God's Call: The Lord Sets Us Up For Success

What exactly is "God's Call"?

From the Old Testament to the New Testament, the Lord called people to Himself and to His work.

Abraham was called to leave his home and go on to the Promised Land.  The 12 disciples were called by God to be His apostles.   

 And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, 

some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints 

for works of ministry, to build up the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-12

God's people are still being called by Him.  Initially through Salvation and then called to their specific spiritual gifting.

All Believers have a call on their lives.  I'm sure you've all participated in those questionnaires that help you to determine what your spiritual gifts are.

Mine is teaching and prophecy.  In the context of prophecy, this does not imply that I am a prophet and speak or hear prophetic words, but it means more that I have a strength in discernment.

I've always had a tendency to "predict" a situation before it happens.  Of late, my husband seems to say to me quite often, "You called it!".  Again, this does not mean that I can "see into the future",  but I seem to have a gift for assessing a person and/or situation and correctly discerning the outcome. 

I would say that teaching is my primary gift and prophecy is my secondary gift.

It's important to know what your spiritual gifts are so that you can be used for God's Glory in your local church body.

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, 

and to which God has called him. 

This is my rule in all the churches.

1 Corinthians 7:17

My husband and I are currently participating in membership classes at the church we have been attending the past year, and as part of their by-laws and doctrines, they stress the importance of cultivating your spiritual gifts.    That really is so important!  Like anything, if we don't exercise our spiritual gifts enough, they can become atrophied and not as useful.

For me, I need to focus the gift of discernment more into my own life.  Specifically, discerning Satan's lies about God.  My lack of discernment in this area, is definitely effecting the rest of my spiritual gifts.

How to discern when it's NOT God's call

As you know, my spiritual gifts are teaching and prophecy.  But I have served in other areas of the church as well.  A couple of years ago, I offered to help out in AWANA with the preschool group, basically keeping the kids in order.  Welllll,  I very quickly discovered that this was not my gifting.  It was very hard for me to persuade the children to listen to me, and the situation quickly got out of hand.  And I was miserable!   I did not return to help out after that because clearly it was not my gift and not a benefit to the cause.

Have you found yourself in those types of situations.  I remember being told once that if you are unhappy in your service, it is probably not where your gifting lies.  Or have you been in situations where you know a person clearly isn't called to a certain area and you try to gently encourage them to an area of their strength instead, but they'd rather stay put?

The Lord has not called you to failure.  He has called you to success!!

The Lord WILL set you up for success!

Whatever the Lord's true calling is upon your life, He will set you up for success in that very calling...

Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”  Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt.

Exodus 13:17-18

I love these verses. The Lord knew the Israelites fears and weaknesses, and had them go through the wilderness so that they would not change their minds if they saw the Philistines.  The key being, the Lord led them.  He did not leave them alone.

You may have a call upon your life right now that is really tugging at your heart, but it might seem daunting or even scary.

There is a difference between feeling miserable in something you thought you were called to and being apprehensive in an area that you feel strongly called to.  In a way, that is the best kind of calling.  When you feel apprehensive or that the call seems too big, that is when you become utterly dependent on the Lord.  And when you depend on the Lord, therein lies your success!

What's that famous quote say?

"What the Lord has called you to, He will bring you through!"

And indeed He will!  He may place a call on your life, like the Israelites, which may take years to come to fruition, but just continue to cultivate that gift right where you are, whether in the wilderness or in that place of waiting, and the Lord will honor you by equipping you for success!

May you be all the more diligent to confirm our calling and election, for if we practice these qualities we will never fall.  2 Peter 1:10  because the Lord will set you up for success.

For similar posts, click on the following:

God's Call: The Lord Equips

God's Call: The Lord's Presence

3 Biblical Ways You Are Called to Serve in Your Church

Is God Calling You To Do a Hard Thing?

Are you timid about sharing your faith? 5 Confidence Boosting Motivators for the Timid Evangelist

Am I Good Enough for God?

How to Pray to GOD's Fullest Potential

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