In Jeremiah 1:5 I read, “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.” (The Message)
To live a life of purpose and meaning, think about what I do well, and find ways to do more of those things. Then think of what I don’t do well, and find ways to do less of those things.
God created me to be unique. He shaped me in a specific way for a special purpose only I can fulfill. In Jeremiah 1:5, God says, “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” (The Message).
No matter what, I can rest in the truth that God is working in my life and that he shaped me to succeed. He shaped me in advance for those plans. God’s plans for my life didn’t start the moment I was born. Those plans started before my birth, when the Bible says God shaped me in my mother’s womb.
But here’s the best part. The way God shaped me reveals how he wants to use me. To discover the unique way God made me, I can use the acrostic SHAPE; my Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. These are the five things that make me, me. And, by looking at each of these areas, I’ll begin to understand what God wants me to do with my life.
Spiritual gifts are God-empowered abilities for serving him that are given only to believers. For instance, some gifts motivate me for ministry—like serving, teaching, encouraging, leading, giving, showing mercy, or offering biblical insight.
Heart refers to the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections I have. It’s what I love to do and what I care about most.
Abilities are the natural talents I was born with. God wants me to do what I’m able to do.
Personality affects how and where I use your spiritual gifts and abilities. I’ll use my gifts in different ways from anybody else.
Experiences teach me lessons that help me mature. They also help me minister to others going through similar experiences.
When God made me, he broke the mold—there is no one else like me. My desire is to find freedom and renewed energy as I live and serve according to my SHAPE.
In summary, before I was conceived, God knew all about me and had specific plans for my life. To live a life of purpose and meaning, think about what I do well, and find ways to do more of those things. God created me to be unique. He shaped me in a specific way for a special purpose only I can fulfill. I can rest in the truth that God is working in my life and that he shaped me to succeed. The way God shaped me reveals how he wants to use me. To discover the unique way God made me, I can use the acrostic SHAPE; my Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. These are the five things that make me, me. And, by looking at each of these areas, I’ll begin to understand what God wants me to do with my life. Spiritual gifts are God-empowered abilities for serving him that are given only to believers. Heart refers to the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections I have. It’s what I love to do and what I care about most. Abilities are the natural talents I was born with. Personality affects how and where I use your spiritual gifts and abilities. Experiences teach me lessons that help me mature. They also help me minister to others going through similar experiences. When God made me, he broke the mold—there is no one else like me.
God before I was born, you knew and thought about me. You have a unique plan for me to carry out. When I’m feeling discouraged or inadequate, I can think about how You always think of me as valuable and with a purpose in mind for me to fulfill. Whatever work I do should be done for the glory of God. If God gives me a specific task, accept it cheerfully and do it with diligence. If God has not given me a specific call or assignment, then seek to fulfill the mission common to all believers; to love, obey, and serve God, until his guidance becomes clearer.
Father, it’s important for me to discover and use my SHAPE to fulfill your purpose for me. Lord, I need you. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can believe in, have faith and to trust you in everything including being the authority for my life, my self-worth and my future. You have my best interests in mind. I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, my training for a future job role and for leading a small group. I pray these things through you Son Jesus’ name, amen.
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