Living in Your Strengths

You know for years I worked really hard to live and be like someone else. I would see how someone was good at a certain skill or subject and I would try to be like them. After becoming a Christian I learned about and began noticing spiritual gifts in others. I would try to act like them and display their spiritual gifts because I liked what I saw in them. 

I spent more time trying to be someone I was not.

I look back and often want to kick myself. I spent so much energy and effort focused on my weaknesses and trying to improve them or turn them into strengths. Instead, I should have focused on my strengths more and living at my fullest potential. In the end I wasn't living for the plans and purposes God had for me.

How much time do you spend focusing on your weaknesses? How much energy do you pour into trying to improve the weak areas of your life? There is nothing wrong with trying to improve weak areas or skills. However, do you ever find yourself trying to act like someone else, be like someone else, or trying to change your personality or spiritual gifts to be someone you are not?

Psalm 16:11 says, "You reveal the path of life to me: in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures." 

It is not enough to simply know your personality, your spiritual gifts, and your strengths; you must live your life through them. Instead of focusing on your weaknesses, lean your life into your strengths. Focus on becoming all that God created you to be, not what He created someone else to be. 

One of my favorite verses and one that I tend to put in front of my girls as much as possible is Ephesians 2:10....

"For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them."

It is so easy to focus on your weaknesses and to allow your life (and your self-image) to be led by the negatives in life. We can focus so much on what is wrong with us, what is wrong with life--we can end up allowing the weaknesses to become our life.

As I taught a breakout on "Living in Your Strengths" with high school girls at the Girls' Ministry Forum a few weekends ago, I concluded the session with this quote that I want you to ponder today...

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."  - Christopher Robin to Pooh...as written by A.A. Milne.

Girls' Ministry Leaders...God has a plan for your life, a definite purpose that you can fulfill...or not. Look for your strong moments today in ministry. Catch yourself when you are at your best and at your strongest...where you feel strength and life and joy! Even if no one else notices or appreciates the ways you are serving the Lord, live in your strengths. And more importantly, "Be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength." (Eph. 6:10)