THE PRINCIPLES OF GOD’S GIFTING

I have known so many gifted people (spiritually speaking) in my lifetime and I still do. I watch them in awe as they can bring excellence into various areas, things that I don’t even think about. Specifically, I have a friend that is an excellent writer and God has used her writing (blog) to bring healing to many as she openly talks about her struggles with an eating disorder and having a gay father. I also have a friend and one of the areas she is gifted in, is the area of finance. She brings a perspective that the average person doesn’t even think about. Her life is a testimony of the lessons she has learned and she packages these nuggets as “Financial Tips of the Day”. I watch as God uses both of these ladies in their specific area of gifting and I am amazed at what He is doing. He is doing things in their lives that blows my mind, so I know that it is doing the same for them. They encourage, inspire and motivate me to do what I know God has gifted me to do. I know that just like He is using them He can and will use me too.

Proverbs 18:16 reads “A man's gift makes room for him And brings him before great men.” I used to hear this scripture quoted all of the time, but not really understood it’s full meaning until now. God began to speak to my heart last night about this verse. Though short in words, it is big in meaning. I have gleaned some powerful truths from it and I have to share them with you:

Principle #1) All of us have God-Given Gifts. In the beginning of the verse it reads “A man’s gift” It did not specify or say any specific title or occupation. So the issue is not, “Do I have a gift/gifts?” the issue is “What is my gift/gifts?” You might wonder how do I find out what my gift/gifts are. You have to seek the Giver to truly know and understand what they are. He will show you and then what you do with what He reveals to you is up to you,

Principle #2) God will provide a way for you to use your gift.  The middle portion of this verse reads “makes room for Him.” I must admit I have never really had a good grip of understanding of this part until recently and I believe God will continue to reveal more about this to me. In the New Living Translation this verse reads “Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people!” I underlined the portion “can open doors” because that’s it! I have watched people try to make things happen in their own way, in their own timing but for some reason it doesn’t go quite like expected. I began to realize that if God has given you a gifting then He will provide the avenue, the method, the audience, the clientele, that needs to benefit from your gift. He will put people in your path to support you and your gift and even help you to take it to another level (grow it). You don’t have to worry about that. Your job is to seek after Him to find out how He would have you to use that gift or gifts. Allow Him to develop the gift by spending time in His Word and seeking Him in Prayer.

Principle #3) God will promote you as you use your gift. The last portion of this verse reads “And brings him before great men.” Everyone wants to be the next big thing or have the next big idea. But in God you have to allow Him to do the promoting. He says that your gift will put you in the company of great men. All I can say is wow! God will allow you to use your gift in places you never would have dreamed of. He will put you in positions where others have been told “No” but for you it is a “Yes”. He will do this in His timing as you walk in obedience to Him! I rejoice when I see God propelling people forward using their gifts. I also pray for these people too because I know that for every person that rejoices there are also “haters” out there that try to halt what God is doing. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the flip side of this. Sometimes people get caught up on this part they want to be “Big” and attempt to go places that God has not told them to go. Sometimes the gift becomes the focus and not the Giver. So it is important to stay close to God and follow His lead.

I praise God for the people who have surrendered their lives to Him and are using their gifts to bring Him glory. But I also know that there are so many people not doing what they were created to do and it really breaks my heart. I can only imagine how God feels. I pray that you will allow God to use you for the upbuilding of His Kingdom. He desires for you to use your gift for Him. Will you do that for Him? 

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Note: I have provided links to the pages of the two ladies I spoke of. I pray over their ministries and that they will continue to go forth in God!

http://www.deidramanning.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dividend-Diva/507584822637266?fref=ts