Mike Focht 8/8/2025
How do I find out what my spiritual gifts are? I have often heard that question from honest saints, distressed at the thought of not using their gifts or never discovering them. The sincere servant of God will always desire to be a good steward, as well as fear burying their God-given stewardship and living in unfaithfulness. The question is essential.
Fortunately, the answer is straightforward.
The apostle Paul says, But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all (1 Corinthians 12:7).
The apostle Peter says, As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:10).
The key to finding our spiritual gifts is first realizing who our spiritual gifts are for. Our spiritual gifts are for others. Spiritual gifts are meant to build up and edify the body of Christ. Paul says they should profit others. Peter says they are in service to one another. Our spiritual gifts are meant to bless the body of Christ.
First, that means I will only find my spiritual gifts in the process of serving others. If I live a selfish, worldly, indulgent life, I will never find my spiritual gifts. They are not for me. They are for others. They are others-focused, not self-focused. I remember once filling out a survey to “discover” my spiritual gifts. The questions all focused on me, what I like, what I don’t like, and how I would act in various situations. Needless to say, the outcome of that self-focused survey was not what I now know my true spiritual gifts are. If I isolate myself from the Body of Christ and live self-focused, I will never discover my spiritual gifts. They are not for me.
The first simple step to discovering your spiritual gifts is gathering and fellowshipping with the Body of Christ. If you don’t even go to church, you willingly stay home and watch online, or complain about what the church does or doesn’t do for you, I doubt you will ever discover your gifts that are meant to bless the very people you ignore, run from, or complain about.
Second, the apostles are clear, we are to gather with the body of Christ and minister or serve. I am to gather with the people of God with the express aim to be a profit to others, no matter how small the contribution. We don’t choose our own gifts; the Holy Spirit distributes them as pleases Him. We only steward the gift. He gives to one more and another less as He sees fit, but each one has received. We all have a necessary place and a meaningful part to play. You are an indispensable part of the body of Christ.
That means the second simple step to discovering our spiritual gifts is coming to the gathering of saints, intentionally looking to bless others by serving in any way possible. Even if that means following the example of Jesus Christ and taking the lowest place to wash the feet of sinful disciples. The manifold grace of God has many hues, and the Holy Spirit is looking for servants to color His work.
If you want to find your spiritual gifts, gather with the body of Christ regularly and seek to serve others however the Lord opens a door for you to do so. In the process of gathering and serving, it is very likely that others will discover your spiritual gifts before you do, and the wonderful outcome is that you will rejoice in the Lord together.