Don’t Waste Your Shape

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES God's Dream For Your Life

Don’t Waste Your Shape By Rick Warren — Apr 28, 2015 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV) If you want to know God’s will for your life, you’ve got to look at what you’re good at. Why would God give you certain gifts, abilities, and talents and not expect you to use them? That would be a waste. God gives you Spiritual gifts, Heart/Passions, Abilities, a Personality, and Experiences (SHAPE) that make you unique, and when you take time to figure out how God has shaped you, it gives you direction for where you should go with your life. Ask yourself, “What am I good at? What do I love to do? What is my passion? What turns me on, and what turns me off? What is it that people affirm in me? How can God use those abilities for his Kingdom?” Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (NIV). The word for God’s handiwork in Greek is the poemaword, from which we get the word poem. You are God’s poem. You are a work of art. You are unique. There is nobody like you! But there’s more to life than being unique. God wants you to be unique and effective. He designed you the way he did so you could do good works. Even before you were born, God predesigned a role for you in life. He said, “I’m going to make this person and give him certain gifts, abilities, and talents, and I’m going to allow him to go through certain experiences — some good, some painful, and some educational. I’m going to bring all of these things together, because I want something done in the world that will take that kind of person to do it.” One day you’ll stand before God and he’ll ask, “What did you do with what I gave you?” If you don’t use your experiences and your shape for what God intended, you missed the point. We are saved to serve. It’s called having a ministry — using your talents and gifts to help other people. Fulfillment means being who and what God meant for you to be. The Bible says, “God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other” (1 Peter 4:10a TLB). Talk It Over If you’ve never done so, take some time today to think about your SHAPE. What are theSpiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences God has given you that make you uniquely you? How are you using your shape in your current ministry? What is the dream you believe God has given you? How do you think God can use your abilities and experiences to help you accomplish that dream?

Thankful for the Kingdom

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe."
Hebrews 12:28, NIV

TODAY'S WORD:

Scripture says that we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken! The kingdom is simply God’s system. It’s His way of doing things. The Bible tells us that His kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. In God’s kingdom, when you give, it comes back to you pressed down, shaken together and running over. In God’s kingdom, you can have peace and prosperity in your spirit, soul and body no matter what’s happening around you. If the stock market goes down, God’s kingdom is still strong. If the housing market goes down, God’s kingdom is still strong. If gas prices go up, God’s kingdom is still strong. 

Today, be thankful for God's kingdom. Thank Him for His system of blessing that cannot be shaken. As you keep an attitude of gratitude and walk in His ways, you'll experience His hand of blessing all the days of your life!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father, thank You for Your kingdom! Thank You for Your system to bless my life. I open my heart to You. Please show me Your ways so that I can walk with You all the days of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.

​PS. ​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FInBsbSCnWk