21 July 2010

Your God Given Calling

Life is amazing when you’re living in God’s calling…

Your calling is your mission from God to achieve the purposes and plans on earth from Heaven. Not without testing and trials but always engaging you towards the highest good for yourself and for those around you.

You are uniquely designed and possess many skills, strengths, abilities and passions no one else has. Your calling is divinely suited to everything you are and your make up as a person. Make no mistake, every human being has a divine calling on their life that can change the world, and it is up to the individual to discover and fulfill it.

Proverbs 16:9 - A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.

God's calling for your life goes way beyond what you do. It's who you are, where you belong, who and how you love. A life lived operating in the gifts God has given us - and mindful of meeting the needs of others - is a life that beautifully reflects the person and heart of God.

Your calling is your greatest purpose, passion and priority in life. It is Christ centered and God focused. It will excite you, inspire you, drive you and consume your thoughts, time and energy. To miss your calling is to miss your destiny and ultimate purpose in life.

The First Part of Your Calling

Every human being has a divine calling on their life and it is up to them to discover it. God reveals a calling only to those who accept him as their Saviour.

Most of the things we work for or worry about won’t matter in three weeks, let alone three months or three years. We focus on the trivial and forget to pursue the eternal. But after 10,000 x 10,000 years in Heaven, you will still be delirious you invested your life for Jesus Christ, and still be dancing about with all the treasures in Heaven you worked so hard for.

Throughout your life, God's calling for you will bring great challenges, distress and frustration. You can't succeed at this task on your own. Only through the constant guidance of the Holy Spirit will you be able to carry out your God-appointed mission.

Jeremiah 1:5-8 - Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations - that's what I had in mind for you." But I said, "Hold it, Master God! Look at me. I don't know anything. I'm only a boy!" God told me, "Don't say, 'I'm only a boy.' I'll tell you where to go and you'll go there. I'll tell you what to say and you'll say it. Don't be afraid of a soul. I'll be right there, looking after you."

Check mating the devil

Your calling is divinely linked with overcoming the works of the devil. Life in the Christian Faith is a game very similar to Chess.

The Kingdom of God is white and the kingdom of darkness is black, good versus evil. Pawns are all the multitudes of mankind, serving God best by stepping forward in Faith. God is using all of us to checkmate the devil at the end. Put simply; God can't lose and the devil can't win.

Ephesians 3:20-21 - Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Reward or Loss?

1 Corinthians 3:8 says that we will be individually rewarded as a co-labourer and builder of God’s Kingdom. Every Christian is on the same level playing field – it is up to you how you multiple your talents as a faithful and wise steward (Matt 25). God's prerequisite to greatness is that we serve, regardless of which position, role or service we occupy.

Unless you are born again, you'll be guessing at what your calling is. You'll rely on your own wisdom, and you'll be wrong. Pay attention to who God made you to be; we are all uniquely designed. You may be able to learn by watching someone else, but your calling isn't their calling. Don't get caught in the comparison trap like Peter.

Signs to know your Calling

What are you good at and what do you love to do? What consistent patterns are noticeable in you that may be clues to your own individual calling? You are the only person who is going to do anything about your God given calling.

God has a special and unique purpose on your life based on the desires and passions of your heart. God will show you your calling through people, scripture, words from God and revelations. However, it is sobering to know that we can miss our calling in so many ways.

These can include: doubt, discouragement, sin, defeat, delay, marrying the wrong person, negative influences, falling away from the faith, temptations, temporary failure, spiritual attacks, lack of faith, disobedience and rebellion.

Ephesians 4:1-3 – I … appeal to and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which you have been called [with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God's service, Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.

Be Faithful, Obedient and Willing – Pay the Price

Life is but a vapour and you only get one chance to make it work. Your judgement will be based on what you were called to do. A few ways to know your calling is to 1) Seek God earnestly, 2) Be planted in your local church, 3) Pray daily and fervently, 4) Study the Word and 5) Walk in God’s commandments.

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

We don't recognise our calling overnight. Rather, God reveals it to us gradually over the years like a giant jigsaw puzzle. As we use our talents and gifts to serve others, we discover certain types of works that feel right. They bring us a deep sense of fulfillment and happiness. They feel so natural and good that we know this is what we were meant to do.

You need to prayerfully seek God and ask Him to help you to discern His special plan and calling for your life. Ask Him to give you the faith and courage to follow, wherever He leads you. Take the time this week to seriously consider what your God given calling might be and look for confirmation from other people, prayer and the Word of God.

Being in the will of God will completely fulfill you. It will stay with you always until the moment you are called home to heaven.