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God's will

Discussion in '2005 Archive' started by OCC, Jun 14, 2005.

  1. OCC

    OCC Guest

    How do you find God's will for your life? As far as career or ministry, etc.? I am almost 31 and still don't have a clue. I am nothing but a security guard (laid off at that) and am quite discouraged.

    Everything I am interested in is too competitive to get into and there are less opportunities here in Canada. I am afraid to commit to something and fail but then I'm reminded of the parable of the talents. :( Any advice is appreciated.
     
  2. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    I have come to the conclusion that it's unlikely God has a "career or ministry" will for every particular Christian. A lot of time can be lost trying to "find" this, and not "feeling" a particular opportunity is God's will can cause years of lag and trouble. As long as it's honest work, just do the best you can find according to your own abilities and interests. And ministry-- vocational or avocational-- is basically the same; do according to your interests and abilities, but do something.
     
  3. OCC

    OCC Guest

    Thanks Alcott. That makes sense. I would love to be in radio broadcasting and have volunteer experience. I would prefer not to spend the money for school and just get hired somewhere. Probably unlikely but God can do anything.
     
  4. shannonL

    shannonL New Member

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    King James,

    Being afraid is normal. Read Joshua ch.1. Joshua was going to take over for Moses. The Lord tells him several times in the first few verses of that chapter to "have courage". Being afraid is normal but you can't let it dictate your life. God hasn't given us the spirit of fear the scriptures say.
    If you want to be involved in radio then go for it. Just don't set up boundaries of what you are not willing to do. Be willing to do whatever it takes. STEP OUT IN FAITH my friend. Put God to the test. The Israelites couldn't cross the Jordan until THEY PUT THEIR FEET IN THE WATER.

    If you aim for nothing KJ you'll hit it everytime.
    Plan the work and work the plan my man.

    If your living for the Lord and right with Him and you set out to do something just put yourself in a position where God has to do it or it wont' happen. He will come through everytime.

    I'm a missionary on deputation. Raising my support to serve the Lord in Spain. I have 3 young kids. We live by faith. I've seen the Lord do amazing things to meet our needs. Whether it be financial, physical, you name it I've seen God come through time and time again.

    Pray and read God's word expecting God to answer. Be patient and wait on Him. He knows your heart. He will give you an answer.

    If there is no opportunity in Canada. Pray about leaving Canada. Be willing to risk it all!
    I don't know everything but I promise you if you have a heart for the things of God, He will show you what He has for you. He is not going to turn down a volunteer soldier for His army.

    Another thing. Don't make excuses. A fellow gave me a piece of advice one time and it was good.
    Here it is.

    "Don't look around at what you don't have and say well if I just had this. Or if just got a break here.Or If only I was smart like so and so.
    Take what you do have and start right there.

    One thing I have learned as a Christian and as one being in full time service.

    We either move forward in faith or fall back in fear. MOVE AHEAD KJ.

    Read the story of Caleb. He was just a regular joe but he had faith. He was one of only two spies who thought the Israelites could take possesion of the land in spite of the obstacles.
    Ole Caleb was fired up then and he was fired up as an old man. Read about him.

    Read biographies.Read about Hudson Taylor. One of the best books I've ever read in my life was written about the life of Hudson Taylor. Its called "The Spiritual Secret of Hudson Taylor."
    Other than the Bible no other book has had a greater impact.
    Read about George Mueller. William Cary I could go on and on

    Well, I hope I encouraged you brother. I've been in the depths before myself. Discouragement is the devils most prized tool.

    KJ This is the missionary in me talking now. You might consider looking into Radio and how it is used on the mission field. There is all kinds of opportunities in missions.

    STEP OUT IN FAITH!
     
  5. TexasSky

    TexasSky Guest

    King James -

    Don't let fear of failure keep you from trying. Often what you long to do in your heart is what God wants you to do. Often, when it is not what He wants, it shows you the way to what He does want.

    Failure is just a part of the learning process. When you learned to walk, you stumbled a few times, but you couldn't learn without those stumbles. When you learned to talk, you got the words and sounds wrong sometimes, but you needed those moments to learn.

    Won't it be better to look back on your life and say, "I tried my dream, but it didn't work out like I wanted," rather than say, "I never tried."

    I'm sure that money and fear of losing the job you have now has to be an issue, but that's where faith comes in. Save up a little if you can, so that if you do try "and fail" you have a little time to fall back on something else.

    Keep praying. I'll pray with you.

    The key to prayer is faith. If you go in thinking, "He'll probably tell me no," you aren't praying with faith. Never forget, He loves you more than your human parents CAN love you. If you REALLY want it, and He hasn't got another plan for you or its not dangerous or wrong for you, He'll want to grant it.
     
  6. Aaron

    Aaron Member
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    I'll echo Alcott:

    Work hard and be content with your wages. There is plenty of work out there, maybe not the best-paying, but God is your provider, not your employer.

    In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.
     
  7. BruceB

    BruceB New Member

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    KJ, if you can find a copy of A.W. Tozer's book entitled "The Pursuit of God" you will find it will be good reading. Chapter 10, The Sacrament of Living addresses many of your concerns. I used to struggle with how a Soldier could serve God, but in reading the Old Testament I found many, many Soldiers blessed by God for their service - you "serve God where you are, not where you are not" (I think I got that phrase from Henry Blackaby; another good writer). God bless you, Bruce
     
  8. Servent

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    Paul was a tent maker, look at the work he did for the Lord
     
  9. OCC

    OCC Guest

    Thank you everyone for your excellent advice. and Servent, you have a good point. Paul was a tentmaker, and look at all he did for the Lord. I will have to remember that. Thanks again everyone.
     
  10. exscentric

    exscentric Well-Known Member
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    Don't be closed to being a godly layman, we need bunches of them in churches. Find a job to support yourself and if you have something you'd like to do, start getting schooling/training as needed to do it.

    If possible pick something you like :) 25 years doing something you don't like may not be real fun. Having said that I worked my whole life in areas I had no interest in. I was a little bored, but the time spent working for the Lord made up for the downside :)

    Not sure the OT boys really liked the sheepherding :)
     
  11. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    Our son in law was THE morning show guy and in great demand and then got fired 2 months ago when ratings fell. He's still out of work. Radio broadcasting sounds fun and great but unless you can get a job at a Christian station, you'll be doing 'remotes' at bars, events a Christian shouldn't even attend and playing music .... well you get the idea.
     
  12. emeraldctyangel

    emeraldctyangel New Member

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    I prayed about this. I felt a strong calling to go forth and fight for the one's who cannot stand up for themselves. I am a military police officer. The one thing I learned is that this may be temporary for me, as I am loving the job less as I get to meet those who wish ill on others. It is like working for an internet company division that blocks out porn sites - first you have to find the sites and then you can successfully block them. It wears you down and makes you have what I call blips in your faith in mankind. After all I have seen in my line of work, I wonder why God puts so much love towards us. We are our own crown of thorns I suppose.

    Anyway, love what you do, do what you love. Do it not for money or sacrifice, but for finding your place in this world. Fill the gap. Money is never an object when you fill the gaps in the world and in your heart.
     
  13. Soulman

    Soulman New Member

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    Posted by King James: How do you find God's will for your life?

    Hi, The way you find God's will for your life is to put yourself in God's will! What is God's will?

    Peter 3:9
    The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

    He wants all to repent. God saved us to tell others. If we are consistant soul winners we will be in His will and more apt to find out God's will for our lives.
     
  14. ktn4eg

    ktn4eg New Member

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    I liked what shannonL said about Caleb.

    Brings to mind this point: Most of us could probably name the names of the two spies that gave a "good" report [one that saw what God could do through us]-- Joshua and Caleb.

    Now, try naming from memory any of the ten spies that gave a discouraging report.

    Just as I thought!

    My point: Live a life based on faith in God and you won't be forgotten.

    Live a life based on fear that disregards God and you'll not be remembered.
     
  15. Lamb

    Lamb New Member

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    I am truly sorry for your discouragement. Sometimes when I do something, I wonder if it's truly God's will or if it's more of a selfish approach. Trying to take something out of God's hands and putting it into mine. Here's the only encouragement I can biblically give you:

    Matthew 6:25-34

    25“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27“Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29“and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30“Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32“For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

    The Holy Bible, New King James Version
     
  16. OCC

    OCC Guest

    Our son in law was THE morning show guy and in great demand and then got fired 2 months ago when ratings fell. He's still out of work. Radio broadcasting sounds fun and great but unless you can get a job at a Christian station, you'll be doing 'remotes' at bars, events a Christian shouldn't even attend and playing music .... well you get the idea. </font>[/QUOTE]Sorry to hear about your son in law's situation. I hope he finds another job in the business. I'd love a job at a Christian station or on a sports talk radio show. But you're right...the 'remotes' at bars, etc. don't sound appealing.
     
  17. OCC

    OCC Guest

    Also, thank you everyone for your encouragement. I have saved this post to my favourites for future reference. God bless y'all.
     
  18. OCC

    OCC Guest

    ShannonL...based on your ridiculous post on another thread I see that your "advice" and "encouragement" was not really done out of love so uh...take your "encouragement" elsewhere cuz it's not wanted here...thank you very much! I sure hope you aren't an example of most "SBC"ers...otherwise I will choose to believe what I've heard about their conferences to be true. Judging by your hatred for me on that other post....I just bet they are true. sad...
     
  19. OCC

    OCC Guest

    Just disregard this. Shannon I do not apologize to you as you attacked me out of nowhere when I had no problem with you. I don't apologize, I just wish to drop the issue. I will keep my thoughts to myself.
     
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