Live in God's WillSample

                                         Part Three: How Can We Live in God’s Will?

Day 13: Live in God’s will by using your spiritual gifts.

What if someone gave you a special gift that could change your life and the lives around you forever, but you never opened it? Instead, you put the gift in the back of a closet, not even curious to open it. What a waste of a gift! What a sad realization for the person who lovingly gave it to you for your enjoyment! 

So often, we look at the world around us and want things we don’t have. Things that won’t bring joy, satisfaction, or leave an eternal legacy. We want a house with a view. We want a fast car with all the bells and whistles. We want the latest technology and phone. We want glamorous vacations in exotic places. We want a magazine airbrushed body. We don’t realize the gifts God’s given us to live a fulfilling, impactful life according to His will. 

The Spirit endows us with unique spiritual gifts. He’s given us qualities and skills that are meant to glorify God, bless others, and give us unimaginable joy. Spiritual gifts are given by grace, so they are not based on our worthiness or personal abilities. Spiritual gifts include: helping others, administration, evangelism, shepherding, prophecy, service, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership, mercy, words of wisdom, words of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, discernment, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. No one is given every single one of these gifts. This is to remind us that we are only a part of the whole when it comes to being effective for God’s Kingdom. We need to work together. 

The Spirit distributes the gifts as He determines. He will equip us with the gifts we need to accomplish the task He calls us to do. We cannot live in the will of God unless we know our spiritual gifts and use them. We cannot make an eternal impact unless we take steps of faith to explore various spiritual gifts and discover which ones are most impactful to those around us. 

· Do you know what gifts the Spirit has given you? If so, are you using them?

· There is no definitive test that can tell us exactly what our spiritual gifts are, but if you don’t know your gifts, you can take this test online and then discuss it with trusted friends to see if they see these giftings at work through you. You can find links to these tests at the end of the last day of this plan! 

PRAYER:

Holy Spirit, thank You for the gift of Your presence as well as the spiritual gifts You give me so that I can live out God’s will in my life. Continue to confirm what these giftings are and how I should be using them for God’s glory and to help further the gospel. Amen.