How did God hardwire you?
Christians are always taking tests to discover their spiritual gifts, as they try to determine what ministry God may be calling them into.
But I believe it’s important to also pay attention to how we were hard-wired at birth. Because our Creator designed each of us in a unique way. It’s part of the puzzle. For some little children, every blank wall is a canvas. Others love looking inside machines to see how they work.
And some small children are musically gifted.
Enjoying the Lord at Avila
Avila is a Catholic Retreat Center is about 45 minutes away from where I live. Generations of nuns have soaked the place in prayer. So I always sense God’s peace. Often I would travel there for a personal one-day retreat. The two nuns who ran it, Sister Carol and Sister Damian, 
made me feel warmly welcome.
I’d take prayer walks through the woods or sat down in a comfortable chair and study the Bible. Later in the afternoon I’d pack up and go home.
The noontime meal? Always tasty. Sometimes I’d be invited to join a bigger group, but more often the kitchen staff would arrange for the people who came alone to share a table by themselves. I often enjoyed good Christian fellowship with a stranger over the lunch..
But one conversation I’ll always remember. Because on that occasion, the Holy Spirit gave me the answer to the question my companion had been asking God about.
The Flute Player
It’s been several years and I don’t recall her name, so let’s call her Jenny. We came together when the cook rang the lunch bell. As soon as we sat down we began sharing why we’d each visited Avila that day, and a little about our Christian stories. I was delighted to find out that Jenny was a gifted flutist. Of all the instruments in the orchestra, the flute has always been my favorite.
Jenny had come to Avila with a serious question. What should her ministry be? She was frustrated, because she hadn’t heard anything from God, despite praying pretty hard for an answer.
But while talking with Jenny over lunch, I saw a ministry opportunity especially fitted to her skill set.
Minutes earlier, Jenny had spoken of visiting a dying friend in Hospice. She’d brought her flute to play some melodies to cheer her. That story touched me. Families surround some people in Hospice, but others die alone, with only the nurses to care for them.
So I made a suggestion.
Maybe dying strangers might appreciate hearing flute music. Immediately, her eyes lit up. She suddenly realized she could use her musical gift to bless people under Hospice care.
My Spiritual Point
At different times in our lives, God calls us into different ministries. That’s certainly been true of me. Some have been uncomfortable or even a little scary to step into. Serving in those ways changed me forever. The Potter’s always at work. Other areas of service tapped into my natural talents. There’s also been at least one time when the Holy Spirit tugged my heart toward a new ministry direction and I said no.
Unfortunately fear frequently leads to disobedience. Honestly, if the Devil’s fighting that hard to discourage you, that ministry or service opportunity may be exactly what Jesus is calling you into next.
Yes, check your spiritual gifts. Pay attention what the Holy Spirit is stirring in your heart. Where is the Devil resisting you? But don’t forget to ask my earlier question.
“How has God hardwired me?”
These images came from pixabay.com
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Editor’s Note: Sorry, but the two nuns pictured are not Sister Damian and Sister Carol. Neither wore a nun’s habit. In fact in the wintertime, both Sisters wore sweatshirts. But Christians of other denominations were always warmly welcomed at Avila Retreat Center. And Sister Carol gave wonderful hugs.
2nd Editor’s Note: Avila Retreat Center is now privately owned and being used to bring necessary social and economic change to the southern United States. For more on this worthy new venture, click the link.
