Stop thinking of your calling as a suggestion, but a commandment of God. “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call].” (Romans 11:29 AMP).
In whatever God has called you to, walk in it. Be faithful in what He has called you to do. When the seasons change, so must you, so trust Him in the process. He knows all that is ahead, and you can trust Him where He is leading you. Go where He takes you, and you’ll never go wrong.
Don’t let imaginary deadlines prevent you from seeking the leading of the Lord. “The holy God of Israel, the Lord who saves you, says: ‘I am the Lord your God, the one who wants to teach you for your own good and direct you in the way you should go.’” (Isaiah 48:17 GNT).
Very early in my faith, God whispered into my heart what I would do for Him. I heard the calling, and I knew that I would someday write for Him. And then the journey began. It would be some twenty years later before I published something. Don’t rush God, and know that He is preparing you along the way.
Consider what you squander when you don’t wait on the Lord. “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV).
Sometimes I see those that teach on such a higher level and consider myself so far beneath them. But I know that the college professor would never have a student if it weren’t for that elementary teacher who laid the foundation. Don’t worry about what your assignment is but only that you’re doing it.
If God has called you to something, do it. “…Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 NKJV).
Don’t consider your calling as a single mission but a lifelong journey. There will be many seasons and obstacles in your travels, and rarely will things go as you expect them to. Learn to let the unknown excite you as the adventure unfolds before you. Let God surprise you with His blessings and with His lessons.
The question is never if He is calling you, but will you listen? You only need to say, “yes, Lord,” and then the adventure will begin. “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me’” (Isaiah 6:8 NKJV).
There are going to be failures in your calling. There are going to be setbacks and disappointments that will cause you to question the path that you’re on. Press on knowing that it is in the difficult circumstances that God is producing your character. Don’t give up to anything but God.
Even in your mistakes, God can use you for His glory. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NKJV).
One of the greatest shocks when I entered ministry is how cruel and conceited some of the people in ministry were. You need to get past the naivety of your soul and into the reality here on earth. God never promised you things will easy, but that He will be with you.
Do not focus on the people who come against you, but the God who goes before you. “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8 NKJV).
Sometimes the proof of your calling will be the crushing of your soul. The greater the call, the greater the hammer must fall. God can’t use your pride for the kingdom, so be sure He will rip it out of you before using you to greater degrees. Until your humility is complete, be prepared to suffer more.
So long as you think something is beneath you, your pride is a hindrance to the Lord. Jesus modeled humility for us, teaching, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14 NKJV).
Too many want a calling that will please their flesh and increase their position in the world. The devil will step in to help such a person as this. But if want to righteously walk in your calling from God, then you cannot please your flesh, but only die to it. Kingdom purposes serve God, not you.
You cannot be the Christian without the cross. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If you truly want to follow me, you should at once completely reject and disown your own life. And you must be willing to share my cross and experience it as your own, as you continually surrender to my ways.’” (Matthew 16:24 TPT).
God will rarely show a person the long-range plan for their calling because their heart would fail when they saw it. Stop worrying about what lies ahead and be thankful for things He does not show you. Trust Him one step at a time and know that He is always with you.
Trust the Lord more than your instincts. “Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart…” (Proverbs 3:5 AMP).
If God calls you to something, walk in it. Don’t envy another or seek to be something different. Once God gives you an assignment, your only job is to complete it. You don’t have to worry about what value you might bring to the kingdom. God’s plans are perfect, and you must be content to follow them.
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius
I Really Needed this Read Today! I’ve been in a Slump or Valley! I’ve been literally depressed, about me and not feeling like doing anything, Period!!! So many distractions, sickness and deaths! Yes, sooo much!!! My 24yr old nephew, I helped raise, cause my brother committed suicide when he was 5… Has had 3 surgeries for brain tumor which is stage #3 Cancer, Just out of the blue?!? I’ve been taking care of my mom, whose been falling and now she’s having surgery next week for breast cancer! Also I’ve been to 7 funerals all of this in the last 3months! Not counting my sickness, that has completely drained Me of energy.. And all the specialist can not seem to figure out a diagnosis…. For over a year now! This is Some of the things going on around me…
I know this is a lot for anyone to endure…
But…. I Do Know JESUS has Brought Me Through So Much MORE, Through the Darkest Days , of “Being Stuck Hard In Grief” for 5years after My 27yr Sons Death!!! Yes HES Still Helping Me To Cope n Live Again!!! HE Has Done Miracles in My Life In Sooo Many Ways!!! Thank You JESUS 😇I Am Sooo Grateful!!! HES Allowed Me To Help Many People! The thing I’m really struggling with is, “Myself” I know GOD has Called Me to Teach , Communicate, Help others, Be HIS Shining Light, Tell Them There Is HOPE!!!I My Problem is … (I have lost my Joy)!!!
I get so frustrated with myself cause I know HIS Promises and in HIS WORD, HE Clearly says , I Am To Have Life n Life More Abundantly, My Joy Is To Be Full and I could say many more scriptures of HIS Truth!!!!
One of My Biggest Desires For me is “Joy”and Satan knows this , n Fights me hard w/ Distractions …
I Also Know Greater is HE That is Within Me, Than he that is in the World!!! Yes In JESUS Name!!!
I know I Can’t Stand on My Feelings… I Have to Stand on HIS WORD the Truth!!!!
But I’d love to “Feel” That Assurance of Joy!!!
I’m Just Being Real😊
As I Read Your Article, The Spirit Revealed to Me, I Have to Step into My Calling in a Different Way!!! I Can’t let it go just from Circumstances Around Me. I Need Peace During The Storm!!! Through the years, people have come to me, to start a Bible Study., I Love The WORD!!! I have had many one on one or a few at a time. I’m no professor or Bible Scholar at all, But GOD Did Bless Me w/HIS Wisdom not Mans Knowledge! And I’m Learning From HIM More n More… There’s a Big Testimony, to How HE Opened Up My Understanding in HIS WORD… ( 2 months before my son died)!!!! HE Knew I Had To Have HIM (The WORD) In Order For Me To Survive n Live Again)!!!!!!!! I Was 44yrs old and it was sooo Amazing!!! For the 1st Time , in My Life, I could “Absorb” the Words I Read!!! I Struggled All My Life to Read, Almost failed school and Hated to Read, I’d never read Full book , Article or paragraph… Cause it was such a burden, and Literally made me physically sick, trying to get my mind to absorb it! Later years Drs diagnosis’s ADHD …
So When GOD Opened My Understanding in the WORD.. (It Was A Miracle)!!!! It Was Like the Blind Receiving their Sight!!!!! Hallelujah!!!
What others take for granted and Is Normal in their life., Now Is A Precious Treasured Gift To Me!!! I Cherish My WORD!!!! The funny thing is , A lot of People Say the KJV Bible is the Hardest to Understand … Well I Can’t Understand the Other Versions, as Well As the KJV !!! Cause HE Opened my Understanding in the KJV!!! 😇No Matter What… HE Loved Me Enough to Heal n Bless Me, To Use My Blessing According to HIS Purpose!!! Amen
Please pray for me n anything GOD might reveal to you, to help me Receive and keep my peace n Joy… So I Can Continue in HIS Will n Purpose, W/O Hinderances… Feel free to share, Willing to hear Wise Council and Instruction. 😊 Thank You Brother
love n GODS Blessings to you Always 😇
Oh, such a wonderful testimony that you have! God is bigger than our circumstances and He wants us to see that. I can tell from all you wrote that He has revealed this to you. Keep pressing into what He would have you do. When your wisdom flows from heaven there will be nothing on earth that can compare. Praying for you and your ministry, blessings always, Paul.
Anonymous,
From my experience, the answer to trials and lost joy is to get into worship, serious worship. Imagine that you are before the throne of God. The Father is there and the Son of God, Jesus, is at God’s right hand on His throne (which they are). Now, sing songs of praise and exaltation to them. With words from your heart tell them how wonderful and amazing and powerful and holy they are. Tell them you adore them and thank them for all they have done. Keep going with the words that come to your mind. Ask Holy Spirit to help you worship. Dance for the Lord, if you want to. You will change. Your outlook will change. You will experience that “peace that passes all understanding”.
Here is my Playlist on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR0tSIxVZRCT5dYH8UsbXatMQXeRvDR2b It hasn’t been updated lately; but the songs are, in my opinion, good worship songs. Most have the lyrics, which makes it easier if you don’t know the words. 🙂 I hope this helps.
They say that when you go through so many hard trials as you have, God is preparing you, training you, for a major calling. Stay strong, my dear sibling-in-Christ. You are on the right path. I will pray for you also.
With love,
Deborah
Hello Deborah, my apologies for such a late reply. Thank you so much for your words of wisdom and your playlist of worship songs. This play list will be a blessing to me and I am sure many others. There is such a powerful truth in your teaching, that we can reach God through praises regardless of what we might be going through. Blessings to you, Paul
Thanks, Paul, for your kind words. 🙂 But I was just sharing what I have learned the hard way. Lol! God is good.