Calling

The other day I was speaking to a youth about discovering her calling. I suggested she pray about what God has in mind for her career and her calling. (Sometimes, they are the same thing.) She had a good question: "What if I don't like what He tells me?" In other words, what if I don't want the career He wants for me?

For a moment I was stumped. But later it occurred to me--that's why we press in close to Him.

Psalm 37:4 says: "Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart."

This verse directs us to first learn how to delight in God. That's a tough concept in our culture of "fast-food service," because you have to diligently seek Him in order to find Him. His Word promises over and over if we seek Him with all our hearts, we WILL find Him. (see Deuteronomy 4:29, Proverbs 8:17 [which is speaking of Jesus' heart], Jeremiah 29:13 and the implications of Hebrews 11:6). Delighting in God starts with setting aside time to seek His face, get alone with Him. It's about more than bringing a list of "Please can I haves?" or "Could you fix this or thats?". Instead, it's about getting out the Bible, turning on worship music (or making up a new song to sing to the Lord) and just practicing this verse "be still and know that I am God." (see Psalm 46:10)

Spending time alone with God will result in learning about His heart. His Word teaches us His ways. When we read the Word and spend time in communion with Him (prayer), we begin to desire what He wants. That is the hidden meaning of Psalm 37:4 above. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart"----godly desires, holy desires. And since God is at "work in you both to will and do his good pleasure" you will literally get excited about God's desires. They become your own. (see Philippians 2:13)

Then, He fulfills them in our lives as we pray them back to Him in His will. He's so good to work this way in our lives.

I hope I get a chance to talk to that youth again about this. I think this revelation might really help her not worry so much about her and God not wanting the same thing. He has a great calling in mind (for everyone) and I know she's a lover of God, so she can trust what He has in store. It's gonna be good!