Be Yourself

“Having then gifts . . let us use them.” Romans 12:6 NKJV

“Take inventory of your interests; consider your experiences; serve others in your giftedness.”

My thoughts today are, “be yourself.”

It is sad, and a real waste of time, energy, and God-given uniqueness, when anyone tries to be someone other than themselves. You gain nothing by being a second-best copy of anyone else. If it were possible that two people are just alike, one of them is obviously unnecessary. You are an original, an individual similar in some ways to others, yet wonderfully distinct in most. Do not depreciate or hide your distinctive traits and talents, but rather identify and celebrate them for the common good.

It is a good thing to take a personal inventory. During college, I worked after classes at a drug store. Once a year we took inventory, carefully accounting for everything that we had in stock. From that, the business learned three things: what we had that we needed, what we had that was no longer necessary, and what we thought we had but didn’t.

That strikes me as the same information you need in order to be successful, as well as comfortable about who you are and what you can do. Do you realize what you are good doing? Take inventory of your interests; consider your experiences; utilize your education and training; observe where you succeed and feel fulfilled; evaluate your skills; serve God and others generously with your abilities. Everybody is good at something; no one is best at everything. Find your place and be yourself – to the glory and service of God. “For everything comes from God; everything exists by His power and is intended for His glory. To Him be glory evermore. Amen” Romans 11:36 NLT.

Wanting to do what someone else does well and being unsuccessful and unsatisfied would seem to me to be counterproductive and a tragic waste of time and talent, when there are many wonderful things that you are capable of doing well and making a real difference while doing so. Know your giftedness and appreciate your own God-given magnificence by serving God and others with the best of what you have been given. Invest yourself in what you are best at doing.

“God has given (you) the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability . . take the responsibility seriously.” Romans 12:6/8 NLT. Talents, skills, and abilities are God’s gifts to be used for the glory of God and the benefit of others. Use them well and use them wisely.

My prayer for you today is to honor God with the abilities and opportunities given you.