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Home > Articles > How Do I Uncover My Spiritual Gifts?
The Heart of the Issue
How Do I Uncover My Spiritual Gifts?
3 ways to discern how God wired you.
Nancy Ortberg

Topics:Holy Spirit, Spiritual disciplines, Spiritual formation, Spiritual gifts, Spiritual growth
Filters:Pastor, Pastoral care, Spiritual director, Woman leader, Women's ministry
Purpose:Discipleship
References:Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Peter 4
Date Added:October 07, 2008

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Posted: October 14, 2008
Lavabear  (Guest)
I don't hear any negativity in this article at all, but rather a hope and passion that believers will discover how God has wired them to serve the body of Christ. I completely disagree with Moorebiz...spiritual gifts are given to us by our Creator, the God who knows us most intimately -- better than we know ourselves. If He can't pick the best spiritual gift(s) for us, then we have no hope for ever discovering the joy of living a lifestyle of servant leadership. I believe God gifts us in accordance with how He's wired us emotionally and physically. When we serve in our "sweet spots" our joy will be full!

Posted: October 13, 2008
Jamie  (Guest)
Wow- so much negativity for a brief article that seeks only to provide an overview of how to find your gifts. Want comprehensive? Read Wagner or Flynn's books. Even so-called "mature" believers don't know what their gifts are, and their contributions are wasted. As a Christian life coach, I work with women all the time who are not working in their area of giftedness. For example, they have been given gifts of leadership and apostleship and are toiling away as a "helper" in the nursery because that's where they are "needed." Seems like churches would benefit greatly from teaching about gifts and then actively encouraging women (and men) to get into those places where they have the most effectiveness. And I agree with Nancy- when we are working in that sweet spot where our passions, interests and our gifts merge- we DO feel God's pleasure.

Posted: November 06, 2008
Laura  (Guest)
A few months ago, I was unexpectedly asked to lead the praise & worship at our church. Over the past few months, I have struggled and changed, in my personal life as well as my spiritual one. I want to share the word of God through song, by praise & worship, to the world. However, I continue to struggle with the "talking" aspect of being a worship leader, and continue to struggle with finding the right words when it comes time for prayer & meditation. I pray (silently!) that God will one day give me words that overflow....until then, I will continue to worship and love my truly wonderful Father! God bless those who are willing to share their wisdom with those of us who ain't there yet!


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Maturing in Your Spiritual Gifts
Are you growing in the gifts that God has given you?

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Discovering and utilizing your spiritual gifts is one of the most exciting adventures a person can have with God. The Bible says spiritual gifts are abilities God bestows on every believer for the common good of the body of Christ. They're a large part of the answer to the question, "What should I do with the life God gave me?"

Passages like 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and 1 Peter 4 go into specific detail about what these gifts are and how they should be used. It's clear every spiritual gift is a reflection of God's nature that you carry within you. And because your spiritual gift reflects God's design and direction for your life, you'll find great passion, joy, and satisfaction in expressing it. Your spiritual gift also will be a place of deep spiritual formation in your life, as God uses it both to powerfully connect you to him and to expose areas of your soul that need his forgiveness and redemption.

So here's a process to start:

Pay attention. Notice the things that energize you and seem to come naturally. Remember the quote from the movie Chariots of Fire when Eric Liddell explained to his sister why he was postponing his return to the mission field in order to race in the Olympics? "Because when I run, I feel the pleasure of God."

Every spiritual gift gives off clues. Your spiritual gift will cause you to react a certain way in a given situation. If there's a problem, people with the spiritual gift of shepherding will be immediately concerned that people are cared for and growing in Christlikeness as a result of the issue. Those with the gift of intercession (prayer) will immediately say, "We need to pray about this," while those with a leadership gift will begin looking at solutions for the problem.

Try. Once you've gathered enough information to create a list of some possible gifts (perhaps gifts of mercy, evangelism, encouragement, or hospitality), exercise your options. A great place to start would be a volunteer position at your church. While you're trying it out, you'll start to discern whether you're good at it or not. Also, others will tell you!

When my kids were young, our church needed help in the nursery during the worship services. I volunteered for a three-month opening. I didn't feel the pleasure of God; the children didn't feel the pleasure of God. It was so not my spiritual gift. Part of learning what you're good at is having to go through the pain of learning what you're not good at.

As you try different things, you'll eventually find yourself engaged in something during which time flies and you find a deep sense of connection to God. Pick that road to continue your adventure.

Develop. In 2 Timothy 1:6, the apostle Paul encourages Timothy to "fan into flame the gift of God." We're responsible to develop our gifts. Perhaps one of the best ways to do that is to mentor someone who's just starting on this discovery process. People with the spiritual gift of wisdom are probably the best people to develop someone else with the spiritual gift of wisdom, and so on for each of the gifts.