Question

Could you please tell me how we can each know what God's special plan is in our lives, in terms of how we can use our talents, or how we know when we are using them in the right direction?

Answer

Well, I think that it is simple to answer that by saying, "Walk in the Spirit and He will lead you where you need to be."  I never plan too far ahead.  I just think that we live in the present tense.  The only thing I know about even my own ministry is that I want to do today what God has lays upon my heart to do.  I kind of lean on a verse, and you know it, I am sure, very well, "Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desire of your heart."  I really do believe that part of spiritual life (I don't want to over-simplify the situation) but, a great part of our spiritual life can be reduced to that principle of Psalm 37:4, it is down to the fact that if I delight in the Lord then He is going to fill my heart with desire, and He is going to fulfill those desires.

When it comes to, "How do you know your gift?"  Don't go to a computer and try to figure out your gift.  Don't go to an analysis.  When you are walking in the Spirit--what do you like to do?  And when you walk in the Spirit and you do what you like to do--what kind of response do you get?  If I said, "I'm in the spirit and I want to preach.  Boy, I just want to teach God's Word, and study God's Word."  That would be the way God expressed that through me.  Now, on the other hand I want to be sure that everybody agrees.  I could say, "Boy, I am gifted to teach, I'm gifted to preach," and everybody out there saying, "Mercy, mercy, shut him up--get him out."  So, you want to have a confirmation on that.  

But, I really believe that if you walk in the Spirit, and you let the Spirit control your life, that the gifts that He has given you and the ministry that He has placed before you will flow and it will happen. Expose yourself to as much opportunity as you can and see where the Spirit of God directs your willing heart.