Recently I worked on two nonfiction Christian projects and, as I worked on them, I believed and still do, that in doing so I was fulfilling my calling. God has given each of us gifts, talents and skills He hopes we will use to His glorification.

I once met another writer, a particularly gifted novelist, and she said that once she realized she had the God-given gift for writing and telling a story, she knew He intended that she would use the gift. It was (at least) part of her calling. At the time I was struck with how sure she was about this, and it took me many years to find the self-confidence to be able to say the same thing about myself and my writing.

⁷ To each person has been given the ability to manifest the Spirit for the common good. ⁸ To one has been given a message of wisdom by the Spirit; to another the ability to speak with knowledge according to the same Spirit; ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit; ¹⁰ to another miraculous results; to another prophecy; to another the ability to distinguish between spirits; to another various kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit produces all these results and gives what he wants to each person. ~ Corinthians 12:7-11 (ISV)

One of my delights is in making someone laugh–through my writing or my words. God gave me the talent to write and communicate well with readers. I’m trying my best to use this gift to God’s glorification, whether what I’m writing is fiction or nonfiction.

A friend once suggested that I’m a talented teacher and she wondered why I hadn’t pursued that as a career. I hadn’t, and I explained that teaching as a vocation didn’t appeal to me. However, teaching in my interactions about and during writing definitely appeals. If as a result I can lead even one person to Christ, I have done as God wished, leading to His exaltation.

Have you been given a talent for singing, for playing a musical instrument, for organizing things, or other gifts? You can use such gifts to the Lord’s glory, thereby testifying without the need for sermons or Biblical talks.

Each of our talents highlights an aspect of our Everlasting God. He is the Creator and the creative mind who invented rainbows and sunsets too beautiful to capture on canvas. He oversaw the writing of the Bible, with it’s many textures and layers. He created the heavens and the earth. He gave words to the Apostles and others when they most needed them. He is the peacemaker and even a team builder. The talents and skills He possesses are too numerous to list, but humanity is the beneficiary. Many of those talents are available to us as His gifts.

Merely by you, being you, to the best of your abilities, using your talents, background and interests is a wonderful means of demonstrating how God and Christ in our lives helps us to help others. Their presence leads us to happier lives as well.

Knowing that every step I take in my writing journey is not only condoned by God but the progress has been prepared for me by Him through the talents and gifts he blessed me with. Each of us have been given gifts to help us move forward through life.

I feel so beholden at being a Christian, beloved by our Heavenly Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. I am embraced by a soul-deep peace and love.

My hope for you is that you will experience such unconditional love and peace, too. May God bless you.