Personal Assessments-Yay or Nay?
In today’s world, most of us have taken at least one if not ten personal inventory assessments, ranging from personality, to temperament to spiritual gifts. Learning about one’s in-born and learned tendencies can be very affirming. Knowing God created you with unique and distinct qualities can be liberating. One can have a sense of feeling seen and known by reading, in black and white, how you have significant contributions to offer the world that differ from those around you. Potentially, these qualities, gifts and talents were given to you to accomplish your specific calling in the Kingdom. Many people in this world are not raised with a family or community that speaks life or destiny over them, and so taking an assessment or having a counselor/coach educate them on the concept of “divine design” can empower an individual in a way that is transformational.
The key to applying the results of a personal assessment in a meaningful way is in conjunction with, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and in alignment with biblical truth. The purpose of learning more about who you are and how God wired you, is not to give you an excuse or “trump card” when you behave poorly. Some might use these insights to justify treating others in an unloving way, saying, “God made me this way. This is just who I am! See this test says so…” On the contrary, in my counsel to clients, I have used assessments as a way to help them better understand their sin patterns, and use those insights to strategically pray and submit their tendencies to the Lordship of Jesus. And then each of us must choose, with our will, to sacrifice our fleshly desires daily, finding freedom in the act of submission to God and His purposes in our lives.
But without these key spiritual revelations, many people will assume their natural tendencies drive their life, in a way that can be discouraging and quite taxing on one’s mental and emotional health. For example, one might have a strong desire for control and create a lot of anxiety for themselves or others if they do not have it, or allowing one’s social preference to frequently be with friends pull them away from being present for their family, or the will to achieve big accomplishments that become an idol over staying in the flow of God’s grace. I have observed many behavioral patterns in my clients, that when unrelinquished to the Holy Spirit, they result in devastating circumstances, including divorce, failure in ministry, and moral corruption.
The discovery of one’s instinctual nature should not cause someone to become more boastful, rather to bring the believer into a greater reliance on God, continually seeking His wisdom and refinement in the areas of their human brokenness, so that they can be made into the likeness of Christ, more and more. And as we all know, this journey of transformation is not complete until the day we enter into eternity. So until then, how can you learn more about why you do what you do? And then learn to maximize for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.
“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” -Romans 7:15-20
Learning to lean into your strengths and God-given talents, while still recognizing the “humanness” of your sinful nature is a journey. It is a work of self-discipline. It is seeking help from the Holy Spirit and accountability from those around you, whom you trust. It will cost you. But the benefits? You will experience significantly more contentment and increased joy in your everyday life. This humbling process will enlarge your grace and mercy for others as you see their natural tendencies in a whole new light, through the eyes of a Creator who designed them that way, with intentionality and purpose! Now, when others behave in a way that could be offensive or hurtful to you, could you view their actions as “unsubmitted” tendencies and quickly forgive them, as they are a work in progress, just like you?
TruCenter is a one-of-a-kind, narrative based assessment that reveals your God-given motivations to do good works on the earth. It is different from giftings or personality, rather an uncovering of your heart's innermost desires. How were you formed, before the foundations of the earth, and motivated for greatness? If you have not heard of this personal assessment or tried it yet, I would encourage you to do so, it is very inspiring and can reignite passion for the work/ministry that you do. It could also help you discover the ministry you want to do if you have been feeling stuck or discontent. The website is www.trucenter.co and you can use coupon code: KM5 (Kingdom Mindset-$5 off of $20) at checkout when purchasing an assessment. If you are a counselor/coach, homeschool parent or pastor, you might consider becoming a facilitator. Here is a coupon for $100 off the $299 facilitator’s certification, now through Labor Day, use code: LABORDAY at checkout.
Regardless if you take this assessment or reflect on others you have taken in the past, remember: “YOU are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” -Ephesians 2:10
