DID YOU HEAR THAT?

 

FEBRUARY 23, 2022

Proverbs 16:9

9We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.



Jeremiah 29:11

11For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.



Romans 12:1-2 

1And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.



Ephesians 4:1-3 

1Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

DID YOU HEAR THAT?

Author and Pastor Timothy Keller in an audio talk , “Real Security and the Call of Abraham,” suggest there are three things to notice about the call of God.



One, the call comes in power. “God’s call humbles, breaks, disturbs, convicts and shakes us;” Keller says.



Secondly Keller says, God’s call is an act of grace. I am not called because I am qualified, but I am qualified because the Call has come!” Remember this What God calls us to, we will be equipped to do. God knows exactly the state we are in, our gifts, our weaknesses and He will provide all that is needed to answer the call because his call is transformational!



Thirdly, Keller suggests that God’s call is radical and its purpose is to bless others. “At the heart of the Call of God is the surrender of the will,” says Keller.



Answering God’s call requires faith-inspired obedience but if we will surrender to his call, the impact of our obedience extends beyond ourselves, enabling us to bring His Kingdom in the here and now.



Do you wonder what God is calling you to do? Most people don’t hear God speak from the clouds and point them in a particular direction. Answering God’s call is following Christ into a restored relationship with him and with other people.




A PRAYER FOR CALLING

God,


You know my heart better than anyone. You know the dreams I have for the future, and the silent prayers I’ve prayed for years. You know what I am longing for, searching for, and waiting for.


You know my dreams, but You have a plan. You make all things beautiful in their proper timing. You are faithful to keep Your promises. But so often, I forget this and grow discouraged when my situations don’t seem to change. In those moments, it’s easy to forget that You are not done working.


As I prepare for a new thing in my life, remind me of the promises You have for me, the gifts You’ve given me, and the hope that I have in You. Search me and know my heart. Try me and test my anxious thoughts. See if there is anything within me that grieves You.


You are the one who establishes my steps. So, in this new season, I am choosing to trust You with the unknown. I am choosing to be faith-filled because You are faithful.



Through Your Holy Spirit, please change the way I think and behave. Transform my mind so that I can discover Your perfect will. Allow me to become the person You created me to be so that I can fulfill the calling You’ve placed on my life.



In Jesus’ name, Amen.



TAKE AWAY

Think about the gifts and talents God has given you. Look for any areas where your passion and skills intersect. Then, spend some time intentionally dreaming with God about how you can use those passions and skills for His glory.