In every individual, there is enough potential. These potentials are so powerful. However, if not discovered, they will remain dormant. Apostle Arome Osayi once said, “You were born naked, but not empty.” God has deposited so much potential in you to help you live purposefully in this world. But He has hidden them in you as divine gifts.
Your gift is like fruit. Just like how a fruit requires enough time and nutrients to mature physically, your gift must be cultivated, put to work, and stirred up until it reaches its full potential. Moreover, fruits do not exist for themselves but for the benefit of others. In other words, it is your gift that makes you relevant before God and others in this world.
You were born naked, but not empty.
Apostle Arome Osayi
The Bible indeed says in Proverbs 18:16 (NKJV) that
A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
Proverbs 18:16 NKJV
However, an undeveloped or underdeveloped gift in a person isn’t attractive enough to call for the attention and need of great people. No matter how many anointed people have laid hands on you, you must learn how to stir up God’s gift in you. (Your divine gift may be more than one. So it is not appropriate to work on developing all of them at the same time. Take on one after the other.)
Below are three Biblical principles to help you stir up God’s gift in you as a Christian
1. Periodically remind yourself about God’s prophecies upon your life
In 1 Timothy 1:18-19, Paul told Timothy, a young pastor at that time of the writing, to wage good warfare according to the prophecies previously made concerning him. Timothy knew his divine calling. But old Paul knew that there was a price to pay to see the full manifestation of divine prophecies upon Timothy’s life.
God has called many young ministers to serve in His kingdom just like Timothy. But some don’t understand that rising to greatness doesn’t come on a silver platter. It requires consistency in the pursuit of divine purpose fulfilment through the discharge of every ministry duty, whether paid in return or not. The central goal isn’t to get money from what you do for the Lord but to see God’s prophecies fulfilled in your life. God has and will always provide for your needs to help you fulfil your divine mandate. The question is, do you remind yourself about the prophecies hanging upon your life? Let me show you how to do that:
- Write them down (on your phone notes app or in a special notebook.)
- Put them in places you’ll see them frequently. It could be your work table/drawer, WhatsApp chat wallpaper, or just any place in your room your eyes will gaze on anytime you enter the room.
- Whenever you see them, say a prayer, and continue doing the duties related to their fulfilment.
I tell you, this will give meaning to your life.
An undeveloped or underdeveloped gift in a person isn’t attractive enough to call for the attention and need of great people.
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2. Educate yourself
I have heard some kids confess that they hate school. I feel sad anytime I remember it because they do not know the purpose of education. The schooling system was built to train people, not to strain their mental strength.
In Ghana, a child doesn’t decide which subjects to study in school until he reaches the senior high school level of education. I discern this to be good news because this system creates enough time for children (and also helps parents) to recognise the gifts in them through their favourite subjects.
When I was in junior high school, I liked English, Maths, and Science. I was good in Maths and Science, but I struggled in English. I’m thankful to God that my English teacher, Mr Agyemang Duah Barnabas, trained me so hard. I hated the canes and numerous exercises he gave me way back in school, but he saw the potential in me. Today, I’m ever grateful unto God for him because I use much of what he taught me in my daily writings.
Proverbs 4:13 (GNT) says,
Always remember what you have learned. Your education is your life—guard it well.
Proverbs 4:13 GNT
The nature of your calling will determine the kind of educational resources you’ll need to train you. If God has called you to reach people for Christ online, you have to take courses like Digital Marketing to help you broaden your understanding of broadcasting the gospel online. If God called you to impact the lives of children, you have to take courses that will help you understand and manage children well.
Sometimes, these courses aren’t found in public school curriculums. Therefore if you identify the educational resources you need to stir up God’s gift in you from personal research, whether online or in a physical location, mobilise funds to purchase them and use them to study. The good news is that you can even get some for free online.
Remember that if you do not study the materials even after purchasing them, they’ll do you no good. It will be a waste of money. Remember and use what you learn. After all, it’s not only the Bible we’re supposed to study to show ourselves approved unto God as his called people (see 2 Timothy 2:15).
God uses your selfless service to develop your divine gift in you.
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3. Serve your way up
Fruits don’t exist for themselves but for the benefit of others. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 23:11 (NKJV), “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.” In other words, God uses your selfless service to develop your divine gift in you. If you’ve identified your gift(s) but don’t have enough resources to help you put it to constant use, find the closest department in your local church and help them. By the time God begins to take you to high places, the gifts in you would have undergone tremendous development. Learn to archive your personal ambitions in a corporate environment for the future and subject yourself to the Lord’s training. He’ll not put you to shame.
We live in a dark world where many people are ignorant of why God brought them on this earth. If you’re one of them, there is a way out. Go to God, your Maker, and Source, and ask Him to reveal His intentions for your life in your heart, the gifts He has placed within you, and then start pursuing it. Remember that God is the source of your gift(s). So never idolise the gifts. Worship God.
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