"Your sons and your daughters will prophesy ... Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy" (Acts 2:17-18). 

The Lord has a special place for women in ministry; you are called and anointed to minister in the church. I am so honored to work with some amazing women in ministry and I've had the opportunity to meet so many other women in ministry throughout our nation.

Women who answer the call to ministry are some of the strongest and toughest women I know—not in their physical strength; they have an inner strength that's pretty amazing!

When I was a young pastor's wife, I would get so intimidated by other women in ministry. It was always easy to compare myself and feel insecure. I would see other women that were successful or powerhouse preachers, and then I would look at myself and think, "What do I do well in ministry?" I can probably list a ton of things I don't do well by others' standards. However, I've learned through the years that God created me just the way I am and that I have something great to offer to the body of Christ. 

Years ago, I took a Gift Quest like this one to find out what my spiritual gifts are. I found out that my strongest gift is that of Exhortation. I remember working in the ministry for many years overseeing our finance department thinking, "God is this all I am going to do for the rest of my life?" If my strongest gift is exhortation, how does that fit into the Finance department? I didn't feel I was using what I was most gifted at. I began to think about my salary; I can't just be paid to encourage people, right?

One day I was listening to Joyce Meyer (her ministry has saved my life many times) and I heard her say: "We need exhorters in the body of Christ; thank God for them. I could have John Maxwell around me every day just encouraging me!" Thank you, Joyce Meyer! I realized my gift was very much needed in the body of Christ.

So instead of dreading overseeing the finance department, I diligently work hard and every moment I have I encourage those around me. I found that it fueled my passion and purpose every day. 

I still oversee the finance department, but now I have a thriving women's ministry in our church, and I am an author and blogger. My spiritual gift of exhortation is being used all the time. Don't dread the daily grind of ministry. Work diligently and allow the Lord to continue to reveal your purpose in whatever season you are in. There will always be seasons in your ministry life. 

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven" (Eccl. 3:1) God uses moments in these different seasons to define areas of your life. There may be seasons where you feel like you are in the wilderness, yet God has not left you instead He is doing a deep work inside of you. Whatever season you are in, allow God to show you your purpose in that season. Sometimes we seek the Lord and ask Him, "God, what is my purpose?" We think once He reveals it, we will be content. Yes, God has a purpose for you, but your purpose is defined in every season you go through. 

You cannot skip seasons or you will forfeit what you need to get out of that season. God has equipped you and anointed you to do what He has called you to do. Be of a good courage and do not give up! Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (Gal. 6:9)

Along with her husband, Pastor Luis Reyes, Tricia Reyes is the co-founder of The New Church Of Joy in Waukegan, Illinois. She is a blogger, author and helps manage her daughter Madison's (Maddie Rey) Music Ministry. She is a devoted wife and mother to Madison and Matthew, and loves the Lord with all her heart! To learn more about Tricia's ministry or to book her for a Women's Event / Conference visit her website at triciareyes.com or thenewchurchofjoy.com.

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