How to Fulfill God's Calling for Your Life
By Patricia Bootsma
GOD HAS GIVEN US THE POWER AND THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE AN IMPACT. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WAITING IN FRONT OF US TO MAKE A MARK AND LEAVE A LEGACY.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO CHANGE HISTORY?
The word legacy refers to what someone will leave behind. I have noticed that the older someone becomes, the more aware they are of legacy. Therefore, I ask myself the question, what impact do I have and what impact has my life made? Jeremiah 29:11 says we have been given a hope and a future. This means we can trust that we’ve all been called to impact this world.
Matthew 25 is a rich chapter, which shares three parables discussing eternal consequences. The first parable speaks of the town which has been built on a hill that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14 NIV). God has blessed each of us with a measure of talents that only we can uniquely use. The gifts we have are to fulfill our calling and destiny, ultimately to be a light within this world. We are to use what we have been given for His kingdom as a faithful servant would. Thankfully, there is a joy in doing what we have been called to do. God has placed specific desires in our hearts with knowing what we enjoy doing.
Fear can easily entangle us from stepping out into what God has called us to do. Hiding in our fear prevents us from taking responsibility over what God has given us for His glory. Essentially, the gifts that we have are not for ourselves, rather they are for the benefit of others. As we faithfully stewart our gifts, people are blessed through what we use.
Identity
How we view ourselves is critically important. In my past, insecurity robbed me of my true identity and image. It prevented me from stepping out and fulfilling what God had called me to do. Insecurity caused me not to risk, and risk is what initiates growth in our walk with the Lord. For example, in grade seven I was asked to read a portion from the Bible (I had just started a Christian school). I sat down feeling embarrassed and was flushed red, because I couldn’t read what I was asked to. The lie came into my mind, “You cannot speak in public, don’t make a fool of yourself, never do that again.” I believed this lie for many years, so there was a robbery from what God wanted to give me and work on in my life. What lies are we believing of ourselves?
“Heaven and hell are both seeking for agreement, therefore it is time to step out of agreement with what holds us back from our calling.”
There is a battle for truth and the question we have to ask ourselves is, “Who are we going to agree with?” Heaven and hell are both seeking for agreement, therefore it is time to step out of agreement with what holds us back from our calling. Our pasts are to not be used as an excuse for our future. It is time to “get up” and receive what Jesus has already paid for, accept it and access it.
Allow the mandate of your heart to be serving God not for the reward, but because He loves you as you are.
Mike Bickle said, “I am a lover of God, I am loved by God, therefore I am successful.” True success is knowing that we are loved as we are. Allow the mandate of your heart to be serving God not for the reward, but because He loves you as you are.
Essentially, the passion we have for Jesus can change history. However, in order to increase and fuel our passion, we need oil. Oil in the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25) refers to intimacy. Passion is fueled by intimacy with God. Through developing our own passion, we can trust that those around us will be inspired and fueled as well. Our passion is contagious, and I do not want to simply speak of passion, I want to be able to live it out. God sees the reach of our hearts, and takes delight in the heart that cries out for more.
Where have you become satisfied and familiar with in your walk with the Lord?
Believe in what God says is true, He has not set us up for failure. He is a loving Father who desires for us to fulfill the calling in our lives, and our response is to not to be in complacency, but in an awakening of passion. Take your place in shaping this world.
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