The apostle Paul was very clear: God has equipped each of us to function best by using our particular gifts. One of the potential glories of life’s second half is that, because there is a larger store of life experience to draw on, most of us are better able to know clearly what our gifts are. But just knowing them is of little value—as Paul told the Romans, the real key is to put them to use in serving God and others.

• Which of your gifts and talents—the things that you do the very best—have you used the most in your life? In what ways has that gift or gifts deepened and enriched your service to God and others? What profound sense of satisfaction and gratitude do you experience as you reflect on how that gift has made your life and the lives of others better?
• Is there a gift or gifts that you have not used very much? If so, what reason(s) can you identify for why you’ve kind of left that particular ability on the shelf? Reflect on the urgent, imperative tone of Paul’s counsel to the Romans: “If your gift is service, devote yourself to serving,” and so on. Ask God to help you find ways to put your underused gift(s) to work for God’s Kingdom.