Romans 12:6-8 “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”

Unfortunately, you didn’t come with a label identifying all your capabilities and gifts. The owner’s manual doesn’t give the specifics we would all like to have. If you have been fortunate enough to discover or identify your gift(s), then you are ready to begin. If not, it need not be a difficult task to figure out exactly what it is God has purposed for you. Passion is the key to understanding your gift. Passion reveals what is in the heart and is the thing that will most quickly stir you to action. First, identify what cause, group or circumstance instantly gets your blood pumping. That passion is what  fuels your gift. Next, consider what you or others have noticed that you can do better than the average person without even trying. What comes natural to you? Are you a natural leader? Are you always the first to volunteer when someone is needed to serve? These are all signposts that will guide you to your gift. Lastly, the skills you have developed in your life will allow you to see how to plug your gift in to get the greatest impact!  Now…it’s time to take your gift out of its box and put it to work!

Pray: “Father God, I do not desire to see my gift go to waste or have it sit neglected and wasting away. Lord, help me today to piece together my passion, my gift and my abilities to get a clear picture of what you have prepared for me. Let me not, I pray, see any of what you have purposed for me not come to pass or see any of my gift wasted. Thank you for my gift…thank you for my purpose…and thank you for trusting me enough to make the most of what I have been given. In my Lord and brother’s mighty and matchless name I pray – Amen.”