The time comes when you have to step up to the plate and use your gifts!! The time comes when you’ve got to do what you were born to do! C.S. Lewis said, “If it’s not eternal, it is eternally useless.”
Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. (Ephesians 3:14-17).
Blessings come when we are able to recognize and accept ourselves as God created us. “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” (Psalm 139:14).
Yes, it helps to know ourselves. We need to pay attention to our strengths, temperament, gifts, and passions that come easy naturally.
Personality tests…There are many kinds of personality tests. Some call it personality… Some call it temperament… some call it the “IT” factor. (Whatever IT is).
In those kinds of tests, I am a super introvert / super extrovert. I enjoy time alone and one-on-one associations. But I also enjoy speaking and teaching to a large number of people. You probably know that the greatest fear in the world for most people is public speaking. But it doesn’t bother me. Yes, It makes me nervous sometimes, and requires a lot of preparation, but I feel it is one of my gifts.
It helps to know that the same genes that produce the color of your eyes or hair and general body shape, your IQ and emotional expressions also produce your temperament or combination of temperaments. Temperament combines with your physical, mental and emotional characteristics to make you uniquely different from every other person who has ever lived. Temperaments are even evident before a child is born. Passive in the womb, passive in life. Kicker in the womb, kicker in life.
It’s easy these days to take a personality test. Go online and search for personality tests. You might enjoy it!
What are some other factors besides genetics that play a part in making you who you are?? Environment, childhood training, religious values, education, habits, desires.
Many people are so dominated by the weakness side of their temperament that they destroy their inherited strengths. Many people are afraid to try something they have never tried before, but fears and anxieties are not from God….”For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind….” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Some people try to overcome weaknesses by addictive behaviors from alcohol, drugs, sex, or food, but the harmful side effects often create more problems in the long run than one can cope with.
Gifts are not toys to play with. They are tools to build with. And if they are not used in love, they become weapons to fight with. Christians are not to live in isolation, for after all, we are members of the same body.
Know that our limitations can be overcome by turning control of our lives over to the Holy Spirit. We have a tendency to want to hold on….maintain control. At the time we become Christians, the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts to live, but it’s like we handcuff Him so we stay in control. We have to take the handcuffs off and allow Him total control before we see our weaknesses turn into strengths. Let’s confess our sins and pray for the Holy Spirit to be in control of our lives. We may not see any outward sign, but there will be a beautiful and quiet peace that will settle in our hearts. Natural temperament will still be a part of us, but God will work on our weaknesses. Trust Him to do that.
Blessings,
Sandra