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Note: This Interruption is a follow-up to yesterday’s Interruption #1902: First Calling Then God’s Will.
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29, ESV).
Walking the narrow path of God’s will releases His peace and power into your actions. James writes that we experience unanswered prayer because we ask with wrong motives. However, asking according to God’s will (not our poor rationales) releases favor for His answering our prayers.
Then we experience what Jesus said, “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14). This releasing of favor comes through finding and walking in God’s will. It’s not complicated: by following five simple steps, we can know God’s calling and will, and, in turn, our gifts, ministry, and effectiveness.
Meet Sarah. Below, I describe her five-step plan for finding and walking in God’s will.
1. Calling (The General Foundation): Sarah gives her life to Jesus. She begins reading her Bible, attending church, and actively turning away from past destructive habits in pursuit of holiness. She embraces her identity as part of God’s “royal priesthood.” At this stage, she is simply walking honorably in the general calling that applies to all Christians.
2. God’s Will (The Specific Direction): As Sarah’s mind is renewed through prayer and Scripture, she starts to feel a specific burden for the single mothers in her community. She realizes that while all Christians are called to love others, God is specifically drawing her heart toward helping this specific demographic.
3. Gifts (The Spiritual Tools): Seeking to understand how she is supposed to help, Sarah takes time to evaluate how the Holy Spirit has equipped her. She realizes she isn’t a naturally gifted public speaker or counselor, but she is highly organized, loves budgeting, and has the spiritual gifts of administration and giving.
4. Ministry (The Specific Context): Now that Sarah knows her specific will (helping single moms) and her gifts (administration/giving), she looks for a ministry where she can apply them. She partners with her church to launch a free financial literacy and childcare co-op program. This is her specific ministry — the vehicle for her gifts.
5. Effectiveness (The Divine Impact): Sarah knows her organization skills alone can’t change hearts. She actively prays for God’s power to bless the ministry. Over the next year, single mothers not only get out of debt but also find community and start following Jesus themselves. This life-changing fruit is the effectiveness brought about entirely by God’s power.
The Progression Summarized
- Calling: “I am a follower of Jesus.”
- God’s Will: “God wants me to help single moms.”
- Gifts: “I am gifted in administration and giving.”
- Ministry: “I will organize a financial literacy co-op.”
- Effectiveness: “God is using this program to change lives.”
By following this order, Sarah didn’t have to stress about finding the “perfect” ministry on day one; she just had to be obedient to her general calling first, and God illuminated the rest of the path, step by step.
All of us can follow this five-step plan. It’s summarized below…