What's your shape?

It has been said that each of has a particular shape, not just our physical shape, but also all the components that make us who we are. 

SHAPE can be an acronym for Spiritual Gift, Heart, Abilities, personality and Experience.

At the time of our spiritual birth we, when we first trust Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour and receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we also receive a spiritual enabling, or expression of his grace which is commonly referred to as a spiritual gift. There are lists of these Spiritual gifts in the Bible; 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12 and Ephesians 4. Every believer is given a particular gift for he or she to use to help build each other up and to make God known in their world.

Along with the gift we receive, we each have a heart or passion for some particular aspect of life. We may be passionate about social justice, the poor or the lost. We may have a real heart concern for the sick or for prayer, for teaching or for doing practical things. Our passion is what excites and motivates us. What motivates you – what do you get passionate about? If you had the chance to choose, what would you like to do more than anything else right now? What do you like to do more than anything else? This is your passion, or your heart.

All of us are born with certain abilities and talents that we need to develop through life. We may do this through education, training and practice. Unfortunately it is possible to have these abilities within us and to leave them undeveloped. Perhaps we have been afraid of trying something through lack of confidence, or because of the reaction of others. Or may be the first time we tried we failed or maybe our parents steered us into some other activity. All of us, however do have abilities, some are practical, some relational, some academic. Some are good managers; others good at public speaking while others are expert in the garden or in sport. Whatever it is, you have God given abilities that are specific to you and which need developing.

Our personality comes from both our heritage and our environment. 

Some of us are outgoing and love to be the centre of attention, while others are more retiring and prefer the back seat. There are those who can’t keep still for a moment and others who are, much more relaxed and easy going. One person may have a strong need to succeed while another is happy to be one of the crowd and just blend in. We are all different – but we all have personality! Your personality is unique to you, it is who you are, and you don’t need to be like someone else to be significant.

Every person’s experience is peculiar to them; no one else can live your experience, although you may be able to share what you learned from it with others. Only you can live your own experience, it helps make you the person you are, fashions the way you think and respond to circumstances and determines how you respond to your world.

Each of us has a different shape – and that is the way God intended it. He has molded you so that you fit exactly into his family the way he wants you to. You don’t need to be the same shape as everyone, or even anyone else, only someone of your exact shape will fit into the place God has prepared.

Don’t try to change your shape – instead, find the place where you fit.