Every Good and Pertfect Gift | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Every Good and Pertfect Gift | Previous Challenge Entry
By Donna Martelli
04/06/21
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Do you hunger for more of the Lord in your life? Do you want to be a tool in the Master’s hand? Do you want a closer, loving relationship with Him? Let me tell you one little secret that will plummet you forward at warp speed! I will start with Yvonne, then me, then both, and, lastly, you.

I met Yvonne at a conference for Christian artists. She is an example of one who is using her full potential. She uses all her gifts, talents, and training for the Lord with no apology for them. No matter that she is different, odd, or miles away from everyone else, she still does not apologize for any of her gifts, talents, and training. She uses them, keeps on developing them, and uses them some more. She exudes God’s presence.

Then there was me. I was ashamed of the unique gifts that the Lord had given me, and I tried to conform to the cookie-cutter Christian mold and do all the things I was supposed to do. I did everything to prove that I was a good Christian wife and mother, and I taught Bible Study and Youth Group at church. Those were beautiful things to do, but they did not employ my gifts and talents; but instead, these remained buried under a list of “should dos.” My efforts to conform availed nothing but led only to frustration and doubt in my heart. I was a man-pleaser: trying to find my comfort zone and missing the awesomeness that God had planned for me. The church that I was attending taught that Christians did not even do what was, in fact, my calling. I thought God wanted me to give up all that He had given me, so I did just that. My heart was right, but I was burying my talent. What did He do? After a time spent learning about Him, He gave them back to me in a new and sanctified way.

Yvonne’s gifts and talents are the same as mine: we are both dancers. We know that we are to “Praise the Lord with dancing,” as expressed in Psalms 149 and 150, and train others to do the same. God gave me a visual example as Yvonne danced unashamedly before her God at that conference, and He said to me: “THAT is what I require of you.” It is through His gift of dance to us that God has used both Yvonne and me to speak with countless others, and it is also where we hear Him the loudest. Because dance ministry is a rarity, it can catch people by surprise and cause them to drop their guard long enough for the Holy Spirit to penetrate their defenses. Other arts as well can do the same thing.

Now, I want to encourage you to accept your God-given gifts and talents, dedicate them to Him, and make the decision to let Him use them for His purposes. Do not ever apologize for your God-given abilities, no matter how much they set you apart from the crowd. He doesn’t want you to join in, but instead, He wants you to stand up and be a leader. Study those gifts, develop them, and continue to use them to the fullest. When you do this with pure hands and a clean heart, He will draw people to Himself. You will be a carrier of His anointing and a minister of His Spirit: the only One Who can change a life. There is no better place to be.

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