BUZZZZZ. BUZZZZZZ.
My phone sits face up on the desk.
The words “ACCEPT” or “DECLINE” flash on the screen.
BUZZZZZ. BUZZZZZ.
I go over in my head if I want to answer the call or not. What could they want of me? Do I have the time to talk to them? The desire? The energy?
BUZZZZZ. BUZZZZZ.
I mean isn’t this “textable”? Hello, its 2019! Plus, whatever they want, can’t they just ask someone else?
SILENCE.
Whew. Good, now I can go back to doing whatever it is that I wanted to do.
This scenario is all too familiar to me. It happens at least once or twice a week. Not that I don’t love my friends or family, but I sometimes give the excuse of I’m busy, I don’t have time, or there’s something else that I need/want to be doing at this moment. I just can’t answer the call.
Think about this scenario again— but this time imagine GOD was calling.
YIKES! How terrible to not answer God’s call.
It happens. God often CALLS us to do and be certain things during our time here on EARTH. However, how many of us actually ACCEPT the call? Do you have the open mind and the open heart to hear God’s call? When He calls are you indecisive and maybe just let the call ring, ring, ring? Do you press DECLINE because you’re too focused on other things— things that you want, things that you “need”?
Looking in the Bible, we can see many instances where people were CALLED by God to do something or to be something. However, the response to the call varied by the individual.
Moses was CALLED to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. (Exodus 6:28-7:7)
The Virgin Mary was CALLED. Called to birth and raise our Lord Jesus Christ. (Luke 1:26-38)
The prophet Jeremiah was CALLED. Called to relay a very important message to the people of Judah (Jeremiah 1:6)
We can be CALLED to do something or we can be CALLED to be something (a mother, a mentor). “The Call” doesn’t have to be this extravagant flash of light or a voice or anything noticeable to the human senses. A call can be quiet. A call can be still. A call can just be the Lord speaking to you through dreams and thoughts and your spirit being at peace about a decision.
Another common theme between all the people in the Bible mentioned above is that they each had a “rebuttal” when they were called to their assignment. Moses complained that he wasn’t a good speaker. Mary brought up the fact that she was a virgin and didn’t have a husband yet. Jeremiah told God that he was too young.
Let’s be very clear regarding rebuttals to the Lord—– God doesn’t need your “BUT”. There is no room for “but, this” and “but, that”. God is all knowing, all powerful. He is the Alpha and the Omega. Nothing is impossible for Him and He wouldn’t call you to an assignment that you were not able to complete. However, answering God’s call does require things from you. It requires:
- humility (it’s not about you anymore),
- discipline (you have to see things to completion and do things with excellency),
- endurance (knowing how to face challenges but still push through and persevere)
- patience (things won’t just happen overnight)
- confidence (confidence in God and confidence in yourself that you are capable of doing this thing—God chose YOU, He didn’t choose your neighbor or your sister. He knows every mistake you’ve ever made. He knows your strengths and weaknesses, yet He still chose you for such a time as this)
Maybe there is something right now that you’re being called for. Maybe you haven’t quite rejected the call yet but maybe you haven’t fully accepted or embraced the call either. I’ve been told that lack of a response is actually a response as well.
So will you answer? Will you answer God’s call to be and do what He wants you to do? He’s trusting you. He’s believing in you. He’s Calling.
As always, may your eyes, your head, and your spirit be LIFTED.
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SISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! It’s too early in the year to be on my toes ma’am! But I’m answering the call and will be doing everything He’s telling me to do from here on out! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
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So proud of you making that declaration!! Love you too!
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Already answered the call to leave a job and step out on faith to do business with my husband. We develop websites and mobile apps and also have an online Christian boutique. We also just answered the call to sell our home and move to a different state and help my parents with their janitorial business and homeless ministry. It’s not always easy to answer the call but it’s always worth it.
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Congrats to you all on those things! Sounds like some amazing obedience. Yes, you’re so right, its not easy but always worth it. God bless you and thanks for reading!
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God leads us right where we should go. I have read several of you Instagram post about your blog and have glanced through a couple of times but not fully read any post. I have been thinking about making a prayer jar. This morning as I was sitting at work I thought about a post I seen for a vision jar on your page. Your blog came right to my mind. I read the vision jar post and continued glancing to read other things that interested me and I stumbled across this. I have been wrestling with the idea of opening a place where children can be mentored and also have a safe place to play. I have passed by a building and thought man that would be perfect. “But” I have been procrastinating because I wasn’t sure if that was God’s plan. This post is the confirmation I needed to be obedient to my calling. I currently work as a substance abuse counselor but I know God has placed on my heart to work with youth. Thank you for this blog post!! Faith without works is dead!! I’m about to buckle down and do my part to be obedient to my calling.
James 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? James 2:15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, James 2:16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? James 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
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Thank you Jessica for taking time out to read the post! I’m so glad that it spoke to you in a special way. God bless you in all your endeavors. All of what you mentioned sounds so exciting. 🙂 You got this!! And God has you .
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