Use your God-given gift

Other people may not think you’re important, but God does. And His opinion is the one that counts most. Remember David? Before he became king, he had to overcome two obstacles. The first obstacle was his family’s inability to see his potential. When Samuel the prophet came looking for a king among Jesse’s sons, David wasn’t even considered. Maybe that’s because he was the youngest, or his brothers seemed more qualified, or his father wanted to impress the prophet. The second obstacle was Samuel’s inability to recognize God’s call on his life. When Samuel the prophet saw the oldest brother, Eliab, a general in the king’s army, he said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here” (1 Samuel 16:6 NIV). But God set Samuel—and the rest of us—straight with these words: “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV). David’s problem is a common one. Many of us don’t believe in ourselves because we weren’t recognized or encouraged by our parents. Perhaps you have the potential to be a great musician, but because nobody cared enough to give you music lessons when you were young, you have given up on yourself. Or you may be a budding entrepreneur who was criticized for your “foolish ideas” about how to do business, and you have given up the dreams of your youth. If that’s the case, it’s time to rise up and reclaim who you are; to start praying that God will open your eyes and put someone in your life who will validate and “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.”