No Second Chances: 9 Ways to Jumpstart the Call on Your Life
/Let’s say you’ve felt the call to ministry in some form. Or maybe you just know that you’re meant to do more with your life than just survive at a nine to five job.
But there is no obvious path to take. You feel apprehensive about moving forward because the unknown is frightening at times.
On the other hand, you don’t know if you’re wasting the precious time you’ve been given. Let’s face it, our time is a limited resource. After all, when we see Jesus face to face we aren’t going to say, “Wait, Lord. Can I go back? I didn’t do that quite like I wanted to.” We get one life. There are no second chances.
Can we really sit around waiting for that moment when everything is going to fall into place?
What do we do in the in-between?
Photo by Nitish Meena
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1. Start Investing.
Do you feel called to be an entrepreneur? Get your business plan together. Do you feel called to preach? Write a sermon. Get FULL so that when the opportunity comes you have something to pour out. You might be able to hold your own in certain areas with little to no preparation. Stop depending on talent and prepare. Make investments in the things you feel called to in small ways.
2. Serve.
Sometimes we need to just stand up and say “Here I am. How can I help?” Instead of using the excuse that no one ever asked. If you want to see your dreams come true you need to give your time to something bigger than you and serving at your home church is a great way to do that. As you sow seeds of consistency you will reap seeds of consistency.
3. Don’t Listen to Stupid People.
And be willing to admit that sometimes that stupid person is you. People who have the best intentions may still give you advice based on their own experience or insecurities and you will have the same challenge. Understand that what we might feel called to may shift based upon our own bias. Allow the Lord to strip away what we may have added so that only His will remains and trust that it’s better than anything we could have made up on our own.
4. Do Not Neglect Wise Counsel.
Some people won’t give you the best advice but there are others whose advice will be invaluable. If you find yourself in your head about what to do find someone who you trust, that has a proven track record of consistency, and talk to them about it.
5. Count the Cost and then Recognize No Loss Compares to what is Gained.
Maybe you have a great job. Or people who look up to you because you’ve been so faithful where you’re at. Or maybe you’ve been in one stinkin’ place too long. Only you and the Lord know the answer to that question. So count the cost of staying put and count the cost of stepping out.
6. Pray Out the Plan.
Stop talking about what you’re supposed to do and start praying about it. God has already prepared good works for you but He will use prayer to prepare you.
7. Fall in Love with God's Word.
Many of us are sitting on an abundance of untapped potential. The key to tapping into it usually sits gathering dust on a shelf. This book is alive and as we read it the Holy Spirit reveals to us not only who God is but who we are to God. The power and potency of the Word is only utilized, not just when we read it, but when we read it with expectation. That expectation is the breeding ground for the miraculous.
8. Make a Move.
Send out the resume. Look for the job. Consider moving. Start putting a plan into action. Sometimes we think that somehow we are beyond God’s help if we have a misstep so it stops us from taking any steps at all. Stay sensitive to His leading and follow the peace that only He can bring.
9. Remember, it’s all about Jesus.
God wants us to live a bold audacious faith. Our love for Jesus is our fuel for action. When we begin to grasp the implications of the Gospel we will find that we are not satisfied with life as usual. The reality of the Gospel will create in us an insatiable longing for more than this world has to offer. Our gifts, talents, and callings can no longer stay under utilized and undeveloped.
Our time is short. We’ve got a job to do.
Get out and do it.
