Have you ever had someone pray for you at church camp or on some other occasion, speaking something so specific and uncannily accurate that it freaked you out (but in a good way)? It’s almost as if they seemed to have read your mind, though you never told them anything…

This isn’t a coincidence, trick or some kind of psychic ability. What you’ve experienced could very likely be a manifestation of a spiritual gift. 

So, what are spiritual gifts? 

They are special abilities given to believers through the Holy Spirit, not based on one’s merit, but because of God’s grace and His desire to work through us to glorify Him. 

Think of the church like a team, and God as the coach. When we “join” the team by following Jesus, He gives us different “tools” so the team will succeed (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). We each have at least one spiritual gift, and these are specially handpicked by God for us (1 Corinthians, 12:7, 18).

Personally, dividing the spiritual gifts into three fun categories based on how they work, helps me to better understand them.

1) Intelligence Services. Gifts that involve knowing something, providing the church with knowledge and guidance. 

• Words of wisdom – map giving one divine strategy to navigate current situations
• Words of knowledge – confidential intel file giving one specific information they could not naturally know
• Discernment of spirits – spiritual test kit to identify whether something is from God, ourselves or evil spirits

2) Communication Crew. Gifts that involve saying something, delivering God’s message to His people.  

• Prophecy – announcement system that speaks God’s heart to encourage or convict 
• Tongues – language gift to communicate with man and God 
• Interpretation of tongues – translating device which makes tongues intelligible 

3) Emergency Response Team. Gifts that involve doing something, releasing supernatural breakthroughs and help. 

• Faith – power generator activating the belief that God can do the impossible
• Healing – first aid kit bringing supernatural healing to people
• Miracles – drilling machine to demolish natural limits to display God’s power

My experience with spiritual gifts 

While I’ve been Christian all my life, spiritual gifts were always something that I had heard about but did not know much about – my first exposure to spiritual gifts only happened during a time of ministry at my first church camp in 2019.

At the time, the congregation was praying for one another when God used a leader who did not know me at all to speak into my life. As it was my first time going up to be prayed for, I did not know what to expect or have any specific prayer requests.

However, as this lady prayed for me, she suddenly touched on something in my past that I had not told anyone about. She then declared that God wanted to break those chains so I could walk in freedom.

I was completely stunned, and found myself sobbing uncontrollably – quite unlike my usual unemotional self.

I felt that I experienced the full extent of God’s love, because He knew this thing which nobody else knew and had caused me great shame, but He still loved me anyway.

What was even more crazy was that I didn’t know this thing still bothered me, but He loved me so much that He didn’t want to simply leave me as I was and wanted to set me completely free.

Though I still didn’t understand how the leader could possibly know about my secret, I knew one thing for sure – my walk with God had started to get personal!

As I look back, I realised that the Lord had given this lady a word of knowledge so as to demonstrate His love to me personally. He was conveying the truth that He was not a distant God, but my Father who fully knows, yet fully loves me. 

Since then, I have continued to experience this gift in action, often alongside prophecy, as others have prayed and shared what God placed on their hearts for me. I’ve been greatly encouraged by that, and they have become words I cling on tightly to in my various seasons. 

Witnessing the powerful ways in which God moves through others did make me think that it would be amazing if I could be used in the same way… but I just never thought deeper about it.

It wasn’t until last year when I unexpectedly found myself receiving what seemed like the gift of word of knowledge (or perhaps it was prophecy… I’m still trying to figure out which it is) when I realised: God could use me in this way too. 

God is carrying you

During worship at church camp last year, I was closing my eyes, praying in tongues and worshipping in the Spirit, when a picture of a path appeared in my head. With time, more details were added to it.

While I couldn’t explain it, I had a strong sense that this vision was for my friend, who was also at camp. However, it felt so abstract that I initially ignored it and continued worshipping.

But the urge to pray this over my friend only grew stronger – so much so that the discomfort of not doing anything eventually pushed me to act.  

Still unsure of what the vision I received meant, I began praying – and the Lord graciously revealed more details and insight as I did.

I knew it was the Holy Spirit leading me because the words flowing from my mouth were completely unlike my usual prayers – they were far more specific and brought a level of vivid detail to the vision I can only describe as supernatural. 

What amazed me even more was what happened afterward.

My friend, in tears, told me that she had also seen the exact same image during worship earlier, even before I prayed: God walking behind her, carrying her backpack.

This was confirmation that the vision I had received was truly from God! How else could we both, without any prior discussion, see the exact same image at the same time and place unless it was the Holy Spirit at work? 

What also really encouraged me was that my friend later shared that this was very timely, as she had been wrestling with doubt about stepping up to serve in a greater capacity at church.

This encouragement from God gave her the courage to step into what He was calling her to in faith. 

A journey of continued obedience and grace 

She wasn’t the only one who was edified and encouraged; this experience was also a turning point for me too.

As she stepped into her role, I also felt led to serve as a prayer minister at LoveMG, a Christian event I had been helping to plan at my alma mater, Methodist Girls’ School, for the girls there as a returning alumna.

While I’m still figuring out what my spiritual gifts are and how to walk in them, what I’ve learnt is this: when we step out in faith, even when we’re unsure, God shows up.

In the first place, spiritual gifts are grace gifts. They were given by the Holy Spirit to each one of us so we can serve and strengthen others. Just as God puts the desire in our hearts to bless others, He will also provide the strength needed to carry it through. 

Honestly, though I’ve received this spiritual gift, there were still many times when I’ve felt prompted to pray for someone but let the fear of failure, fear of man or passivity get in the way. So, being obedient to exercise this gift is something I need to grow in as well.

After all, the gift is not about me. It’s for God’s glory. Our role is only obedience. God handles the outcome. We can do our best to exercise spiritual discernment but we won’t always get it right – and that’s okay.

If it is from God, it will bear fruit. If we got it wrong, He’s still sovereign – the greater loss would be not even stepping out at all. 

God doesn’t need us, but He delights to work through us. How amazing is it that God chooses to use us as His hands and feet to spread His love, bless and encourage His people.

So, if you’re like me, still figuring things out, but wanting to be used by Him, let this simple prayer be a starting point:

Dear Father God, thank You that You choose to work through broken, imperfect people, like me. Thank You for giving me a spiritual gift, whether or not I’ve discovered it yet. I pray that You help me recognise and use what You’ve placed in me, and let me always remember that it’s all about You and Your grace. Also, I pray You give me the ears to hear You and the strength to obey, even when I’m unsure. I offer all I have. It may be small, but I trust You to multiply it for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen!