Week 5 - What on Earth Am I Here For Journal
PURPOSE #4 – I Was Shaped for Serving God - MINISTRY
Day 29 – Accepting My Assignment
I was put on earth to make a difference, to make a contribution by serving. I was created to serve God and the only way I can serve God is by serving others.
I am not saved by service, but I am saved to serve. Jesus saved me and it cost him his life so I ought to serve him not out of guilt, or fear or even duty but out of deep gratitude for what he has done for me.
My call to salvation includes a call to service. Service is not optional, something to be tacked onto my schedule if I can spare the time, service should be at the heart of my life.
Note to self - Any difference I make will have an eternal consequence
Ephesians 2:10b – God has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has prepared for us to do.
Day 30 – Shaped for Serving God
I was shaped to serve God. God uniquely designed me to do certain things. Before he created me he decided what role he wanted me to play on earth. He planned how he wanted me to serve him and then shaped me for those tasks and on one else can fulfill those tasks except me.
Ephesians 2:10 - We are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works
God uses everything that happens in my life to mould me for service to others and nothing that happens in my life is insignificant.
How God Shapes me for ministry
God gave me spiritual gifts, heart (my interest), abilities personalities and life experiences and by identifying them I can discover God’s will for my life and use them to serve him by serving others.
Spiritual gifts – These are gifts God has given me and I must use them to serve others. Identify my spiritual gifts and use it to serve others.
1 Corinthians 12:7 – A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.
Heart – The source of my motivation, what I love to do most, what I care most about and what I feel passionate about
Day 31 – Understanding my Shape
Abilities – These are natural talents I was born with - baking, writing, organizing, hosting. Every ability I have can be used for God's glory.
Peter 4:10 – God has given each of you some special abilities, be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings
Personality – God created me with a unique personality trait and it will affect how and where I use my spiritual gifts and abilities. There is no wrong or right type of personality for ministry.
1 Corinthians 12:6 - God works through different people in different ways, but it is the same God who achieves his purpose through them all.
Experiences - I have been shaped by my experiences in life. God allowed all my experiences for his purpose, which is to make me more like Jesus and prepare me for ministry.
God uses my painful experiences the most to prepare me ministry. God never wastes a hurt and my greatest ministry will most likely come out of my greatest hurt. For God to use my painful experiences, I must be willing to share them, I must stop covering them up, I must honestly admit my faults, failures and fears.
I will be most effective when I use my spiritual gifts (encouragement, hospitality, teaching, giving and kindness) and abilities (teaching, baking, organising, writing) in the area of my heart (working with children, helping others, showing kindness, helping parents with children with disabilities) and in a way that best expresses my personality (introverted, order, dependable) and experiences (growing up in a loving family, losing my mum and dad early in life, my sheltered upbringing, how I served God in the past my trials, my hurts, raising a child with learning disability).
Day 32 – Using What God Gave Me
God saved me for a purpose and he expects me to make the most of what he has given me. The best use of my life is to serve God out of my SHAPE. To do this I must know my SHAPE, learn to accept my SHAPE because God knows what is best for and and He fashioned me, learn to enjoy my SHAPE and develop my SHAPE to its fullest potential.
I must learn to accept myself for who I am because God created me to fulfill specific tasks and He does not make a mistake. Enjoy using the SHAPE God has given me. Keep developing my SHAPE by using gifts, abilities and experiences God has given me.
2 Timothy 2:15 – Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and correctly handles the word of truth.
Day 33 – How Real Servants Act
We serve God by serving others. Jesus measures greatness in terms of service not status.
God shaped me for service but without a servant's heart I will be tempted to misuse my SHAPE, be proud or exempt myself from meeting certain needs.
To be a real servant I must:
Day 34 – Thinking Like a Servant
God is more interested in why I do something than in what I do. I should serve God with a mindset of five attitudes
John 12:26 – The Father will honour and reward anyone who serves me.
How do I serve like Jesus
Serving like Jesus means being AVAILABLE
Serving like Jesus means being GRATEFUL
Serving like Jesus means being FAITHFUL
Serving like Jesus means being GENEROUS
Day 35 - God's Power In My Weakness
I have weaknesses, a bunch of flaws and imperfections, which I have to embrace and not deny. Denying my weaknesses prevents God from using them in the way He desires.
While I may want to defend, excuse, hide and resent my weaknesses, God has a different perspective on my weaknesses. My weaknesses are not accidents and God deliberately allowed them in my life for the purpose of demonstrating His power through me.
It is reassuring to know that God still wants to use me despite my weaknesses. I have to allow Him to work through my weaknesses. For that to happen, I must:
2 Corinthians 12:9a - My grace is sufficient for you, my powers is made perfect in weakness.
Day 29 – Accepting My Assignment
I was put on earth to make a difference, to make a contribution by serving. I was created to serve God and the only way I can serve God is by serving others.
I am not saved by service, but I am saved to serve. Jesus saved me and it cost him his life so I ought to serve him not out of guilt, or fear or even duty but out of deep gratitude for what he has done for me.
My call to salvation includes a call to service. Service is not optional, something to be tacked onto my schedule if I can spare the time, service should be at the heart of my life.
Note to self - Any difference I make will have an eternal consequence
Ephesians 2:10b – God has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has prepared for us to do.
Day 30 – Shaped for Serving God
I was shaped to serve God. God uniquely designed me to do certain things. Before he created me he decided what role he wanted me to play on earth. He planned how he wanted me to serve him and then shaped me for those tasks and on one else can fulfill those tasks except me.
Ephesians 2:10 - We are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works
God uses everything that happens in my life to mould me for service to others and nothing that happens in my life is insignificant.
How God Shapes me for ministry
God gave me spiritual gifts, heart (my interest), abilities personalities and life experiences and by identifying them I can discover God’s will for my life and use them to serve him by serving others.
1 Corinthians 12:7 – A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.
Heart – The source of my motivation, what I love to do most, what I care most about and what I feel passionate about
Day 31 – Understanding my Shape
Abilities – These are natural talents I was born with - baking, writing, organizing, hosting. Every ability I have can be used for God's glory.
Peter 4:10 – God has given each of you some special abilities, be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings
Personality – God created me with a unique personality trait and it will affect how and where I use my spiritual gifts and abilities. There is no wrong or right type of personality for ministry.
1 Corinthians 12:6 - God works through different people in different ways, but it is the same God who achieves his purpose through them all.
Experiences - I have been shaped by my experiences in life. God allowed all my experiences for his purpose, which is to make me more like Jesus and prepare me for ministry.
God uses my painful experiences the most to prepare me ministry. God never wastes a hurt and my greatest ministry will most likely come out of my greatest hurt. For God to use my painful experiences, I must be willing to share them, I must stop covering them up, I must honestly admit my faults, failures and fears.
I will be most effective when I use my spiritual gifts (encouragement, hospitality, teaching, giving and kindness) and abilities (teaching, baking, organising, writing) in the area of my heart (working with children, helping others, showing kindness, helping parents with children with disabilities) and in a way that best expresses my personality (introverted, order, dependable) and experiences (growing up in a loving family, losing my mum and dad early in life, my sheltered upbringing, how I served God in the past my trials, my hurts, raising a child with learning disability).
Day 32 – Using What God Gave Me
God saved me for a purpose and he expects me to make the most of what he has given me. The best use of my life is to serve God out of my SHAPE. To do this I must know my SHAPE, learn to accept my SHAPE because God knows what is best for and and He fashioned me, learn to enjoy my SHAPE and develop my SHAPE to its fullest potential.
I must learn to accept myself for who I am because God created me to fulfill specific tasks and He does not make a mistake. Enjoy using the SHAPE God has given me. Keep developing my SHAPE by using gifts, abilities and experiences God has given me.
2 Timothy 2:15 – Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and correctly handles the word of truth.
Day 33 – How Real Servants Act
We serve God by serving others. Jesus measures greatness in terms of service not status.
God shaped me for service but without a servant's heart I will be tempted to misuse my SHAPE, be proud or exempt myself from meeting certain needs.
To be a real servant I must:
- Make myself available, be ready to serve when I am called upon even when it is not convenient
- Pay attention to needs around me and look for ways to help others
- Do my best with what I have, don’t make excuses, don’t wait for a better day, don’t wait for a perfect situation
- Do every task with equal dedication, whatever I do, do it with my whole heart.
- Be faithful to my ministry, always fulfill my responsibilities, keep my promises and complete my commitments.
- Maintain a low profile, don’t promote myself, or call attention to myself. Don’t let the attention I get distract me from the real reason I am serving.
Day 34 – Thinking Like a Servant
God is more interested in why I do something than in what I do. I should serve God with a mindset of five attitudes
- Think more about others than myself. Focus on others more than myself – this is true humility. This is what it means to lose your life – forget yourself in service to others
- Think like a steward and not an owner of all the things God has blessed me with. God owns everything I have - my time and material things and I must use them in service of others
- Think about what I am doing and not what others are doing. Don’t compare, criticise or compete with others. My goal is to make God look good and not myself. My service to God is not wasted regardless of what others say. Everything I do for God is significant.
- Base my identity in Christ. Because I am loved and accepted by grace, I don’t have to prove my worth to anyone. I don’t need to worry about how I appear, I don’t have to fear exposure of my weakness. When I base my worth and identify on my relationship with Christ, I will be freed from expectations of others and that allows me to be who I really am and serve them best.
- Think of ministry as an opportunity and not an obligation. Enjoy helping people, meeting needs, serve the Lord with gladness because you love him, because you are grateful to him for his grace. Serving is the highest use of my life and God has promised me a reward
John 12:26 – The Father will honour and reward anyone who serves me.
How do I serve like Jesus
Serving like Jesus means being AVAILABLE
Serving like Jesus means being GRATEFUL
Serving like Jesus means being FAITHFUL
Serving like Jesus means being GENEROUS
Day 35 - God's Power In My Weakness
I have weaknesses, a bunch of flaws and imperfections, which I have to embrace and not deny. Denying my weaknesses prevents God from using them in the way He desires.
While I may want to defend, excuse, hide and resent my weaknesses, God has a different perspective on my weaknesses. My weaknesses are not accidents and God deliberately allowed them in my life for the purpose of demonstrating His power through me.
It is reassuring to know that God still wants to use me despite my weaknesses. I have to allow Him to work through my weaknesses. For that to happen, I must:
- Admit my weaknesses - Own up to my imperfections. Stop pretending that I have it all together and be honest about myself.
- Be content with my weaknesses - Contentment in my weakness is an expression of faith in the goodness of God. It says, God, I believe you love me despite my weaknesses and You know what is best for me . My weaknesses causes me to be depend on God, it prevent arrogance, encourages me to fellowship with other believers and increases my capacity for sympathy and ministry
- Honestly share my weaknesses - Share my struggles, my failures, my feelings, my frustrations and my fears. The more I share my struggles, the more God will be able to use me in serving others.
- Glory in my weaknesses - See myself as a trophy of grace. When Satan points out my weaknesses, fill my heart with praise for Jesus who understands my every weaknesses
2 Corinthians 12:9a - My grace is sufficient for you, my powers is made perfect in weakness.
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