21 Days of Fasting & Prayer

Day 9       IDENTIFY YOUR GIFTS

BE STILL  Spend 2 minutes in stillness and silence with God 

SCRIPTURE But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 

DEVOTION

Have you ever tried to put together a bookshelf using the instruction manual for an elliptical? What about preparing for the final exam in a Physics class by studying a Geometry book? I don’t know about you, but I doubt we’d find ourselves anything but frustrated and confused in both scenarios. We’d get information that provided little to no help because we sought it out from the wrong source. Sure, maybe there are a few screws similar in the bookshelf and elliptical. And yeah, there’s a little bit of math in physics so maybe we’d get a few answers right on our exam. However, don’t you think our best bet for success would be to go to the right source? 

This is what we look like when we’re trying to discover our gifts, talents, and purpose in the wrong place. In my own experience and life observations, I’ve noticed that we tend to look externally for what is only located internally. We see what everyone else is doing and try to model it. We compare ourselves to YouTube or Instagram influencers who are operating in their own gifts. We attend all the “Purpose summits” out there in the hopes that someone else will give us the answers to who we are. Here’s a hint, – Your gifts are within you. 

Remember that our loving Creator made the instruction manual for our lives, and He already put those gifts inside of us! 

The beautiful and sometimes frustrating thing about our gifts is that they come naturally to us. We don’t even realize that they are gifts because we think they come easily to everyone else too. That’s where seeking God comes in. When we continue to seek, abide, and submit to Him, we naturally learn more about who we are. He reveals to us those unique skills that He handcrafted inside of us. He shows us how to use them for His glory, too! He may even bring people into our lives who can hold up mirrors for us as we truly understand who we are. 

If you're struggling to identify what your gifts are, trust that the light- bulb moment will come. God didn't leave any of our instruction manuals empty. We are all here for a reason, and He will help us to see ourselves just as He created us. 

WRITE IT OUT 

Think about your childhood. What were some things that you LOVED to do? If you can't remember, ask family or childhood friends if possible. 

Make a list of things that come easily to you. Circle any overlap between your childhood passions and what comes easily. 

PRAY IT OUT 

Thank You, Lord for the gifts that You have placed inside of me! I know that I am Your workmanship, and I was created to do good works that You have already set out for me to accomplish. Even before I was formed in my mother’s womb You knew me. Your eyes saw my substance and You knew and created my inward parts. I am so grateful that You planned out my days in Your book of life and that You have a special assignment for ME!

Help me to identify my gifts, Father. Even if I have been operating in some of my gifts, if there are any that are lying dormant, please reveal them to me. I know that Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts as He wills – Holy Spirit please help me to know my spiritual gifts as well as my natural gifts. God, I will not look at the gifts that You have given others with envy, for I know that envy rots the bones. I praise You and I thank You for my brothers and sisters who have discovered and are operating in their gifts, for You get the glory! Please help me with my own so that I can do the same. In Jesus’ Name, Amen 

Scripture References

Ephesians 2:1                                Jeremiah 1:5

Psalm 139:13-16                          1 Corinthians 12:11

Proverbs 14:30