Skip to main content

To Fulfill Your Destiny, Use Your Gifts

To Fulfill Your Destiny, Use Your Gifts:
"Each of us, as a good manager of God's different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God." (1 Peter 4:10 TEV)
Do you know what God created you for? Do you know what your destiny is?
The first thing you must do to understand your destiny is to recognize the gifts God has given you to use. They include the things you can't control: your parents, your nationality, your race, your first language. They also include your S.H.A.P.E.: your spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences. These are the things that make you uniquely you.
Now, you are not responsible for the gifts God didn't give you. In other words, if you are not artistically gifted, you are not expected to paint pictures like Rembrandt. But you are responsible for the ones he did give you.
When you get to Heaven, God isn't going to compare you with anyone else, but he will compare you with yourself. What did you do with what you were given? What could you have done if you had trusted God a little bit more? Romans 14:12 says, "Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God" (NIV).
God has given you gifts for a purpose. And you have a responsibility to be a good steward of those gifts - not for selfish uses, but for the good of others. Your gifts are not for your benefit. God gave you gifts for the benefit of other people. Ask yourself, "What has God given me for good to use for good?"
Talk About It
If you haven't already, take the time to learn your S.H.A.P.E. - your spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences.
How has God uniquely gifted you?
Are there any gifts with which God has not gifted you but that you have mistakenly spent time pursuing?

Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and most influential churches. Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller "The Purpose Driven Life." His book, "The Purpose Driven Church," was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also the founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors.
This devotional ©2012 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

RE: End of Year Function 2012

Hi bros and sisters   I think people will still travel on Saturday anyway to different destinations, so they can travel to Athlone Girls for our Christmas party. Personally, I think we should do the party on Saturday as original arranged and let Sunday be exclusively reserved for our praise and worship service.   Saturday we just party and have a good time!   Kind Regards   Henry Mnguni Sales Executive   Rivonia Toyota Office:        011 275 1699 Mobile:       082 325 5593 Fax2Email: 086 242 8226   C/O Rivonia Road            & Witkoppen Rivonia Crossing Sunninghill   From: Maswuma, Nelson T [mailto:nmaswuma@beckman.com] Sent: 18 October 2012 11:24 AM To: Paulin Kantue; Barnabas Chukweke; Bertha Chukweke; Henry Mnguni; Henry Mnguni; Henry Mnguni; fatamathebula@gmail.com...

Now faith...

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1). Often times I believe that I have faith by what I say and think. But the more I meditate on this scripture, I see that 'being sure' comes with your body language when that situation is mentioned. You don't drop ur head; you still have a bounce in your step. Everything about you says you have a positive attitude towards that situation. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6). So it goes on a step further and says without that positive attitude and bounce in your step, God will not be pleased. For the source of that confidence comes from acknowledging God's presence in our lives and Him able to do beyond what we can imagine. "Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Is...

Affirming in Disagreement

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. -  Proverbs 15:1 Do you know how to affirm your spouse even when you disagree? It's a big step in learning how to have meaningful conversations. Take this example: A wife has shared that she is hurt by something her husband has done, and he responds, "I appreciate your sharing your ideas and feelings with me. Now I can understand why you could feel so hurt. If I were in your shoes, I'm sure I would feel the same way. I want you to know that I love you very much, and it hurts me to see you upset. I appreciate your being open with me." This husband has learned the art of affirming his wife even though he may not agree with her perception. Of course, he has a perspective and will eventually share it, but first, he wants his wife to know that he understands what she is saying and can identify with her pain. He is not condemning her interpretation, nor is he telling her that she should not feel up...