Embrace The Gift
Has God ever shared something with you, and you felt like He was tripping? That’s why this relationship with God thing is a true journey!
Such is the case when I first started my real Christian walk and learned about the gifts of the Spirit. It was observed by those close to me that I had a pastoral gift. Cool. No problem here. Got it. Years later, during the closing prayer of a book club meeting via zoom, I was asked about teaching. Teaching? Me? No. Never. They said they felt that as they were praying but let it go at my disregarding attitude. Over the years I had seen myself speaking to crowds. The messages were more encouragement and empowerment. Now that I think about it, honestly, I really don’t know what all I thought, but for sure it was not teaching. That wasn’t a word I would have described myself operating out of. After that night I thought nothing more of it.
About a month later, I’m chit-chatting with a friend. Out of my mouth, I say, “yeah I have a lot of teachers in my family.” You couldn’t pay me to you what my friend said afterward. I have no clue where she took the conversation. All I knew was that I felt the Holy Spirit check me with, “just in your family huh?” I turned like someone beside me said it.
Revelation had hit me right in my face. I was in shock. Me? A teacher? How?
I dared not discuss this with my friend. I couldn’t wait to get off the phone! I had to take this matter to God this time. Through prayer and surrender to the Holy Spirit, here are a few things that have helped me begin to embrace my gift:
Stop the Comparison.
I have a good friend who clearly in my eyes has a teaching gift. She’s very inquisitive, detail-oriented for the stuff I don’t have the energy for but love to hear about. Because I was so enamored with the manifestation of her gift, I couldn’t see it in me. However, God’s gifts show up in different ways in different people. The styles may differ, but the goals are the same. It all leads back to His glory. That’s the key.
Speak Life.
I started reminding myself of all the things God said. I wrote them down and repeated them. I stopped rejecting it even if I didn’t fully understand it yet. I stopped questioning it and started asking God about it so I could get some real answers.
Further Revelation.
I asked God to reveal it to me in a way I could understand. Now, He’s not going to give a pretty wrapped PowerPoint presentation when we ask things like this. This is where we get in trouble. Do not become idle because you don’t the answer in the style you want. What I got was a heavy conviction to stop playing, read my word and really study it. From there I said, who are the teachers in the Bible? How were they effective? And doing what He placed on my heart to do to get the answer I’m looking for.
These steps have helped me realize this gift is nothing to run from but instead to lean into. There’s also the fact He led me to enroll in seminary school before all this happened. At the time I wasn’t sure why, but I’m even more sure now of its purpose and how it will serve me. This doesn’t mean I no longer have a pastoral gift, but God was ready to show me the next level of following Him. I’m so glad He did and more excited that I can have more expectations of what is to come.
Now I’m curious to know, what has God been showing you?
