The same process we use to shop for new shoes can be used to discover our spiritual gifts. When we go shopping, we visit stores to look at and examine merchandise with the intent to buy. Shopping is an activity of search, selection, acquisition. When shopping for our spiritual gifts, we will find they first attract us. Then, we try them on. If they fit, we buy them.

They Attract Us. Assessment instruments designed to help us discover our spiritual gifts do have value. They can reveal the leaning of our gifts and the strength of them. However, when completing the inventory, we tend to answer the questions according to what we wish we were or what we one day hope to be. So, they’re not always accurate. Is there a better way? We find ourselves attracted to serve in the areas of our giftings. All our spiritual influences come from God. When Jesus ascended to heaven, he received gifts for us. Along with our gifts, the Spirit places inside of us a desire that naturally propels us toward exercising our special abilities.

We Try Them On. Experiencing different roles in ministry gives us the opportunity to try our spiritual giftings on for size. If we devote ourselves to serving others, we not only learn of our gifts and the strength of them, but also where they might be best employed. Serving outside of our gifting is very hard work! Wherever we assist within the body of Christ, we serve in God’s strength—not our own. Perhaps it’s best to humbly, diligently, cheerfully offer what God has placed in our hands. Herein we find our challenge:  to do all the good we can, leading others to consider God’s gifts. Let our words to them be God’s words and our coming to them, God’s coming. This might feel a little uncomfortable at first. But, don’t we all know that sometimes the right shoes need a little breaking in time?

We Buy Them. Once we discover our spiritual gifts, we do well to devote ourselves to what we do best. Then, we will minister out of the abilities God has given, rather than serve in some other capacity. God has bestowed upon us our special abilities and one day we will give an account to him of how we used them. So, have you bought into a life of serving God with the spiritual gifts he has given you? Have you made God’s glory your chief aim?

Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. 1 Peter 4:11

I’m so excited to share about the SPIRITUAL GIFTS! There’s a lot more to come in future posts, including detailed info on each of the various gifts. Got any specific questions on your mind?