Your life experiences are a piece of the puzzle that makes up your ministry profile that God uses to prepare you for serving and give you perspective in it.  What you believe about God will help determine how you handle your life circumstances … past, present, and future. 

Will you wallow in self-pity over what has happened or rise victorious and let Him use what has happened to you to minister to others?  Will you question His love and doubt His plan for your life or will you trust in His sovereignty and rely on His faithfulness?  Will you use your life circumstances as an excuse for not serving or will you step out in faith relying on His grace and power?

Read the following Scripture and consider how this kind of God is capable of using both the good and bad of your life to His glory as you serve Him.

Ps. 139:1-16a -  He is fully aware of what is happening with us. Nothing that happens escapes His notice.  He is omniscient, all knowing.

Ps. 139:16 – He pre-determined our days.  He is sovereign.

Ps. 139:17-18 – He cares so much about us, He is constantly thinking about us. He is loving.

Rom. 8:28 – He always works on our behalf.  He is good and wise.

Rom. 8:31-39  – He holds on to us no matter what happens.  Nothing can separate us from Him.

2 Cor. 1:3-4  -  He doesn’t remove trouble from our lives but is with us through it, giving us all we need to rise above.  He is the provider.

Resources to Help You Work Through Reactions to Your Life Experiences:

Books on letting go of the past

Who you are will help to determine how you do ministry.  God uses the whole of who you are so your personality is a defining part of your ministry profile.  Two people with the same spiritual gifts in the identical measure could look different in the way they express their gifts because of their personalities.

Read the following Scripture and consider God’s perspective on your personality:

Ps. 139:13-14 – He created our innermost being.  Who we are is no accident and is intended to be used for His glory.  — Let’s yield to Him and not make excuses for ourselves.

Matt. 22:37 - He commands that all of who we are is to go into loving and serving Him.  — Let’s yield to Him and not consider this optional.

Gal. 5:16-26 - He provides His Spirit to help us turn from the dysfunctional aspects and replace them with good fruit.  — Let’s yield to Him and not get in the way of effective service.

Resources to Help You Understand Your Personality Temperament:

List of books from different approaches.

What God lays on your heart as a matter of concern or interest should not be neglected.  It is an important piece of the puzzle that makes up your ministry profile, helping you to focus the use of your spiritual gifts on people and issues in which God wants you involved.

Read the following Scripture and consider the difference serving from the heart makes:

Prov. 4:23 – It affects your motivation in serving  … so guard your heart.

Lk. 6:45 – It affects your communication in serving  … so work at putting good in your heart.

Ps. 20:4; 37:4; Prov. 3:5-6 – It affects your outcome in serving   … so trust your heart to the Lord.

Resources to Help You Serve Those to Whom Your Heart is Drawn More Effectively:

List of books & resources on various issues, needs, and people