The best answer I can give is how I went from a 35 year practitioner of traditional witchcraft and ancestral paganism to a servant of Christ on 11/2/22. On 11/1/22, I had a strong urge to pray to a God that I had been at war with all my life in order to ask for His help with my daughters. Within a minute of finishing that prayer, this overwhelming feeling hit me and a voice within me stated " take them to church." 24hrs later, I told myself to make this sacrifice for them so I began listening to sermons so I do not get triggered to debate. It was in a specific sermon where the pastor said " there are those who have studied the bible to argue and debate to use it as a telescope but I ask them, when was the last time you let the bible study you and be a mirror?" I broke and I could not fight the feeling that overcame me and a transformation inside began... the removal of my heart of stone to a fleshy one. Asked for His forgiveness for all the lives I destroyed. Thus I gave my life over to Christ.
I say all this because if I did not react to the answer to my prayer, I believe was from God, I may have never been saved. In the end, it was a calling . If you feel you are being called, pray on it and make sure it is from God as the bible says to test every spirit.
Assuming your question is how do you KNOW if God is calling you...
Obviously; we have to objectively look at our plans to make sure there isn't an obvious conflict with God's Word and we aren't attempting to "consume it upon our lusts" as James 4:3 states.
When we pray we should ask for doors to open if something is His will; or to close. An example this week was with a brother who I had discussed starting leading a small group with with the stipulation that prayer with him would precede it. There were some mitigating circumstances where he didn't get back to me; and since I kind of went through this process with him before last summer I can see that it isn't God's will at present to pursue this.
I have found from my experience that being around those who aren't messing about but proclaiming the Good News on a regular basis; are "desperate for prayer" (as one of my Pittsburgh brothers was when he started a group early in the morning in the park) and aren't overly distracted by the world (most of my friends in Pittsburgh didn't own TV's or were VERY limited in selection and time spent on these type distractions) are the type of people around which most opportunities to serve God come about. This situation; sadly isn't common in the established church leadership and it's many associated traditions and expected roles. As for a brother of mine who was searching for a wife; we saw an answer within 2 days when he met someone he is now married to. You want to be around people such as another brother in that group I mentioned before who stated that for every hour witnessing he would spend an hour in prayer. I just don't buy what many in church claim when they say that they are "too busy" for such things as my friends have large families and their kids are involved in their Bible studies.
It is good; finally to be around those who sharpen us; and exhort us. Those are people who understand that there is no good in man apart from Christ in us.
I say all this because if I did not react to the answer to my prayer, I believe was from God, I may have never been saved. In the end, it was a calling . If you feel you are being called, pray on it and make sure it is from God as the bible says to test every spirit.
Obviously; we have to objectively look at our plans to make sure there isn't an obvious conflict with God's Word and we aren't attempting to "consume it upon our lusts" as James 4:3 states.
When we pray we should ask for doors to open if something is His will; or to close. An example this week was with a brother who I had discussed starting leading a small group with with the stipulation that prayer with him would precede it. There were some mitigating circumstances where he didn't get back to me; and since I kind of went through this process with him before last summer I can see that it isn't God's will at present to pursue this.
I have found from my experience that being around those who aren't messing about but proclaiming the Good News on a regular basis; are "desperate for prayer" (as one of my Pittsburgh brothers was when he started a group early in the morning in the park) and aren't overly distracted by the world (most of my friends in Pittsburgh didn't own TV's or were VERY limited in selection and time spent on these type distractions) are the type of people around which most opportunities to serve God come about. This situation; sadly isn't common in the established church leadership and it's many associated traditions and expected roles. As for a brother of mine who was searching for a wife; we saw an answer within 2 days when he met someone he is now married to. You want to be around people such as another brother in that group I mentioned before who stated that for every hour witnessing he would spend an hour in prayer. I just don't buy what many in church claim when they say that they are "too busy" for such things as my friends have large families and their kids are involved in their Bible studies.
It is good; finally to be around those who sharpen us; and exhort us. Those are people who understand that there is no good in man apart from Christ in us.
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Please Sign In or Register to post comments...
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?