Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt
It is a rare thing to listen to a motivational speaker and at some point, not hear the words, You can do anything you set your mind to! I have heard those words more times than I can say. Those words are spoken with the good intentions of being a source of encouragement, but they aren’t always true. People can’t always do anything they set their mind. There are many things that you must be gifted by God to do, to achieve the pinnacle of success desired. When people are told You can do anything and they set out to do things they weren’t called or gifted to do because they admire it in someone else, disappointment will eventually follow. All my life I’ve listened to gifted singers and wished (and even secretly tried to sing like some of them.) But the truth is, I could never be a gifted singer. I wasn’t built with that gifting. If I get jealous or envious of others with that gifting because they have it and I want it, but I won’t admit that I don’t have it, then I hurt myself and set myself up for disappointment.
Phil 4:13 NKJV says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Was the Apostle Paul offering hype? Of course not! The Lord isn’t saying that you can do anything and everything—not even through Christ. What the Lord is saying is that you can do everything He has called and gifted you to do! He has called you to love others with His love, therefore you can be confident that you can do it with the personality and gifting He has given you. He has called you to walk in forgiveness; therefore you can be confident that you can to it. There are many things He has called us all to do. The things He has called us to do are the same things He has equipped us to do. He has equipped each of us with giftings and talents that will help lead us into our vocation and livelihood. But, their primary purpose is to equip you to be used of God and serve the cause of Christ in the earth.
Romans 12:6 (NLT) says, “In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well…” Let me give you a simple clue as to discovering your gifting. Pay attention to strengths and things you love to do but also excel at. That can’t just be your observation of yourself. Without any solicitation, you’ll hear it from others, and I don’t mean Dad or Mom or your best friends. They have a natural bias toward you. You’ll hear it from others who don’t know you that well, but observe it and comment on it to you, unsolicited. Also, (and this is very important,) pay attention to how God uses you to help others, and how the love of God flows through you to others. I assure you it is a great revealer of a deeper gifting. The beauty of it is this: how the love of God flows through you is very much tied to how your gifting works. Some people exhort others while others serve with their hands and talents. Some teach, some lead, some comfort, some instruct and more. When they do it, they thrive in it. Your gifting and God’s love flow through you through the same pipe and with the same passion. Jesus said, “Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” (John 13:34 NLT) That is the principle, but the method is loving others in the gifting that God has given you.
A friend recently wanted to show his love and appreciation to me. He called and said, Do you have a room in your house you need painted? God wants to bless you and he wants me to be the vessel that blessing comes to you through! He’s a painter and he was showing me God’s love through his gifting.
There are some things in my life that I am gifted to do and do well. The love of God flows through me in those giftings so they serve a double purpose; they bless others and contribute to my livelihood. I am happy in the process because it’s what naturally flows from me. It’s how I am gifted. I have some friends that have incredible giftings in things I stink at. I am not jealous. I appreciate their gifting and know that together we make up the entire body of Christ.
Psalm 71:21 NKJV says, “You will increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.” If you think of this verse in terms of your God-given gifting, the Lord will be able to help you achieve greater and greater success. He will because it’s what He gifted you to do. You will also experience greater and greater comfort on every side because you will be excelling in the right places surrounded where you gifting thrives. So, can you do anything you set your mind to? No, but you are gifted by God to do amazing things unique to you and that will be a blessing to those God places in your life!
Ephesians 3:8 (MSG) “…God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities…”
In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt
This is so true! I have been jealous before because I can not play the piano like others… No matter how hard I try or how much I practice! How music and notes just click in their brains is astounding to me… I finally had to realize that I will play as unto the Lord.. And do my best not to compare myself or my talents to theirs. Easier said than done at times but it helps me not be so frustrated.