called by God

[SetApart]

help me understand what it means to be called by God...

for a few years now--probably about 2 1/2 or 3 years now...i have felt "called" by God.

i have unwittingly referenced this prompting as a calling maybe only once...but i have felt it deeply since then---and it hasn't gone away...so i have found different "ministries" that match up with my gifts...

just last week, i was walking and praying--talking to God, and it hit me like a ton of bricks that i was being called to the ministry!! i welled up and humbly accepted the invitation....and then i prayed..."what ministry Lord??"....

i know i am not to be a preacher or pastor....but what???? what else could it be..???

anyone else experienced a profound calling from God, accepted the invitation, and the understood what it was??????????? i trust completely that He will reveal it for me--and i htink He has in many ways...but i was intrigued by this and it has been a powerful event in my life...

just curious

[PlentyGroovy]

In ways you can't possibly imagine...just step out in faith and He will reveal the plan little by little. After a while you'll look back in amazement of how He led you and the events that you will be a part of, it's really exciting to be a Christian. You will be pruned, you will be put through the fire but the rewards of living in the truth are priceless.

[Jacob]

help me understand what it means to be called by God...for a few years now--probably about 2 1/2 or 3 years now...i have felt "called" by God....i have unwittingly referenced this prompting as a calling maybe only once...and it hit me like a ton of bricks that i was being called to the ministry!! ...anyone else experienced a profound calling from God, accepted the invitation, and the understood what it was???????????
Please don't misinterpret me, I am not saying that you should not go into ministry. However, I think that we all need to be careful about what we refer to as the "call of God" upon our lives.

Biblically, God's call never took the form that you described. I have also heard a "call" described are a "prompting" or an "inner compulsion" etc. The common denominator is that it is based on a subjective feeling in our emotions, and somewhere along the line, many Christians have developed a doctrine defining as the "Lord speaking to my heart," or "the Holy Spirit's leading."

Here is the problem that I have with that. This process is nowhere found in Scripture as a method of discerning or knowing God's will. In the bible, when God individually selected people for certain ministries, He did so by way of supernatural revelation in a manner that the people could understand Him by using their physical senses. He spoke to them directly, sent an angel, spoke to them in a dream, or sent a prophet (someone who was gifted to receive superntural revelation and then convey the message to others). In other words, it was a supernatural revelation in a manner in which they heard and understood spoken language. We did not read of God calling someone to a particular ministry and task whereby they received a subjective feeling and spent weeks or months praying for guidance about it. If God spoke to them directly, it was in plain language and there was no mistake about it.

In the 20+ years that I have been reading the bible, I have looked for the statements or examples whereby someone says, "I feel that God is speaking to my heart..." to do such and such, or, "I feel led by God or the Holy Spirit...." etc. I have not found such a process in the bible nor have I found this as an instruction given to us as a way to discover God's will. Rather, the bible warns us, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" --- Jeremiah 17:9.

Desires, promptings, inner compulsions etc. can have several origins. They could be our own seflish desires or even Satan's deception to lead us in a way that we are not gifted or equipped to do. Yet, because we have eqated that as "the call of God," many people have gone into ministry believing that they have God's stamp of approval only to fail miserably later.

There are certain things that God calls us to. God calls us to salvation, sanctification, and service. However, these are clearly revealed biblical principles that we are to obey regardless of whether we feel led to do so or not. For example, God calls everyone to be a missionary - everyone is supposed to tell the gospel message. God also calls everyone to ministry - every person is given a spiritual gift to do so. The problem of deciding how, when, and where we carry out these functions is a different matter.

That does not mean that we eliminate our desires either. But, it does mean that we put them in their proper context. The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 3,

"It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do." Paul then goes on to list numerous criteria that are required to qualify for the position. Thus, if a man desires to be a leader in the church, Paul says "that's great, if you meet this criteria, then you qualify."

This is also true of being a full time missionary. Many people have gone to the mission agencies believing that God called them to full time ministry in this field. However, those who are in charge of selecting candidates are going to look at objective criteria. They are going to get to know these people, look for references from the local church leaders, evaluate their objective talents and gifts, and their character, temperment, spiritual maturity and general suitability for such service.

If you have the desire to be in full time ministry, that is great. However, it does not necessarily mean that God is specifically telling you that He wants you in that. Such things as your gifts, talents, character, abilities, the endorsement of your pastor and church elders, the encouragement of other Christians, etc. etc., all have to be taken together as a whole.

[SetApart]

i completely agree with all you said..and it seems the older i get the more aware of the hearts' deceptive abilities i become, and the more aware i become of satan's manipulation skills...

i believe that i have understood with clarity my role in service and missions for God...and i have only begun to understand that within the past few years actually. so maybe i always understood that "call" (for lack of better word) as just God's prompting me to use my gifts in service and ministry.

i have done my best to respond --- and have done so through my God-given gifts--all of which have been very clear to me....and remain clear to me...

so when i felt that "calling" thing last week, again, so powerfully...i wasnt sure what to take of it. i do know i am not meant to be a pastor or preacher!!! i had no idea what it was or why i felt it so powerfully and was curious if others had similar experiences.

and...thank you for your gentle and thoughtful response. i appreciate objectivity and an examination of subjective issues against the truth of the Word.....

[Paidfor]

Please don't misinterpret me, I am not saying that you should not go into ministry. However, I think that we all need to be careful about what we refer to as the "call of God" upon our lives.


Desires, promptings, inner compulsions etc. can have several origins. They could be our own seflish desires or even Satan's deception to lead us in a way that we are not gifted or equipped to do. Yet, because we have eqated that as "the call of God," many people have gone into ministry believing that they have God's stamp of approval only to fail miserably later.

There are certain things that God calls us to. God calls us to salvation, sanctification, and service. However, these are clearly revealed biblical principles that we are to obey regardless of whether we feel led to do so or not. For example, God calls everyone to be a missionary - everyone is supposed to tell the gospel message. God also calls everyone to ministry - every person is given a spiritual gift to do so. The problem of deciding how, when, and where we carry out these functions is a different matter.



Thank you Jacob. You have put into words something it took me a long time to figure out. I always heard people talk about a call and thought there was something wrong with me that I had no idea what God wanted me to do. I have finally come to the conclusion that what God really wants us to do is believe what he tells us through his word which is also his revealed will. There are people who have a special destiny, but they are rare.

[BHiles]

You really want to find out.

Take a period of prayer and complete fasting from everything in the world. No media no interaction except for compulsatory work. All other time is spent in scripture and prayer. Drink water only and juice for medical needs only. Nothing else. No interaction with family. Sleep alone. All time in prayer and when you are doen you will know it is time to be done. And when you are finished you will know exactly God's heart on the matter.

I know of many many many who have found God's will this way and I personally have also. I have never heard of anyone coming away without an answer.

[DonO]

i know i am not to be a preacher or pastor....but what???? what else could it be..???

Why would you limit :doh what God is calling you into? Untill he speaks to your heart be open to whatever he may have in store. Be obedient to his voice and be ready for the journey of your life. :thumb Don't waste much of your life resisting Gods call and direction as I have :fear . Just some friendly advice from another one who was called. :D:

[ohappyday]

God wants you to be willing. Be open to his leading in every area of your life. Don't take any (One) persons word are words on major changes in your life. Ask for a confirmation of any word received. God will make his will known to you. I know he speaks to people today. He has spoken to me many, many times. Learning to discern the voice of the Spirit is not easy, through trial and error one learns. Good luck, and God bless. Go with God.

[extreme4jesus]

for me personally, God gave me a vision and revealed my ministry call. i had never had one before and it definitely left no room for discussion. :D:

i had never even thought that i could preach/teach and yet He has called me to do just that to our youth.

i also agree with the fasting part. God will answer you with clarity if you earnestly seek Him. Maybe you already know the answer you are just fearful of stepping out into something new.

[SetApart]

i do know what my ministry is..and i have definitely been engaged in it...but deep down i feel there is something more and i have yet to figure it out...

i so appreciate the responses...thank you all...

[roadrunner570]

i completely agree with all you said..and it seems the older i get the more aware of the hearts' deceptive abilities i become, and the more aware i become of satan's manipulation skills...

i believe that i have understood with clarity my role in service and missions for God...and i have only begun to understand that within the past few years actually. so maybe i always understood that "call" (for lack of better word) as just God's prompting me to use my gifts in service and ministry.

i have done my best to respond --- and have done so through my God-given gifts--all of which have been very clear to me....and remain clear to me...

so when i felt that "calling" thing last week, again, so powerfully...i wasnt sure what to take of it. i do know i am not meant to be a pastor or preacher!!! i had no idea what it was or why i felt it so powerfully and was curious if others had similar experiences.

and...thank you for your gentle and thoughtful response. i appreciate objectivity and an examination of subjective issues against the truth of the Word.....


I am studying right now for full time ministry. I was in my first year of nursing school when I felt called by God to switch to ministry.

Before changing, I confirmed my calling. First, by lots of prayer, bible study, etc. Then by talking to other believers. First my wife. She said she knew this was coming before I ever said anything to her. That for me was plenty of confirmation. A close friend of mine said she had a feeling I would go into ministry as well. I talked to a few other believers who prayed for me.

After I changed majors, I went from all C's and even a few D's I was getting in nursing, to A's and B's in ministry. One of my nursing instructors saw me a year later, adn when I told her that, she said "Well, that means you're in the right place"

[SetApart]

I am studying right now for full time ministry. I was in my first year of nursing school when I felt called by God to switch to ministry.

Before changing, I confirmed my calling. First, by lots of prayer, bible study, etc. Then by talking to other believers. First my wife. She said she knew this was coming before I ever said anything to her. That for me was plenty of confirmation. A close friend of mine said she had a feeling I would go into ministry as well. I talked to a few other believers who prayed for me.

After I changed majors, I went from all C's and even a few D's I was getting in nursing, to A's and B's in ministry. One of my nursing instructors saw me a year later, adn when I told her that, she said "Well, that means you're in the right place"

wow..what a beautiful testament to your wife!!
i know that i am not called to be a preacher..my memory is so terrible, that i could not call upon scripture 3 days after i memorized it...i am a writer and i have pursued this ministry and am continuing to pursue it...

i am going to try to fast..i pray so much for wisdom, guidance, and direction..i believe that i get it too...but it seems i have a tendency to understand a lot of what He wants me to do, but the version is "see" has a different twist than His...

but...He always shapes my understanding to His....i just tend to be a little slow at finding that refinement---maybe fasting will help expedite this!!

[RevJeff]

help me understand what it means to be called by God...

for a few years now--probably about 2 1/2 or 3 years now...i have felt "called" by God.

i have unwittingly referenced this prompting as a calling maybe only once...but i have felt it deeply since then---and it hasn't gone away...so i have found different "ministries" that match up with my gifts...

just last week, i was walking and praying--talking to God, and it hit me like a ton of bricks that i was being called to the ministry!! i welled up and humbly accepted the invitation....and then i prayed..."what ministry Lord??"....

i know i am not to be a preacher or pastor....but what???? what else could it be..???

anyone else experienced a profound calling from God, accepted the invitation, and the understood what it was??????????? i trust completely that He will reveal it for me--and i htink He has in many ways...but i was intrigued by this and it has been a powerful event in my life...

just curious



If God truly has called you He will reveal where He wants you to serve, and then He will open the doors. When I felt called to the ministry I wasn't sure exactly where God wanted me to serve so I decided to let him take the lead. The doors he opened led to pastoral duties focused in evangelism. He knows where He wants you, you just need to willing say, "Here I am, send me."

[hidden]

Hi Setapart...

Here's my "calling" story...

Not all callings are to be lead into pastoralships...

Early last summer (May-July 2005) I felt I needed to clear everything off of my schedule plate. I quit my leadership job at church, all committees and cleared my plate. I felt strongly that God had something big coming, I didn't know what it was just that I needed to be ready...

Well...it came and it was a whopper...

My MIL became life threateningly ill in late Aug...and spent 13 days in the hospital with terminal cancer. She was and still is not able to live on her own...

God placed her in our care and in our hospital by His leading me to be very strong in word with her local hospital and our family.

She lived with us for 7 full months where He made everything possible for me to care for her...

She is now able to live in assisted living for the time she has left...

It was a most blessed time for our family and changed us forever!!! Unfortunately it did not change our siblings and their families...but God molded us into something that I can only describe as spiritual in nature and blessed beyond belief knowing His presence was very alive and felt in our home...

what I'm saying is what others have stated...

Be patient...pray (it's what I did a lot before my MIL got sick)...
and listen...

God will tell you when it's time to move and where you are to go...

ysic...julie