Our topic for today is how to discover your calling, purpose, and career, and I know this will bless you a lot, so let’s dive in;
[Jeremiah 1:4-10 KJV] “Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
“Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.”
“Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.”
“See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.:
We have been discussing becoming all that God designed you to be. Indeed, the first step to becoming all that God designed you to be is to discover what you were designed to be, and what you were designed for. This is to discover, uncover, and understand your calling, purpose and career.
There is a difference between calling, purpose, and career
It is important to establish that there is a difference between calling, purpose, and carrer.
- Calling is what you were created to be, what you were designed for. Jeremiah was called to be a prophet; he was formed and ordained to be a prophet. That is what he was made for, that is what he was cut out for
- His purpose, however, was to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant in the kingdom. This is what his calling, response and obedience must achieve.
- His career, on the other hand, was to preach and prophesy and declare the word of God. This is how he is going to achieve the purpose. That was his career. It could change, God could change the direction but he was still going to have to focus on his calling and purpose. The career is the boat or vehicle that gets you there and gets the work done.
How to discover your calling, purpose, and career
There are several ways God shows us what He has planned for us:
- Through visions and dreams: In Job 33:14-18, the Bible teaches that “God speaketh once, Yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, In slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, And sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, And hide pride from man. He keepeth back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword. God speaks to us through visions and dreams.
- Through prophets: God called both Saul and David by prophets. God can use a prophet to direct you into His will. Usually, whatever the prophet says should align with the will of God. I teach into details on how to harness the ministry of a prophet in your life in my book ‘Developing Your Prophetic Ministry’.
- By an audible voice or through His word. God still speaks and He may be speaking to you.
- By matching your passion with skills set and opportunities available to you. Sometimes God just leads you to the place and stirs up your heart. When David opted to fight Goliath, he didn’t know God was setting the stage; he was just being patriotic yet that is how God let him into his calling.
I have no doubt that God can lead us by a countless number of ways; these are just examples of how God can lead you into His will.
Still blessed and never say never!