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I would assume that this includes people of all ages; but many youthful, energetic, and creative Christians struggle with their individuality.  When I say this, I'm not referring to those dealing with sexual preference issues (maybe in another work). I'm talking about the trailblazers, the trendsetters, the planers, and the executors.  Because of the personality traits that are associated with being an achieved individual, many begin to look at their driven nature as almost a curse after giving or rededicating their lives to Christ.  Along with that, the "I looked at my hands and they looked new..." phenomenon sometimes has winners in the world feeling like losers in the Kingdom. 

Relatively speaking, refusing to relinquish control of our life direction can seriously damage our earthly and eternal destiny (Matthew 16:25).  Without question, we must surrender all to the Father through Christ.  Still, even in war the victorious nation keeps some - if not all - of what the surrendering country has to offer.  With that said, what makes us so sure that we know what the Lord is asking us to discard and what He wants us to keep when we give our lives over?  Obviously, some things are crystal clear: fornication, adultery, and a host of other hard-liners gotta go - along with hate, jealousy, malice, disbelief, and disobedience to Him.  But does your wittiness have to be trashed?  What about your critical thinking skills?  And your assertiveness, is that useless now that you're a Believer?  Or your entrepreneurial savvy; or your keen artistic ability?  Is all of that the old man that is now dead in Christ?

This I believe supports the fact that Gods' ways and thinking aren't close to ours  (Isaiah 55:8).  Because we often take our interpretation of the Scriptures, most likely influenced by another persons' revelation, and from that determine everything about us pre-Christian was evil.  However, while the  use of the skill may have been evil, the skill itself certainly was not.  Whether it's David; who honed his military bravery defending his fathers farm (1 Samuel 17:34-36) - or Paul; who was arguably one of the greatest academia of the Bible (Acts 22:3) -  God did not ask or suggest they discard their talents once they totally committed to Him.  In fact, He chose them precisely for the talents they possessed.  When these two men gave all of themselves to the Father, God didn't swap out the gifts, He perfected them.

Whatever you do and/or whoever you are, it was all designed for the Kingdom's advancement on earth.  Businesses, marvelous arts, community passions, technical and mechanical abilities, and so on all are needed.  Not so much for the skill itself, but so the lost can see the limitlessness of God's love and power.  And that one thing that you've mishandled for years could be the very thing He earnestly wants you to give to Him; so He can teach you how to handle it properly.

You have no idea how wonderful you are made.

Peace