Have you ever noticed that God is such a stickler for detail? First, He gives exact measurements for the Tabernacle and even exact placement of the furniture. “So the people of Israel followed all of the Lord’s instructions to Moses. Then Moses inspected all their work. When he found it had been done just as the Lord had commanded him, he blessed them” (Exodus 39:42-43, NLT).

     Then God gifted people. “Then Moses told the people of Israel, ‘The Lord has specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.’ The Lord has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts” (Exodus 35:30-31, NLT).

     Your gifts may not be as obvious as Bezalel’s but God has gifted you. Your gifts may be in the area of knowing when to show up on someone’s doorstep, or in knowing exactly what to say to comfort a hurting soul, or in knowing when to pray or when to give monetarily or to listen. Sarah Young, the author of the little devotional JESUS CALLING, writes, “I have gifted you with amazing freedom, including the ability to choose the focal point of your mind. Only the crown of My creation has such remarkable capability; this is a sign of being made in My image.”

     One thing I have learned is that we can depend on our gifts showing up when we need them.

     When I was young, the last gift I would have said God had given me would be in the area of writing and speaking, mostly because I felt I had nothing to say. But I do remember one of my college professors saying, “Your experiences may not be that unusual, but you have learned to milk them for all they are worth.”

     Since that time, my experiences have become more unusual, and I have continued to “milk them for all they are worth.”
 
     I would have said that I would not be able to write even one book, but now as I look back, seven books later, I see that I was not able, but God was because I was willing to “milk them for all they are worth.”

     As I stand before large and small crowds, I try to take a deep breath and say, “Thank You, LORD, for the gift You have given me. You’ve done it before, now please do it again. USE ME, LORD.”

     Are you letting God use you or are you thinking “I couldn’t do that!”? Trust in Him. He may be empowering you in an area that you call insignificant, but just remember He also has prepared someone who needs your ‘gift’ today.  We are never insignificant to God.

     “We have different gifts….If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage…if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully” (Romans 12;6-8 NIV).

Marilyn Willett Heavilin 

Is a wife and mother; author & International conference speaker
 Author of Roses In December,
December’s Song
Becoming A Woman of Honor,
Profound Common Sense
When Your Dreams Die,
Grief Is A Family Affair,
I’m Listening, Lord