We all have something to offer… unique skills, knowledge, experience and belongings that could be used to help meet particular needs in your community.

However, many of us have not yet taken a step back to look at how our unique G.I.F.T.S. can be used to help others and make our own lives more meaningful and fulfilling.

This 3 part blog will help you begin to discover these G.I.F.T.S.

• Your GOALS
• Your INTERESTS
• FULFILLMENT of your life’s purpose
• Your TALENTS
• Your SITUATION in life

Uncovering what you can do to make a difference in the lives of others is an important and challenging process. In Part 1 we addressed Goals and Interests, part 2 will focus on Fulfillment and Talents.

FULFILLMENT

Doing what we find interesting is only part of living a fulfilling life. The second and more important part is doing what God has in mind for you. Defining a path for our lives apart from God doesn’t make sense and will never leave us truly fulfilled. As our Creator, God is the starting point for understanding what we should do with our lives. Knowing God’s intentions for us and pursuing that rather than just our own personal ambitions bring us a true sense of meaning, joy and fulfillment.

Many people don’t feel like they know what God’s plan is for them. It’s certainly not always crystal clear. However, just seeking to know God’s will rather than simply imposing our own is the first step. Eventually we will find the answers through prayer, studying God’s word in the Bible, and looking back on how God has engineered our life’s circumstances to bring us to where we are today.

Unfortunately, living out God’s plan for our lives may not always align with our Goals and Interests. God is looking for us to choose fulfilling His purposes for you over pursuing personal happiness, wealth or our career aspirations. We should be prepared to follow God’s lead no matter what that entails… whether it means spending less time at work, taking on a role serving at your church, or even if it takes you overseas on a humanitarian aid trip.

Key Questions:

1. To what extent are you driven by the approval of men rather than seeking the approval of God?
2. What do you think God’s plan is for you?
3. Do you feel like you’re living out God’s purposes for your life?
4. How could you start doing for others to begin living a more fulfilling life of service?

TALENTS

As mentioned earlier, a key to uncovering and fulfilling God’s plan for your life lies in evaluating:

1. The unique talents, skills and abilities God has given you. When people talk about talent, we often hear it referred to as “natural”, “gifted” or “God-given”. We are born with skills in either athletics, academics, arts, music or countless other areas. The question is how we will use those talents. Those more blessed with talent can choose to use it make a tremendous positive impact on the world around them or simply to make money for themselves. Meet the Need contains thousands of needs… many of which are ideally suited for the talents God has given you.
2. How God has developed those talents through your past experiences. God’s plan for you can become apparent if you look back objectively on how God has honed your skills and talents to prepare you to use them to serve God and others. We are not completely in control of the things we end up doing in life… the families we are born into, the jobs we get, the relationships we wind up in are all doors of opportunity that God has opened up for us. As you see how God refined and shaped you for service throughout those past circumstances, you will understand what God wants you to do to experience true fulfillment in life. God can even use your struggles in life to prepare you to help those who are going through similar situations… but no one else will benefit by what you have learned if you don’t reach out to them.

Key Questions:

1. What do you do better than most other people?
2. What jobs or relationship can you point to in your life where God probably put you in those situations to teach you something of value and develop my skills?
3. How have you used those lessons and those abilities to help other people?
4. What more can you do to use your talents to make a difference in the world around you?

Part 2 of 3

Author: Jim Morgan