God’s On the Phone and He’s Asking for You

…and has saved us and called us according to His holy calling, and not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. 1Tim. 1:9a

When the phone rings what do you do? Do you let it ring and ring and ring or do you answer it? Hopefully you answer it. Hearing a constant ringing can be extremely annoying. And trying to live and move around your home with a ringing phone in the background is almost impossible. Ridiculous even.

What about God? Has He ever called you? No, not on the telephone. But the example is the same. Has He asked you to do something for Him? Has He gently tapped on your shoulder trying to get your attention, all the while you ignored Him?

Once you finally answer Him, you realize there are reasons you have been uniquely made. There are gifts you have been given only you can do in the way you can do them. It’s only a matter of time before He calls you to use your gifts and talents for Him.

Your calling is many times something you already love to do. For some, it is a passion deep inside, a gifting of your DNA. For me, my greatest calling is to be a wife to my husband and a mother to my four children.

Most recently, my calling has been to write for Him. And thankfully He doesn’t expect me to be an Erma Bombeck or a Charlotte Bronte. He expects me to be Joanne at Blessed…, a woman who has been asked to use the little talent she has for His glory. I have not been called to be them. I have been called to be me. I don’t have to be the best, I only have to be obedient to His calling. And when the job seems overwhelming, it is His strength that carries me through.

So, how do you know your calling? Goodness, that’s a tough one. God can use many ways to get His point across to you. In my case I knew I had been called to write because:

• No matter where I am or what I’m doing I see things in words.
• The young mom at a coffee house trying to scold her poorly behaving toddler is soon a blog post or an article about coffee house spankings.
• Waking in the middle of the night to use the bathroom I am putting together sentences in my head.
• If I don’t write I will burst.
• And most importantly, God has given me scriptures of confirmation.

So, how about you? What have you been called to do for Him? What gentle nudging have you pushed aside to avoid the scary thought of stepping out in faith? What is it you love to do, but don’t feel good enough or smart enough, or talented enough to do for Him? Is pride holding you back from looking foolish? Remember, God says in His word,

“Anyone who trusts in Him will not be ashamed.” Romans 10:11

Do you hear what I hear? Aren’t you going to answer that?