Using Your Life for God’s Glory
Do you ever wonder how you could be more involved with God’s mission to redeem the world? Your life is full of opportunities to demonstrate His love, generosity and hospitality, but it can take time to notice these opportunities. With the help of the Holy Spirit, use the acronym L.I.F.E. — leadership, influence, finances and expertise — to cultivate an awareness of where God might be inviting you to participate more in the mission to “go and make disciples,” (Matthew 28:19, New International Version).
Leadership
Are you a manager at work, team captain of your sports team or a small group leader at your church? Whether your leadership is resume-worthy or not, there are likely people in your life you are leading, even in small ways. What values and priorities characterize your leadership? How could your leadership reflect Jesus more clearly?
Jesus’ leadership was marked by humility (Matthew 20:28). Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus meeting people in their troubles with compassion, offering His presence and power (Matthew 9:35-36). How might He use you to bring His presence and power to those you lead?
Faith steps to consider:
Pray about the people you’re leading by name. Ask God to reveal opportunities to serve, advocate and empower those you lead. Is there anyone He’s leading you to share your faith with?
Offer to mentor someone who looks up to you. Invest your time in their personal, professional and spiritual development.
Join or start a Leader Impact group to grow alongside other leaders.
Influence
While leadership is often tied to a position of authority, influence is all about the broader and more informal ways you can affect another’s opinions, decisions or behaviors. Influence is a byproduct of trust in any relationship.
Consider who might be in your sphere of influence: friends, family, neighbors or coworkers. Is there anyone in your life who looks to you for advice, wisdom or encouragement? How could your influence point them to God’s Word or remind them of God’s character?
Faith steps to consider:
Pray and ask God to make you more aware of your influence. Pay attention to the attitudes and actions you encourage.
Next time someone comes to you for advice or encouragement, pause for a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your words. Consider using a breath prayer for moments like this.
Reflect on who, or what, influences you. How many of your decisions and habits are influenced by Jesus?
Finances
Intentionally or not, your finances typically reveal what’s most valuable to you. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” (Matthew 6:21, NIV). Since money is so deeply connected to worldly security and comfort, it’s often the most challenging area of our lives to trust God with. Whether you’re able to give a lot or a little (Mark 12:41-44), Jesus makes it abundantly clear that trusting Him with your finances will only deepen your relationship with Him.
God is generous by nature (1 John 3:1), so when you choose to be generous with your finances, time and other resources, you reflect God’s own generous character.
Faith steps to consider:
Take an inventory of both your time and finances. Where do you spend the most time and money? Does this reflect what you believe to be most valuable?
Learn more about Cru's featured giving opportunities and support minnistry needs around the world.
Consider a deeper study of how God calls us to live generously with these books recommended by the Cru Foundation.
Expertise
You have a combination of God-given skills and talents that is entirely unique to you. What are you naturally gifted in? Maybe you’re good with people, numbers or research. Whatever your gifts may be, they’ve been entrusted to you with a purpose. When each of us offer our talents to God and His mission, we become what Paul calls “the body of Christ” in 1 Corinthians 12, working together to form a more complete reflection of Jesus.
Faith steps to consider:
Reflect on your natural talents and the roles you most enjoy filling. What parts of God’s character are reflected in these skills? How can you use these talents more often?
How might you collaborate with others’ giftings to reflect Jesus more fully together? Reach out to a friend and brainstorm how you can use your expertise to host an outreach in your workplace or serve your community.
Unsure what your spiritual gifts are? Take our quiz and find out!
When you invite God to use every part of your L.I.F.E. — your leadership, influence, finances and expertise — for His glory, be prepared to see faith-building opportunities everywhere.
