CreatedSample

You--yes, YOU, have been created to do good works! When God created you, He had a plan for your life that was good, a plan that would bring your passions, dreams and personality into perfect harmony. Everything within you has been designed to do good works and to reflect God’s glory and goodness, though that may not always be our reality.

Sometimes we have passions and gifts, but as we are influenced by the struggles and pleasures of life, our God-given gifts might become misused, misguided or ignored. Maybe you used to love singing but some negative comments shook your confidence. Or perhaps you’re really good at persuading people, but if you’re honest with yourself, you sometimes use that skill to manipulate people. When we walk with God, however, and surrender to His plan for us, He will begin to redirect and encourage us to use the gifts He’s given us for good works.

Think of Paul in the New Testament: he was a passionate man who believed he knew the old testament scriptures well, but his misdirected passion meant that he was killing Christians for believing in Jesus! When Paul finally had an encounter with Jesus, in a miraculous way, his passion and life was completely transformed by the love of Jesus. He became a key character for the spreading of the Gospel and he endured extreme pain, suffering, and hate in order to tell people about the good news of Jesus with pleasure. His knowledge of scripture and his passions were now being used for good works!

So regardless of your current situation or your past, you are never too far gone for God to redirect you on a path where you can thrive and live a good and purposeful life. As you go through today, remember that God made no mistakes when He made you, and He’s always ready to partner with you in doing good works through you, using your passions and talents.

Prayer: God, I thank you because you have blessed me with a combination of passions and talents that are unique to me. Help me to offer the gifts that you have given me back to you and to have the courage to walk with you to do good works with them in Jesus’ name.

Q: Do you think that there are GOOD gifts that God has given you that you might be misusing?

Q: Is there a gift or passion that you’re ignoring because of hurt or fear?