If you wonder what is your calling take a moment to look in the mirror (figuratively speaking). The self-examined life is the life on its way to hearing God's call. Here are some questions to help you look into yourself more deeply. As you answer them, ask God to reveal how you should respond to your interests. God gave you certain desires, but He also wants to be Lord of how those desires are fulfilled. Make a prayer of Psalm 139.
Once you've answered these questions, try to narrow it down and focus in on what God is telling you by asking yourself what interests line up with your experience, how do your spiritual gifts line up with your interests, and how do opportunities line up with your interests?
Try writing a calling statement something like... God has given me a real interest in the area of_________, and I sense that He has equipped and given me the opportunity to handle this area of service with excellence. I will continue reading scripture and praying that He will define how He wants me to approach this opportunity as I move toward fulfilling what I believe is my calling.
Now it's time to put feet to your calling. Talk to your pastor to find out how you can serve in your church or community. There's a hundred percent chance God has a special purpose for your life.
Adapted from Next Level leadership resources. For more information go to www.nextlevelleadership.com or call 770-410-6513.
Flickering lights? I find it works more like this: If we read through our journals or think back over the course of our lives, we'll recognize God's voice as the whisper through which He loves to speak. We can be sure God has a place for us to serve Him in our church and community. God is glorified, and we are blessed, when we work in His plan as He intends. But how do we know where God wants to use our unique interests and abilities?
Open the Word Regularly and prayerfully reading scripture keeps us in contact with God's mind and makes us better able to recognize His voice. If you're struggling with what God's will is for you, dig deep into prayer and scripture, asking God to reveal a path for you (Proverbs 3:5-6). Staying in scripture-even when we're not soul-searching or choosing between ministries at our church-will make us more effective when we finally discover our path to ministry. And it will keep us in tune with our own spiritual condition and open to the opportunities God has for us.
Songwriter Michael Card said that, as he was searching out his career path, one great encouragement was the response of others to his music. He wrote and performed songs at a local church where they sincerely applauded when he was good and sincerely critiqued when he missed the mark. It's sometimes difficult-but so important-to find people who will be honest with us for better or worse. Iron sharpening iron keeps the rust off and makes more effective tools. When we are wise enough to listen to fellow believers who are reinforced by God's Word, we can discern between the words of mere people and the Word of God spoken by His servants.
Do self-assessment in light of prayer, scripture and wise counsel The well-lived life is the well-examined life. By taking a deeper look at ourselves we become aware of our strengths, our weaknesses and how we affect the world around us. The more we ask God to help us view ourselves the way He sees us and to understand the way we are in light of scripture, the fewer "blind spots" we have-and the clearer our vision becomes of where we'd be most effective in serving Him.
Often we have a rough idea of ways we excel and interests God has placed in our hearts-spiritual gifts (probably not of equal strength) clustered in unique combinations in this person called Self. Perhaps we love to serve, we're fairly gifted at organization or have a strong desire to teach children. As we grow in our knowledge of the spiritual gifts God gives each believer, and as we see how our spiritual gifts mingle with and compliment our abilities and interests, God's voice will become clearer only because our way of hearing it has grown sharper.
God may allow us a glimpse of our calling but, as He did with Joseph, wait years to let us realize it. On the other hand, He may blindside us one day, as He did Paul, with a passion or ability we never knew we had. Of course our calling may not come through an anointing or a blinding light along the interstate, which is why it's important to read His Word, hear our fellow believers, assess ourselves and see how God is working through our abilities-together these will keep our spiritual senses alert to God's call. His whisper cannot be ignored for long.