The Hope QuotientSample

The greatest thing about discovering and developing your gifts is that it frees you to be yourself. God hasn’t gifted anybody to do everything. What could be more encouraging than to stop trying to be everybody else?

The first step to discovering your gifts is to recognize you will never possess what you are unwilling to pursue. When the Bible says everyone has a gift, that includes you, even if it does not look like it. So, take the time to pursue the gifts that God has given you. It will change the course and impact of your life. 

Two steps: Evaluate how the gifts listed in Scripture correspond to your own experience. Ask believers who care for you what they think you’re good at. Then experiment by trying out various tasks and jobs. Again, ask believers who care for you how you did. Believe me, they’re dying to tell you.

People say, “I’m waiting for God to tell me what He wants me to do with my life.” That’s not going to happen. You can’t steer a parked car. But if you’re moving, God can steer you. 

Get moving. Could you be the Roof, Soffit, and Gutters Guy at the home-building project? The Soup Mama at the homeless shelter? The Clean-Up Kid at the bake sale? Try stuff. Use all the information you gather to discover how God has wired you. 

God often gives supernatural gifts that match a person’s natural gifts, but He also enjoys giving gifts that seem just the opposite. 

Years ago, a man named Kent Tucker played tight end for UCLA. His fraternity wanted to make him their president, but he was scared to make the two-minute acceptance speech. Then he became a Christian and discovered that God had given him an influencing gift. He went to seminary and became an incredible communicator. In fact, he was the speaker at the camp where my wife became a Christian. 

Sometimes when you dig, you’ll be surprised.

Think Up:

Decide that discovering your God-given gifts is worth pursuing. 

Work hard, dig hard, try a lot of things to find your gifts. (Read on).