Naomi Mohr
This Month's Feature Article
How to Develop Your
Calling
Message by Naomi
Mohr
September/October 2000
When you get to Heaven, God is going to ask you two questions:
Number one: Did you come alone?
Number two: What did you do with what I gave you?
Will you be prepared to answer those questions? What will your answer be?
Most people I've talked with have a sincere desire to do something valuable with their lives. None of us want to feel that our life has been lived in vain.
I have good news for you! God has a DIVINE Calling on each of our lives. Some may have a more visible place then others - but each one of us are "Called according to His Purpose."
He has something significant for you to do that will give you lasting joy and fulfillment
One of the most important principles of "Developing Your Calling" is the most difficult for us to accept . . . . It takes TIME!
In this busy culture, one thing most of us dislike is waiting. At stoplights, on metered ramps, at the drive-thru window, or in a grocery line. However, God has His own time table and it is often much different then ours.
His ways are higher than our ways, and He is infinetly more patient then we are. God is not impressed by how much we can do for Him - but what kind of character we have to serve Him.
The word develop can be described as to "unfold gradually." The word unfolding gives us the feeling that it is a deliberate, careful plan that is coming to it's fullness. A rosebud that is gently opening to reveal full bloom.
This unfolding of our calling is neither quick, (it usually takes many years), nor is it efficient, (there are many delays, stops, and starts), nor is it inexpensive. There is a great price to pay. It is very costly!
We can choose to move into that calling or we may choose not too! God has given us a free will and we can bury our talents, gifts, etc. or we can choose to develop them.
A number of people have asked me "How did you get started in the ministry?", "I'd like to do what you are doing," or "What can I do now?"
In this article we are going to discuss a few of the steps on "How to Develop Your Calling" and give you some practical things you can do that will start you on your journey or encourage you where you are!
God is in the business of building your character. He is far more concerned with you becoming like Jesus Christ in your character than He is in you doing good works for Him.
God's work is often surprising and unexplainable. The hymn writer declares "God moves in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform."
Why did God use a simple German monk in the 1500's? (Martin Luther) Why did He use a New England preacher with a rather dull speaking style in the 1700's? (Jonathan Edwards) What did He see in a North Carolina farm boy in the 1900's? (Billy Graham)
Why did He choose a 17 year old stuttering boy, dying of tuberculosis named Oral Roberts to carry a message of healing around the world? Or a young single woman, Aimee Semple McPherson, to found the Four Square Church. Or how about Kathryn Kuhlman? And so many others.
The truth is - God is sovereign. Only He knows. He chooses the "foolish things of the world to shame the wise; . . . the weak things of the world to shame the strong . . . the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him". 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (NIV)
This is an important truth:
God has given you the measure of faith to meet the ASPECT of ministry He has planned for you.
What do you want to do with your life? Do you have a dream? A Desire? A goal? What do you want to see when you look back at your life in 5 years, or in 10 years? If you are like most Christians - you want to please the Lord most of all and that's good!
To keep a proper perspective on our calling we need to remember where we came from.
What can you do?
Share your testimony!
When you share your testimony two things
happen:
1. God receives glory for what He has done.
2. It reminds us to be grateful.
This is so easy. You don't need to be a theologian. Just share with someone what God has done in your life. It's your story - tell it!
We are Clay - Isaiah 45:9 gives us an illustration of man
as clay and the Lord our creator as the potter.
1. Clay needs to be dug out of the ground. This is the first characteristic of clay. It has to be dug out of the ground. And we, also, need to be dug out. Taken out of our surroundings and given a new start!
a. What brought you to a saving
knowledge of Jesus Christ?
Was there some person, some circumstance, or some event,
that caused you to see your need for Jesus? Write it
down!
b. Are you certain you are a
Christian?
(If not - take time to make sure you have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.)
c. List some KEY points of your
testimony.
What has God changed in your life? (Self image, habits,
attitudes, speech, goals . . .)
As a single mom with two children, I summoned the courage
to believe that God had something valuable for me to do with
my life.
I began writing down anything and everything that God did in my life.
That weekend vacation at Breezy Point Lodge that we won when my dad put our name in a barrel at Hardware Hank. That was from God! The anonymous check in the mail that was just in time for our rent. These and many other events, became part of my testimony, and eventually part of my life message.
So - write it down!!
2. Clay has a lot of "junk" in
it!
This is the second characteristic of clay. It picks up
things from the environment it was in. Like "play-dough".
There may be bits of dirt, and pieces of materials that
would mar the beauty of the finished piece. These must be
picked out before the potter can really go to work on that
vessel.
a. What are the places where you
are now free? (Write it down)
What kind of environment did you live in before you knew
Jesus. Were there some things that bound you to that way of
life and needed to be picked out before the potter could
really go to work on your life? (Yes, write it
down.)
b. What has God cleaned up in
your life? (Habits, attitudes, speech, friends, etc.)
Write down those remarkable changes that Jesus has
made in your life!
As God works in your life - an exciting thing begins. You will start to get a vision of God's Purpose for your life!
These are just a few points to get you started on "Developing Your Calling," or motivate you to continue from where you are now.
I encourage you to look at your life a little differently - perhaps with a view of "What has God placed in my life that I can share with others?" And - get out your pen and paper, because God will surely begin telling you!
Next time we will continue through the 4 phases of
your calling, and discuss ten scriptural steps to
develop and maintain a mature ministry. If you want to
pursue this business of developing your calling - please
join me next time.
Right now will you pray along with me?
Let's pray together. "Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you for the work you've already done in my life. Thank you for loving me enough to die on the cross for my sins, and thank you for forgiving me completely.
Right now I ask you to help me begin the process of developing the calling that you have placed on my life. I desire to become all that You have planned for me to be.
I open my heart to you Lord Jesus. Please help me hear your voice and respond to your call. Thank you, Amen.
"Father, I agree with each one who is praying with me right now. I know you have a divine calling on each one of our lives - and Lord I agree that you will indeed complete the work you have begun in their lives.
Increase their confidence, and give them the steps to take to fulfill that significant place of service that you have for them. Thank you Lord. Amen!"
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Joyfully Serving Jesus! Naomi :-)
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