Your Calling and Destiny
by Jill Southern
Do you know what your calling and destiny is? We need to learn to recognise God’s voice. This is essential for our walk with him.
Do you remember the story of Samuel? Eli told Samuel to go and lie down, and when God called Samuel, Eli was to say, “Speak Lord for your servant is listening”.
Samuel needed Eli to tell him it was God’s voice, and we all need mentors, or people, who’ll help us grow in our relationship with God. We also need to be spending time with God, who wants a holy people for himself.
God delights in relating to us in individual ways. We all need to know for yourselves what God has for us, but be wise in sharing your dreams, vision and calling. Remember Mary ‘kept all these things in her heart’.
At the right time we’ll need to seek godly counsel, as others may well play a part in recognising or confirming our gifts and calling. Never judge yourself to be unqualified for God’s work. God does not always call the qualified, but He always qualifies the called.
In the story of Ruth we see that, when it looks like there’s no future, God has a plan for us. Sometimes we’ll have to wait for God’s timing before we can move us into His purposes and calling.
Many Bible characters had to wait. Moses was 80 years old before he got started, and Joseph had to wait in prison for 12 years, accused of something he hadn’t done, before God’s calling came to him.
While we’re waiting, we’re to use and develop what God’s already given us. There’s often a time of serving others, before coming into our destiny. David, as a shepherd, looked after, and protected, his father’s sheep, before becoming king.
Our character needs to precede our gifting. Most of us will need considerable healing, and development of our character, before our calling will be sustainable.
Many of us have giants of fear and rejection to face, and, in our time of waiting, we’ll grow in our relationship with God. Each one of us is chosen and selected by God for a unique and particular destiny, and God uses the events of our lives, including our mistakes, to shape our destiny in Him.
Once God does open the door, don’t let fear hold you back. Step out, and the waves will part. Sometimes we must walk by faith that there’ll be dry land under our feet. Jeremiah 29:11 says “for I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future”
So as we enter 2016, commit to be focussed in prayer, listening to God’s voice and walking in obedience to Him.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank You that You have a plan and purpose for me. Help me to hear what You say. Show me the way to go. Then give me the courage and faith to be obedient to You. In 2016 I only want to do the things that the Father tells me to do, not one thing more, or one thing less. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jill Southern is the founder of Ellel Ministries Pierrepont and directed the work for 21 years. She has recently stood down from that role but still teaches on the NETS programme and has the passion to train and equip God`s people to fully walk in their destiny and calling. She is the Regional Director for Ellel Ministries International in South East Asia and China and is also on the Executive Leadership of the ministry.
Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.
