Craving a robust kick from the Word to get you moving? Come by for a jolting chat to fill you with heavenly inspiration! Check out the special “sip and see” below.

Chat Topic: How can we know what our spiritual gifts are?

Amy: If there are "steps" to determining what our spiritual gifts are, I think the first is to look in the Bible and pray. One verse, 1 Corinthians 12:7, talks about special wisdom, special knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophesy, discerning spirits, speaking in tongues and the interpretation of tongues as “manifestation of the Spirit.”

Moderator: Okay that verse talks about “manifestations of the spirit” – which Christians sometimes disagree about whether they are gifts to each of us, or demonstrations of God’s power for specific purposes. Anyone care to add other verses that might shed some more light on spiritual gifts?

Amy: I think there are other gifts as well. Some people would mark them as personality traits, but I think they have been given to people by God. Such include hospitality, intercession, a special gift of compassion, mercy, and the list could go on.

Staci: I agree about first seeking the Lord in His Word and prayer. And because He is in us-- we have the Holy Spirit to intercede in prayer on our behalf, as well! (Romans 8:26-27)

And just to get you a little more pumped up from the Word of our incredible Father, Romans 12:6 tells us: “God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” Paul goes on to list: prophecy, serving others, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, and showing kindness as gifts. God has truly assigned us all different gifts! We need only ask what they are!! You should read Romans 12:4-11 to get it all.

Rebecca: Wow! What a unique time to be reading and discussing spiritual gifts as I have recently been convicted on praying for a certain gift and asking the Lord to bless me with one for His Glory.

This is what the Lord has recently reminded me to do: to ask and pray for spiritual gifts! The way to hear is to seek and pray. Seek the Lord through the Word and Prayer!

Melanie: I agree with you all that to really know our spiritual gifts, we must ask the Lord. Who better to ask about our gifts than the Giver! Really, an intimate relationship with our Giver - our Father - our Savior is the best way to seek our gifts. And, if we daily commune with God, then we're going to bear fruit. The Lord has been trying to teach me this for several years.

Amy: After looking at scripture, I want to pray and ask God that he would help me to discern what my gifts are.

Moderator: Great input. Once you look into God’s word and pray about spiritual gifts, are there other things you can do to help discover them?

Amy: I look at my own life and try to examine experiences and how I have felt I needed to serve. One way for me is through prayer. I know that intercession is not listed in 1 Corinthians 12, but I believe that one thing God has given to me is an earnest desire to pray and intercede for others.

I also think that we need to bring in those who know us best to help us determine our gifts. If we are seeking humility, we may not notice the things at which we excel in the same way that our closest friends would. I know that my best friend and I see things in the other person (good and bad J ) that we may not notice ourselves. In the same way that we should hold our closest accountable for sin, we should lift them up and encourage them in the things we see that God has blessed them with.

Staci : As for the encouragement of others -- God puts brothers and sisters in Christ in our life to edify us and pray on our behalf.

They can be a great tool that the Lord uses to encourage your gift.  My best friend has always been led by the Lord to pursue her gift in medicine. There were times when she became distraught and disheartened while God was developing this gift in her. She even thought at one point that it was not her calling!!! I reminded her that all this horrible struggle she is going through is already past tense with the Lord!! He has won the victory already! If this is what He has called her life for then nothing will stop Him. It is already done!!! My friend already knew this in her heart -- the Lord had planted that truth in her heart so long ago. So many times she had said the same thing to me! But God used me to remind her and sharpen her in that time of distress.

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