What Is Your Calling?

Bob A. Clifton

One of my favorite discoveries in the faith was realizing that God created me with gifts. The idea that each person was different and had something to contribute to the world for God’s kingdom was unique to me. My understanding growing up was that I was a part of a family. Beyond that you worked and retired and died.

After my first spiritual gift inventory I was amazed. The way my spiritual gifts lined up was not how I was living my life. The more I thought about the concept, the more it made sense in regards to what I was attracted to doing. My introduction to spiritual gifts and calling was over ten years ago. Something that has been hitting me the last couple weeks is how God is maturing us and refining us to bring us into our gifts at a more specific level.

Early on it was this broad view of administration. I loved to plan events and make things happen for other people. It seemed to work well since most people dread the idea of planning something and seeing it come off. I loved being behind the spotlight and bringing people joy through my efforts without getting noticed. Since then that role has moved into working with men. I love it! I love seeing men get their hearts back and start fighting for their marriage and peers. Once again, at a broad level this has been on my mind for a couple years.

Some things to think about when looking for how God called you to make kingdom difference are:
Discern the difference between your calling, role, and assignment. Your calling is what God called you to do “big picture”. How you are using your spiritual gifts specifically for his kingdom. Our role is being a father, husband, son etc… Some people confuse their role with their calling. You are supposed to be great at all of these listed above, but God created you for a battle outside of your home also. The last is your assignment. Your assignment needs to match up with your calling. If you are called to preach the Word but work in finance, you should probably be asking God if there is any better suited place for your assignment to be.

Consider your strong desires. What kind of books do you like to look at when you go in the library? What do you seem to be drawn into when you are hanging out at home? Think this next what rises up in you throughout the week. What has historical context? Something over the years you continue to be drawn back into. What do the movies you like reveal about your desires? Don’t be afraid if you do not recognize your desires anymore. Often Satan has people so taken out they don’t know where they belong. Start the journey!

While I was at the Wild at Heart Advanced training something that lit up in me was the idea of my one on one time with guys. Once again, God bringing more specification as the maturity grows. As I thought about that it definitely has a historical context. I have been meeting one on one for years and I always love it. I am noticing recently that he is asking me to trim away things that are not as important. I think all of the things I am doing are good, but that does not make them the right thing to do. I also see the stories of desire in the movies when I think about flicks that portray people fighting for the freedom and hearts of others. Now God has even lined up my assignment at Ft. Riley military base to be doing exactly what I love in my calling.

Do you think through this very often? Do you see yourself as an intrical part of the bigger story that is unfolding here on earth?

Shoot me an email and let me know what you love about your calling.