Gift
/ˈɡift/
noun
- something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation; a present
- a notable capacity, talent, or endowment
verb
- to endow with some power, quality, or attribute
- to voluntarily transfer something to another person without compensation; to give a present
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14–16
The most frequent comment I hear from people is how busy I am. Sure, I’m a wife, a mother, an artist, and a business owner, but God has called me to each of these roles. So if I’m busy, I’m busy being obedient to Him and using the gifts with which He has entrusted me.
When we are serving out our calling and using the gifts God has put in our lives, life doesn’t feel busy. Instead, walking the path of our calling leaves us feeling enlivened and fulfilled—like we’re a part of the Lord’s masterful plan. “Busy” happens when we’re not clear about our purpose or calling, and then allow external voices and circumstances to complicate our lives.
Amid jam-packed schedules—whether driving multiple carpools or working as a CEO, a doctor, a teacher, a mother, a volunteer—I encourage us to stop glorifying how busy we are. Focus instead on following your callings, however many there may be, and using your gifts to the glory of the Lord. I love using the following acronym when people comment on how “busy” I am:
BUSYBUSY
Be Uniquely Serving Yahweh By Using [what is] Specifically Yours
Each of us has been given a gift. And each of us has a role to play in the world God has created for us. If you’re feeling too busy or frazzled, I challenge you to pause and evaluate what it is that fulfills you rather than being in a constant state of increased craze. Serve Him with what He has given you and find the peace and joy He has promised you!
What wonderful gifts are you offering to the world today? How has being “busy” robbed you of your unique expression? How has it robbed you of God’s blessings and joy?
Dear God, thank You for granting me Your precious gifts. Thank You for calling me to be Yours and entrusting me with these gifts and abilities. Help me stop wishing for someone else’s talents and instead walk confidently in my own so that I can glorify You all the days of my life.
Excerpted with permission from Anne Neilson’s Angels: Devotions and Art to Encourage, Refresh, and Inspire (Thomas Nelson, November 10, 2020) by Anne Neilson for Christian Parenting.
