Recently I sat with a group of people over lunch and asked them to share a talent or gift they had with the table. My question, asked to foster community among the group, quickly became a source of anxiety for the people at the table. Some shifted in their seats uncomfortably and whispered to themselves “I have no idea what I’m good at”, or “I’m not good at anything really.”
I did my best to keep the conversation light and positive. But, while some said this jokingly, I felt in my heart that this was no joking matter.
Often, we are ready to sell ourselves short, cut ourselves down, or diminish our own value. Sometimes we do it without intending to; however, when we make a mistake, we find ourselves saying or thinking things like, “I’m so stupid…what is wrong with me?!” In addition, we limit ourselves with phrases like, “I can’t speak to the group. I’m too shy” or, “I can’t figure it out. I’m just so bad with technology.”
How often do you remind yourself of what you’re good at? Does it make you uncomfortable to say things like, “Wow, because of what God put inside me I bring a lot of value to my church, my home, or my job.” Does it feel arrogant to say, “I can see myself growing and I’m so proud of the progress that I’ve made in this area. I’m awesome!”
I’m not advocating arrogance, but I am saying that it’s critically important that we pay attention to the way we think and speak about ourselves, because we are not our own. We are God’s. And what we think and say about ourselves is a reflection of what we think about the One who created us!
God made us carefully and precisely. The Bible says(Ps. 139:13-15):
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
David literally praised God for how wonderfully he was made! He understood that he is a work of God and God’s works are wonderful.
As women of God we desire to affect the world for Jesus. This requires us to believe in the skillset, talents, and gifts that God has given us. Just like a restaurant owner has to know what’s in their inventory to accurately assess how many customers they can feed, if we don’t have a sense of our “personal inventory” we’ll have a hard time serving the people around us effectively.
Today I dare you to list out 15 things that are in your inventory (gifts, talents, traits that GOD has given you so that you can glorify Him)…trust me, you have much more then that! And when you start to think about all of the things you’re not good at and all the gifts that you don’t have, use this list to remind yourself of all the gold that that your good God has put inside you!
My list is blow <3.
1. I’m thoughtful
2. I’m a good listener
3. I’m teachable
4. I’m willing to be vulnerable
5. I’m observant
6. I’m beautiful
7. I’m kind
8. I’m easy to get along with
9. I’m empathetic
10. I’m hungry for God
11. I’m a great wife
12. I’m protective
13. I’m a good rapper
14. I’m confident
15. I value rest
16. Bonus!!! I’m becoming a better steward of my time. Thank you Lord, that as I intentionally study, learn and seek the help of the Holy Spirit in this area that I’m getting better every day.