Happy New Year 2022
This past year, 2021, the JVR Prayer blogs were about the Fruits of the Spirit. For 2022 I feel led to blog about the Spiritual Gifts. While all of the Fruits of the Spirit are for all believers of Jesus Christ, the Spiritual Gifts are more specialized gifts for Gods chosen people.
This subject has always been an interest to me, and there’s a lifetime of information on the subject. There are many different types of tests to determine what your Spiritual Gift may be. I want to encourage you to seek out these resources from your local church.
For the purposes of this introduction blog, I want to share that Spiritual Gifts are gifts from God to be used to give our Heavenly Father honor and praise. Even though He blesses us with special Spiritual Gifts, and expects us, His children to work together using these gifts, we are not disqualified from stepping up with a gift we don’t have. Sometimes this may be necessary, and if we are stepping up without a particular gift with Gods leading, I believe He will bless the situation, as temporary as it may be. In fact I’ve seen it happen in my personal life, more than once.
Also, we as Gods children need to be In prayer, fellowship, and scripture with God in order to use our Spiritual Gifts in the correct way. I feel that our Spiritual Gift can be harmful when not in fellowship with God and when we’re not sensitive to the Holy Spirit. These Spiritual Gifts can work the opposite if we aren’t where we should be spiritually.
Two personal examples…one I’m ashamed of because of my fear and embarrassment. A coworker came up to me many years ago with a very personal question. In my mind I knew the answer God wanted me to give her. But I kept silent out of fear. To this day I regret that. My Spiritual Gift is to tell the Biblical truth as is, no grey area. Because of this my words can be harsh and I was fearful of what my coworker would think of me.
Another scenario just a few years ago, I was in a situation that I was bold and ready to speak the truth. I was not going to let my fear get in the way this time. It was a touchy situation and the truth needed to be told. But it was not Gods timing and He shut my mouth. I temporarily had laryngitis and could not speak until I listened to the Holy Spirit and understood the timing was not right. Once I listened and obeyed, I was able to speak.
I know without a shadow of doubt that if we, Gods children use our Spiritual Gifts as God intended, our world would be such a better place to live in.
This next year, 2022 we will explore the Spiritual Gifts and what God wants me to share with you.
Happy New Year 2022