Finding Your Calling

How does the world's view of purpose differ from the Bible's?

[Watch the Video]

What is a Calling / Purpose?

Outline:

• Dealing with Suffering
• Searching for Meaning
• Misplaced Identity
• The World’s Solution
• Biblical View of Calling / Purpose
• It’s About God’s Purpose...Not Yours
• God does not call the prepared, He prepares the called
• I am what  I am because of I AM WHO I AM
• God’s calling on my life cannot be accomplished without Him
• Purpose in the Pain

Scriptures:

• Ecclesiastes 2: 3-8
• Ecclesiastes 2:15-17
• 2 Timothy 3: 1-5
• Romans 8:28
• Exodus 3:7-10
• Jeremiah 1:5
• Exodus 4: 1-5
• Exodus 4:10-15
• Exodus 33:14-15
• Luke 22:31-32

One of the main reasons people want to hear from God is to discover their:

• Calling
• Purpose in Life

 The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life without purpose

– – Dr. Myles Munroe

Part 1 of 2

• What is a calling?
• Finding Your Calling

Dealing with Suffering

Example: car accident

• you’re stuck in traffic
• “There wasn’t even an accident!”

If people understand the reason for something it makes it more bearable

People don’t hate pain as much if it has a purpose

People will willingly go through pain if there is a reason

• Going to the gym
• running a marathon
• Childbirth

Losing Your Faith in God

Many people lose their faith when they suffer and don’t see a purpose

• Death of loved one
• Loss of job
• Fatal disease
• Global pandemic

How could a loving God allow this to happen?

• If I can’t think of a reason God can’t have one
• If God had a reason He would’ve told me

As Christians we believe

• God is in control
• God can use anything for good

Our Culture and Suffering

Our culture tells us our purpose is to enjoy life and avoid suffering and to do whatever makes you happy.  

Do whatever makes you happy

If you don’t believe in God there is a problem with meaning because the meaning you create for yourself will be too thin to handle suffering.

The secular culture makes you find your meaning in life based on something here which will be taken away by suffering

But if you are a secular person suffering will destroy your meaning in life.

Are we evolved to be happy?

According to evolution,  we are the result of ancestors that won the fight for survival and replication.

• We killed other stuff before it killed us

There are limitations to evolutionary psychology.  You are not evolved to be happy. You are evolved to survive and replicate.   Happiness and fulfillment is not part of that process.   

Religion

• Meaning is outside of this life

Almost every religion helps you locate your meaning of life outside of this life therefore the suffering can help you accomplish your meaning in life

Searching for Meaning

Ecclesiastes 2: 3-8

3I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives. 4I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; 5I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; 6I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. 7I bought male and female slaves and I had homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. 8Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men—many concubines.

• Solomon had all of the desires of the world
• Solomon had it all

Poem:

I was dying

• To get out of high school and get to college
• To get to finish college and start my career
• To get married and start a family
• For the kids to move out and go to college
• To retire now I’m just dying

Ecclesiastes 2:15-17

15Then I said to myself, “As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Why then have I been extremely wise?” So I said to myself, “This too is vanity.” 16 For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And how the wise man and the fool alike die! 17 So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.

What’s the Point?

What is the point of it all?

The search for your calling generally comes when you are dissatisfied with your life

When you get to the point that you’re thinking...there has to be more to life than this.

Plateau

You achieved your goal, but it wasn’t rewarding

Scenario 1: Self Focused Victim

• Complain

If they’re not succeeding they know exactly why:

• They’re a woman in a patriarchal society
• They’re a black man in a white male dominated world
• They didn’t have a father
• They came from the wrong neighborhood
• They were raped as a child
• They’re overweight
• They’re not a good communicator
• They’re short
• They’re tall
• They’re too attractive
• They're not rich
• They had a child at a young age
• Men are dogs
• Women can’t be satisfied

He thinks that if he had it he would get the

• Security
• Connection
• Significance / status
• Love

What they look like

• They don’t know that you can control your emotions
• Have addictions or compulsions to cope with the world

When you suggest some action that they can take to fix it..

“ well you don’t understand my case is unique because I…“

“Life is not fair, so therefore it’s meaningless”

Scenario 2: Driven

They have all of the same issues, but they feel like they can do something to fix it

They know that

• They have to work twice as hard as a white man
• Get up 2 hours earlier and go to the gym
• Sleep 4 hours a day and get that degree
• First one into work and last one to leave
• Get an extra degree to catch up
• Make $100K more than everyone else

That means I have to:

• Sacrifice
• Work harder than everyone else

Can often achieve worldly success

• Manager at the company / CEO
• Valedictorian
• Top sales person
• Fit person posting gym selfies everyday  “if I can do it anyone can do it”
• Entrepreneur starting their second business after the first one failed
• Kid from the ghetto that went to the NBA / NFL

Example: Tim Lydon - got books to learn

• Programming
• Tennis
• Dating

Still Not Happy

Realized

• Climbed the ladder but it was leaning against the wrong building
• Celebrity who overdoses on drugs
• NFL players who always has run ins with the laws

They achieved that thing that was keeping them from being happy, but

… they’re still not happy

They used their drive to get

• Significance
• Security
• Admiration / respect of others
• Love

But they’re still empty and unfulfilled

Scenario 3:  White Picket Fence

Followed society’s blueprint

• Went to  school
• Got good grades
• Started a  family
• Had 2 1/2 kids

Live through Kids

• Kids on the honor roll
• Identity is in their kids sports

Live through work

• Coworker who has a family but works late every night when they don’t really need to

In a passionless relationship where they get their significance from what they do outside the relationship

Society tells them that they should be happy, so they silently wonder if there’s more to life

Scenario 4 : Self Aware

Fulfil their own need for:

• Significance
• Love
• Security

Able to give and receive love

Mindful

• Centered
• Grounded

They’ve been healed of most of their wounds from

• Childhood trauma
• Past relationships

They’ve discovered  their true selves.

They’ve discovered that true happiness comes from inside

Quote : Madonna

• Sad is the man whose happiness is dependent upon the permission of another
• You need to learn to water your spiritual garden

Others look at him and say that he’s found true happiness within himself

Misplaced Identity

Song: J Cole

The Bentley is dirty

My sneakers is dirty

But that's how I like it

Story: - dirty sneakers

• Comedian said Scared of black man with dirty sneakers

People base their identity in

• Your achievement
• Your title
• Your possessions (clothes, car, brands, neighborhood)
• School
• Company
• Opinions of others
• Kids achievement

That kind of identity makes you desperately seek for recognition from others.  

Story: Chinese Co-worker - suit at night

Religion

Most religions say you find your source of identity from something that is greater than you and is outside of you.

Having a purpose outside of yourself allows for a more fulfilling life

The World’s Solution

2 Timothy 3: 1-5

 1But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

• A form of godliness but denying its power

A Form of Godliness

Our current culture actually acknowledges the issue with identity as a problem.

Story: 3 workers breaking up rocks

1. I’m making little rocks out of big rocks
2. Making a living for my family
3. Building a cathedral

Work that aligns with your purpose and matters to you to make the world better

people want their work to give them a pathway for expressing their purpose in ways that makes the world better … a calling

survey

• 21% of people are searching for their calling as it applies to their career
• 31% said they are currently living a calling in their job right now

The religion of millennials is service

--Noel Jones

Passion vs Capability

Your Passion

What is your passion?

Everyone has driving forces that get them up in the morning and dictate their decisions and motivate our behavior.  

What would you do if you knew you were going to die in three months?

What would you do if fear was not a factor?

What would you do if money was not a factor?

Capability

Do what you’re good at

What makes us happy is the feeling of capability.

Economics says that a society functions best when everyone does what they’re best at

Biblical View of Calling / Purpose

God’s Calling

Romans 8:28

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

If you don’t know the purpose of something you will likely use it wrong

story: kid misusing something

You don’t see biblical examples of people going around looking for their calling.

It’s About God’s Purpose...Not Yours

Exodus 3:7-10

7 The LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings.

8 “So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.

9 “Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them.

10 “Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.”

Evolution

• Without a creator there is no design
• Without design there is proof the purpose of the design
• Without purpose you get rid of accountability to that purpose

Jeremiah 1:5

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

And before you were born I consecrated you;

I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

God has a plan for you.

God does not call the prepared, he prepares the called

Exodus 4: 1-5

    1Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’” 2The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.” 3Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. 4 But the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grasp it by its tail”—so he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— 5“that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

Moses had a passion for the Israelites

• He killed an Egyptian who was mistreating an Israelite

God is patient with me despite my lack of faith

• Strong faith wasn’t a prerequisite for Moses

I am what  I am because of I AM WHO I AM

Is the sender powerful not the sendee

Exodus 4:10-15

10Then Moses said to the LORD, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” 11The LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12“Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.” 13 But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.

15 “You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.

It is not about how capable you are

God’s calling on my life cannot be accomplished without him.

Exodus 33:14-15

14And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.

Moses could not have freed the Israelites without God

You just surrender your body to the Lord and see what he does.  

It is my role to obey it is dad‘s role to provide.

If you can do it without God then it’s not your calling

Purpose in the Pain

Luke 22:31-32

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;

32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

• Jesus gave Satan permission
• He says he will be praying for him
• He wasn’t qualified to strengthen his brothers yet

 

Sometimes God preparation packaged in pain

During Shelter-in-place people are complaining

• Lost jobs
• lost a lot of money
• lost a loved one to corona
• I had so many travel plans
• I can’t stop eating
• I can’t work with these kids running around
• I may be doing more harm educating my child than good
• I’m lonely
• Mad at Trump
• Mad at Lysol
• Mad at Obama
• Government is taking our rights
• 5G towers
• Are afraid of dying

I See God Working in Me

I’m not as disturbed during this season

• because I see exactly what God is working on in me

God is:

• Healing me
• Making me into a leader
• Preparing me

Realize the God may be doing something to you before he does something through you

some things that only pain can teach you

Maybe what brings you pain is what God is using to develop you for his purpose

you as an example to suffer well

strengthen brothers and sisters 

Instructor:  Michael Leadon

References

I’m Confused About My Calling | Maybe: God | Pastor Steven Furtick

https://youtu.be/RoxIg6CWAbY

Tim Keller: "Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical" | Talks At Google

https://youtu.be/4uIvOniW8xA

Encounters With God Series Part 4 - Burning Bush

https://youtu.be/M6lgnY3EGaY

There is a reason part three: stop complaining

https://youtu.be/loOW4w4oNVQ

How to Find and Live Your Calling | Bryan Dik | TEDxCSU

https://youtu.be/G2AMSOAvX2s

There is a purpose in your pain

https://youtu.be/YFLWFQNMKzE

How to Find your Calling

https://youtu.be/XL7vOm2uKSU

4 Questions to Help You Find Your Calling | SuperSoul Sunday | Oprah Winfrey Network

https://youtu.be/4Rl0N2W7arw

Extra

Psalms 57:2

I will cry to God Most High,

To God who accomplishes all things for me.

God's Calling On Your Life

In this study, we explore how God has put each of us here on earth for a purpose.

Watch the Video of the Study

Scriptures:

• Exodus 35:4-10
• Hebrews 11:1
• Hebrews 11:6

Who here is a descendant of a monkey?

One of the most harmful lies that has been accepted by our culture is that we came from monkeys

The reason it’s so harmful is because, when you get rid of the creator you get rid of design

When you get rid of design you get rid of the purpose of the design

And when you get rid of purpose you get rid of accountability to that purpose

But there is a God and He has a purpose

And each of us has a part to play in that purpose

We are all part of God’s plan

We all have a role in God’s plan

But it’s up to us to figure out what that role is

There are beings in spirit bodies that are known as messengers of God.  We call them angels.  Angel means “messenger”.  Each angel has a mission or an assignment but they must work from the spirit realm...they exist in the spirit realm.  They don’t have the war against their flesh that influences their will.  Although they have come into contact of our realm their consciousness is within the spirit realm.   

There are a different group of souls that God trusted enough that He put into flesh bodies and gave them assignments to achieve completely inside of the earthly realm.   Those souls are you and I...and we each have a mission.

our destination is Heaven...to be in Heaven

but our assignment is to bring Heaven here

We each have a function to fulfill in the body of Christ

Exodus 35:4-10

4 Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: 5 From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze;

• Who should  bring an offering to the Lord?
• Everyone who is willing
• not everyone

6 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 7 ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather[a]; acacia wood; 8 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 9 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

10 “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded:

• Who should make everything that the Lord commanded?
• Everyone who is skilled

God can use the skilled (anointed) and the willing.

In the world, action follows feelings - you do it when you feel like it

action follows belief

In the kingdom, feelings follow action - you do it because it’s commanded

• you do it because you have a fear of God
• you do it because you have faith

the disciples belonged before they believed

• they had faith in Jesus

“it’s easier for a child to get into the Kingdom of Heaven”

• childlike faith

Childlike faith is total dependence without anxiety　

• children can’t pay rent
• children can’t afford food
• children wouldn’t be able to take care of themselves if something happened to their parents
• but children don’t even worry about any of that

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true

A quick answer builds faith in God

a delayed answers builds faith and character

faith is walking in dependence of God

“Faith does not come by determination it comes from surrender”

Faith doesn’t come from the mind it comes from the heart

Hebrews 11:6

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

• What’s necessary to please God?
• God

So let’s find our reason for being here and have faith that God will equip us to achieve it

 Presenter: Michael Leadon



Finding Your Purpose In Life

In this study we discuss ways to determine God's calling on your life.

Series: Sharpening Your Sword

• Equipping you and preparing you to do God’s work.

Scriptures:

• Acts 6:1-4
• Ephesians 2:10
• Exodus 35:4-19
• Exodus 35:30-35
• Matthew 9:35-38
• 1 Peter 4:10-11
• James 1:5-8
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17
• Hebrews 13:7
• Acts 13:1-3
• Matthew 4:2
• Ezra 8:23
• Mark 10:29-30
• 
  

Review of “What’s Important Now (WIN)”

• You need to identify what season you are in, and factor that into all the decisions you make
• We need to intentionally focus on things that are best aligned with our current season and our future goals
• Warren Buffet example
• You can have anything you want what in life, but you can't have everything you want
• you need to prioritize what’s important now
• Our greatest fear shouldn't be that we don't succeed, but that we do succeed in something that doesn't matter
• Focus on the future not the past; make today count
• You're going to work hard whether you achieve anything or not, so why not make it matter
• It’s more important to make a difference for God than to achieve the world’s definition of success
• We need to make God’s work a priority in our lives.
• We need to make our relationship with God a priority in our lives.

Not necessarily that you spend all of your time helping the church, but that your focus should be centered around God’s calling on your life

Acts 6:1-4

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists [ Greek Jews] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

• Why did the twelve say “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables”?
• Was serving tables helping the kingdom?
• Yes
• So why did they stop?
• to focus on their main calling

We need to focus on our calling.  We should make it a priority in our lives.  Even service to God’s work can be a distraction from what God is calling us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

• When did God prepare the work He wants us to do.

God has a calling that He has prepared for us.

Exodus 35:4-19

4 Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: 5 From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze; 6 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 7 ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather[a]; acacia wood; 8 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 9 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

10 “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded: 11 the tabernacle with its tent and its covering, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; 12 the ark with its poles and the atonement cover and the curtain that shields it; 13 the table with its poles and all its articles and the bread of the Presence; 14 the lampstand that is for light with its accessories, lamps and oil for the light; 15 the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle; 16 the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the bronze basin with its stand; 17 the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; 18 the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, and their ropes; 19 the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary—both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests.”

• What was Aaron and his son’s calling?
• They were priests
• How did they know?
• God told Moses
• Who did they Lord say should make everything in tabernacle
• All who are skilled v10
• Who did God say should bring an offering of the materials
• whoever is willing  v5

God can work with those who are skilled, but he’ll also work with all who are willing.

Exodus 35:30-35

30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. 34 And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.

• What are some of the skills God filled the people with
• engravers, designers, embroiderers, weavers  v35
• Did these people have these skills all their lives?
• no they were given the skills when God needed them to work

Just because you aren’t fully equipped to do something now doesn’t mean that it’s not your calling.  God will prepare you when you need it.

So how do you know what your calling is?

10 Ways To Find Your Calling

1. Who’s Pain Do You Feel?

Matthew 9:35-38

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

• Why did Jesus feel compassion on the crowds?
• Because they were harassed and helpless

Your destiny is tied to a particular person or group of people.

You know by:

• Who’s pain do you feel?
• What needs in the world concern you?
• Who’s tears affect you?
• Who’s enemy are you willing to protect them from?

The Christian heart of love is drawn by perceived needs, whether near or far. Therefore God uses what we know to awaken the measure of our desire that pushes us over the edge of commitment.

Kayla Mueller

"I find God in the suffering eyes reflected in mine. If this is how you are revealed to me, this is how I will forever seek you.

"I will always seek God. Some people find God in church. Some people find God in nature. Some people find God in love; I find God in suffering. I've known for some time what my life's work is, using my hands as tools to relieve suffering."

2. How Does God Speaks To You?

The way God speaks to you is an indication of your calling

Examples:

• most teachers hear from God through the word or from writing

• God speaks through workshop

How does God speak to you?

3. What Are Your Gifts?

1 Peter 4:10-11

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

What you pay attention to ties into your gifting

• I became critical of singers and preachers right before I had a season of singing in the choir and speaking
• If you’re critical about everything you may have the gift of discernment
• Or you might just be a hater lol

Don’t let the lack of a gift deter you because God may give you a gift at the time it is needed.

• example: this bible study
• meditating on scriptures to understand
• finding relevant scriptures
• he gives great preachers recent stories
• organization - relating

James 1:5-8

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

4. Read The Bible

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Listen for God’s direction as you read.

5. Try to Understand How Other People Chose Their Callings

Hebrews 13:7

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Examples include:

• asking others what motivated them to their calling
• read missionary biographies and journals

6. Look at Your Experiences and Circumstances

You may be able to help those struggling with things that you’ve overcome.

7. Prayer and Fasting For God to Tell You Your Calling

Ezra 8:23

23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

Matthew 4:2*

And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.   

8. Worshipping

Acts 13:1-3

13 1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

9. Listen to Those Who Hear From God

They can confirm your gifts and even open your eyes to giftings or a calling you hadn’t considered.

• Shai’Yah’s example of choir

10. Come into a State of Surrendering to God’s Will

Mark 10:29-30

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

When you decide that you are willing to put aside everything else to follow God’s will is probably the most expedient way to find your calling.

Your Calling and Your Soul Mate

Many people are of the opinion that there is one person who God has picked out for you before you were born, but they neglect to realize that there is one calling that God has picked out for them before they were born.

One of the signs that you have found the right mate is that they will align with God’s calling on your life.

Confirmation About Your Calling

Parents, health, houses, lands, children, age, etc. All of them matter in our calling, but none of them is decisive. They can all be overridden.  God's calling to missions is not authoritative the way the Scriptures are. Your calling is never beyond question. You can't claim it to others the way you quote Scripture to them.  Nevertheless our calling can be profoundly and durably sure in our own heart. It is the work of God to bring our heart to a point of conviction that, all things considered-including Scripture-this path is the path of obedience. The conviction is not infallible. But when it is of God, it brings peace.

Summary:

• We need to make finding and acting in our calling the priority in our lives.
• Some of the ways to find our calling are by considering:
• Who's Pain Do You Feel?
• How does God speak to you?
• What are your gifts?
• Read the bible
• Trying to understand how other people chose their callings
• Look at your experiences and circumstances
• Pray for God to guide you into your calling
• Worshipping
• Fasting
• Listening to those who hear from God
• Come into a state of surrender to God's will
• God chose your calling before you were born.
• You will have peace and fulfillment when you're working within your calling.

References:

• http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/10-ways-to-determine-gods-calling-in-your-life-1326623.html