Week Six: Answer God’s Call

We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which He prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).

Do you hunger to make a difference in this world?  Even children yearn to discover their purpose.   My husband’s father, the late Dr. Howard Chadwick, served God faithfully as a minister for over seventy years.  He used to encourage our three children to search wholeheartedly for their life’s calling.  “Look around you at the needs you see in the world,”  he would tell them.  “Then take an honest look at your own gifts and talents.  Your calling may be found where those two intersect.”  Or put another way,  Where is your holy discontent?

This week is the final stretch of our 40-Day Challenge.  Let’s wrap up with Step Six:  ANSWER God’s Call. We’ve devoted 40 days to training our hearts to hear God’s voice.  I hope you’ve learned how to become more ALERT and I’m guessing you’ve noticed signs of God at work.  I especially pray that you’ve become more sensitive to His voice.

But friends, here is where I must pause.  If the wonderful blessings of learning to hear God’s voice, draw near to Him in prayer and claim the promises of His Word extend no further than our own little world, then so what?  I am convinced God’s amazing blessings during this prayer journey are so that I will be His hands and feet in this hurting and broken world.

Therefore, I constantly ask myself:  Is my life a so what? or a so that?  

Just think.  God has created you and given you a purpose.  He’s hardwired into you the necessary gifts and talents to fulfill your calling.

Assignment: Complete your 21 Day Experiment and take time to reflect on your experience.  Prayerfully read Chapter 10, Lift Up Your Eyes and Look, and Chapter 11, Answer God’s Call in Sometimes He Whispers, Sometimes He Roars: Learning to Hear the Voice of God,  Answer the Personal Reflection Questions on page 192.

Action Step1:  Dare to pray the prayer God always answers:  “God, break my heart for what breaks Yours.”  Watch God begin to stir your heart.  Lord, How should I pray?  What can I give? Where do You want me to go? Start with your own family and neighbors.

Action Step 2:  Take a step beyond your comfort zone.  Look for needs within your community.  Visit a local school. Become a reading buddy for a child.   Serve a meal at your local  homeless shelter.  Better yet, gather a small group and serve together.  If you ask God, He will show you where to begin.

Action Step 3:  Ask God to burden your heart for a nation that needs your prayers.  Learn all you can.  Pray for their people and leaders.  Pray for the believers, especially those being persecuted.  Research ways to contribute  financially.  Ask God to make that country “come alive” for you and watch what happens.

My personal story is filled with places I’ve traveled and people I’ve grown to love ever since I began asking God to show me who was on His heart.  I’m hearing more and more stories from friends who have experienced this same joy.  Click here to read an inspiring story by my friend Ashley, who with her husband and four small children, will soon leave  their comfortable lives behind to answer  God’s call to share His love to people who have never even heard the name of Jesus.

Dear friend, one thing’s for sure. We live in dark times.  But the harvest is plentiful!  God has need of you now.  Your prayers matter.  Sometimes that’s all you can do.  Be alert.  Be the answer.  Who knows what adventures await when you listen to God’s voice and answer His call?

The journey continues…check out next Monday’s blog:  I’ll share a story about my recent, unexpected encounter with a new friend, Naghmeh Abedini.  Naghmeh is one of God’s bravest servants, sharing His truth and love despite her difficult and dangerous situation.  As usual, it all began with prayer.