Walking in the Gifts God Has Graced You For

One of the greatest things God has done for me is allow me to understand what I’m passionate about and gifted for at a very young age. I had always been confident in my gifts and talents, even though they were different from those around me.

I remember when I first started high school, and how everyone was passionate about sports or some sort of club. If I’m being honest, I hated high school and desperately wanted it to be over. But the summer prior to starting high school, I had begun my YouTube channel. I was filming on my iPhone, which would be taped to my room window with duct tape – and I’d film all sorts of videos like makeup tutorials, hair tutorials, vlogs, and so on. I often went home after school to film videos, while all of my peers were at a sports practice or focusing really hard on their studies.

Even earlier than that, in middle school, especially eighth grade, I’d find myself creating poems in class instead of paying attention to my teachers. I love to write creatively. Soon, through a few speaking engagements and environments like group project presentations, or big group conversations, I discovered my ability to articulate myself clearly.

I remember my first year of college in the English 101 class, I didn’t do much reading of the books, or at least most of them. I’d skim through sometimes, but not read thoroughly. However, in class, I always had something to say in the group discussion, because after hearing my classmates' perspectives on a particular chapter or theme, I’d formulate my own thoughts and contribute. In a one-on-one with my teacher, he said that I was doing phenomenally in the class and made great contributions. And, probably due to my youthful ignorance, I told him that I don’t read the book thoroughly, I just listen to what others are saying and formulate my own ideas from it that connect. He was amazed and probably a little shocked at my honesty. But all in all, I had an A in that class, and I mostly leaned on my gift of critical thinking and public speaking. Now, in sharing this, I don’t suggest anyone else follow suit. After that semester, I definitely got my act together and began to be more diligent in the preparation for my school work, but I can say, in this instance, my gifts truly carried me.

Here’s the truth: To know your gifts is a gift! Understanding what God has placed inside of you and how it manifests itself is one of the greatest gifts any human being can have. By leveraging your gifts properly and growing in discipline, wisdom, and training, you cannot fail and will often yield a great return through proper gift utilization.

At a young age, there were many gifts I picked up God gracing me for, like:

• Writing

• Public Speaking

• Marketing

• Strategy

• Content Production

• Leadership

Now, at the time of discovery, I didn’t have exact language for some of what I was doing that came easily to me. But I realized that not only was it natural to me, but I also really enjoyed it!

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” – Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT.

God has planted eternity in our hearts, and although we cannot even begin to fathom the entirety of His plans and desires for our lives, it’s safe to say He will always leave breadcrumbs that lead us in the direction of our calling and destiny.

When you operate in the area, gift, or calling God has graced you for, you find the truest delight and fulfillment! We are currently living in a time where people are busier chasing money and fame than they are the callings God has graced them for. It’s dangerous to seek to become successful the way your neighbor has, especially when what allowed them to prosper may not be the thing God desires to use to cause you to prosper.

I want you to ask yourself a few questions to discover what God has graced you for.

Discovery Questions to Understand the Gifts God Has Graced You For

1. What kinds of things come easiest to me?

2. What am I most passionate about?

3. What do people often compliment me for?

4. What would I do for the rest of my life, even if I were never paid for it?

5. Who am I burdened to help with my gifting and calling?

6. What activities am I always excited to do, no matter what?

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person, the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another, the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” – 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT

The Holy Spirit is the greatest giver of gifts! What God has graced you for is your gifting! There are a few truths I’d like to note regarding walking in the gift God has graced you for:

• The gift you are graced for cannot easily be replicated.

• The gift you are graced for is hard to ignore.

• The gift you are grace for must be acknowledged and trained to reach peak mastery.

• The gift you are graced for requires good character in order to last.

• The gift you are graced for is provided by God, not to profit yourself but to help others.

Something so essential that 1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT says, “It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.”

What I’m referring to as a gift you are graced for can also be seen as your calling, purpose, passion, or destiny – and God decides it! Each of us has one, and it’s essential to discover it!

Think about the many things that you do, and sift out the ones that you don’t enjoy but are really good at, and those you don’t enjoy and are horrible at. Also, highlight the things you really enjoy but are bad at, and the things you really enjoy and are really good at. For example, I don’t enjoy graphic design, but I’m good at it, and have quickly discovered how essential it is to my gifting, calling, and career. However, I really enjoy singing, but I’m not so good at it. I must say, I have my moments where my voice sounds like an angel, so no one can convince me that singing can’t fit into my calling somehow! But all in all, the things that you are talented in often can point you in the direction of what God has graced you for.

After you’ve done some reflection and pointed out various things that you are gifted in, I’d like for you to follow the steps listed below to continue learning to walk in what God has graced you for.

How to Walk in What God Has Graced You For

1. Surrender all you know, and everything you are to God

   • “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV.

2. Seek out counselors, mentors, or leaders who can help you grow in your gifts

   • “Your plans will fall apart right in front of you if you fail to get good advice. But if you first seek out multiple counselors, you’ll watch your plans succeed.” – Proverbs 15:22 TPT

3. Identify things in your life that prevent you from walking in your grace (including insecurities, people, thoughts, etc.)

   • “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV.

4. Read books and conduct research that helps you strengthen and master what God has graced you for

   • “God imparted insight and skill in every aspect of literature and science to the four Hebrew men. Daniel also had the unique gift of interpreting every kind of supernatural vision and dream.” – Daniel 1:17 TPT

5. Create a growth plan for your gifts that includes goals, milestones, and achievements that will motivate you to continue growing

   • “Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” – Habakkuk 2:2 NKJV

6. Walk at your own pace, and don't move ahead of your pace of grace, trying to keep up with others

   • “Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions. Watch where you’re going! Stick to the path of truth, and the road will be safe and smooth before you. Don’t allow yourself to be sidetracked for even a moment or take the detour that leads to darkness.” – Proverbs 4:25-27 TPT

7. Invest in what God has graced you for (i.e., obtaining certificates, taking courses, attending conferences, paying a coach, etc.)

   • “Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others.”  – Colossians 3:23 TPT

8. Decide in your heart to never give up, and develop a mentality of faith and tenacity

   • “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9 NIV

In 1 Corinthians 12, a lot of spiritual gifts are mentioned. Because we place a premium on gifts that seem more spiritual than others, like prophesying or pastoring, we often disregard gifts that yield the same spiritual benefit. I have friends and know people that God has undoubtedly graced with gifts like cooking, cleaning, sewing, photography, content creation, administration, and event planning. Every gift is important, and operating within your own is paramount. God has given each of us something unique to contribute to not only the world, but the Kingdom of God. Don’t become convinced that your gift is too small and insignificant because it may not always be on a stage or a platform!

“A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.” – Proverbs 18:16 NKJV

Beginning to walk in the gifts God has graced you for and fully maximizing your gifts begins with a decision. In your heart and mind, determine that you will become all that God has destined you to be, no matter what. The moment you make this decision and stick to it is the moment your life begins to transform, and you can walk in your grace!

"We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!" – Ephesians 2:10 TPT