For some the call has been a spectacular moment with God… a miraculous event.  For me, His call has come in the quietness of my heart, revealed through the Bible, circumstances, and/or the encouragement of other Christians.  The interesting thing for me about His call has been how He has shown up in my life once I have been obedient.  There have been several moments when I knew He had spoken to me and his call required that I respond in action by faith.  Whether that meant I had to move a thousand miles or to have a conversation with a neighbor about Jesus.  Each time I have hoped I was correct in sensing what His Holy Spirit was leading me to do.

Abram, who God later renamed Abraham, was called to follow, “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s home for a land I will show you.”  (Genesis 12:1, The Message).  He was basically told to head out with all of his stuff… I will tell you once you have arrived at the chosen destination.  To hear that call from God must have been tough to follow.  Maybe it wasn’t hard for Abram.  Maybe his relationship with God was much closer than the one I have with Him.  Maybe he has experienced so much already in trusting God that this little command to move was just another walk out in the park.  Then again, maybe it was tough for him to lead his wife into this new chapter of life they new nothing of.

The promises from God to Abram are wonderful that follow in the next few verses.  Abram was told: 

• God would make him a great nation and he would be blessed (Genesis 12:2).
• God would bless those who bless Abram and he would curse those who would curse him (Genesis 12:3).
• All the families of the earth will be blessed (Genesis 12:3).

Note that in The Message, Abram and his wife reached their destination, “safe and sound.” (Genesis 12:5).  I mentioned earlier how God has shown up in my life once I had been obedient to His leading.  It is true, once I have obeyed, God’s presence has always been evident… he has been with me… and the experience has always felt victorious.  I want to be honest here – not every experience has been without some amount of trials along the way.  The thing to remember is that God will see you through to where He is calling you – if you will obey.

Have you considered the voice of God lately?  Have you considered how He wants to use you and bless you through reaching out to your neighbor for the cause of Jesus Christ? Have you been praying about a ministry you think God has called you to but are fearful of the transition? Maybe you are concerned as to how much your obedience will impact your family?  Consider the life of Abram.  Consider how the Holy Spirit has worked in your life up to this point.  Step out in faith and overcome the fear that may be keeping you from moving forward.  You will find just how blessed you will be through obedience… and how blessed those around you will be as well.  Press on into your destiny!

Once someone begins to hear that call, a suffering worthy of the name of Christ is produced. Suddenly, every ambition, every desire of life, and every outlook is completely blotted out and extinguished. Only one thing remains— “. . . separated to the gospel. . . .” Woe be to the soul who tries to head in any other direction once that call has come to him. (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, February 2).

We went on to talk about this a little while later.  We talked about why we go to church, read God’s Word, and why we pray.  I explained to him I do these things in order to give God the opportunity to teach me so I can get to know God better and so I can make the necessary changes in my life in order to become the person He created me to be. 

Too me it seems like I put God in a box and look for Him to speak to me in certain ways.  I look to those moments from the past and think I should learn certain things to help me adjust my life today… at least so I won’t repeat the same mistakes twice.  I know God chose this simple moment at the check in station to speak to me through my son’s question.  While reading Oswald Chambers this week I read,

Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him. That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. (My Utmost for His Highest, January 25).

There is no set formula on how to hear God.  I find that at different seasons of life He speaks in different ways to me.  My main job is to look for Him – in all circumstances.  I’ve got a lot of growing left to do.  Each day I know that a part of that growing comes from those moments where the Holy Spirit needs to do a bit of editing of my life. 

I’m ready!  I’m ready for God to break into my life.  I’m ready for the renewing and editing that I know needs to take place.  I know that I have a story to tell… I know you do to.  Be ready.  Be on the look out for Him to show up in your life.  There is not an easy edit button on your life.  Submit your ways to Him… and may they become His ways.  Just when you least expect to see Him begin to look… seek Him and you will find Him.

I’m encouraged by the words of David I read in Psalm 51 and the encouragement found in the devotional I’m reading currently.  We should never allow those failures, lapse in judgment, and sin to hold us back from the future God has destined for us to live.  We should not allow anything to get in between our relationship with God.  As soon as we do, we must confess our sin and ask God for forgiveness. 

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
   and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
   or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
   and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:10-12, NIV)

This is an excerpt from, “Living a Divinely Inspired Life,” a devotional at YouVersion.com,

In your life journey, there will be setbacks and possibly even failures. There will certainly be situations that you did not plan for. There were many attempts to the moon before the first successful manned mission of Apollo 11. Do not be influenced or discouraged by your previous failed attempts. The God who has given you the vision will give you victory.

If you find yourself in a place where you are separated from fellowship with God take the time right now to read Psalm 51.  Pray the Scripture you read and ask Jesus to forgive you.  Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with his power to overcome the obstacles, failures, and sins you find in your life.  Trust Jesus and he will see you through to a joy-filled journey.

He answered my prayer on Monday.  I heard Him through several individuals.  It came in the form of a txt message, a phone conversation, a conversation at work, a sermon on the radio, as well as a few emails I received.  It was absolutely amazing.  I was so encouraged by several who had no idea they were each being used to answer a prayer.

While in a meeting tonight I had hoped to hear from God.  I want to be actively engaged in ministry in some capacity.  But for some reason I can’t get past… me.  As we closed the meeting tonight the pastor prayed.  While he was praying I came to realize something…  I realized I have made my quest to know God more into something that was about me and less about Him.

While he prayed I pictured this well that is full of water that hasn’t been used in a long time. With the wells lack of use it has become unhealthy to drink from.  It is a well that was initially dug out in order to give water and sustain life for others.  I am that well and I have been keeping His story to myself.  I’ve become consumed with what others may think of me… Yet, my whole life as a Christian I’ve wanted to be an open book that anyone could read and discover Jesus in the process.  But something has come to bring fear into my life – a fear of stepping out… I’ve become the well that came to mind while my pastor prayed tonight.

My prayer now is to tell my story… the one that has Jesus at the center… the story that gives life.  I want the well He has born out in my life to be filled and renewed by His Spirit.  I don’t want to live any longer as a Casual Christian.  As I pulled away from Starbucks tonight an old album came to mind by Degarmo and Key… the song, “Casual Christian”.  I don’t want to be a Casual Christian…

I grew up in a church tradition that focused a lot on Spiritual Gifts.  It seems to me there is less of a focus on this in the churches I have been a part of in recent years… It’s just not what I grew up with in my earlier years as a believer… and maybe something I am missing now.

If I am honest, I have begun to do things in order to be seen by others.  I know that is super-spiritual and something you will probably want to aspire to… It’s just not of the Spirit I desire to please.  I find myself in a place where I don’t want to be.  I’ve made several attempts to live out God’s purpose on my own or own my own terms.  From the devotional I read,

In order to fulfill your purpose in life, you need to operate in your area of supernatural gifting.

So much water has gone under the bridge over the years.  It feels as though I’ve gotten out of the water and chosen to stand on the bridge and watch it pass me by.  While dreaming of being back in the water.  But for some reason I’m scared.  It’s a miserable place to be… where I am today… living in fear rather than in the power of the Holy Spirit.  One thing I am going to surrender today is this fake attempt at finding my purpose in the arena of trying to be noticed.  Step one is to step away from what I thought was “my ticket” to moving on. 

In The Message, 1 Corinthians 12:7 and 11 reads,

Each person is giving something to do that shows who God is:  Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits.  All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God.  He decides who gets what, and when.

Paul writes in Romans 12:6,

…let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.  If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; (The Message).

These words here by Paul really stuck with me this morning.  They pointed out my sin of comparing myself to others and my sin of trying to be seen by others in order to win their approval over God’s.  In the end, my desire really is to hear the words of Jesus, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”  And not the pat on the back from others.

Why does God give spiritual gifts to the people He sees as His church?  We can find the answer to this question in Ephesians 4:12-13,

To train Christians in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ. (The Message).

I know it’s so easy for us a Christians, pastors, and churches to get our eyes onto the wrong “thing”.  I believe that’s why so many of us end up searching for something else “to do” or for a new way of doing things.  We haven’t become comfortable in the skins God has created for us to wear.  We are constantly looking for approval from others or ourselves.  Our ultimate approval from God is the only approval we really need in this life.  We experience it as we build up His church leading each person into a lifestyle of being fully devoted followers of Christ.

• Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master (2 Peter 1:2).
• Jesus resplendent with light from God the Father as the voice of Majestic Glory spoke: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of all my delight.” (2 Peter 1:17).
• The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion.  And why? Because it’s not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God’s Word. (2 Peter 1:20-21).

If we are to “Rise to the Occasion…“, we must have these three truths found in 2 Peter evident in our lives from the inside out:

1. We must be deepening in our experience with God and Jesus.
2. We must be marked by God’s love.
3. We must speak when prompted by the Holy Spirit. Not holding back but speaking God’s Message with love and grace.

I love these two words used together, “inside out”.  Our lives are hungry…  There is a deepening desire within us all to be changed from the inside out.  There is a hunger that can only be fulfilled by God’s love and grace found in Jesus. 

As I read 2 Peter this morning, I was reminded of the ways sin tries to destroy us and to keep us focused on feeding those desires of our flesh.  The Holy Spirit comes and changes us from the inside out.  I didn’t realize this until someone took the time to speak God’s love to me with love and grace.  Are you making the most of every opportunity?

As you go through this day and the rest of this week ask yourself:

1. Am I deepening in my experience with Jesus?
2. Is my life being marked by God’s love? 
3. How can I be used by the Holy Spirit to speak of God’s love and grace with words and actions?

No matter what sort of week you may have had – I think Oswald Chambers sums it up nicely.

Remember that you have been saved so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in your body (see 2 Corinthians 4:10  ). Direct the total energy of your powers so that you may achieve everything your election as a child of God provides; rise every time to whatever occasion may come your way. (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, May 15).

The past several weeks have been tough for me.  My routine and schedule has been turned upside down.  I have been feeling a bit guilty for not staying on track with where I wanted to be.  Everyday I think, “I need to read the Bible.” 

Has reading the Bible become all about checking a box?  Or is reading the Bible drawing us closer and deeper in a relationship with Jesus? 

Of course, Oswald Chambers would have something to say on this!

Your god may be your little Christian habit— the habit of prayer or Bible reading at certain times of your day. Watch how your Father will upset your schedule if you begin to worship your habit instead of what the habit symbolizes. (My Utmost for His Highest, May 12).

This was a great reality check for me.  Reading God’s Word should never be about getting through it – like some book.  God’s Word is His voice to us…  Providing truth, life, freedom, and correction.  The focus of our everyday reading should never be about just being able to say, “I read the Bible for the day.”  It needs to be about, “What does God want to say to me today?”

As you continue reading through the Bible this year, make sure you are spending time to draw closer to Him as you read.  Don’t trade God in for the Christian habit (god).

Love means that there are no visible habits— that your habits are so immersed in the Lord that you practice them without realizing it. (My Utmost for His Highest, May 12).

Lately my life has seemed much like I am riding a log ride (just not as fun).  My life is in motion bumping up against the parameters (or shall I say the principles) of life.  All the while, I know there is a destination out there that I will arrive at.  As Oswald Chambers puts it, I’m living my life based on principles rather than vision.

There is a difference between holding on to a principle and having a vision. A principle does not come from moral inspiration, but a vision does.

Our own idealistic principles may actually lull us into ruin. Examine yourself spiritually to see if you have vision, or only principles. (My Utmost for His Highest, May 9).

How do you live your life?  Do you get up everyday and hop onto the log ride of the expected routine in life or do you live it a bit more dangerously with a spiritual vision?  I know it seems like I have settled into the log ride and today am being challenged to get off of the ride and jump into a raft and conquor an uncharted river.  The Holy Spirit will be the guide and he will provide the vision.

Many years ago I went white water rafting on the Ocoee River in Tennessee.  I was nervous and stressed the entire time.  The water was freezing, the rapids were rough, and I had to trust the guide.  At times, I even got angry with the guide because I thought he was intentionally sending us through rougher water when it wasn’t necessary.

I realize in life I do the same thing.  At times, I get upset and angry with where this course is taking me.  I want to point a finger at the Holy Spirit and say, “Why didn’t you tell me to dig earlier?”  I’m quick to forget that He is teaching me as I go.  He allows the rough waters in my life and I need to learn from them. 

I have come to know when He is telling me to do something.  I have learned His voice.  But I haven’t overcome my fear of taking risks in following Him.  I like the log ride.  I know what I will experience in the log.  As for the the raft, there’s a risk and I will have to trust the Guide.

Have you lost the excitement for living?  Your job? Ministry? Family?  Read Proverbs 29:18,

  If people can’t see what God is doing,
   they stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what he reveals,
   they are most blessed. (The Message)

I know the following quote is from a message on marriage.  But it is applicable to any aspect of life that pertains to personal passion.  Job. Family. Ministry.  Whatever!  We all get involved in doing something based on how it makes us feel but to keep it going and alive there must be a plan… a vision.  It’s the plan that will keep you moving forward.

“Falling in love requires a pulse, staying in love requires a plan.” (Andy Stanley).

Are you following the vision for your life?  Or have you decided to remain comfortable with where you are?