Discerning the Call

17 March 2020

Have you ever wondered, “What path does God want me to follow?” or “What plan does God have for me in this season, and how will I know what that is?” or “How do I discern if this is a God thing or not?

The call to ministry can be fluid and hard to discern at times. For some, it comes as a reoccurring thought, a pulling of one’s heart in a specific direction. For others, it comes in a vivid experience with God, or through the encouragement of another person.  

Some describe the beginning of their calling like:

• “I feel there is more.”
• “I know God is calling me to something different.”
• “I want to serve God.”

Or for some, as the saying goes “the need is call”. It’s like the verse in Acts 15:28 how it says,

“It seemed right to us and to the Holy Spirit”

Calling doesn’t need to be complicated; it can be as simple as it just seems right.

Also, calling often clarifies over time. No one starts out knowing exactly what comes next.Philippians 3:15 encourages us that as we step things out, God will lead us:

“And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you”

It’s comforting to know that God will direct us but it’s also important to remember just as it’s easier to steer a moving car, God generally waits for us to take a step of faith before we clearly understand where He is leading us.

But how does calling occur?

Do we need a burning bush or something?

Because calling is something God initiates, one thing we need to develop a sense of is how  God communicates to us.

In today’s world, there are many forms of communication: spoken, email, text, facetime, letters, phone, in-person, online meetings, sign language, body language...

When it comes to calling, God doesn’t just communicate it one standard way. Calling may happen in a time of prayer, or when you’re reading the Bible, or through a spiritual experience. It may happen at the mercy seat or a sacred space, or it can happen naturally through a conversation. 

What’s common in every leader’s story around their sense of calling occurs in a different way:

• Some had a clear sense that God was asking them to do something.
• Others had a dramatic experience.
• Some simply responded to what they read in the Bible – again, coming back to the Great Commandment and Great Commission.
• Others had a growing a sense of purpose and passion. 
• For some, Officership is the best way to outwork their calling.
• Others came from a family whose parents we in ministry.
• Some had other leaders around them recognise a gift and calling to ministry and encouraged them to pursue it.

There are lots of ways calling can occur but what is common, however, is that all of these leaders knew there was something simmering away on the inside, something deep down they felt they should be doing.

It’s important to remember that calling is not an end in and of itself – it has a purpose, and that purpose is about ministering to others. God has a world that needs to experience the love and person of Jesus.

John Ortberg, a pastor in America writes,

“People with strongest and healthiest sense of calling are not obsessed with their calling. They are preoccupied with the Caller.”

Discerning God’s timing

God’s what is often different from God’s when. Sometimes we gain the clarity of what God wants us to do but don’t necessarily know when it's for.

• When it comes to the general calling (the great commandment and the great commission), it’s always the right time to share the love of Jesus with others.
• When it comes to a specific call, perhaps a call to officership, sometimes things happen straight away, other times, it’s a long process.

It’s also important to remember that God’s timing varies from person to person. There are many reasons for this. It could be for our development. It could be to grow our capacity. We may need to learn new skills.

As long as we cultivate open hearts – that is, we prayerfully seek God, His timing, and be ready to respond – we won’t miss out on what God has planned for us.

Feeling called to serve God through The Salvation Army

What is great about serving God through The Salvation Army is that it places you in an environment where you get to ministry in so many different contexts and ways. The benefit of this is that you get lots of different exposure to ministry, which ultimately helps clarify your calling.

In The Salvation Army you get to:

• Lead churches,
• Help people on the street,
• Bring hope and opportunity to so many,
• Grow as a leader,
• Have amazing and exciting opportunities across the world,
• Bring true, measurable and lasting change to our societies,
• Be part of a global mission force,
• Represent one of Australia’s most trusted names,
• Enjoy an endless variety of ministry expression,
• Express God’s kingdom.

Discerning God’s call takes time. It’s helpful to do the journey of discerning calling with others around you that provide feedback, encourage, and spiritual perspective.

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Other articles on this topic: 

Hearing God's voice

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Note: If you like to speak to someone about calling, feel free to contact us: https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/comealive/contact-us/