During this unexpected time of what it seems to feel like isolation, I consider it to be a blessing! It's like God has purposely slowed me down from the daily hustle of rushed morning routines, kid school drop offs, traveling across LA for work, school pick ups, the evening routine of "what's for dinner?", homework ,bath and bed- just to wake up and do it all over again day in and day out :)
I was on a prayer call last Thursday with one of my prayer partners/friend and I was sharing with her how I had been feeling a tug within my spirit to do more ministry. I had been feeling this tug within for quite some time (maybe about a month or so).I wasn't sure exactly what this meant but I knew and felt a shift coming.
A few days prior to speaking with my friend, my Husband and I attended early morning prayer that my church has weekly, and when it was over our pastor anointed us with oil. As we approached him he anointed my head and said " do you know by now that you have a calling on your life? I want you to start preparing your message and when you are ready I want you to share it," He proceeded and asked my Husband, " did you know your wife is called? My Husband responded "yes Pastor thanks for confirming that for her."
What just happened, I thought to myself..... God was this the tug I was feeling?
From that day until now, I have been in prayer and study seeking God for clarity and understanding. When I hear the word "called" I automatically think "to preach" but after studying God's word and speaking with my Godfather who is also a pastor, I have come to understand that there are several callings we have as Christians all to help strengthen the body of Christ as a whole (Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers) this is the five fold ministry that can be found in Ephesians 4:11,12. As I am in this phase of identifying my exact calling, God has placed gifts in us all!
As my friend and I were in prayer last Thursday the Holy Spirit spoke to her saying " God is bringing rest to you" little did I know it would be so soon! The very next day was the day we received the news about the kids school being closed for the next two weeks due to the COVID-19 outbreak which later turned into it being for the next month. Rest came.
Although, and with much gratitude I am still working virtually from home, the daily pressures of what a typical work/school week entails has been reduced dramatically!
The bible says in Romans 8:28 " we know that everything works together for the good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose". So even in these times; times of isolation, confusion, sickness for some, financial hardship for some, fear, anger and whatever other feelings you may have; God is still good and shifting our perspectives as believers in him. I encourage you to use this time to seek God in prayer and reading of his word! Tell him exactly what you are feeling (the good, the bad and the unknown), lay it all before him and know that HE STILL has a PURPOSE for you! Just as the bible speaks about in Jeremiah 29:11, during a time of suffering and punishment - there was still hope for the people of Babylon. Whether we experience that level of purpose during our life time or not, we can certainly take steps in the right direction. Jeremiah 29:10 says "when seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place" it goes on to then say "for I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans of good and not evil, to give you a future and a hope". This promise of hope and a future is not and was not an instant promise in this case and sometimes in our personal lives it may not seem as if it's instant but rest assure, Gods word is true.
As you can see, we clearly do not have control over life, our jobs, our finances and the things of the world BUT we do have control of how we handle ourselves during times like such. What a great time to get into purpose! That thing you've been wanting to start but time has not been on your side, that dream you tucked away because you thought it was too big, the passion you once had for creating that you suddenly lost...whatever that thing is pick it back up! As yourself:
* What do I enjoy doing even if I am not getting paid?
* What brings me great joy?
* What do others always compliment me about?
*What skills/talents do I know I have?
*I could spend countless hours doing the following..
If you are anything like me, I had no idea where to start moreover, what my true divine purpose was in life, yet I knew I was called to be more than a wife and mother. For some, that is what/who he's called you to be- consider this- how I can use what/who he has called me to be to bring glory to God's kingdom? Wherever you are in your personal season of clarity regarding your purpose, start with the gifts and talents you have and use them to glorify God. On the job, ask yourself, how can I be used of God? Whether it be offering a smile, bringing lunch, sharing a prayer; whatever and wherever you are use the good that is stored up inside of you and pour it out into the world.
It's all starts with , Repentance - the acknowledgement of your sin, acceptance of Christ believing he is the Son of God and choosing to live your life according to the word of God.
The world has slowed us down and what a good time for us to:
"go in our closets and close the door, praying to our Father who is in secret and he who sees in secret will reward us openly,
Matthew 6:6."
God will begin to speak you! He will begin to reveal himself to you through his word. We have to take the first step. If the Holy Spirit is with us now leading, guiding and teaching us, consider him to be your personal GPS. Our GPS will start its navigation once we put our car in drive, step on the gas, and go!
Just when I thought I was doing enough, just when I thought I was finally "ministering", I realized it was under my own terms, within my own comfort zone and yet God is saying otherwise. The idea of public speaking scares me however, it's God's purpose that he has for me that I want to carry out. The only true fulfillment in life is found in Christ and allowing him to use you how he wants.
For such a time as this, we have been purposely positioned to get into purpose, sharing Christ with the lost and using the unique gifts and talents he has placed inside of us to glorify him so in turn he gets the praise and recognition.
Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand
Proverbs 19:21
Do you want to learn more about how God/The Holy Spirit Speaks?
What topics are you interested in discussing/learning more about?
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