
Some of you may be reading this and thinking that spiritual gifts don't apply to you.
Ah, but they do. And you've got some, believe it or not.
So how do we discover our gifts?
The list of spiritual gifts is endless. We discover more about ourselves as time moves forward- gifts included.
Self-reflect. Think of experiences that have changed your life. Why did they change your life? What stood out to you? What was your role in that experience?
Spend time in the Word. What are some of your favorite Bible stories or Scriptures? Who are some of your favorite Bible characters? What characteristics do you have in common with them?
Spend time in prayer. Ask God to open your eyes so that the gifts He has blessed you with may be revealed to you.
Practice. Think of the things that you're good at and do them more often.
There are truly no limits to what God can and cannot do through you.
Sometimes, when we know that we're good at something we become afraid to actually do it because we scare ourselves out of it. AKA, we allow Satan to talk us out of it. Don't do this. Walk in confidence and use what your good at for the glory of God and the expansion of His kingdom.
Are you social? Reach out to people more often and allow yourself to flourish in the community God has placed you in. Expand your community.
Are you a leader? Take your passions to the next level. Find people who share the same passion as you and dream ideas to life. Grow leaders within your community.
Are you a speaker? Speak!
Are you a writer? Write!
Are you an artist? Create!
One of the most important and rewarding things about discovering your spiritual gifts is talking to your community and asking them what they think your gifts might be. A lot of the time, people learn things about us that we don't even know about ourselves. There's a reason for that. God uses us in ways that we aren't even aware of! Because this is about Him- not us.
One of the blog posts on Whole this week centered around just how tiny we are, but the ways in which God can use us have no size limit! With that being said, pray for God to use you in small ways, and pray for God to use you in large and mighty ways. And in any way that God may use you, pray that it is life-changing for you and those around you.
No matter who you are, you are gifted in more ways than one. Accept this truth and share it with others.
One of the greatest blessings God has gifted us all with is that of community. When we come together as the body of believers and combine our gifts as one, the ways in which God will use us for His glory are taken to a whole new level.
It's exciting.
It's exhilarating.
And it's all for His kingdom purposes.
When God made you, He created a beautiful piece of art.
When God made you, He intended to use His art in many special ways.
And He'll do just that.
"In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t. If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face."
(Romans 12:6-8, The Message)