Is it just me or does it seem like everyone knows what their spiritual gifts are?
Everyone but me.
I have to admit, I’m not always good at viewing myself clearly.
Thank goodness for self-assessments and other self-administered tests. Most times, I’m not surprised by the findings, it’s just that I’d never figure them out on my own.
So, when it comes to spiritual gifts, it’s kinda the same thing. I just might need a spiritual gifts self-assessment.
Until I find one of those, here’s what I’m thinking.
Oh, and by the way, this isn’t one of those posts where I say, ‘here’s what I did, this is what I learned and this is what you should do too’.
No, this one is more along the lines of, ‘I need to figure this out and I’d love to have you tag along with me’.
So, let’s jump in:
Tweet This
Tips for Exploring your Spiritual Gifts
Pray
This scripture says it best:
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 2 Chronicles 20:12 ESV
Don’t you just love that? Whether we’re clueless, at a loss for words, or simply overwhelmed by the army that’s about to overpower us — whatever the situation — we can turn to God. God never disappoints.
Better still, I love this one:
For everyone who asks, receives and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Luke 11:10 ESV
So, in trying to determine my spiritual gifts, the first thing I need to do is turn to God and ask Him.
Dig deep
God’s Word is chock-full of wisdom that we need for everyday living. Searching for our spiritual gifts is no exception.
Not surprisingly my study Bible has a list of scriptures on the topic: What to Read When You Wonder About Your Spiritual Gifts. Guess who’ll be checking those scriptures out?
Pay attention
Just recently my eyes were opened. And it happened in the most unexpected way.
I already mentioned our Higher Ground Retreat where I met some of my closest blogging friends for the first time. God used that special time of bonding to confirm something He’d been trying to show me for a long time.
At first it seemed insignificant. It was just a little comment. Then another. Soon I noticed it in the things that weren’t said. And it kept showing up until I couldn’t ignore it anymore.
It turns out I have the gift of leadership — who knew?! 🙂
But here’s the thing.
I used to think that leading is what I do at work because of my experience and training. As if it’s a given. But God made it clear that it’s so much more than that. It is a gift.
Leadership is my spiritual gift!
Now I can confidently embrace my gift and use it for God’s glory.
There might be others too, so I’m on the journey to explore more.
I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.
How about you?
Do you know what your spiritual gifts are?
How did you find your spiritual gifts?
If you’re still trying to find your spiritual gifts, then I’m in good company. 🙂 We’re in this together so I’d love to hear about your journey too!
Wishing you blessings,
Please spread the shine and share this with your friends using the share buttons below.
And if you’re looking for more encouraging and inspiring content, check out these amazing sites where I link up my weekly posts.
Marva, I love the point of digging deep. Often God is showing us our spiritual gifts, but we can’t see them because we aren’t looking in the right place or need to deal with some underlying parts of us first. Great direction and encouragement. Happy to pin and share!
Thank you for sharing, Crystal. I love your point about having some underlying things to deal with. That reminds me that God reveals these gifts to us at just the right time!
It’s so interesting because I have been studying in 1 Peter and he talks about gifts. I have always said mine is encouragement, do not come to me for a hardy rebuke, that’s not my gift ;). I love to spur others on toward Jesus. I think it’s hard to always know so I would love to take a test too ;). xoxo ERIN
Sounds like you’re on to something there, Erin. I have a feeling that the test will reveal what you already know to be true. Let me know if you find any surprises.
Blessings!
I only recently dug into this as well. I took a self-assessment but wasn’t sold on the results. As I went back
and read the questions associated with the gifts that ranked high, I realized maybe my interruption of the question was different than they intended. So then I took a different assessment and felt the results were more accurate. So I really appreciate your advice here, because we do know ourselves better than we might think and should trust in that knowledge. Anyway my top three gifts are wisdom, teaching, and administration.
As a side note, I could identity my “weakest” gifts just from looking at a list of spiritual gifts. I think its important we pay attention to those as well, so we can know when we need to ask for help and develop in those areas.
That’s a great point about asking for help, Kira. Knowing what our weaknesses are can certainly clue us into the areas we need help in. And of course, being in tune with ourselves helps us to ‘pick sense from nonsense’ as my mom would say. 🙂
When I did the assessment, administration also ranked high for me, so it’s good to know we have that in common.
Great post! I have a passion for people to walk in their callings, and finding out what their spiritual gifts are is just one way we can do that. My spiritual gifts (according to various tests I’ve taken throughout the years) are:
Prophecy
Teaching
Exhortation
This is what the tests say, but in reality God says, “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills” (I Corinthians 12). They are HIS spiritual gifts, not mine.
Love that Scripture in 2 Chronicles!
Julie, I really appreciate the scripture you quoted in 1 Corinthians 12. It reminds me that I have to surrender my gifts to God so that He can use them as He sees fit. Even if that means that the opportunity to apply my gifts doesn’t show up when or how I expect. Very humbling!
What a great post, Marva! It can be very hard for ourselves to see our own spiritual gifts. My gifts are encouragement, serving, and faith. I have found that after finding out my gifts I’ve come to understand myself and the way I function a lot better. So I think it’s great for us to find out what our gifts are and how we can use them!
I often recommend that people ask their people — whether friends or family — what they think their spiritual gifts are. For some reason, it’s easy to see spiritual gifts in others and not ourselves.
I agree with you, Ronja, it’s much easier to see the gifts that others possess, compared to our own. So asking others to tell us what they see is a great idea!
Having embraced my gift of leadership, I feel a lot more confident and self-aware. I’m seeing how God is using this gift to help others and bring Him the glory.
Thanks for adding to the conversation!
What a helpful post for those who are starting to explore how God has gifted them! I will be sharing this with many! You are such a blessing, Marva. ❤
I’m so glad you found it helpful, Lauren and I hope others do as well. I know I’ve already been blessed by all the comments and tips. I’m so grateful for friends like you!
Isn’t it funny, Marv, how God revealed it to you through your sisters in Christ? It is as we are serving Him wholeheartedly that our spiritual gifts are revealed, as you have found to be true. Grateful for you, my sister!
So true, Carlie. I was just going about doing my thing, when God showed up. I’m so grateful that He revealed this to me so that I can explore it even further. Thanks for always supporting me on my journey!
Hi Marva. Just today I wrote about spiritual gifts too. I took a test when I was a teen, and then I retook it this year. The results are the same. My gifts are knowledge and wisdom. No wonder I enjoy writing about what I’ve learned! I love exploring spiritual gifts. They help me not feel guilty for my weaknesses, and focus on developing my strengths. Visiting from the #raralinkup.
I love that we can focus on our strengths and not our weaknesses, Sarah. And I’m amazed how we wrote on similar topics but I had the question and you had the answer. This is just another great example of how He uses our gifts to help each other out. Thanks, friend!
This is such a wise, relaxed approach, Marva! I think leadership is one of my spiritual gifts too! It can get me into trouble sometimes. 🙂 So I have to be wise.
I also think we find our spiritual gifts by serving and trying things out.
I know what you mean about getting in trouble with our leadership gift, Betsy. Sometimes I really have to tread carefully and in fact there are times I’ve felt my gift wasn’t really appreciated. I pray God gives us both discernment to know how and when to use our gifts for His glory.
And yes, trying things out and serving really help — that’s how I found mine!
Always a pleasure to have you visit, my friend!
You’ve shared a great approach, Marva. I have always tested off the charts in leadership, administration, teaching, and even martyrdom! Some of the best advice I learned in this area, though, is to embrace that God will use my learned skills, experiences, and spiritual gifts – all 3 – according to His purposes {if I let Him}. Visiting from #RaRaLinkup where we’re neighbors this week.
What a great point, Karlene. I guess it’s no point having a gift if we stuff it. Being willing to be used by God is key, isn’t it?
Thanks for adding to the conversation. It’s so good to have you here!
Prayer is a wonderful place to start! I also listen to what other Christians say to me about me…big clues there! I have a free resource from a seminary professor that helps one to go deep on this. Takes some time but it’s wonderful and has been the key resource in me figuring some things out. It’s the first item on the page here: http://www.wastelandtograceland.com/home/my-favorites/
Amy, thanks so much for sharing that resource. I just started digging in and I’m already finding some great nuggets. I think others will find this helpful too!
Wishing you blessings.
I was led by a reading once to ‘observe your life’ and that will show you your Spiritual Gifts. Also ask what seems natural to you but not to others (which I found hard as I automatically think what comes naturally to me must also be natural for others)! I have done several assessments. Uniquely You was most recent and very accurate, and helpful too. It seems the same one comes up for me even through words of my brothers and sisters in Christ, however I’ve fought it for some reason, not believing I have what it takes to actually do my gifting! Yet God keeps on nudging us, doesn’t He?– realigning and never, ever gives up! My first is Creativity, and then Encouragement…
Lynn, I love how gentle and patient God is with us. Consider this post another one of those gentle nudges 🙂 and confirmation of your gifts . I completely believe that if God gifted you with them, He’s more than able to help you use them for His glory. You can do this with Him by your side!
I love this post ,Marva! The three tips are excellent and important to know our gifts.
I have always known that my spiritual gift is serving and teaching although it looks like my audience are my triplets right now.
I pray that we can cultivate our spiritual gifts for the glory of our Lord in the coming days.
Diana
Amen for that amazing audience that you have, Diana. That’s the thing about gifts, huh? We never quite know where God might have us use them. I think the key is simply to be willing for Him to shine through us regardless.
Wishing you and your little ones a beautiful day today. Blessings!