What God Wants What if all that God requires of me is the simplest thing as I wake in the morning before I do any other thing before I make any other decision about what to eat or what to wear before I speak or comb my hair before I sit at my desk what if I simply ask “What do You have for me today?” and listen to what He has to say?
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Just one simple thing What if it’s that simple? I mean, really that simple? Have we been overcomplicating this trust in God thing? Have we wasted so much time reading the perfect study books and taking the perfect writing courses? Maybe attending the perfect workshops or listening to the ones we think have the perfect biblical answers?
“It’s acceptable. It’s been normalized. It’s expected. But that doesn’t make it right.”
I was busy doing all those things and getting nowhere until I remembered God had the answers to all my questions. He knew me better and more intimately than anyone I thought knew what was best for me. He knew my struggles and how I could overcome the fogginess in my mind and aching in my heart. And who knows social media marketing algorithms better?
I wanted to serve Him, but I’d forgotten to ask what He wanted me to do!
His burden is light
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:29–30 (NIV)
Now I make sure I choose to ask God every morning before I do anything else. I thank Him for the new day and the opportunity to serve Him as His daughter. I wait for Him to speak to me and ask what He also wants me to learn that day. Then I chose one devotional book and followed the writer’s prompts to read further in Scripture.
I usually get a prompt to think about something throughout the day. Sometimes I get an idea for a short memoir or a few lines for a poem! Sometimes I’m led to have a conversation with a friend or maybe pray for someone that suddenly comes to mind out of the blue.
All other things stand firm in their rightful position for the day if that one foundation is laid first. Even if I’m not prompted to do anything in particular, I know I’m still in His will because I did the simplest thing first — I asked.
So, as I go about my day, I occasionally pause and listen, content to wait for His answer.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33–34 (NIV)
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‘Til next time–I hope you take time to listen to God as He speaks to you in the quiet moments (or seconds) of your day.
Here’s another Book Bite from the novel I’m writing. The working title is ‘Lies and Deception’ about a small town church in rural Canada. In this scene, the protagonist, Maddie, has just been introduced to a new character and is sitting in their living room, admiring her grandmother’s antique brooch. She begins to feel a little uncomfortable.
Her grandmother’s antique brooch
“I feel a draft.” Maddie frowned slightly and looked around the room to see if a window was possibly open. She drew her shawl around her shoulders and admired her grandmother’s brooch adorning the cashmere shawl. It was a family heirloom and she seldom wore it but today she felt she should try to make conversation with the young mother and the brooch always brought a compliment and a smile from admirers.”
I hope you’ll stay tuned as I continue my revisions.
If you missed the first Book Bite you can catch up here.
Til next time, know you are loved by the One who created you in His image.
I really like previews of an upcoming movie, don’t you? They usually get me excited for the release of it in theatres and I immediately start planning when I’ll go. I’m revising the novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo and I thought you might like a few Book Bites before it’s published, like a movie preview but without all the noise. I hope you enjoy them!
photo by skeeze
This one’s near the beginning of the story and introduces two main characters, Maddie and Tom. The working title is ‘Lies and Deception’, set in a small town church in rural Canada.
“Maddie and Tom pulled onto the circular driveway of the large home, barely missing a pink trike, and parked beside what they decided was the side door. The front entrance looked like a door only the prime minister would use with its tall, ornate, double glass doors and huge planter urns. Maddie decided the side door was more appropriate seeing as she hadn’t worn her ballgown.”
If that didn’t quite grab your attention, stay tuned. I’ll be posting more Book Bites as I revise. (Follow along here)
If you follow along I’ll also have a playlist for you before my book’s published too. I love playlists!
Til next time, know you are loved by the One who created you in His image.
On the following pages, you’ll find the Spiritual Gifts Evaluation. Complete it to discover which Spiritual Gifts God may have given you.
As you willingly accept your gifts from God, ask Him to reveal how He wants to use them to accomplish the special assignments He has for you to fulfill your purpose for His Kingdom on Earth.
Copyright Legal Stuff You Need to Know
You may print out this evaluation for your own personal use or in a group setting but the evaluation is copyrighted as it’s been published in a book, so please don’t use it for any monetary gain such as asking a fee from others to use it or copying it into another book for publishing purposes. If you’re unsure if you can use it for a purpose other than those, please send me a short comment on my website and I’ll be happy to help. Helps – one of my gifts! 🙂
Are you ready to unwrap your Spiritual Gifts?
Let’s begin!
How much do you agree with each statement? Be totally honest as you are right now, not as you want to be. God can use you right now for His Kingdom, so start where you are now in your life, warts and all!
Hold on to the person you want to be – that person will emerge as you seek God with all your heart and trust His leadership. You may see other gifts unwrap as you grow in your faith. Put your answer beside each statement. And don’t be shy – if you know you fit the statement, say it confidently in the realization that it’s not anything you’ve done but what God has done through you. Give Him all the glory!
Score as 0 = Not at all. 1 = Sometimes. 2 = Often. 3 = Usually. 4 = Almost always.
__ Q1. I effectively organize people and projects to reach goals in ministry and work.
__ Q2. I have specific plans in place to achieve defined goals.
__ Q3. I easily delegate tasks to make things run more smoothly.
__ Q4. I seek out opportunities to make decisions.
__ Q5. I understand what must be done to accomplish a goal.
__ Q6. I feel driven to start new projects for God.
__ Q7. I enjoy new challenges and taking risks.
__ Q8. I enjoy making a difference in other people’s lives.
__ Q9. I would like to work as Christ’s ambassador.
__ Q10. I am committed to working hard to help churches reach their full potential.
__ Q11. I can usually tell immediately what a person’s character and abilities are.
__ Q12. I usually know if something is from God, Satan or a human.
__ Q13. I recognize inconsistencies in people.
__ Q14. I realize people’s true motives for doing something.
__ Q15. I perceive when something is twisted in communication.
__ Q16. I am driven to impact other people’s lives for Christ.
__ Q17. I rejoice with people who have put their trust in the Lord in difficult times.
__ Q18. I seek out opportunities to help people reach their full potential for Christ.
__ Q19. I enjoy inspiring and encouraging others.
__ Q20. I take joy in others’ successes.
__ Q21. I seek out opportunities to bridge the gap between myself and people of different faiths.
__ Q22. I sense when a person is open to the message of salvation.
__ Q23. I have helped many people come to faith in Christ.
__ Q24. I believe love, not logic, wins people to Christ.
__ Q25. I’m deeply burdened for those who don’t know Christ.
__ Q26. I welcome taking risks for God.
__ Q27. I get excited by overcoming obstacles with faith.
__ Q28. I readily accept a challenge that seems like a ‘mission impossible.’
__ Q29. I have a passionate prayer life.
__ Q30. I have a great sense that God is in control of all things.
__ Q31. I eagerly give more than the ten percent tithe in my offering.
__ Q32. I usually give anonymously when I can.
__ Q33. I look for ways to increase my income so I can give more to the church.
__ Q34. I see my resources as belonging to God, so I give beyond what is asked of me.
__ Q35. I know everything belongs to God, and I am a steward of His bounty.
__ Q36. I firmly believe that people can be healed supernaturally.
__ Q37. I pray specifically to be used by God to heal people.
__ Q38. I believe healing occurs only by God’s will.
__ Q39. I view medical science as a means God sometimes uses to heal people.
__ Q40. I give God all the glory when He uses me to bring healing to someone.
__ Q41. I enjoy serving behind the scenes.
__ Q42. I rejoice in the success of others.
__ Q43. I like attention to detail.
__ Q44. I strive to find ways to support others in their tasks.
__ Q45. I don’t need recognition for the work I do.
__ Q46. I’m known for making people feel welcome and comfortable.
__ Q47. I seek out people who are alone in a crowd.
__ Q48. I have a strong desire to make people feel loved and accepted.
__ Q49. I see my home as belonging to God and welcome visitors in His name.
__ Q50. I strive to promote fellowship among believers whenever possible.
__ Q51. I clearly understand what the speaker is saying, even if the language is unknown to me.
__ Q52. I can translate messages in a way that edifies and exhorts believers.
__Q53. I can convey the meaning of words spoken by other believers to glorify God.
__ Q54. I can interpret messages when given by a speaker in a language unknown to the audience.
__ Q55. I am eager to interpret when someone starts speaking in an unknown language.
__ Q56. I devote a significant amount of my time to reading scripture.
__ Q57. I love to share biblical insights.
__ Q58. I enjoy helping others understand God’s Word.
__ Q59. I feel strong benefits from studying the Bible.
__ Q60. I delight in answering difficult questions about scripture to glorify God.
__ Q61. I motivate others to work towards accomplishing visions for the future of the church.
__ Q62. I am naturally drawn to leadership roles.
__ Q63. I find it easy to inspire people to work together for the benefit of God’s kingdom.
__ Q64. I easily see the vision for the church.
__ Q65. I am happy to release responsibility to others who are qualified.
__ Q66. I am drawn to meeting the practical needs of others.
__ Q67. I devote a significant amount of prayer time to the benefit of others.
__ Q68. I grieve with those who grieve.
__ Q69. I generally prioritize the needs of others over my own.
__ Q70. I feel fulfilled when I visit the sick, the homeless, orphans or those in nursing homes.
__ Q71. I recognize prayer as a supernatural means by which God acts in the lives of people.
__ Q72. I give credit to God alone for supernatural works.
__ Q73. I fully understand that miracles happen only by God’s will.
__ Q74. I believe I am an instrument for God’s work on Earth.
__ Q75. I pray and look to God for His will when I encounter an impossible situation.
__ Q76. I feel driven to help others reach their full potential in Christ.
__ Q77. I look for opportunities to serve others.
__ Q78. I enjoy developing a trusting relationship with a small group of people.
__ Q79. I am happy to give my time to help people with their spiritual needs.
__ Q80. I believe people take precedence over projects.
__ Q81. I am known for communicating God’s Word.
__ Q82. I enjoy sharing my strong biblical convictions with others.
__ Q83. I view myself as an instrument to be used by the Holy Spirit to change lives.
__ Q84. I find it easy to confront others’ motives if they don’t live up to biblical standards.
__ Q85. I frequently receive and share messages from God that comfort and challenge His people.
__ Q86. I spend many hours studying scripture to apply the truth.
__ Q87. I enjoy explaining God’s Word to others.
__ Q88. I seek out opportunities to speak biblical truth and principles in situations.
__ Q89. I enjoy helping people learn to study scripture.
__ Q90. I believe God’s Word can be effectively taught by several means.
__ Q91. I believe God prompts me to convey His messages through a language I don’t know.
__ Q92. I often pray for others in utterances using an unknown language.
__ Q93. I desire opportunities to pray for the church in an unknown language that glorifies God.
__ Q94. I share the words and messages God gives me, which are often expressed in an unknown language.
__ Q95. I often comfort or encourage others using a language inspired by God that I don’t fully understand.
__ Q96. I enjoy speaking biblical insights into life situations.
__ Q97. I am often sought out by others for advice or wisdom.
__ Q98. I take great pleasure in counselling others.
__ Q99. I am known for making correct decisions and judgments.
__ Q100. I recognize God as the primary source of all wisdom.
Now Tally Your Results
Qs 1-5 =
Qs 6-10 =
Qs 11-15 =
Qs 16-20 =
Qs 21-25 =
Qs 26-30 =
Qs 31-35 =
Qs 36-40 =
Qs 41-45 =
Qs 46-50 =
Qs 51-55 =
Qs 56-60 =
Qs 61-65 =
Qs 66-70 =
Qs 71-75 =
Qs 76-80 =
Qs 81-85 =
Qs 86-90 =
Qs 91-95 =
Qs 96-100 =
Now record your highest marks and discover which Gifts God may have blessed you with.
Record your highest three scores. Your supportive scores are listed as your fourth, fifth and sixth.
If you score the same on more than one Gift, write them on the same line, then go to the next score.
If you scored the highest on Qs 1-5, it means you likely have the Spiritual Gift of Administration, and so on.
Administration is the Gift that serves and strengthens the body of Christ by effectively organizing resources and people to reach ministry goals efficiently.
Apostleship is the Gift God uses to launch and lead new ministries to expand His kingdom.
Discernment recognizes truth or error within a message, person or event.
Encouragement helps others live a godly life through inspiration, counselling, and empowerment.
Evangelism is the Gift that enables believers who are blessed to share Christ’s love in a way that draws people to accept the gift of salvation.
Faith helps those who have this Gift to see God’s purposes accomplished, trusting God to overcome all obstacles.
Giving encourages people to joyfully offer more than the usual tithe to further God’s kingdom.
Healing restores health beyond traditional and natural means to those sick and suffering.
Helping offers assistance to others in reaching their goals that glorify God without thought for their own gratification.
Hospitality provides others with a welcoming environment for fellowship and comfort.
Interpretation is the Gift of understanding a message from God spoken in a language unknown to them or others in attendance.
Knowledge is the ability to communicate God’s truth to others to promote justice, honesty, and understanding.
Leadership is given to believers to relay visions of God’s will for spiritual growth and achieving specific goals.
Mercy is the ability to minister to those who suffer physically, emotionally, spiritually, or relationally. Their acts are characterized by their love, compassion, and kindness.
Miracles are supernatural acts that attest to God’s existence and His power.
Pastoring is the responsibility of a group of believers to equip them in Christ-centred living.
Prophecy offers messages from God that comfort, encourage, warn, and reveal truths that lead to repentance and spiritual growth.
Teaching is imparting sound doctrine in relevant ways, empowering people to grow in their faith.
Tongues communicate God’s message in a special language unknown to the speaker.
Wisdom is making wise decisions and counselling others with sound advice in accordance with God’s will.
Now that you have an idea of the Spiritual Gifts God may have given you, pray for His will and guidance to use your gifts for His glory and to serve others in love, which flows from Christ.
How Do We Use Our Spiritual Gifts?
If you try out a gift that doesn’t fit, go on to your next Gift and pray for clarity.
It will help you most if you have, or can find, a local church or one online which preaches the full gospel of our Lord Jesus. Together, we build each other up, love and care for one another with the love of Jesus, and minister to the local and global community in His name. If you can’t find a local church, please leave a comment, and I’ll send you the link to an online church.
My book, THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE KING, provides a more comprehensive look at Spiritual Gifts and how we can use them to further God’s kingdom. The book also contains this Spiritual Gifts evaluation.
I’m an optimist most of the time, a perfectionist never, so I made mistakes occasionally as I tried to do things my way, before I gave my writing over to God. It kind of showed in the chaos that was once my office.
My Closet Office 2012-2016
This was my office as I began writing seriously. A converted closet my husband created so I could keep ‘organized’. The shelf to the left houses my binders and a carpet for my cat who likes to help me type. The water bottle is for times she ‘helps’ me too much. It’s where I wrote my autobiography of raising a child with autism, and my fun ebook about hosting a shire party.
So, I tried to minimize things. Here’s my hobbit office in the sun room.
My Hobbit Office
Canning jars? I think they ended up being outdoor lighting for a party. The small stool behind me was for current projects. If it seems a bit on the ‘condensed’ side, I should add that I’m 5’1”. This office was definitely way too small once I started my business and writing online courses.
I now have a nice corner of the sun room with an old secretary desk from the 40s, complete with the pull-up shelf for a typewriter and drawers with slots for file folders! It’s huge and I love it. I have several piles for projects I’m working on so I can grab a pile and work away as I need to. I’m still not too tidy but I know where everything is among the chaos. Being more organized has cleared my head, some what, so I can hear God clearer and be more peaceful. I need that for my creative writing.
How about you? Where do you write? Are you organized or do you ‘fly by the seat of your pants’? Whatever method pleases you, keep on writing.
Til next time, know you are loved by the One who created you in His image.
Lynne Collier 