You Are Graciously Gifted!

We all have been given incredible gifts that goes beyond talent. 1 Corinthians 12: 1 tells us that our Father who is the bestows these gifts does not want us to be ignorant to our spiritual gifts. But as I reflect and think over my life I was never ignorant to the fact that I had gifts. I always knew I had gifts however, I was confused as to where to use my gifts, as the places that I thought they could be used I was told it was either "too much" or it was "abused," "manipulated," or "misappropriated."  So, because of what people who I entrusted my gifts to did with my gifts I became so disheartened that I fooled myself in thinking that my gifts did not have a place in the world. Therefore, I let them sit unopened. ​ You see I never really developed the gifts my Father bestowed upon me, because I allowed people in my family, on my jobs and in the churches I attended to discourage me from using my gifts. However, when I no longer feared criticism and allowed envy and jealously to discourage what I know God had graced me to be and do, did I begin to serve Him more freely, fearlessly, and unapologetically. And because I am using the gifts with passion and zeal I have discovered gifts that I never knew existed. It blows my mind to see gifts that have laid dormant come alive. Someone just recently told me that I look "so free" and that's because I have opened the gifts my loving Father bestowed upon me and He is developing them, and I am wearing them with grace, freely, fiercely and fearlessly. And you know what, God has graced you too, and your gifts can look good on you too. 

Have you framed your gift on the wall? Or perhaps you have opened it and not using it because you don't know what to do with it?  Or have you left your gift unopened and unappreciated? 

The Most High didn’t create us and save us to just sit but to serve! He gave us ALL a spiritual gift. Ephesians 4:7 says, "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ”. Hence, if you're a child of The Highest, you are graced with a gift. And each of His children are given something to do that shows who God is: "Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits". (1 Corinthian 12:4-11, Message) But you don’t choose your spiritual gift any more than you choose your natural gifts—like the color of your eyes or skin. Just as you get natural talents genetically by your first birth, your spiritual gift is given to you at your new birth. It is supernatural. You can develop your natural gifts, and you can develop your supernatural gifts.

Never despise someone else's gift, because "all kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful. God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit." (1 Corinthian 12:4-11, Message) So you wear what God has graced you with because as one body we will bring glory to our Heavenly Father who freely bestowed His Spirit on each of us. 

As a gifted child you can’t leave your gift in the box or sitting on the wall collecting dust. Find out what God wants you to do and get busy doing it. Focus on serving Him because when you serve Him, joy begins to flow, and you live in fulfillment. So today, accept yourself, unwrap your gift, surrender yourself and then work your grace for the glory of God.

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