“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you” (John 15:16).
We were created to bring glory to God in everything we do, but each of us have been created with specific purpose. God’s ways are not our ways, so to be aligned with His will for our lives requires us to seek a relationship with Him. He communicates with us mainly thorough His Word. God assures us, through Scripture, when we seek Him with all of our hearts, we will find Him.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/GaudiLab
What Is God’s Call?
“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
God calls us to salvation through Christ Jesus, sanctification by the Holy Spirit in us through salvation, and service. No matter what we are called by God to do in each season of our lives, each step and stage of growth is meant to bring honor and glory to God. Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology explains, “it is surely Biblical to regard all work as an opportunity to glorify God and to serve him.” Paul wrote to the Philippians:
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:4-6).
God’s plans for us are more than we can ask for or imagine. We want His plan for our lives! “Remember that someday we will all stand before Him and give an account of our lives,” Charles Stanley explains. “Habitually saying no to His voice will result in loss, but those who have lived for Him instead of themselves will be richly rewarded.” When we live our lives within the love of Christ, we are in constant transformation through the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. The following Scriptures help us to focus on our part in hearing what God has to say about our calling, and following His lead on our lives.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Annie Spratt
1. Surrender
In order to hear His call, we have to be willing to surrender our plans, in exchange for His. Psalm 34:8-14 says:
“Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.Fear the LORD, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it”
(Psalm 34:8-14).
2. Come
“‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus” (Matthew 14:29).
When Jesus called Peter in the above instance, he jumped out of the boat and came running to Jesus. The first time, Peter was more hesitant, having fished all night for nothing, to listen to Jesus and put his nets down into the water. Peter learned, by his willingness to come to Christ, he would see things he may never understand, but would never have wanted to miss!
3. Trust
“Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever” (Psalm 125:1).
Seeking God’s call on our lives requires trust. Often, we have a different idea of the direction we are going to go with our lives before the Lord steps in and reroutes us. Bring able to trust Him comes from knowing who He is. When we trust in Him, no matter how hard the journey gets, we will not be shaken.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Javier Art Photography
4. Transform
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sward? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35, 37-39).
From the moment we accept Jesus as our personal Savior, we begin the process of transformation by sanctification of the Holy Spirit. We become the holy people God purposed us to be, slowly over time as we seek Him. Nothing and no one can separate us from Him, or that process, when we are willing and obedient to His call.
5. Believe
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us’) (Matthew 1:23).
Believing Jesus is who He says He is unleashes a powerful surge of motion in our lives. No longer do we live for the things we value, but for His glory. He is always with us. Immanuel! It is the meaning of His name. This gives us confidence to follow Him fearlessly.
6. Choose
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
We have a choice – just like the example of the husband and wife Paul used in his letter to the Ephesians – in how we treat one another. The choice to follow Jesus is also up to us. He isn’t forcing us to do His will. The Father isn’t looming over us, ready to punish us when we break His law or sin. He wants what’s best for us, and will discipline us accordingly, but will always forgive us, and never love us less. The choice to follow Christ isn’t easy, but it leads to life to the full.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/weerapatkiatdumrong
7. Battle
“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15).
There is rarely a tie in a fight or a competition. Usually, there is a winner and a loser. Sometimes, the loser gives up and gives in. Typically, winning is rewarded to those who stand up under the pressure, and outlast and outsmart their opponents. In Christ, He is our strength to stand up under the pressure and see things through. We fight our battles with Him.
8. Submit
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21).
Submission means we put our own interests aside in order to care for and fill the needs of others. We trust God will provide for us, and so we chose to focus outwardly. Our calling will always be in serving as a part of God’s Kingdom, where He has already placed us. Psalm 70:5 reminds, “But as for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; LORD, do not delay.”
9. Pray
“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
God hears and answers our prayers. Prayers of the righteous have the ability to move the heart of God. When we seek Him in His word, we will often find the answers we are looking for, even if they don’t look like the answers we wished for.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/B-C-Designs
10. Turn
“The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).
Scripture is adamant about why we don’t need to be afraid. Daniel 2:22 says, “He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in the darkness, and light dwells with him.” He is the God of Light. There is no darkness in Him. In Christ, we don’t have to be afraid of anything which comes up against us.
11. Live
“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth” (1 John 2:20).
So many times, I catch myself scrolling, wasting precious time. There are many things which will attempt to distract us from what the Lord is calling us to do in our lives. “But we have an anointing from the Holy One,” John reminds us, “and we know the truth!” It’s important to refocus on that daily, and throughout the day.
12. Be
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
We are not called to be afraid, but to be strong and courageous. To live our lives to the full, to see all God has planned for our lives. And the Lord is with us wherever we go, in Christ, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If we realize the power within us, we won’t be so afraid – even of giants and armies!
Photo credit: Unsplash/Ahmed Hasan
13. Obey
“Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish” (John 6:10-11).
When the apostles obeyed Jesus, giving him the fish and loaves the boy had with him that day, I doubt they expected it to multiply to feed the thousands – with leftovers! Jesus often gave directions to those around them, and those he healed. Their obedience was often rewarded miraculously! John 6:19-20 says:
“When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, ‘It is I; don’t be afraid.’ Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.”
We needn’t fear when we obey the Lord. Though the steps He asked us to take and things we may face are scary, we can have full confidence in the reward for our obedience.
14. Be Filled with the Spirit
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-20).
Paul put it pretty plainly to the Ephesians – they could be filled with the Spirit or filled with wine. There are a many things which vie for our attention. If we choose the Spirit over all other idols, the powerful filling we receive enables us to hear and follow God’s call on our lives.
15. Go
“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:16-20).
We have been commissioned by God go and make disciples of the nations. We are called to be salt and light, and to share the Gospel truth. It doesn’t matter whether we know for sure if we’ve nailed exactly what God’s directions are in each season of our lives, He honors all of our obedient steps, and is faithful to steer us.
More from this author
Rest in the Protective Covering Declared in Psalm 23
Why Community Is Essential for Our Christian Walk
How Can We Be Aware of a Nudge from the Holy Spirit?
Photo credit: Unsplash/J Waye Covington