Too many of us underestimate the need others have for us to be us - to live out of our abilities, personality, and experiences. We struggle to accept ourselves as we are, and we have a hard time accepting others as they are.
It's very encouraging to remember that God can use us - our abilities, personality, and experiences to accomplish much good in the world, if we are willing. We beat ourselves up for not being more capable, or having a more winsome personality, or more diverse experiences. We are who we are, and that is enough.
Living in a celebrity age, we compare ourselves to others more famous than us, those that have gotten more recognition than us. We pay too much attention to others with more celebrated abilities, more famous personality, more popular experiences.
We ought to pay more attention to what God is seeking to do in us and through our abilities, personality, and experiences. As we get to know ourself, we become better aware of what we are good at, what we enjoy, and what local difference we could make for good and God. That is a very satisfying direction to head in.
Here's some helpful stuff from the readings today on abilities, personality, and experience:
If you don't make your unique contribution to the Body of Christ, it won't be made. You are a bundle of incredible abilities, an amazing creation of God. Part of the church's responsibility is to identify and release your abilities for serving God. Every ability can be used for God's glory.
You are the only person on earth who can use your abilities. No one else can play your role, because they don't have the unique shape that God has given you. The Bible says that God equips you "with all you need for doing his will."
To discover God's will for your life, you should seriously examine what you are good at doing and what you're not good at. God doesn't waste your abilities; he matches our calling and our capabilities. Peter said, "God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings."
It is obvious that God loves variety - just look around! He created each of us with a unique combination of personality traits. The Bible says, "God works through different people in different ways but it is the same God who achieves his purpose through them all."
The Bible gives us proof that God uses all types of personalities. There is no right or wrong temperament for ministry. We need all kinds of personalities to balance the church and give it flavor. Your personality will affect how and where you use your spiritual gifts and abilities.
It feels good to do what God made you to do. When you minister in a manner consistent with the personality God gave you, you experience fulfillment, satisfaction, and fruitfulness.
You have been shaped by your experiences in life, most of which were beyond your control.
God uses... painful experiences... the most to prepare you for ministry. God never wastes a hurt! In fact, your greatest ministry will likely come out of your greatest hurt. The Bible says, "He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."
If you really desire to be used by God, you must understand a powerful truth: The very experiences that you have resented or regretted most in life - the ones you've wanted to hide and forget - are the experiences God wants to use to help others.
People are always more encouraged when we share how God's grace helped us in our weakness than when we brag about our strengths.
Using your shape is the secret of both fruitfulness and fulfillment in ministry. You will be more effective when you use your spiritual gifts and abilities in the area of your heart's desire, and in a way that best expresses your personality and experiences. The better the fit, the more successful you will be.
What is keeping you from letting God use your uniqueness to help others? Do you need to find a new job? Start a new hobby? Stop beating yourself up for not being somebody else? Allow yourself to enjoy being yourself?
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