Biblical Leadership: Leaders Born, Made or Called?预览

4. How God Calls Today

In the last reading, we saw that God called ordinary people just like you to fulfill His purposes here on earth.

We also found that the most likely way God might call us today is by “time and place”, bringing us to the point where we can make a decision in accordance with God’s plan for us just like Esther did in Old Testament times.

How do we know when God is calling us? How can we discern that from any other situation we might find ourselves in? After all, you can make any number of choices on what to do, which way to go, or how to react to situations that come across your path each and every day, right? 

Remember the story of Esther? It was her cousin Mordecai that pointed out that she might be in her position “for such a time as this” especially for the purpose of serving God.

The example of Esther shows us that God can use others to point out His calling. God still uses this approach today through your spouse, your friends, church members, or maybe even a specific message you may hear at church.

All you need to do is listen.

But listening is hard. Check how the great prophet Elijah was to hear God’s voice: 

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 

After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.  When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.  – 1 Kings 19:11b-13

In our world today, we are inundated with messages, activities, and priorities. Listening for a still, small voice is hard to do. This is exactly why a daily quiet time is so important. 

Once you quiet your mind and remove the other distractions and seek to listen to God, you will hear His voice. You may hear it directly, or as a thought or idea suddenly in your mind. Or, you may hear it through circumstances that happen that day, or by what someone else may say to you.

The first step to hear God’s calling is to tune in and LISTEN. 

The second step is to DISCERN.

After all, is what you are hearing really from God? It might be, or it might not be. As you can imagine, it’s especially important to know the difference.

The topic of knowing God’s will is an entirely separate study (see reference below), but the first and best way to know if what you’re hearing is from God is to compare it to what He already says in His Word, the Bible.

Let’s touch on three insights from the Bible to help you get started in finding God’s will in your decision-making.

First, set aside your worries and seek the Kingdom of God:

Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33

Second, focus on others, not yourself or your own goals:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.  – Philippians 2:3

Third, dig deep into God’s Word, and His plan will be revealed to you:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  – Romans 12:2

Reflection / Application

1. Do you know God’s will for your life today? This month? This year?
2. Have you tried to find God’s will either with help from someone else or on your own?
3. If God was going to say one thing to you today, what might that be? Pray on this and then test it against His Word.