When I was 7 or 8 years old, I reached into the refrigerator, grabbed the pitcher, and poured myself a cool glass of iced tea; took a sip and . . . yuck! Not enough sugar. I figured I would simply add sugar and all would be well—my iced tea would turn from the bitter, ill tasting beverage to a cooling, refreshing drink. I added a few teaspoons of sugar to my glass and proceeded to take a sip . . . still yuck. Must need more sugar! I added sugar and tasted again . . . still no good. I repeated this a few times, with no change in the flavor of the tea! When I looked at the glass, I had about a half inch of sugar at the bottom; yet the taste had not been affected

Perhaps the tea had all of the right ingredients from the beginning, it just needed to be stirred or agitated.

Similarly, you already possess many of the necessary ingredients or attributes to function as an effective Christian and do the will of God. Some of the God-given gifts, talents, and abilities that were placed in you may be dormant. It may be that you just need to be stirred up!

In 2Timothy 1:6, Paul writes to Timothy to remind him of the gifts that lie within him and tells him to stir them up—to activate them and put them to use. Are you aware of the gifts that you’ve been blessed with? What are those gifts? Have they been activated or stirred up in your life? Are they being used to glorify God or point others to Him?

[A reminder: I’m speaking to myself as well, not pontificating from a lofty perch in Tibet! Or rather, the Lord is speaking to me and I just write these thoughts down with intent to bless others who may experience similar circumstances.]  —submitted by Rodney Harrison, US