When you know who God has shaped you to be, then you know who you ought to be, and you can start focusing on how to make better use of your life.

The moment you step across the line spiritually and begin following Jesus, you say, “I’m going to go God’s way, not my own way. I’m going to let him direct my life. I want to follow God’s purpose, not my purpose. I’m going to do what I was wired and made to do.”

When you take that step, God also gives you four major gifts:

Forgiveness — Romans 5:15 says, “For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ” (NLT). The first thing Jesus does is to wipe out everything you’ve ever done wrong. It’s all forgiven! There is no condemnation.

Eternal life — God has long-range plans for you. The Bible says in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV). You’re never going to work your way or earn your way into heaven. The only way you’ll ever get into heaven is by God’s free gift that you accept by faith.

The Holy Spirit — Romans 5:5 says God “has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (NLT). How do you know when you’re letting God live through your life? When you embody the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Special abilities — In the Bible, these special abilities are called spiritual gifts, which makes them different from material or physical gifts. Most people who are believers don’t even know they’ve got spiritual gifts, much less what they are. But you have them!

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, “There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person” (GW).

What is a spiritual gift? God has a purpose for your life, and your spiritual gifts are the equipment he gives you to do what he asks you to do. God will never ask you to do something he doesn’t give you the ability to do. God gives you your spiritual gifts the moment you accept Christ. You don’t get to choose your gifts, and you don’t earn your gifts.

Your gifts also are not for your benefit. Your spiritual gifts allow you to help other people. And other people can use their gifts to help you.

When I use my spiritual gift of teaching, you get blessed. When you use your spiritual gift, the people in your church get blessed. It’s like a puzzle. If one jigsaw piece is missing, what’s the first thing you notice? The one missing piece. When we develop and use our spiritual gifts, we all get blessed.