Do you remember how people would pinch your cheeks growing up and cup your face asking “what do you want to be sweetie?” or “what do you want to do when you’re older pumpkin?” From a very young age, we are fed this idea that we need to “be someone” or “do something”. We are told to do anything and everything except find God’s calling for our life.
One of the things that I valued deeply growing up was a sense of purpose. There was nothing more valuable to me than to find meaning in my life. The luxury of being able to do something meaningful, something that could bring about a positive change – no matter how small, was a dream of mine that I held closely to my heart.
But God’s conviction over my life told me that it is not my sense of purpose that I should be striving for. It is, and always will be about what is His purpose for me and fully surrendering and living for Himis the only way to lead a meaningful life.
With this conviction, my desire to find God’s calling for my life continued to grow as I got older. And even though I secretly wished that I could discern His will for me through a booming voice behind a burning bush because seriously! How freakin’ awesome would it be to sit in revere of such a sight? I have slowly but surely learned the more subtle, but equally powerful and life-changing ways God speaks to us about His will.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11
So let me tell you FOUR ways you can begin answering that call and learn how to find God’s calling for your life! Because its time to pick up that phone girl!
How to Find God’s Calling for Your Life
Tip 1 for Finding God’s Calling for Your Life: HE Reveals TO US THROUGH WITNESS
One thing I was always so wary of growing up was the idea of ‘prophetic words’. I knew that nothing was impossible through God’s mighty power, but without God actually telling me Himself that somebody had been sent by Him to tell me something, I found the whole concept a little hard to swallow.
It was only when I went through the story of Doubting Thomas again that I slowly began to realize that even if God had sent a room full of witnesses to tell me His truth, His word and His calling, I would have probably brushed Him off. After all, if I have too little faith in something, then no amount of reassurance and proof would be able to move my heart. And so, it was at that moment, I began to slowly understand the power of witnessing.
If multiple people have come forward and witnessed to you about something, it is definitely something that you should take into consideration. So, while I still firmly believe in a discerning heartthat wisely seeks the Lord, I also believe that a certain amount of faith and willingness to open our minds to what God has said through others to us is so important!
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Tip 2 for Finding God’s Calling for Your Life: He Reveals TO US THROUGH SCRIPTURE
Another way God reveals His calling on your life is via scripture. But the dangerous thing about this one is that sometimes people go looking for the answer that they want while neglecting the holistic picture of God’s will. Or if they decide to let God speak to them by randomly opening a Bible page and expecting whatever is on that page of the Bible to be God’s will for them.
The first is about our own selfishness as we go about seeking answers that match the desires of our heart and the second is about us deciding to control our own fate by expecting God to talk to us in the way we wish and/or expect.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” — 2 Timothy 3:16
Instead, when you are asking God to reveal to you what your calling is, turn to His Word with a heart that desires to hear what He has to say. Every single word that He writes is a message to us to guide us through our daily life “so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”.
Hey! Just for you, I have designed a beautiful devotional on How to Find Your Identity in Christ! Simply click the image below to grab your FREE 20+ page devotional right now!
Why is This Important?
When trying to figure out what your calling is from God, when you have a strong grasp of His Scripture and His Word, if you have someone telling you to follow a calling that violates His Word or Scripture, then you will know for sure that this ‘voice’ certainly does not belong to God.
It’s like watching a ‘scary’ tv show or movie (because lemme tell ya, dis girl right here can definitely not handle horror!) and throwing a fist at the screen telling the kid or the really oblivious adult to recognize the untrustworthiness of the voice on the other side of the phone call!
“Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.” — Psalm 119:24
Or for example, if you are having difficulty in discerning whether a calling (that doesn’t go against the Bible) is for you, ask yourself what your fears are from pursuing this calling. If these fears are warranted and are solid, Biblical concerns, then unless God tells you otherwise, this might be His way of telling you that this is not His calling!
Tip 3 for Finding God’s Calling for Your Life: HE Reveals TO US THROUGH HIS SPIRIT
The next tip on how to find God’s calling for your life?
Every single one of us was created in the image of God. The moment we humble ourselves and turn to Him for forgiveness and choose to consciously accept and follow Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, His Spirit comes to live within us. (Romans 8:9Corinthians 3:16) His Spirit that dwells within us comes by many names. For example, some people call it our conscience, our ‘gut’ feeling or our instincts. Regardless of what you may call it, whenever we are met with a situation, God’s Spirit will speak to us and nudge us towards the right direction!
For example, have you ever wondered why everyone in the congregation comes away from the sermon with a completely differently takeaway message? It isn’t because the preacher is doing a bad job with telling everyone exactly what’s what. Instead, God’s Spirit that dwells within each individual congregation member is at work, whispering to them a certain truth that it believed needed to be heard the most.
However, how can you discern between your own thoughts about what your calling is/isn’t and what God’s Spirit is trying to tell you? This is where biblical truth comes in. Ask yourself if the thought that is flashing across your mind stands firm with all of God’s principles and teachings. Because even if humans change, God’s will for us never does!
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Tip 4 for Finding God’s Calling for Your Life: HE Reveals TO US THROUGH PRAYER
Regardless of the way you pray, whether you are more of a ‘dear God, our heavenly Father’ kind of girl, or you are a ‘hey what’s up God?’ kind of chick, prayer is the ultimate way of communicating one on one with our heavenly creator. Buuuuuut when we pray, it is a lot less about demanding God for a specific answer or trying to convince Him to see things from our perspective. Instead, it is a means of allowing God to work on our hearts so that we can begin doing things forHim.
Before properly establishing a relationship with God, my prayers were few and far between. My prayers were mechanical and awkward. I had no idea what to say unless I was in desperate need of something. Honestly, prayers back then was more like me begging God to tick things off my wish list than a genuine attempt to try and build an intimate relationship with Him.
My own selfish interpretation of prayer was that I prayed to God – He would listen – prayer would be answered in the way I expected it to. Over time, as my walk with God grew deeper and the bonds between us grew stronger, He began to reveal to me the essential nature of praying. God doesn’t actually need our prayers. Why does He need them when He already has access to our hearts, our minds, our souls and our deepest desires?
“For God does speak — now one way, now another — though no one perceives it.” — Job 33:14
When we come to Him with a humble and sincere heart, God opens up a pathway of communication between you and Him. As we begin to pray, God takes our focus off of our needs and puts our focus on His love and power. So in those moments when you feel lost and want God to speak to you about what your calling really is, through the power of prayer, God helps to change our perspective so that it aligns with His. He communicates with us through prayer to lead us all into truth!
But above all, the way God chooses to reveal to you your calling can come through a multitude of ways. But whatever He reveals to you will never be in disagreement with the Bible
Regardless of the way God chooses to reveal Himself or “speak” to us today, bear in mind this single truth. He will never contradict His Word, and the calling that He has for you will always bring glory to His kingdom.
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How to Find God’s Calling for Your Life & Actually Answer the Phone!
filed:
Just your 26 year old girl next door, writer and creator of Truthfully, Michelle & Girls After Truth. I love creating relevant faith-based content for modern, twenty-something girls written from an honest, down-to-earth and biblically grounded point of view.
Thank you for this article! I have struggled to not only to discern God’s voice but to know his calling for my life. I’m 46 years old and worry I’m missing out! I pray, but when I sit and wait I really don’t know how long I should wait, and if I do how would I recognize his voice once I do hear it. It seems to sound like my voice to myself. I have a hard time understanding his word and applying it to my life, I feel like a baby christian even though I have given my life to Christ in 2005. With the times we are in now I want to be rooted and grounded in God’s word and ready for anything, ready to share him with others boldly.
I think that it is awesome that you recognize that our faith journey is ongoing! And it is so sweet that you want to continue being rooted and grounded in His Word! Age is just a number — I am sure that you will be able to continue growing in your faith and begin boldly sharing His gospel with others! x
Hey! I just read your article on ‘finding your identity in Christ’, I then clicked on the link that lead me to this article and I found them both so we’ll articulated! Filled with knowledge and wisdom, Thank you for allowing God to move through you and being obident to His will for your life, as I’ve come across your article at the right time, Glory to God! It’s amazing how he can direct you and direct others journeys to align to things through obedience willfulness and love. Honestly I appreciate you and Thank you and God that I’ve stumbled onto your blog 💕
I love tea, all shades of pastel and watching the sunset. I hope that you will relish in the beauty of every moment and find joy in the smallest of things. I pray that you will be able to find true satisfaction in Christ alone and that you will be able to rejoice in the goodness of the Lord whatever season of life you are in.
You're so welcome here sweet friend! I love how you're here reading this blurb right now! It brings such a smile to my face:) I hope you enjoy taking a browse through my blog... a collection of my musings, heartfelt cries to God and my deep desire that you too will get to know how loved you truly are and dance through life each day to the beat of His holy drum!
MEET THE BLOGGER
Before you get any further... Hey! I'm Michelle!
I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
Thank you for taking the time to check out my site! I am so excited to share more with you about this passion that the Lord has placed upon my heart and get to know a little more about who the Lord lovingly made you to be!
Cinnamon spiced lattes, puppies with bows and watercolour paintings are just some of my favourite things. However, above all, I’m just a lover of Jesus and people. So let’s live with joy that set-apart life that God has created us purposefully for together. For He is the One who calls you by name and has loved you from the beginning of time! ❤️
hey girl!
Hey,
I'm MichellE.
I love tea, all shades of pastel and watching the sunset. I hope that you will relish in the beauty of every moment and find joy in the smallest of things. I pray that you will be able to find true satisfaction in Christ alone and that you will be able to rejoice in the goodness of the Lord whatever season of life you are in.
In the mean time, I hope you enjoy taking a browse through my blog... a collection of my musings and my hope that you too will dance through life each day with a bright smile on your face because of how loved you are!
Encouraging the modern twenty-something girl to boldly spark His beacon of light in this oft-dark world and inspiring them to A. seek biblical truth through scripture and B. stand for biblical truth in the midst of a culture-driven world.
NO.
Statement of Faith
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NO.
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NO.
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MY FAVOURITE: AREN'T THESE WHITE FLOWERS SO LOVELY?!
We believe in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
We believe that we are all sinners and all sins need to be paid
We believe that Jesus died to pay for our sins
We believe that it is only by grace through faith that we're saved
Thank you for this article! I have struggled to not only to discern God’s voice but to know his calling for my life. I’m 46 years old and worry I’m missing out! I pray, but when I sit and wait I really don’t know how long I should wait, and if I do how would I recognize his voice once I do hear it. It seems to sound like my voice to myself. I have a hard time understanding his word and applying it to my life, I feel like a baby christian even though I have given my life to Christ in 2005. With the times we are in now I want to be rooted and grounded in God’s word and ready for anything, ready to share him with others boldly.
I think that it is awesome that you recognize that our faith journey is ongoing! And it is so sweet that you want to continue being rooted and grounded in His Word! Age is just a number — I am sure that you will be able to continue growing in your faith and begin boldly sharing His gospel with others! x
Hey! I just read your article on ‘finding your identity in Christ’, I then clicked on the link that lead me to this article and I found them both so we’ll articulated! Filled with knowledge and wisdom, Thank you for allowing God to move through you and being obident to His will for your life, as I’ve come across your article at the right time, Glory to God! It’s amazing how he can direct you and direct others journeys to align to things through obedience willfulness and love. Honestly I appreciate you and Thank you and God that I’ve stumbled onto your blog 💕