Stir up your gifts!

“…  stir up the gift of God, which is in you …” (2 Tim. 1:6)

If it is God who gives every believer spiritual gifts, including you, then what you do with those gifts is up to you.

God has given you control!

You have control over the gifts that God has given you! “The spirit of the prophet is controlled by the prophet.” (1 Cor. 14:32)

You must stir them up!

Usually, if you fail to stir any stir-able thing, it settles to the bottom and becomes thin and less usable and effective. The same can be said for any kind of gift, whether spiritual or otherwise, that God has given you. Without “stirring up” talents and special abilities, they will become dull, spiritual gifts will become weak or even become non-effective.

Fan them into flame

Instead of telling you to “stir up” your gifts, some translations say to “fan them into flame." Either way, the idea is the same; you need to do something to keep them sharp and useful.

How do you do it?

You stir up (rekindle) your gifts by developing, refining, enhancing, and using them. In other words, you put them into use.

Do not neglect your gifts but be diligent in putting them to work!

 “Do not neglect your gift ... Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress." (1 Tim. 4:14-15 NIV)