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God has gifted each one of us! Halleluiah! He has gifted some of us with leadership, some with administration, some with amazing singing voices, some with the gift of encouragement, the gift of helping, the gift of giving, the gift of knowledge, the gift of mercy, the gift of compassion, and the list goes on and on.
The beauty of these gifts is that they are gifts. We actually get to choose how to use them. We get to decide if we want to use our gifts and if we decide to use them, we get to decide who they benefit.
The temptation here is to use our gifts for personal gain. Our society teaches us to look out for number one. To put ourselves at the center of our world. To make things happen for ourselves…after all, if we don’t help ourselves, who is going to do it?
I want to challenge this way of thinking. What is the ultimate goal to personal gain? A better car? A better house? More success? More power? More influence? A better title?
Ultimately, will those things make you a better person? In the big scheme of things, when we get to the end of this life and we stand before our Father in heaven, will He be impressed with those things? I think I can safely say, No. Let me give you an example. There are many gifted singers out there today. They are extremely wealthy, famous, powerful and successful. But have they used their gifts to honor God? Have they used their platform to turn people to God’s goodness? No, many of them have used their gifts for self-glorification, money, fame and power. There are no eternal rewards for those things. Their only rewards will be the earthly rewards of money, fame and power and those things end when their time on earth ends with no hope of heavenly rewards.
When we use the gifts that He has given us for His glory, that is when life gets really exciting. God’s anointing comes on our gifts and adds a supernatural strength to the gift that He has already given us! How exciting is that! When we seek Him and His plans. When we let Him lead us. When we wait on Him to give us instruction, His power is seen through our giftings.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve tried for many years to walk through this life on my own. I’ve tried to push things around and make things happen. I’ve lived for self-gratification. I’ve lived for success and for financial gain - always thinking that one of those things would bring true satisfaction, but they’ve always come up short.
When we shift our mindsets away from self and onto the glory of God, that is when peace and satisfaction grip our heart. When we invite God into everything we do and when we trust Him we start to feel contentment. Who could use a little contentment right now?
When King Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:7-8) was being threatened and mocked by the King of Assyria (who hated God), Hezekiah (who loved God and followed God) spoke these words to his people: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.”
When we use our giftings for God, His great power will be with us! What is God calling you to do that can only be done with your gifting + His power and anointing!!! Do it…be strong and courageous…do not be afraid or discouraged!
