“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.” Jeremiah 1:5 (MSG)
To live a life of purpose and meaning I need to think of 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 the Message paraphrase, 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” (Jeremiah 1:5).
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.
So how do we (I) discover the unique way God made us (me)?
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 can 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 my spiritual gifts and abilities. I'll use my gifts in ways that are different 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 prayer is that I will find freedom and renewed energy as I live and serve according to my SHAPE.
In summary:
God created me uniquely and with intention, shaping me before I was even born with holy plans for my life (Jeremiah 1:5 MSG). My purpose and calling are revealed through the way he designed me, which can be discovered by examining my SHAPE—my Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. Each of these factors shows how God wants to use me and helps me live a life of purpose, meaning, and impact. By leaning into what I do well and minimizing what I don’t, I can align more fully with God’s design for me, walking in freedom and renewed energy as I serve in the way only I can.
Bottom Line:
"God made me on purpose, for a purpose. Before I was born, He shaped me with unique gifts, passions, abilities, personality, and experiences (my SHAPE). When I live from who He designed me to be, I find freedom, energy, and impact. There’s no one else like me—and that’s by God’s design."
Next steps:
Clarify and write out your own SHAPE profile (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experiences).
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