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What are Your God-Given Abilities?

Dan Miller

48Days.com

Remember when God spoke to Moses at the burning bush? God told Moses he wanted him to go back to Egypt and lead the people out to the promised land. Moses looked and said – “You’ve got to be kidding – I’m not the person for a job like that.” God assured Moses he would prepare the way and he would provide some pretty convincing miracles. Still Moses had a hard time believing he was up to the task. He pleaded – “I can’t speak well, I don’t have a college degree, I’m a convicted felon – please, send anyone else!”

Now here we have someone with an obvious opportunity. Wouldn’t you like for God to lay out such a clear plan for you; and to promise success in advance. That wasn’t good enough for Moses. He kept trying to convince God he didn’t have any of the necessary requirements for accomplishing this big job. Moses said “they won’t believe me. I don’t have anything to qualify me for doing something great.” God said, “What is that in your hand?” If you don’t remember, it was his shepherd’s staff, which turned out to be a pretty significant part of his leadership. He turned it into a snake, parted the Red Sea with it and did some other pretty cool stuff.

If you think you’re stuck, don’t have any unusual talents, don’t have the right degrees, and don’t have the credibility to have people take you seriously – let me ask you a question: “What do you have in your hand?” What natural talents do you have? What is it that you do with excellence? Do you make beautiful candles? Delicious bread? Encourage the elderly? Grow stunning flowers? Handle your children with grace? You get the idea – just look at what you have right in front of you.  

With God’s help you may already have everything you need for greatness. Don’t balk when you hear your call!

 


Dan Miller is President of The Business Source, founder of "48 Days" and author of 48 Days To The Work You Love and 48 Days To Creative Income. He is the growing authority for creating effective life plans that are achieved by integrating natural gifts, unique personality traits and one's own values and passions. His unique clarification of how God gifts us will introduce you to a new sense of freedom and fulfillment of your life's calling. For more information, visit http://www.48days.com/ .


 

 

Most Recent User Comments
LawrenceJCaldwell
3/17/2009 6:42 AM
The best teaching I ever heard on this subject was from Dr. Adrian Rogers. His key text was Romans 11:36-12:2. To discover the call of God at any moment of your life, start with the first verse with Jesus and the glory of God. Then, as commanded in the next verse, put yourself on the altar of sacrifice. That means give it all up as Jesus commanded (Whoever does not forsake all cannot be my disciple.). Then and only then will God make known his good, and acceptable, and perfect will.

The good news here is that contrary to popular belief/thinking, this verse does not mean the following:

1. Forsaking all is not a physical act of obedience (unless God specifies something), and;
2. God's will is not necessarily some future thing or one thing for the rest of your life

Forsaking all is an act of moral obedience and God's will may be just for today. So be sure to ask again tomorrow. Make these verses a daily prayer.

Larry

http://www.biblicalquality.blogspot.com

eagle5jl
1/31/2009 8:49 PM
Yes that would be an awesome thing for God to say to me, Do this, do that. And there are a lot of things that He has already told me/us to do. As I understand also, He may not take you to the next step if we haven't already performed what God has already told us to do. The obvious, like love your neighbor, tithe, etc... Even knowing this it's still frustrating. I have been stuck in a job for 7yrs that I know doesn't fit my personality or talents. The job pays good.
But I know that I can't stay there for ever because the job is stressful and it seems that I focus so much on my inability and the stress that I can't be effective for God. However, going through this time has made me pray more, read the bible more and seek God. Which is His ultimate goal. It is teaching me to be patient, trust God's plan, and be content with my current circumstance. I don't like this process, but it seems neccassary. I just hope and pray that soon God will give me peace about my curren job.
carlfielstra
2/27/2008 2:24 AM
What's in your hands (and in your closet) is a good indication of Kingdom utility.

Romans 8:28 is a broadly inclusive concept, i.e., ALL THINGS (emphasis added) work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose. "All things" means even the shameful things we would prefer to hide.

My greatest failings, when covered by God's grace, often form the bridge that helps another draw near unto God and --likewise-- receive His mercy. II Corinthians is also a great comfort to those in our addiction recovery community when they understand God can (and will) use our shameful addictions as means of reaching out to another who still struggle.

God does not waste our hurts. Rather, He uses them for our healing as well as for helping comfort others. Carl J. Fielstra, Green Oak Ranch Ministries, Vista, CA.
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