This year our focus is DEVOTE 3. We want to DEVOTE ourselves to PRAY more passionately, SHARE more intentionally and SERVE more wholeheartedly.
When it comes to your call to SERVE …
1. You were made for it.
God knew you before you were born (Jer.1:4), God planned you (Ps.139:16), God formed you (Ps.139:13-14), God thinks about you all the time (Psalm 139:17-18), God calls you (Jer.1:5), God saves you (Eph.2:8), God made you new (2Cor.5:17), God gifted you (1Pet.4:10. 1Cor. 12:7), God made adventures for you (Eph.2:10), and God loves you (Jn.3:16). Yes, each one of us have a plan and a purpose from God before we were born. God calls us into an adventure and he never leaves us alone. You were designed to SERVE.
2. Do a Stocktake.
Acknowledging the good things God has placed within us is a key part of us being effective in life (see Paul's prayer for Philemon in 1:6). Do the stocktake and know what's been placed there by God.
It is a myth to think that "You can be anything you want to be, if you just try enough." The truth is "You can be a lot more of who you already are."
One way to do this is to take a SHAPE survey or a spiritual gifts inventory. Another interesting reflection is to take something such as Gallop's Strengths Finder test or Marcus Buckingham's latest Stand Out assessment, which shows you the kind of role that best matches your strengths.
"Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?" Benjamin Franklin
"Most people think they know what they are good at. They are usually wrong … and yet a person can perform only from strength." Peter Drucker
3. Jump in!
Eventually, we have to get moving. Do something. See where it takes you … that's why it's called an adventure. You can't steer a parked car. Are you waiting … for what?
As we get started, we discover what our gifts are (and aren't!), we give ourselves the opportunity to receive confirmation from others, and to see the affect of our efforts. Serving is the adventure. Those who help and serve others are the happiest people in the world.
Check out the some current volunteer examples at CityLife.
[BLOG outline based on Andrew Robinson's recent Jump In! message at CityLife]