Tuesday, July 16, 2024

A Gift and a Curse: Have you ever been Used?

 


Photo by Eric Ward on Unsplash

A Gift with a Curse

I love to help people. I enjoy sharing, and teaching. Over the years I realized that some people wait on you to use you. Have you ever found yourself with a gift? Have you ever come to the conclusion that the more you use it. The more they use you. This is a gift and a curse. Let’s talk about it.


Photo by Alexandru Zdrobău on Unsplash

She was Possessed 

There was a woman in the Bible who encountered Paul and Silas. She might have been a wonderful person, however, she was

Possessed with the spirit of divination. (Acts 16:16)

She could have been many things for God. She could have been

A minister
A intersessor
A leader 
A community activist 

However, she was possessed with 

The wrong spirit. 
The wrong motives
Sadly she was with the wrong people. 

This changes a lot of things. We may have been ideal for something. May have been on our way. Yet, there are lingering flaws in our lives. That keeps us from moving forward. Sadly, everybody can see it but us. She was possessed with the wrong spirit, and that possession drove her in the wrong direction.


Photo by Wout Vanacker on Unsplash

She’s Possessed by People

To keep money in her pocket she has to deal with people that don’t care about her. 

It seems as if the wrong people find us with our gifts before the right people do.

They used her. They were using her to get what they wanted.

Have you ever been used?

You are gifted but being used

Mistreated 
Mishandled 
Misguided 

At one time or another, we’ve been used.

Gifted but being used at home 
Gifted but being abused by family 
Gifted at school but they bully you there
So gifted at work. Instead of them giving you a promotion. They promote you with more work!

She, as well as some of us, was gifted but used. Never meeting her needs. never reaching her personal goals because she is too busy meeting others. Focusing on other people. Prioritizing their needs over hers. her she is, possessed by people!


Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash

She’s Possessed with a New Purpose 

After her encounter with Paul and Silas.

After trolling them. 
After following them. 
After calling them out 

She got what she needed but didn’t ask for it. 

Paul said

At the name of Jesus come out of her!

I’ll be honest God wasn’t on my mind. Jesus wasn’t in my plans. But somebody prayed for me! 

My Mom prayed for me
My Grandmothers prayed for me
Friends prayed for me
Most especially my wife prays for me

Now I have a new purpose. New ideas and new goals! Now I can move forward using the gifts that are no longer a curse but a blessing to me and my family. 

We don’t know what happened to her after that. But what I do know is. Her users weren’t happy about it. Which means she left them.

Conclusion 

Don’t let the wrong people possess you. Don’t let them possess your time, your talents, and anything else. Be encouraged. 

Talk to you later 

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