Who do you have in your life that is challenging you to “Fan into flame your gifts from God”? It is clear from reading Paul’s letters to Timothy that Paul played that role for him. (2 Timothy 1:6-7)
In the last year I released two books, A Model of Servant Leadership, and Leading Jesus’ Way. I had a number of people that challenged me to write these books to share this message on the importance of servant leadership.
I do not profess to be an author, but people felt that this message needed to be heard beyond my geographic ability to deliver it. Hence they challenged me to utilize my gifts to write these books and share this message.
God has gifted us with strengths, passions, and values. He clearly expects us to capitalize on those gifts to the best of our ability. We need to build our personal performance every day as thanksgiving for those gifts we were blessed with.
When you use the gifts God has given you, you will find that God will provide the power that you need. My experience as an author is evidence of this.
How should I respond?
The following are things that can be done to ensure you are stepping out boldly to use those gifts:
Pray for God’s guidance on how you can best utilize your strengths and abilities. Recognize that He is not asking you to be someone you are not. But instead, he has made our yoke easy to bear, as he has fitted it perfectly for us.
Believe in yourself. Knowing that your gifts are from God, will give you the confidence to go out and boldly use them. Believe in yourself, just like you as a servant leader believe in the power and ability of others.
Accept challenges from others. Listen to what others are telling you, on how you can build and improve your performance. Accept that challenge as a growth opportunity and enthusiastically step into it. Know that you will benefit and learn from the challenge, as well as provide a benefit for others as you accomplish your challenge.
Challenge yourself. Build an attitude and drive for personal continuous improvement. Never accept that you have arrived, but instead always look to take on new challenges to improve yourself. This will make your life more interesting and more impactful.
Recognize you are a model for others. Servant leaders realize that people are looking to them to model the way. It will be a gift to others within your sphere of influence when they see you stretching your abilities, and working on building and improving upon your strengths.
I have found great energy in delving into new areas to further develop my strengths. Launching my first book was a high that I would not have experienced if it were not for accepting the challenge of others to improve myself and spread the message of servant leadership.
How are you stepping out to boldly enhance and utilize your strengths for the betterment of yourself and others?
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:6-7
