find your gift

Today in the One Year Bible, we read about gifts. The selection is from Romans 12:1-21. This is a great chapter, full of wisdom. Too much for one blog. So we'll talk about gifts, which he touches on for several verses.

He basically says find what gifts God has given you, and then use that gift well. This assumes, of course, that everyone is given a gift. And this assumption is correct. You have been given a gift (probably more than one) and God wants you to find it. Then, He wants you to develop it. And finally, He wants you to use it to benefit the kingdom of God. The reason He wants this is because this is the way you will find the greatest joy in your life.

There is no greater joy than using the gift that God has given you to accomplish great good in the world and build up the kingdom of God. That's what we were made for. And when we find that gift and use it correctly, we get that feeling - that "clicking on all cylinders" feeling. You feel fully alive and filled with purpose. It's a great feeling.

So wherever you are in that process... keep going. Have you found your gift? If not, ask Him to show it to you. Ask other people what they see you doing. Try out different things. See what works. If possible, go on a discernment retreat. But most of all, ASK. God will show you your gifts.

Then, if you found it, develop it. They say it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become a world-class expert at anything. If you want to play violin, practice for 10,000 hours and you'll be world class. If you want to run a marathon, practice for 10,000 hours and you'll be a force worth reckoning with. 10,000 hours translates to about 40 hours a week for five years. So work on your gift, develop it, and you'll find joy in that development.

Finally, if you found your gift and developed it, then keep up the good work! And maybe help others to find their gifts, too.

God, thank You for giving us gifts. Please help us use them for Your kingdom.