Post by Carla Nelson
As I mentioned in part 1 of this series, there were six steps that proved beneficial in helping me find out my purpose Today I’ll elaborate on the second, in the following weeks I’ll share the other four steps that worked for me.
As I previously shared with you the gifts we have been given work together to enable our purpose and empower us to thrive. Utilizing our gifts allows us to assist others in resolving their problems, and by helping others is how we get blessed. Gifts are that thing (or things) that are usually overlooked, because they are as natural as the air we breathe. It is our makeup, how He designed us, our fingerprints to leave an imprint on someone else‘s life. So let’s pick up from there. Discovering my talents is one of the tactics I used. Our talents are our weapons that enable us to fulfill God’s plan.
In Genesis 1:28, we see that God blessed Adam and Eve and then gave them a commandment. When researching the root word bless, I found one of the definitions of the word to mean to endow, as with talent [1]. So God gave them a talent then provided instructions. When we are hired for a career, our employer knows that in order to produce results we have to be appropriately equipped with the proper tools. Once we get the tools and learn how to properly function with them, then we can begin to fulfill the mission.
“God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over very living creature that moves on the ground.”
Based upon what I have seen in the scripture, I believe without a shadow of a doubt that God endows us at birth with our talents. Jeremiah 1:5 shows God establishing purpose before being formed in the womb. So before we are launched out into this world, God equips us and calls us according to the role we are predestined to play. Now we are responsible for that discovery.
“Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations — that’s what I had in mind for you.”
Jer. 1:5 (MSG)
“We see in the parable of the talents, we are given our talents according to our several ability; one individual may be given one talent, yet another may be given five talents.”
Taking a journey through my childhood was how I began discovering my talents. I spoke with my parents and reminiscedabout many events in my life. As a child I loved baking mud pies and eating the remnants of cake batter from my aunt making a cake from scratch. Till this day I love cakes, just love them. I’m not into candy so much, but fresh baked pastries I seek. Playing dress up was a favorite pastime, how I loved dressing up in my aunt’s snakeskin heels and got into some major trouble for doing so. How she would yell, “Don’t mess up my shoes!” Sometimes I think she hid them from me. I remember playing like I was a Queen in my Mother’s prom dress; it was sooo too big for me, but such fun. All through high school and even now, with exception for those bad days, I still like to dress up and look nice. At one point I had a diary and loved writing in it, I got away from that for a while, but now I am writing to you.
Don't get confused in your discovery process about the number of talents you have. The number is not important, the discovery is. In most cases having more than one talent affords us the ability to use them as extensions for further service and gain. My ultimate purpose lies in event production and writing is a major part of that role.
During childhood many of us are afforded the opportunity to explore these talents in many different arenas (sports, music lessons, organizations, etc.) many of us are not. Have you heard the statement people often make, “I’m a Jack of all trades, master of none”? These are talented people in discovery mode, trying to figure out just how those talents can be unified for the production of one or many profitable outcomes. It doesn’t matter what age you start your discovery process, just start. This may be a painful process for some, but it will be so worth it on the other side. Don't rush the process. Embrace the process; Embrace your talents and Thrive!
