Desire The Gifts Of The Spirit

God has uniquely equipped His children to serve and glorify Him, not in their own strength, but through the power of His Holy Spirit. One of the ways He works through us is by giving spiritual gifts—special abilities to build up the church and reach the world with His love.

The Apostle Paul encourages us to pursue these gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:1, saying, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.” God doesn’t want us to be unaware of His gifts or hesitant to desire them. Instead, He calls us to seek them eagerly so that we can fulfill His purposes in our lives and in the lives of others.

Spiritual gifts are a beautiful expression of God’s grace. They aren’t earned or based on merit but are given by the Holy Spirit to each believer as He determines. These gifts include teaching, serving, prophecy, wisdom, faith, healing, discernment, and many others. Each one is essential, and together they reflect the diversity and unity of Christ’s body, the church.

But how do we approach the gifts of the Spirit? First, we must recognize that they are meant to glorify God, not ourselves. It’s easy to focus on the gifts we find impressive or visible, but all gifts, whether public or behind-the-scenes, are given for the common good. They aren’t about us—they’re about pointing others to Jesus.

Second, we are invited to desire the gifts with a heart surrendered to God. In 1 Corinthians 14:1, Paul writes, “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts.” This reminds us that love is the foundation for all spiritual gifts. Without love, our gifts lose their purpose and power.

Finally, we need to seek the Giver above the gifts. While the gifts of the Spirit are incredible, they should never overshadow our relationship with the Holy Spirit Himself. As we spend time in prayer and worship, we grow in intimacy with Him, and He works in and through us according to His will.

When we desire spiritual gifts, it’s not about gaining status or proving our spirituality. It’s about being available for God to use us however He chooses. It’s saying, “Lord, here I am. Use my life to bring You glory and to build Your kingdom.”

Pray with your own words, or try these:

Father, thank You for giving gifts to Your children to accomplish Your purposes. I don’t want to be uninformed or hesitant about the spiritual gifts You’ve made available. Help me to desire them with a heart that pursues love and seeks to glorify You above all. Teach me to walk in step with You and to use the gifts You give me to serve others and share Your truth. May my life reflect Your power and grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.