You are gifted! There are many ways to continue to evaluate and grow your spiritual practices. One way is to find our Spiritual Gifts.

 

Ephesians 4:7 “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

 

1 Peter 4:10 “And serve each other according to the gift each person has received, as good managers of God’s diverse gifts.”

The Bible calls these “the gifts of the Spirit.” They are abilities, talents, passions, propensities, that the Holy Spirit works (gifts) into you, and that the Holy Spirit, in turn, works out through you. Jesus said that He gives the Holy Spirit into each person who follows Him. Our United Methodist heritage urges followers of Jesus to live out their faith in their daily life, or, as John Wesley put it, in “holiness of heart and life.” It is through your spiritual giftings that God uses you in your normal, daily life as God’s witness and impact and make a difference in others.

 

1 Corinthians 12:7 “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

 

It is not always clear to us (although it is often very clear to others around us!) what our spiritual giftings may be. It can also be difficult to know how to use our giftings in the best way. Further, although these are gifts given into us, God does expect us to grow in them and develop them each day. 1 Corinthians 12:11 “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” All those who follow Jesus are a part of the same body. We each are a different part, and we each serve a different function. But we all serve together for the same purpose. Check out 1 Corinthians 12. In verse 12 it says, “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” Then, in verse 27 Paul says, “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.” If you read verses 13-27 you will see that Paul affirms the importance of each member. He also declares that we need each member to function properly as a whole body. He says, in verse 26, “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” So, how can you identify, learn about, and serve in your giftings?

 

1) Identify your spiritual gifts: Read: Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, and 12:18. Pray: Asking God to show you what your spiritual gifts may be. Reflect: What are your passions? What attracts your attention? What do you enjoy doing? What do others say you do well? How could these help indicate your spiritual gifts? Ask: Ask others close to you what they think your spiritual giftings may be.

Take: A spiritual gifts inventory to help you identify your gifts. Try this link for one.

 

2) Use them: Experiment. Try serving in different ways that draw upon the spiritual gifts you think might be yours. Listen for confirmation: Others will share feedback with you about your giftings. Change it up: Don’t be afraid to admit the ways you are serving may not necessarily draw upon your spiritual giftings. Serving can always be frustrating and draining, even if drawing upon your giftings. Reflect: What energized or drained you as you served? What did you really enjoy or not?

 

3) Keep Serving! Don’t give up. Keep finding ways of serving in your areas of giftedness. In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) each servant is given talents to invest. The word talent can be either money, or an ability! The parable reveals how important it is to God for each person to invest (use) their talents (giftings). As someone once said, “He who buries his talent is making a grave mistake!”