Increase Your Courage about Your Spiritual Gifts

When you think of your spiritual gift, do you have courage or feel hesitant? It’s easy to be intimidated when we think of discovering or using our spiritual gifts.

This is an area I made sure I included when I wrote my Bible study on courage. Whether we feel successful or hesitant about our spiritual gift, we can always grow in serving God with more courage.

Let’s look first at a list of spiritual gifts from I Corinthians 12:4-11:

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit:

• the utterance of wisdom, and to another
• the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
• to another faith by the same Spirit,
• to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 
• to another the working of miracles,
• to another prophecy,
• to another the ability to distinguish between spirits,
• to another various kinds of tongues,
• to another the interpretation of tongues  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” (ESV)

Romans 12:3-8 also names these gifts:

• prophecy
• service
• teaching
• exhortation
• contribution
• leading
• mercy.

When you read through those two lists, what gift or gifts have you identified as God’s empowering for you?

Regardless of your level of using your spiritual gift(s), I hope these four facts will give you even more courage. TWEET THAT!

First, God never assigns spiritual gifts based on our worthiness or human skill. His goal is to provide for the needs of his Body so that the church can operate in holiness to magnify God, not make someone look good.

Second, fight against fear of making a mistake. No one uses their spiritual gift perfectly. Even if we view someone as effective, it doesn’t mean they perfectly follow God’s leading. We all err in some way. Don’t compare yourself to others. TWEET THAT!!!!

Third, we shouldn’t conclude we’ve chosen the right gift based on results. Sometimes God allows obvious results. But a lack of “fruit” doesn’t mean we are misusing our gift, or we identified the wrong one.

Fourth, we must resist taking the opinions of others as the only guidance indicating our spiritual gift. Although we should consult with those who have wisdom, we can ask and trust God will direct us also. If we attempt to use a gift, and yet, it doesn’t seem to connect with us, we don’t need to be discouraged. Knowing how to use our calling requires growth.

I hope these four truths will give you more courage in seeking God for serving Him. I’d love to hear about your spiritual gift and how you’ve seen God use you.

(Excerpted and based on Heart of Courage: Daughters of the King Bible Study Series)