When God calls you
'I have called him...and he will succeed in his mission.' Isaiah 48:15 NIV
God told Jeremiah, 'Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work' (Jeremiah 1:5 NCV).
When God decides to use you, five things happen: First, there is a call. God asks common people to do uncommon things, like Peter getting out of a boat and walking on water. Second, there is fear. When God called Moses to stand before Pharaoh, he said, 'I'm not a good enough speaker; use somebody else' (see Exodus 4:10). Third, there is reassurance. The thought of filling Moses' shoes must have shaken Joshua to the core, so God told him, 'As I was with Moses, so I will be with you' (Joshua 1:5 NKJV). Fourth, there is a decision. Sometimes we say yes to God and sometimes we say no. When we say yes we live with joy; when we say no we forfeit that joy. But there's always a decision.Fifth, there is a changed life. Those who say yes to God's call don't walk perfectly, not by a long shot. But because they say yes, they learn and grow even from their failures. Indeed, their failures often become part of their ability to minister to others. And those who say no to God are changed too; they become a little harder, a little more resistant to his calling, and a little more likely to say no next time.
Is God calling you? Maybe it has to do with your work, or your relationships, or your money, or facing your biggest fear. God's call will go to the core of who you are and what you do. Saying yes to him is the best decision you'll ever make.