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I Hear God's Call - 4/23/2008 12:57:56 PM
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CherishedbyGod
Posts: 2738
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It is becoming increasingly more evident that God is calling me into a new ministry. What little doubt there is is next to nil now.
The problem is I am resisting  I am not used to this. During my last call into a specific minstry, which I still practice, there was no resistence because I was so amazed and thrilled by the fact that God would use me in such a way.
But this one is more difficult - getting down in the trenches, face to face with sinners, leading groups and dealing with...well...people in agape love which we all know can be quite challenging 
My questions are:
1. Is it my flesh, resisting? I know God will win this battle so why am I resisting? I also know I will be greatly blessed and, more importantly, He will be glorified.
2. Have any of you had the same struggle and, if so, how did you deal with it.
I've totally surrendered to the Lord in the past but have not been walking as close to the Lord the past few years. Should I re-surrender my life to the Lord, if there is such a thing?
< Message edited by CherishedbyGod -- 4/23/2008 1:04:12 PM >
_____________________________
~Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ~
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RE: I Hear God's Call - 4/24/2008 11:17:03 AM
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sparkleingsnow
Posts: 3363
Joined: 1/9/2007
From: Payson, Arizona
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quote:
Original: CherishedbyGod
Should I re-surrender my life to the Lord, if there is such a thing?
Yes, there is such a thing. We make that choice each day. Sometimes minute by minute.
There are two songs that sometimes pop in my head when I am choosing between something I feel God wants me to do and something I want to do, that helps me.
The first song starts out "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His rightessness..." It reminds me to put God first.
The second is a song from VBS "Use me, Jesus use me. Take this life of mine and use me..."
Praying for you Cherished.
_____________________________
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is
within me, bless his holy name.
Psalm 103:1
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RE: I Hear God's Call - 4/26/2008 8:24:55 AM
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BibleL7
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If He is calling you to a different ministry that seems hard to you remember one thing where you are weak He is strong. Pray about your fears and ask Him to help you overcome them. Many say that He does not call those equipped yet He equips those He calls. Resistance is common when we are unsure or in a bit of fear. Prayer can help us to overcome that unsureness or fear. There is a reason most preachers and teachers pray just before giving the message that they be put aside and the Lord let His will be done and taught. I have a great deal of anxiety about talking before others and I do not do so without much prayer and just before speaking I always pray 'Lord help!' within even before I pray for His word to go forth. Every time He is there to help and His word gets out. And when I was a worship leader before each song I would quietly pray for His help. And He has always been faithful to help me through. If He will help such a worm as I He will certainly help you.
As for re-surrendering your life to Him I would say there is Biblical authority for it in the letter to the churches in Revelation where He says they had left their first love He calls for them to return to their first works of love towards Him. I know that is not word for word quoting yet I believe it has similar implications. Many preachers who give alter calls will ask for those who wish to recommit to the Lord. He wants us to rely on Him and draw nearer to Him. I am sure some preachers will say I'm off on this but then I have been known to have differences in opinion than many preachers.
And it is only because the Lord gives us the agape love that we can have it towards others. Yes it can be harder in the flesh but we are called to walk by in the Spirit not the flesh. You may just find that this new ministry will be even more amazing than your current one. This too is when we need to rely fully in Him. Much prayer is helpful and I would dare say required to love those you may not think you can. But then there is no greater experience in the world than learn to do so. Does it sometimes take a huge leap of faith to do His will? Yeppers. So I can say take the leap and you will not regret it totally. Will keep you in prayer.
Just the opinion of a small town preacher
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RE: I Hear God's Call - 4/26/2008 1:06:09 PM
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CherishedbyGod
Posts: 2738
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Thank you so much, Bible7!
I agree with you totally about Revelation and I know there was a time when I was more on-fire for the Lord.
I need to take some classes to further prepare myself.
As you pray, will you pray that I be diligent in studies, preparation, etc? Also that I be self-disciplined with my time?
Thank you again, so much!
_____________________________
~Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ~
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RE: I Hear God's Call - 4/26/2008 6:16:18 PM
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Dakotasunbeam
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From: Midwest USA
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1. Is it my flesh, resisting? I know God will win this battle so why am I resisting?
Yes, your flesh is resisting. On top of that the enemy will give you plenty of scarey thoughts to keep you from doing God's will. You're resisting because you don't want to do it. The Bible says "count up the cost" before embarking on a journey or setting out to build a house. You are probably thinking about the cost. I know for myself, any reluctance in doing the will of God usually comes from fear, pride, or selfishness. Most people do not want to get hurt, sometimes God calls us into places where we are going to get hurt.
2. Have any of you had the same struggle and, if so, how did you deal with it.
Yes, and at varying times in my life. One big struggle of mine was to actually preach the gospel as Jesus Christ has called every believer. Although I am by no means shy, it frightened me to think of going up to gruff looking people and telling them about Jesus. And no one wants to get in a shouting match with someone while telling them, "repent, the kindom of heaven is at hand." It just makes you look like an extremist.
How did I deal with it? I usually prayed about it. But truly, I studied in in the Bible to become better acquainted with what God was asking me. I'd find entries in a concordance and then search them out in the Bible. After a while I'd get a pretty good idea of what God was requiring, and I was encouraged by His promises and the others who had gone before me. Then, daily, I'd go out and try to do it as best I could. One day at a time, one step at a time.
We are all a work in progress. But we must will to do His will. Be yielded.
Hope everything works out for you! Remember, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! 
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RE: I Hear God's Call - 4/27/2008 3:47:22 PM
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buckifn
Posts: 1957
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quote:
Have any
of you had the same struggle and, if so, how did you deal with it.
Yes, and I am sure I always will...because I have no idea why God would ever choose me to do anything...except one thing..and that is His amazing grace....
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RE: I Hear God's Call - 4/27/2008 4:08:33 PM
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CherishedbyGod
Posts: 2738
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quote:
ORIGINAL: buckifn
quote:
Have any
of you had the same struggle and, if so, how did you deal with it.
Yes, and I am sure I always will...because I have no idea why God would ever choose me to do anything...except one thing..and that is His amazing grace....
He seems to choose the most unlikely characters, doesn't He? At least in my case
_____________________________
~Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ~
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RE: I Hear God's Call - 4/29/2008 3:54:54 AM
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BibleL7
Posts: 247
Joined: 2/1/2008
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CherishedBy God
Will certainly keep you in prayer. And as to the Lord having a sense of humor I would have to say without a doubt. He took an Atheist who thought that anybody who was called Reverend was a lazy no good bum and turned him into a minister whom of course people tend to call Reverend. So yea great sense of humor He hath.
Just the opinion of a small town preacher
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RE: I Hear God's Call - 5/4/2008 2:53:26 PM
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Little_1
Posts: 341
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Sometimes there comes a point in our lives (after salvation) when we do say to God "whatever You want of my life Lord - let it be as You will" and we are willing to take up our cross (whatever that may mean) and follow Him. In response to this, God brings up things in our lives which we need to surrender to Him and trust Him with after we have turned our lives over to His Lordship. I believe this is God taking us at our word and at a pace He knows is right for us as individuals.
I am learning that surrender is not a 'once and for all situation' but the beginning of a 'lifetime process' where God is making me more like Jesus through the situations I encounter, the people He brings into my life and the path he leads me to walk. There is an ongoing surrendering as God shows me what He wants me to do next. I find there is no peace or joy until I give Him Lordship concerning the next step He reveals to me. His way is best and there is an inner conviction that this is so - whatever. It is walking on 'higher ground' and nothing this world offers even compares to God's ways ......but the Christian who does not know Jesus as Lord will not understand this. You see there is a difference between turning from sin unto Jesus (i.e. salvation) and turning over everything we hold dear unto Jesus to do as He wills (i.e. surrender).
Perhaps you need to re-commit yourself to Jesus in surrender and obey the next step He reveals to you - and then the next and so on......
quote:
James Elliot grasped this and said: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
We do not lose anything by doing God's will - in fact He gives us back the years the locusts have eaten.
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 5/4/2008 3:38:18 PM >
_____________________________
I was lost but Jesus found me.
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RE: I Hear God's Call - 5/4/2008 4:31:38 PM
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buckifn
Posts: 1957
Joined: 5/23/2006
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quote:
He seems to choose the most unlikely characters, doesn't He? At least in my case
YES HE SURE DOES! In fact, I am fighting a calling on my life right now that is a higher calling than I have ever experienced and I am scared to death to say yes, but I know God will help me say yes eventually. He doesn't just tell us "launch out" before preparing us, training us, and qualifying us.
We have to remember He puts NOTHING on us that we cannot bear. It's just that fear is such a common tool of the enemy I am sure it holds us back from many things God wants us to pursue.
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RE: I Hear God's Call - 5/4/2008 4:49:48 PM
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CherishedbyGod
Posts: 2738
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Little_1
Sometimes there comes a point in our lives (after salvation) when we do say to God "whatever You want of my life Lord - let it be as You will" and we are willing to take up our cross (whatever that may mean) and follow Him. In response to this, God brings up things in our lives which we need to surrender to Him and trust Him with after we have turned our lives over to His Lordship. I believe this is God taking us at our word and at a pace He knows is right for us as individuals.
I am learning that surrender is not a 'once and for all situation' but the beginning of a 'lifetime process' where God is making me more like Jesus through the situations I encounter, the people He brings into my life and the path he leads me to walk. There is an ongoing surrendering as God shows me what He wants me to do next. I find there is no peace or joy until I give Him Lordship concerning the next step He reveals to me. His way is best and there is an inner conviction that this is so - whatever. It is walking on 'higher ground' and nothing this world offers even compares to God's ways ......but the Christian who does not know Jesus as Lord will not understand this. You see there is a difference between turning from sin unto Jesus (i.e. salvation) and turning over everything we hold dear unto Jesus to do as He wills (i.e. surrender).
Perhaps you need to re-commit yourself to Jesus in surrender and obey the next step He reveals to you - and then the next and so on......
quote:
James Elliot grasped this and said: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
We do not lose anything by doing God's will - in fact He gives us back the years the locusts have eaten.
Thank you, Little_1. Great post and gread wisdom!
I love that saying by Jim Elliot.
_____________________________
~Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ~
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RE: I Hear God's Call - 5/9/2008 7:29:25 PM
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MrsDC
Posts: 185
Joined: 8/17/2005
From: Sinaloa, Mexico
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quote:
Well, I have been there, before. It is easier in the shallow
Easier, maybe, but you don't catch as many fish...or as big, either!
You wouldn't be fighting a calling to full-time ministry, would you???  Just kidding! Sort of.
Cherished, you've already gotten ton of good advice, so I'm not going to reiterate. I've just noticed in my life that God often changes me little by little...callings we have on our life later in our spiritual journey are sometimes tougher than those we heard early on, because we are now mature enough for them...or else we're NOT and God wants us to become so!!! Just keep heeding His call and you'll be fine!!!
-- Rebecca
_____________________________
*Just pretend I have a great signature with some profound statement and great graphics.*
My Homeschooling in Mexico Blog! NEW ministry blog!
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RE: I Hear God's Call - 5/10/2008 5:53:28 AM
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BibleL7
Posts: 247
Joined: 2/1/2008
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Easier in shallow but not as wonderful.
The better thought of on launching out should be when Jesus told his disciple to go over to the other side. The storm came and scared all the disciple but Jesus was sleeping. And when they woke Him, He rebuked the storm. And asked where their faith was as when He said 'Let us go over to the other side' He was with them and He would not tell them to do something if He did not intend for them to complete it. Just a thought to ponder. Lord Bless
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RE: I Hear God's Call - 5/10/2008 7:07:49 AM
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buckifn
Posts: 1957
Joined: 5/23/2006
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too scared to say right now..lol
but yeah things are sometimes easier in the shallow...but I don't usually prefer easy...I prefer a challenge and don't do my best work until I am challenged.
There are so many things I love about the story of Jesus, the disciples, and the storm...one of them being He wasn't surprised at all by the storm and knew they would come through....
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RE: I Hear God's Call - 5/10/2008 12:18:38 PM
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CherishedbyGod
Posts: 2738
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I want to thank you all for your posts, your prayers and your understanding.
It means so much to me
Blessings to all of us as we serve our Beloved Lord Jesus Christ! May He be pleased and glorified!
_____________________________
~Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ~
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And pastor was teaching on becoming all we are meant to become and that each of us has so much more potential than we ever dream of. And then at the end of the message I went foward and had pastor pray over me. 
