All of us have been given abilities, gifts, and/or talents.  These are usually things we enjoy doing or things we have come to learn without too much effort.  Chances are that if you are good at a certain thing you are also passionate about it as well.  This may be something you started at a young age or something you have discovered later in life.  These are things that have been put on your heart.  These are things that you think about day and night.  These are things that, if you are not doing for a living, will be on your mind while you are doing what you do for a living.

So what do you do?  Can you make these things your living? How do you do so?  How do you know if this is what you are called to do?

1. Ask God. Pray to Him and ask Him if He put this on your heart.  Ask Him what you are supposed to do with these thoughts that are invading your life.
2. Consult Scripture.  Find Bible passages concerning being called.  Look for God’s word to inform you if you are on the right path. Proverbs 3:6 “in all you ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
3. Consult others for their thoughts.  Be careful to pick a few people who you trust.  Don’t just pick “yes people” who will tell you what they think you want to hear.  Pick people who may have followed what they feel God called them to do.
4. Find out everything you can about the path you feel you are being called to.  You may just see an area of your talents as fun but you have not dug down below the surface.  See what it takes to do what it is you feel you are being called to do.  Don’t just study the skill but study the career and the lifestyle. Here again, consult people who are following that path.  Proverbs 15:22 “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
5. Do the work.  If you decide to go for it after all your deliberation, then the last steps are to do the work (Proverbs 12:23 “All hard work leads to profit, but mere talk leads to poverty”) and trust in the Lord.  Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”

Here is something very important to remember.  You should use your gift, talents, and abilities that have been given to you to serve others.  They must bring a return, not only in wealth of finances, but wealth of prosperity for others.  I believe we are not given talents for ourselves.  We have been blessed so we may bless others.  We have been blessed so we can bring joy to others.  We have been blessed so we can help others build a house, repair a sink, teach them to dance, get them in shape, give them something inspiring to read, view, and experience.

Sadly, many waste their talents thinking they are not good enough.  Many play it safe without asking the Lord and feel they will never amount to anything.  Many will be like the servant Jesus speaks of who buries his talent instead of making it into something more. (Matthew 25:14-30)  God does not give you talents to waste.  He wants you to use them for His glory.  He wants you to use them to serve others.  Don’t hide them away for fear you may lose them.  Take the steps above and use them for Him.  God doesn’t make junk and He won’t give you something so you can bury it in the dirt.

I believe we must remember this, the talents God has given us are not greater than the people we are to serve with them.   Jesus came to serve us.  He was our greatest gift ever.  God also gave us our own unique gifts and we should use them to serve as Jesus served us.  Do not hold them back for yourself.

Find your calling.

Work at it and do it for His glory.