Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
6 1 2026
Gratitude: The Gift That Completes Every Gift – Part 2 of 2
God’s Gifts in Disguise
Last time we talked about gratitude and how every gift was designed to lead us back to the Giver. But there is another side to that truth. God not only gives gifts to us, He gives gifts through us.
Have you ever wondered if many people think the term “spiritual gifts” is just religious language for our natural talents and genetic predispositions? I think a lot of people do. They look at someone who teaches well, leads well, encourages well, organizes well, and assume they were simply born that way.
But have you come to a place in your walk where you realize these gifts are something altogether different? Something God Himself activates at a specific point in time for His purposes?
I believe spiritual gifts are part of what brings all the scattered pieces that make you… you… together. They cannot be earned. They cannot be unlocked through a personality test. They are not psychic powers. They are entrusted by the Holy Spirit Himself.
Psalm 139 says, “My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place.” Before you ever drew a breath, God knew how He would weave together your experiences, your personality, your burdens, your passions, your strengths, and yes, even your spiritual gifts for His glory.
Alli Patterson said there are gifts we are born with, gifts we develop through life, and then there are spiritual gifts made possible because Christ now lives within us. These are what Scripture means when it speaks of spiritual gifts. They are part of God’s design for His church and His mission.
Administration, apostleship, discernment, encouragement, exhortation, evangelism, faith, giving, healing, hospitality, interpreting tongues, knowledge, leadership, mercy, miracles, pastoring, prophecy, teaching, speaking in tongues, serving, wisdom… oh my, but the gifts of God are more uniquely special than we can imagine.
And here’s the amazing thing. Scripture never presents these gifts as badges of honor. They are not proof that one believer is somehow better than another. The Bible says every gift must be rooted in love and used for the common good. Without love they become empty shells. Religious noise. Vain propaganda. The Holy Spirit equips each believer differently because every church, every family, every community, and every season has different needs. Somehow God knew exactly what grace He wanted to pour into the world through you.
Did you know that God’s gifts are really God’s grace in disguise?
Think about that for a minute.
You are not the owner of these gifts. You are the manager of them. First Peter says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” Not to maximize ourselves, but to maximize God by pouring His grace into the lives of others.
When you encourage someone, grace is being poured out. When you show mercy, grace is being poured out. When you teach truth, grace is being poured out. When you quietly serve behind the scenes and nobody notices, grace is still being poured out.
Every gift is on loan from heaven.
Every gift points back to the One who gave it.
And now we find ourselves right back where we started.
Paul says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” Notice how closely joy and gratitude travel together. Gratitude keeps the gift connected to the Giver. Idolatry tries to separate them. Gratitude reunites them.
The beauty points to His beauty. The goodness points to His goodness. The truth points to His truth. The joy points to His joy. Every gift carries the fingerprints of God. Every gift whispers His name. Every gift was designed to lead us back to worship.
Perhaps that is why some people still feel incomplete. They enjoy the gifts but never arrive at the Giver.
Lewis said the good things of this world give us bearings on the Bright Blur, making God brighter and less blurry. God has immersed us in a world overflowing with His gifts. We eat gifts. We breathe gifts. We work with gifts. We live by gifts. Every day, every hour, heavenly fireworks are exploding around us, inviting our gratitude to rise toward the One who sent them.
So let me leave you where all of this becomes intensely practical.
Ask yourself today: What opportunity is right in front of me to bring grace to someone else?
Ask a trusted friend: What do I consistently do that encourages, strengthens, frees, or blesses you?
Ask God: “Lord, show me the gifts You have placed within me and teach me how to use them for Your glory.”
Because you have gifts. They are there on purpose, for God’s purpose. The world desperately needs the grace of God, and He has already placed a supply of that grace inside of you waiting to be poured out.
Three Questions to Probe a Little Deeper
- What spiritual gifts has God entrusted to me that I have neglected, overlooked, or underestimated?
- Who around me desperately needs the grace that God wants to pour through me?
- Am I acting like the owner of God’s gifts or a steward of them?
My wife Dyan is going in for a total hip replacement on Thursday. It is her third hip surgery in two years. It’s been hard, but we are believing for a breakthrough. Please pray for God’s grace and healing power to be on her and the hands of her surgeon.
You will not want to miss our next devotion: You cannot enter a new season with an old vision of God. I received a prophetic word that is important that you hear. Until then. Blessings
“What part of this hit home for you this morning? What are you carrying today that needs prayer? If you’d like, send me a prayer request here. Let’s invite the Holy Spirit in together. (where two are gathered.) You are not walking alone. Just hit reply…
I read every response.”
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Just a note on June 2nd, tomorrow, I continue to host a Discovering Jesus ONLINE 6-week course to dive deeper into our faith and empower you with true tenets of our faith to stand on. Tuesday nights, 7pm to 8:30. It is open to you, your spouse, your family, or your neighbors. Here is a link and I can send you the necessary materials. It is FREE of charge.
To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/zkb-dxcq-iau
Broken and Spilled out. Steve Green
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pklUAB4E4nA
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