learn through your ownshape.Today there are many books and
tools that can help you understand your personality so you can
determine how to use it for God.
Like stained glass, our different personalities reflect God’s light
in many colors and patterns. This blesses the family of God with
depth and variety. It also blesses us
personally. It feels goodto do what
God made you to do. When you
minister in a manner consistent
with the personality God gave you,
you experience fulfillment,
satisfaction, and fruitfulness.
SHAPE: Employing Your Experiences
You have been shaped by your experiences in life, most of
which were beyond your control. God allowed them for his
purpose of molding you.^11 In determining your shape for serving
God, you should examine at least six kinds of experiences from
your past:
- Family experiences: What did you learn growing up in your
family? - Educational experiences: What were your favorite subjects in
school? - Vocationalexperiences: What jobs have you been most
effective in and enjoyed most? - Spiritual experiences: What have been your most meaningful
times with God? - Ministryexperiences: How have you served God in the past?
- Painfulexperiences: What problems, hurts, thorns, and trials
have you learned from?
It is this last category,painfulexperiences, that God uses the
most to prepare you for ministry. God never wastes a hurt!In fact,
your greatest ministry will most likely come out of your greatest
The Purpose-Driven Life 246
It feels good to do what
God made you to do.