To really live, fully live and feel alive, we have to find our passion... we have to use our gifts to serve. And we all come equipped for at least one thing that is THE thing that will pull and draw us to finally selflessly serve & give to others and will simultaneously draw us closer to Christ. By the way, serving is simply doing what He has already made you good at to make someone else’s life better!
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:6-8)
Sometimes the way we become aware of that gift comes quite unexpectedly. It may not be what you ever even knew you had a heart and burden for, or ever considered that you would be good at... sometimes it’s revealed because we decided to step outside our comfort zone one day, we go along with our family or small group to join others at a homeless shelter, or decide to adopt a single mom and her family at the holidays, or we pitch hit for a friend who is sick and can’t pull her Mobile Meals route one day, and WHAM - your heart becomes both broken for what you see the needs are around you and at the same time it is joyful and you somehow feel more excited and fulfilled than you have in years – if ever before!
Identifying what your gifts are can be gained from close introspection of yourself, how you react to certain situations, by taking a spiritual gifts assessment (of which there are plenty online, and in most churches), sometimes God simply reveals it to you with a resounding clarity during a mission trip, walking through a difficult season of life with a friend , any number of experiences where you spend selfless time... God will use that time to hone your gifts and reveal them to you and to others.
And no, you aren’t the exception, a person with no visible gifts, you were not left out, EVERYONE has been gifted with talents. If we are made in His image we contain His love, compassion, and concern… He would not command us to do His work without giving us what we need to do it!
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Discover them:
1. Take a gifts test to determine how God has gifted you. They are easy to search on the internet or your home church may already have one. Also ask yourself what gives you life? What makes you happy to do? What are you good at? What do your friends think you are especially good at?
2. Make a list of your top two or three spiritual gifts you score the highest on. What ways do you already use those gifts? Look for ways you can serve God and others that highlight these strengths. Think about the things that cause you concern in your world.
4. If there are things you’re currently committed to and perhaps not gifted in, you may need to cut back a little so you can make time to really use your gifts. If you are doing something just because, truly begin seeking that new passion – it may be right under your nose!
1 Corinthians 12:4 (New Living Translation)
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.
Romans 11:29 (New Living Translation)
For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.
Whatever you do seek and use your gifts. Think about it this way - if you gave a gift to someone that you really thought so long and hard over, that you went through the trouble matched up a gift for someone with everything you knew about their likes, their dislikes, their personality, what you thought would benefit them the most, and they never used it, no doubt you’d be disappointed . . . How much more so must God, who uniquely created and gifted each one of us, eagerly desire to see us use our gifts!? He’s passionate for you, be passionate for funding the purpose He created you for!
