Christmas is the announcement that God has made himself completely available to us. There is a baby lying in a manger — God became flesh and he dwells with us. It is a reminder of how much God loves us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son …” (Jn. 3:16a). It is also a reminder of how valuable our lives truly are.
We Are of Immeasurable Value to God
We have immeasurable value to God. It may not always feel that way to you — but you have value to add to this world. Jesus is the light of the world. He came to defeat sin and death. He came to give us life (Jn. 10:10).
Perhaps you have been told your entire life that you are special and talented. Perhaps you have never been told those things. No matter. God loves you the same and he created you for a great life. He calls you to something bigger than your one, solitary life. He calls you to have an impact on the world. Your work is to find that calling and then begin to live for it.
Here are four steps to begin that journey to your calling.
Four Steps to Find Your Calling
STEP #1 — Deny self.
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mt. 16:24).
Finding your calling is NOT all about you. In fact, it has very little to do with you. If you make it about what you want, what you desire, what you hope to achieve for your life — you might just miss God’s greater plan. Don’t get me wrong — the things that bring you true joy will be a part of your calling. But, you can’t start there. You have to start by emptying yourself of all ego and coming to God on empty.
[Brief Sermon Clip — 3:41]
STEP #2 — Get on your knees.
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Mt. 21:22).
The next step is to hear God speak. To do this you have to take time to pray and listen. A lot of time. Sometimes God will give you an idea of what he wants for your life but you’ll find that you’re not ready. It may take months, even years, before you are ready to embrace God’s call. Getting on your knees and staying there is to commit to a long-term conversation with God in which he does 80% of the talking.
STEP #3 — Ask people you trust.
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Prov. 15:22).
After you have spent considerable time talking and listening to God, begin a conversation with a few people you trust about what God is saying to you. Let me emphasize this: be sure these are people who love you and want God’s best for you. This is a sacred journey. You should invite only a select few to enter it with you. Not everyone — no matter their relationship to you — has the right to enter this journey. In fact, no one has the “right” to enter the journey, save the few you decide to let in. These need to be people who will nourish you with wisdom, affirmation, and patient attention.
A wise person once told me: “It’s one thing when a person says, ‘I’m called to preach’ — it’s another thing entirely when a person says, ‘I’m called to preach,’ and the people who know that person say, ‘Amen! You are called to preach.’ Substitute the word “preach” with whatever you are called to do, and then find your “Amen!” people who will guide you gently through the journey.
STEP #4 — Take a courageous step.
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline”. (2 Tim. 1:7).
At some point, you have to take the leap. That always takes courage.
- You have emptied yourself and made yourself available to God.
- You have sought God’s counsel and listened attentively to Him.
- You have developed a community of people who can speak God’s wisdom into your life.
Now, you have to go out and start doing it. You have to take steps toward living the life God has chosen for you. You will never be completely fulfilled until you are doing exactly what God created you to do!
