There are so many people that try and tell you how to find God’s calling and yes I guess I am hoping to give a few ideas from a different perspective. The most common idea I have heard is that whatever comes naturally to you is where God is calling you.
I would have to disagree with that. Will that be the case sometimes? Yes it will but other times it is not. Here is what I mean, when God calls his people, usually he calls people to go and do things they never have before in order to show people that they are fully dependent on God. Will things come naturally over time? Of course, the more you move in Faith the stronger you become.
When God calls, you are going to be stretched beyond your wildest imagination. God is going to use you in ways that only he can get the credit for and work miracles in and through you.
Sometimes what comes naturally is a hindrance to God’s calling. For example, you may have a laid-back personality but he is calling you to speak or even preach. I see a lot of people say I am laid-back so he would never call me there. Never allow who you think you are to stop you from becoming who God called you to be.
When God calls you to do certain things a lot of times it’s to build you up for his ultimate vision for your life. God is never going to have you move forward in big things until he can trust you in the small things. Are you being obedient in the now? Are you leading where you are or are you waiting to lead people until God brings the big thing your way?
It truly doesn’t work that way. I will be honest, I used to think it did. I have always known for many years now that we are supposed to speak, I just didn’t know what venue and never imagined the venue that God had in mind. Well I would wait until called for something big as I didn’t have the patience for the small things.
Over the last few years I have come to realize that God doesn’t work that way. God expects us to be obedient in the now with what we are given and not complain about it. God will never bring you to the next until you do the now. What right now can you do for God? What can you start? What can you take over where maybe someone else is backing away? Where can you help?
See, all of this is important when trying to find God’s calling for your life. He may even tell you what his ultimate calling is but there will still be steps to making it happen. It doesn’t just happen and it will not be handed to you on a silver platter. It is going to take work and lots of it. There may be days that you feel that you can’t take it anymore but it’s up to you to still move forward in that direction.
You are probably asking “OK” what else? Well another thing is are you involved a local church? I know some of you may be saying why does that matter? It matters a lot and here’s why. I used to think being involved in a local church doesn’t matter because you can’t structure me.
Well God needs to know that you are going to grow. Being involved in a local church so that he can feed you helps with that. You need to be where people are so that God can test you around people and test to see if you are going to obey.
A local church changed the whole direction of our whole lives. Sandy and I had no idea where God was going to lead us and we owe our local church a lot. Our church has shown us the power of the church. Granted you have to find a solid church that believes what the bible says and will not sugarcoat the message.
Another issue is staying focused in God’s word. Without that you will not learn where God is trying to lead you. I know as you read more and get to know Christ more in your heart, God is going to lead you where he wants. The idea is to follow God’s desire for your life not your own. A lot of people thinks just because the Bible says God will give you the desires of your heart that means your dreams. I think that happens when you start desiring what God desires then God will give you the desires of your heart.
Ask God to replace your heart so that you can desire what he desires for your life. I never want to get to the end and God shows me, here is where I wanted you to go but because of free will I went there instead. Don’t allow that. You need to always be focused on God and where he is leading you so that you can get there and have no regrets.
One last thing I would like to point out is that God put a passion inside of you. What deep down bothers you when you look at the world? Whatever that is, could be a huge clue in the direction that God wants you to go. This can change as you mature and as God brings you bigger things but it is a great clue as to where he is leading you right now.
As we are closing, I feel that you need to be involved in a local church, you need to be reading and growing in Christ, you need to realize that your calling will be uncomfortable and last but not least, you should ask yourself what deep down at my core bothers me? The answer to that will tell you a lot.
So by combing all of that and staying in prayer daily, God will lead you to the small things that ultimately will guide you to his full calling. Go and embrace where you are and where God is calling you. Go out and do the now so that God will take you to your next. And when you get to the next just repeat everything again as you will be in a different place.
Be Inspired or Be Left Behind!
Chris Benton