Will you?

I heard a great sermon on Sunday about the fact that God has chosen us, He’s filled us and He’s skilled us to do incredible things for Him. It was based around the passage in Exodus 35vs30 through to 36vs7, I love Exodus 36vs2, “Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work.”


Why do I love this verse? Because it shows us something so powerful, that God gives ability and skills to us, He fills us with His anointing to do things, but we still have to be willing to do the work!

It messes with my head when I begin to think about all the people on this planet that are gifted by God with great skills and abilities, yet they are not willing to do the work. Perhaps they don’t even realise that it is God that has given them these gifts and so they aren’t using them for Him yet. Perhaps they have gifts but they feel like they have nothing and so they are doing nothing, other than wishing they had gifts, when really they do already have gifts…confusing yeah?! Perhaps they know that God has given them a gift but they have been hurt; hurt by a Church, by leaders, by people, by life’s circumstances, and so they have chosen to walk away from those gifts. Perhaps they know they have a gift yet they are too lazy or undisciplined to put the gift to use. Scary huh?

Here’s my thoughts; you and I probably fit into one of those categories to some degree, let’s recognise it, recognise ourselves for where we are at and let’s do something about it.

I am often too undisciplined, I know God has asked me to do certain things and yet I procrastinate like crazy until the Holy Spirit is practically yelling inside my head to do it! Sometimes I let hurt, things people have said start to creep in and steal the confidence I have in Christ and so I need to recognise that and fight with faith against it, continuing to step out despite what people say because ultimately if God is for me then who can be against me? Sometimes I fall into the trap of ‘false humility’, “Oh no, I’m not really good at that, others are way better than me, it’s not a gift from God it’s just something I try to do….” etc. When actually I should be thanking God for the gifts He’s placed on my life and stepping up with Holy Ghost confidence (not arrogance or pride) and using those gifts and abilities to bring glory to His name!

What about you?

Then there’s that bit about being willing… Sometimes it’s as simple as being willing to smile at someone as you walk past them and potentially brighten their day. Or maybe it’s getting up the guts to strike up a conversation with someone at work or in your world, who knows what could come from that?! It might be starting to write a blog to inspire people or it might be enrolling in a course to improve the gifts that are on your life. It might be joining a team at Church and serving, using your gifts to invest into the Body of Christ. Maybe it’s cooking meals for people who need it (I wouldn’t suggest this if cooking is not a gift of yours…haha). There are SO many ways that we can use the gifts and abilities that God has given us, we just need to have a willing heart, step out and DO something about it! That’s the thing about our will…we have the power to choose our own actions. You could be the most gifted and talented individual on the planet but to be honest, unless you actually choose to act on that talent, you are no good to anyone!

God has given you unique gifts and abilities and talents, but unless you use your will and choose to act on those things, you are not useful to Him. Sure He is more interested in you BEING with Him and in a relationship with Him, however He also put you on this planet because He wants you to do some amazing things for Him! Never underestimate God’s ‘amazing’ either, your smile could be the ‘amazing’ that somebody needs today!

A couple of months ago I was on the bus and a girl sat next to me, I started chatting somehow, awkwardly opening up the conversation… We ended up talking for a good half an hour on the bus trip, I then decided to use the gift of friendliness that God has given me and I asked if I could have her number as we lived close by each other to catch up sometime, she gave it to me and since then we have had coffee a few times and are starting what I believe will be a good friendship! I’m no saint, many times I’ve sat on a bus or plane and said little more than ‘hello’ to the person next to me, however, this one time I decided to be willing, I chose to act on the gift of love inside of me and to befriend a stranger!

Today, what do you need to do? Maybe you need to stop denying that you have gifts, maybe you need to stop your negative talking about yourself and your ‘lack of gifts’ and have a good look at yourself and realise that God HAS given you gifts and it’s time to recognise and use them!

I believe that now, more than ever before, God is drawing together His children, who are created in His image full of life and creative gifts and abilities and He is saying, “Will you?”, “Will you act on those things I’ve placed inside of you, let them come to life to bring My glory on this earth, I’ve chosen you, I’ve filled you, I’ve anointed you with skills and abilities and now I am asking you to come with a willing heart, ready to do the work I set before you.”

I’m willing Lord!

I’d love to hear your thoughts, your struggles, your acts of willingness, the gifts that you are realising are upon your life…why don’t you comment below and share them with us!

Jodes. x