In the summer before my junior year in high school I went to a baptist summer camp. While I was at this camp I really felt God put a call to ministry on my heart. I left that week of fun and sun knowing that I had been called to devote my livelihood to God. I didn't know exactly what type of ministry the Lord was calling me to, but I knew He was calling me to ministry. There was no doubt in my mind. I knew this throughout the rest of high school. Even when I went through phases where I was straying off the path The Lord had created for me, I always felt that pull in the back of my mind.
By the end of my senior year, after hopping back and forth between a worldly life and a Godly life, I was ready to get serious and stand completely on God's side. I had won a partial scholarship to ORU, and I knew that God had given me this opportunity for a reason. I knew that ORU was part of the call, I knew that God wanted me there to get ready for whatever it was. I entered as a freshman knowing this. I was ready to do big things for God.
I got discouraged though. I lost hope. When I was in high school, I was around people that I had known for many years, I had gotten used to them. Going into college, even though it's a small private college, I was surrounded by a whole new world of people. I was living with them and constantly being around them. ORU has students from all over the country and world, and with that, a whole plethora of christian worldviews come in with it. I was exposed to so many different types of people, I was seeing whole new ways of living for Christ. I began to compare myself to these different ways. Doing this is where I lost my hope. I began to think, "I'm not good enough for ministry", "I don't think I'm really called to that", "I'm just an average, shy girl". It wasn't until the end of this year, my sophomore year, that I let God break me free from that.
When God has placed a call on ones life to ministry, or to any area of life, it is very important not to compare ones call or vision to another. We are all created different, and God did not do this just for the fun of it. He needs different types of people to work in different areas of His kingdom. Don't let doubt creep into your mind because your not like that girl who can pray and pray for days, or that guy who's been called to bring the house down preaching on the pulpit. God gave you your gift for a reason, and he needs you to embrace that specific gift. Romans 12:6-8 (NIV) says-
By the end of my senior year, after hopping back and forth between a worldly life and a Godly life, I was ready to get serious and stand completely on God's side. I had won a partial scholarship to ORU, and I knew that God had given me this opportunity for a reason. I knew that ORU was part of the call, I knew that God wanted me there to get ready for whatever it was. I entered as a freshman knowing this. I was ready to do big things for God.
I got discouraged though. I lost hope. When I was in high school, I was around people that I had known for many years, I had gotten used to them. Going into college, even though it's a small private college, I was surrounded by a whole new world of people. I was living with them and constantly being around them. ORU has students from all over the country and world, and with that, a whole plethora of christian worldviews come in with it. I was exposed to so many different types of people, I was seeing whole new ways of living for Christ. I began to compare myself to these different ways. Doing this is where I lost my hope. I began to think, "I'm not good enough for ministry", "I don't think I'm really called to that", "I'm just an average, shy girl". It wasn't until the end of this year, my sophomore year, that I let God break me free from that.
When God has placed a call on ones life to ministry, or to any area of life, it is very important not to compare ones call or vision to another. We are all created different, and God did not do this just for the fun of it. He needs different types of people to work in different areas of His kingdom. Don't let doubt creep into your mind because your not like that girl who can pray and pray for days, or that guy who's been called to bring the house down preaching on the pulpit. God gave you your gift for a reason, and he needs you to embrace that specific gift. Romans 12:6-8 (NIV) says-
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."
Know that your gift is a part of your call. Be thankful and have joy that God has given the talents and abilities that He has. Stand firm on what He has given you!
One thing besides the problem I had of comparing myself to others, was that I got distracted by life. I lost sight of the big picture of my life. I got wrapped up in the daily things that were happening to me that I forget all about what God was laying on my heart. I didn't even realize that the things that happened in my daily life where situations that would help me later down the road. He was using life in general as a training tool. Remember this, God never lets anything go to waste. He is always working in our lives, if we let Him. An important part of letting Him work in our lives and prepare us is reading our bible and praying. Sadly, I didn't do this everyday until this year (2013). Since starting to do this though, I have felt my faith grown in ways I didn't know it could. If you know that God is calling you to a tough ministry or you know you will be in hard situations, became absolutely, 100%, firm in your faith. Do this even if you don't know. As Christians, we should do this no matter what our calling is. If your calling is to be a mother, become firm. If your calling is to become a pastor, become firm. If your calling is to become a lion tamer, become firm. Know the word, and be connected to God everyday. Like Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Don't let the monotony of everyday life get you in a rut. Let Him break you free and realize that He is building and shaping you for what He wants you to do.
One thing besides the problem I had of comparing myself to others, was that I got distracted by life. I lost sight of the big picture of my life. I got wrapped up in the daily things that were happening to me that I forget all about what God was laying on my heart. I didn't even realize that the things that happened in my daily life where situations that would help me later down the road. He was using life in general as a training tool. Remember this, God never lets anything go to waste. He is always working in our lives, if we let Him. An important part of letting Him work in our lives and prepare us is reading our bible and praying. Sadly, I didn't do this everyday until this year (2013). Since starting to do this though, I have felt my faith grown in ways I didn't know it could. If you know that God is calling you to a tough ministry or you know you will be in hard situations, became absolutely, 100%, firm in your faith. Do this even if you don't know. As Christians, we should do this no matter what our calling is. If your calling is to be a mother, become firm. If your calling is to become a pastor, become firm. If your calling is to become a lion tamer, become firm. Know the word, and be connected to God everyday. Like Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Don't let the monotony of everyday life get you in a rut. Let Him break you free and realize that He is building and shaping you for what He wants you to do.
Remember also that God can lay a plan on ones heart years before it will come to fruition. Sometimes in our lives, we won't even see the fruit of our labor, we are just here to plant the seeds. If that is the case, then that is what God's plan for our life is! Think about the apostles, they spent their whole lives devoting their lives to spreading the good news of Christ. Obviously, they didn't get to live 2000 years to see how Christianity has grown. Their work though planted an abundance of seeds for God's Kingdom. Don't try and force or rush things. Trust in God. If you devote your life to God completely and stay in His will, then the plan He has created for you for will happen. God stays true to His promises.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." -Galatians 6:9
When we let God help us to stop comparing ourselves to others, start focusing truly on how He created us as individuals, and make a conscious effort to be constantly be seeking what He needs us to do, then He is able to strengthen and develop us.
I'm thankful that God has broken me free of doubt and all the lies about myself that I believed. I stand in faith that He will help me overcome any other attack that is sent against me to try and destroy what God has planned for my life. I pray you do too.
I'm thankful that God has broken me free of doubt and all the lies about myself that I believed. I stand in faith that He will help me overcome any other attack that is sent against me to try and destroy what God has planned for my life. I pray you do too.
No comments:
Post a Comment