Because you are valuable…
Fear. What is the root of it? I know that it is the opposite of love – but what is it’s root? Maybe rejection.
This week I have started a new study called “Discovering Your God-given Gifts” by Don and Katie Fortune. One verse that I keep thinking on is 1 Peter 4:10 “As each one has received a gift…” As each one. Everyone of us has been given a gift by God when we were created. It was His gift to us – separate, individual and personal. Sometimes we look at other’s gifts and think “I wish I had that one” or mistakenly think their’s is more valuable than our’s.
Today I read Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” When I read fear, my heart skipped a bit. Fear. I rarely deal with fear. In someways, I even lack a healthy type of fear – you know, the kind that causes a person to take extra precautions in life. But today, as I prayed about speaking at Girlz Nite Out, I felt a little trepidation. Why? I have spoken plenty of times before and without fear. Then the revelation came – I am speaking for the first time at my own church. My own people. They have never heard me before and I want them to like me! That nasty, old performance root trying to grow again. Then…quietly this came to me: I am not valuable because God has given me a gift. Because I am valuable, God has given me a gift. Because each and every one of us is so incredibly valuable to God, He created us with a gift the day He formed us. He has given my friend Debbie, the gift of perceiving – intercession. He gave Monica and Rosa, the gift of administration (Thank you, Lord – Girlz Nite Out would never have happened without them!). He has given Judy and Sarah the gift of exhorting. They were just that – gifts from Him. The Body needs all of the parts to accomplish His purposes What is your gift? Check out Romans 12:6 – 8 and ask the Lord to show you.
Don’t let fear hold you back from expressing your gift. He gave it to you as a tool for you to fulfill your purpose while you are here. YOU are a gift to the body of Christ. Perfect Love casts out all fear and you can’t get more perfect love than His. I love you, my friend. Have an incredible weekend! I will share some fun pictures from GNO with you on Monday!
