Say "spiritual gifts" to your average church-goers and they will think "prophets" or "speaking in tongues" or "crazy pentecostals." They will say, "Oh, the spiritual gifts aren't for today," or "Yes, I operate in my gifting; I speak in tongues all the time" or "I don't know much about them."

Say "spiritual gifts" to your average non-church-goers and they will think "Huh?" (They will probably say that, too.)

Allow me to side-step the whole "spiritual gifts not for today" debate and just highlight a category of spiritual gifts that we often overlook, though we use them daily: the motivational gifts.

The passage which lays out motivational gifts is Romans 12:6-9.

v6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, {each of us is to exercise them accordingly:} if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
v7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
v8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

They are prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling, and mercy.

Great. Now what? There are gifts, they are motivational, and apparently we are supposed to be using them. Let's start by understanding what they are and are not.

• Prophecy is not telling people the future or making Nostradamus-like predictions. Prophecy is having discernment (of the character and motives of others), persuasiveness (in defining truth), openness (to receiving correction), and commitment (loyal, willing to suffer, wholehearted involvement).
• Service is not doing everything for everybody. Service is having discernment (of the practical needs and preferences of others), quickness (in meeting needs, choosing short-range projects), selflessness (in ignoring personal weariness, freeing others from duties), and connection (in desiring to be with people, needing appreciation).
• Teaching is not Mrs. Ruthie from your 2nd grade, cutting things out of felt, or being "academic." Teaching is having discernment (in how to clarify misunderstandings), accuracy (in presentation of truth and checking of facts), organization (in systematizing and researching), and professionalism (in being thorough and using only reliable sources).
• Exhortation is not an insatiable need to bubble over with corny phrases and pat people on the back. Exhortation is having discernment (in seeing cause of problems), vision (in seeing the potential of others, the way to solve problems, and the benefits from problems), connection (in wanting face-to-face discussion and harmony between diverse groups), and practicality (in gaining wisdom from experience and applying that wisdom to life).
• Giving is not mindlessly shelling out all the cash in your wallet to the alcoholic on the street corner. Giving is having discernment (in identifying resources and needs), modesty (in receiving counsel on amounts, and in giving secretly and without being asked), connection (in wanting to be part of others' work and part of answered prayer, and in motivating others to give), and high standards (giving high quality, exercising personal thrift, hoping that the gift will not corrupt).
• Ruling is not telling everyone else what to do and how to do it. Ruling is having discernment (to see the big picture, break down large goals, know what and how to delegate), organization (in getting things done, gathering resources, and setting up systems and structures), selflessness (enduring reactions, taking on large responsibilities, ignore personal needs to reach the goal), and goal orientation (thrilled by bringing all the parts together, ready for a new challenge when the last is completed).
• Mercy is not crying at every sappy love song. Mercy is having discernment (in sensing the emotional atmosphere, understanding what will hurt others, and identifying genuine love or lack of it), empathy (for hurting, misunderstood, and distressed people, rejection of insincerity or insensitivity, desire for healing in others), connection (in a need for deep friendships, a fierce loyalty and protectiveness for friends), and gentleness (in avoiding firmness unless it is necessary for healing and seeking the company of sensitive people).

The motivational gifts are imbedded in our temperaments and personalities. They define both our natural strengths and natural weaknesses. Identifying your own motivational gifts helps you identify the work, ministry, and atmosphere in which you will be most effective, most at ease, and most exhilarated.

It's common to carry the idea that finding "God's will for my life" will lead to a dreary, disagreeable road to follow. Motivational gifts argue that point. We are told that we have them and we are instructed to use them. My feet walking "God's will for my life" should not be propelled by a sense of duty or a fear of retribution. Our motives are greater than that: love of God, love of man, and a sheer delight in and desire for what we are given to do.