Discover God's Dream For You By Jennie AllenSample

Thread of Gifts (Part 2)

As a child I had strengths in leadership that were clear to my family, and at times to me. But when I was saved and filled with the Spirit at seventeen years old, God took my natural abilities to gather younger girls, and I began to teach my Bible. I taught-strike that-I preached. I had a new supernatural gift of teaching. I had never seen it before, and it just poured out of me.

Now my natural abilities were being used supernaturally for God’s purposes, and the Spirit was giving me a new gift that I could use to show his glory more fully on this earth.

Let me be clear. I can only see this now because I’m in my mid-thirties looking back on that time. When I was first experiencing it, I was uncertain and insecure, and had no idea what the words spiritual gifts even meant. I can promise you my gifts were wild and undeveloped. I was seventeen, for crying out loud. Discovering and growing in our giftings is a lifelong journey. Maybe you have seen hints of your gifts, maybe it is perfectly clear to you, or maybe you think you have nothing good to offer.

If you are wrestling with identifying and naming your gifts, please know God is not holding out on you. We each have unique gifts that God wants to reveal and unleash for his glory.

While I can look back and see the sparks of God growing and revealing my gifts and abilities, for most of the last decade I have been focused on changing diapers and cooking chicken rather than growing in my gifts. Legitimate fears and insecurities also held me back. As you begin the process of discovery, I want to take the pressure off. I don’t know what is around the corner for you, and I possess no magic formula to twist God’s arm and have him tell you. But may I encourage you, dig a little. Go under the hood and see what is in you-what God has given you to bring him glory. With God’s Word, prayer, space to think, and community, you never know what might happen.

Respond:

What did your parents or friends tell you that you were good at growing up?

What do you imagine God could do through you if you really knew and used your gifts?

Adapted from Restless Bible Study Guide by Jennie Allen