“Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.” (1 Timothy 4:14-15)
If you decided you wanted to run a marathon and you had no prior running experience, you would not begin your training with a ten or fifteen mile run. You would start off slow, maybe with running only a mile or two. For some of us, it would only be down the block! But over time, you gradually increase your mileage as you build endurance. Just like we grow in our physical abilities, so also do we grow in our spiritual abilities. God has spiritual gifts for each of us for the good of the Body and to advance his Kingdom. While those gifts are free and irrevocable, we have the responsibility to use and steward those gifts. As we use them for the Lord, he grows us and increases our abilities according to his wisdom and for his glory. While we do not all have the same gifts, we do have the same goal: to lead people to Jesus. We need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to steward our gifts well, to know how and when to use them so that people come to know the Lord and for the edification of the body of Christ. As we submit to the Holy Spirit, he helps us to grow and develop our character so that we can walk in our gifts in a way that is honoring to the Lord. He wants us to walk in godliness and integrity. We have a beautiful example of this in David. David was anointed as king when he was a young shepherd in the fields. But he did not get to reign as king for many years after that. God used that time to grow and develop him as a man and a leader. He spent time building intimacy with the Lord. David found himself in some pretty humbling places along the way. But what he developed with God in the secret place, prepared him for what he would do in public. As the Holy Spirit reveals to you the gifts he has placed inside you, ask him how he wants you to steward those gifts. Seek him to guide you as you grow and develop as a child of the King. Let him stretch you and challenge you as you lean on him. What a beautiful thing to be able to reflect his nature in you and through you!
Listening Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the gifts and talents he has placed inside you. Ask the Holy Spirit how he wants you to grow and develop those gifts. Is it time to learn or time to walk it out?
Write down what he reveals to you.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you that you have made me in your image. Thank you that your Word says I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank you that there are good works you have created me to do from before time began. I ask Holy Spirit that you help me to grow and develop the gifts God has placed inside me. I ask that you guide me to develop my character in the secret place so I use your gifts honorably to advance the Kingdom of God and to bring glory to your name. Bring people alongside me to mentor me. I ask for patience to wait on your timing and wisdom to know when it is time to walk these things out. In all things I submit to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Resource: Bible Verses on Gifts of the Spirit
“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” (Psalm 25:4-5)
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:” (1 Peter 4:2)
“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:6-8)
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)
Worship Song:
“Sinking Deep” by Hillsong Young and Free
“Spirit Lead Me” by Influence Music