Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him . . . Psalm 34:3–6, NIV

Up until this morning, I have often ‘boasted?’ that my superpower is that I am hardworking. I believe I ‘caught’ this behavior from my dad who came back into my life when he remarried my mom. For nine years, I rarely saw my dad. As a busy army officer, in Europe and two times in Vietnam, he would at most pop in and out of my life.

What else contributed to embracing hard work was influenced by the year in Belgium when I was 14. Now living with my military father,  I took advantage of the opportunity to learn French through attending a local school.

It was both rough and rewarding. Not knowing any of the language, I would sit at my dad’s desk night after night for three hours translating my schoolbooks into English so I could know what was going on in class.  Transitioning to college was a breeze after that year of training.

So, what happened that changed my mind about taking credit for where I am today?  Simply, that the Lord spoke to my heart this morning.

He gently revealed that had He not given me the desire to speak French, had He not given me the discipline to persist, I would not have succeeded.

Reinforcing the truth that our desires come from the Lord, He brought to mind something I still recall from Seventeen magazine. Embedded in an article about weight loss I came across this explanation:  “Discipline is remembering what you want.”  To this day, I would not be able to maintain the discipline of many activities in my life were it not for strong desires.

Do you recall Moses appointing Bezalel to craft artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze? He and his team created fine linens with colored thread. They cut and set jewels as well as carved wood.

The LORD has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. Exodus 35:31 NLT

Another example of God’s good gift of passions and skills.

Listening to God this morning as He brought all this to mind produced the gift of repentance.

I decided, “No more am I going to take credit for what I am able to do. For my desires and capacities are gifts from the Lord.