Setting Goals to Achieve HIS Dreams

Good Morning Glory,

As Christians, we are so blessed to be the recipients of incredible gifts and talents given to us by the Father. In December of most years, I’ve set resolutions, only to abandon them by mid January. How are your resolutions going? If I do not set goals, make plans and then act on my dreams, I believe I am wasting my gifts and talents. And who gives us our dreams? The same Father who gives us the talents and skills to achieve them. SO, let’s talk today about how we can use our gifts, talents and skills to realize not only our dreams, but quite possibly the plans HE has had for us all along.

First of all, do you know what your gifts, talents and skills are? The following verse of scripture can give you a good idea of the spiritual gifts God spreads among His kingdom to achieve His kingdom purpose.

1 Corinthians 12: Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

⁵ And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

⁶ There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. ⁷ But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.⁸ For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one

Spirit, ¹⁰ and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.¹² For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

The first time I read this verse, I couldn’t help but wonder even at the early age of  12, “what is my gift? Could I have more than one?” And then I was given a Spiritual Gifts Test similar to this one. My gifts are knowledge, hospitality and teaching/exhortation.

Please take 5 minutes, to take the survey and discover your gifts. God intended us to “Go ye therefore…” so, as I encourage you, dear one, to discover your gifts, it is NOT only so you can have a job in the church.  It is to fulfill the dreams HE has given you to achieve something much bigger. It’s to accomplish a kingdom purpose, and the kingdom doesn’t necessarily have 4 walls and a steeple. When Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians, the church was meeting in peoples’ homes, so I assume the gifts were meant to be used in those homes, on the streets and throughout their lives.

When we live such busy lives, it can be so overwhelming at times to think of adding one more “title” or  “role” to the many hats we wear. But, if we know our gifts, talents and skills and set our goals accordingly, our tasks will become more joyful and not be seen so much as chores. Also, if I know that my gifts do not include evangelism or apostleship, I can feel much more at ease saying no to those projects, while saying yes to those that I can do cheerfully.

As I try to look harder at my own motivations and the realization that time ticks away, I would so enjoy hearing from you, (another-love-of-HIS-life), on this topic. Please share with me, your thoughts about our gifts and talents and how we can use them in our everyday lives. I would love to look back over this year in December and be pleased to see how HE has used me and my particular gifts to accomplish HIS purpose. Hearing from you will be such an encouragement.