Your hands shaped me and made me. Job 10:8

God formed every creature on this planet with special talents.  Each has a particular role to play based on the way they were shaped by God. The same is true with humans. You are uniquely designed, or "shaped" to do certain things.

Before an architect will begin to design any new building they first ask, "What is its purpose? How is it to be used?" The function for which anything is intended will determine how it is designed, processed and made.

Before God created you, your role on earth had to be decided.  God planned exactly how you were to serve him, and then you were shaped for those tasks.  Each of us is designed for a specific ministry.

The Bible says, "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works" (Ephesians 2:10).  The word "poem" comes from a Greek word translated "workmanship."  So we are hand-crafted one of a kind made by the artful hand of God.  There is no one quite like you.  You are a custom made original masterpiece.

God has shaped and formed you to serve in a way that makes your life unique. God chose the DNA recipe that created you.  David praised God thankful for the attention to detail: "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous" (Psalm 139:13-14).

God shaped you before birth and planned every day of life to support that shaping process. David continues, "Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed" (Psalm 139:16).

This means nothing that happens in your life is insignificant.  God will use every minute of your life to mold you for ministry in love and appreciation to others, and will provide the skills for you to be the servant with the talents needed to be that loving, giving person.

God does not waste anything.  God does not give you abilities, interests, talents, personality, and life experiences unless the intent is to use them for his glory. By seeing the gifts and talents and understanding these you can discover God's will for your life.

The Bible says you are "wonderfully complex." You're a combination of many different factors: "The people I have shaped for myself will broadcast my praises." (Isaiah 43:21).  We are graciously made with many talents and spiritual gifts that are received from God’s Spirit.

You can't earn your spiritual gifts -- that's why they are called gifts! They're an expression of God's grace to you: "Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us." (Ephesians 4:7).

If you had them all, you'd have no need of anyone else, and that would defeat one of God's purposes -- to teach us to depend on each other.  Your gifts were not given for your own benefit but for the benefit of others, just as other people were given gifts for your benefit. The Bible says, "A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church" (1 Corinthians 12:7).

When we use our gifts together, we all benefit. If others don't use their gifts, you get cheated, but if you don't use your gifts, they get cheated. This is why God wants us to discover and develop our spiritual gifts.

Sometimes our  gifts are overemphasized to the neglect of the other factors that God uses to shape you for service. So keep in mind, your gifts reveal one part of God's will for your ministry, but not the whole of it.   You have been shaped by the hands of God and therefore have many facets to your character and gift of love; thankfulness and appreciation are but a few.  Rejoice in keeping a clean heart to use the gifts of God.