Sharpen Your Sword

Sharpen Your Sword

“He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver.” -Isaiah 49:2

What kind of gifts has God given you? Have people always told you you were “good” or “great” at something?

If you’ve never been told that, don’t worry!  Often, we don’t know the gifts we have – but the truth is everyone has a gift. “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable…” (1 Corinthians 12:21, 22)

Conversely, some of us have so many gifts that we find it difficult to pick which ones to pursue! But, understanding and developing our giftedness is very important because it helps us to develop and define the purpose God has given us. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Gifts can be natural, such as an aptitude for singing or management, or they can be spiritual in nature, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12. Spiritual gifts may be things such as prophecy or wisdom. But all gifts, whether they are natural or spiritual are designed for God’s specific purpose for our lives, and building others up. (Ephesians 4:12)

With whatever gifts God has given us, we are called to be faithful with them – to discover, develop and sharpen those gifts and talents. We discover them by taking self-assessments, trying new things, and learning more about ourselves. We seek input from parents and spiritual leaders or maybe good friends who see what we may fail to recognize in ourselves. We develop our gifts by taking classes, practicing, or interning with someone who knows our specific aptitude. We continue to sharpen our skills and talents by progressing in practice, inviting feedback, and learning from that feedback as we move toward mastery.

Have you discovered your gifts yet? Ask God what they are. Glean from others. Your gifts are directly related to your purpose. Ask God what He might want to do with those gifts, with His purpose in mind.