Listen

If your gift is prophecy, you should prophesy in proportion to your faith. If your gift is service, devote yourself to serving. If your gift is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. If your gift is encouragement, devote yourself to encouraging. The one giving should do it with no strings attached. The leader should lead with passion. The one showing mercy should be cheerful.

Romans 12:6b-8

Think

This list of gifts is a nice reminder that everyone is different. That each person has something unique to share. But the part that is interesting to me is the way it is written. Paul urges the readers to LEAN IN to their gifts. If your gift is teaching – then, by golly – be an amazing teacher! If you are an encourager – then be the best darn encourager you can be.

In other words – OWN YOUR GIFTS. Forget about envying the gifts of others. Do what makes your heart sing! Lean into your own God-given strengths and gifts. If God gave you the gifts, the dreams, the abilities – then using those to their fullest glorifies God! The key is to remember that belonging to God is our first and greatest purpose. When we do that first – then using our God-given gifts to their fullest is our gift back to God.

And if you aren’t sure what your gifts are? That’s OK! Follow your interests. Explore what makes you happy. Who knows what you might discover?!

Amy Derrick

Pray

God, I want my first purpose always to be knowing you and loving you. Help me to seek you first – always.

And then, God, help me to see who you have created me to be. Help me to discover the gifts you’ve given me – and grant me the courage to lean into them.

Amen.

Go

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!