The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
notes by Pat Krabacher

30. Shaped for serving God

A. Your hands shaped me and made me.
Job 10:8 (NIV)

B. The people I have shaped for myself will broadcast my praises.
Isaiah 43:21 (NIB).

God formed every creature on this planet with a special area of expertise. . . .
The same is true with humans.
Each of us was uniquely designed , or "shaped" to do certain things.

God . . .. would not give you abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality,
and life experiences unless he intended to use them for his glory.
By identifying and understanding these factors you can discover God's will for your life.

Whenever God gives us an assignment, he always equips us with what we need to accomplish it.
This custom combination of capabilities is called your SHAPE:

S = Spiritual gifts.

H = Heart

A = Abilities

P = Personality

E = Experience

The Bible says, "A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church."
1 Cor 12:7 (NLT)

The Bible uses the term heart to describe the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections you have.
Your heart represents the source of all your motivations - what you love to do and what you care about most.

God wants you to use your natural interests to serve him and others.
Listening for inner promptings can point to the ministry God intends for you to have.

Don't just settle for the "good life", because the good life is not good enough. . . .
Aim instead for the "better life" - serving God in a way that expresses your heart.
Figure out what you love to do - what God gave you a heart to do - -
and then do it for his glory.

C. Point to Ponder:
I was shaped for serving God.

Verse to remember:
God works through different men in different ways, but it is the same God who achieves his purposes through them all.
1 Cor 12:6 (Ph)

Question to Consider:
In what way can I see myself passionately serving others and loving it?