WALKING WITH SHOES ON THE WRONG FEET

     I meet people all the time who feel frustrated because they are doing something they have not been called to do. It is like walking with shoes on the wrong feet; they can walk but they are always aware that it is not a true fit. I often counsel those who have been given prophecies, telling them that they are called to be this or that... usually something great, but it doesn’t fit the reality of who they are or what God has put in the hearts. Because of this, they become stalled and do not come into what God has for them. 

     There are few things as satisfying as knowing what you are to do and what you have been made for. You realize at a heart level, “I was born for this!” I wish this experience for everyone. My desire is to motivate people to seriously seek the Lord in order to find out what that they were called to do by the Creator from before the beginning of time. If people take the first thing that comes along, they will feel trapped or unfulfilled. They cannot come into their true calling because they have been locked into something circumstantially. They feel like they are stuck on a sand bar and need the tide to lift them off so they can get somewhere. If I were sitting down with someone in this situation, here is what I would do to help them begin to discern the will of God: 

NINE THINGS TO LOOK FOR 

1. Look at what God has said. Write out what He been saying to your heart from the beginning until now. Then write out any prophetic words you have been given. This is not only good stewardship of God’s word, but they will look different than they sound. Look for patterns and themes in them. Go over your prophecies with someone who can help you discern what God is saying, then begin focusing on those things now. 

2. Look for a pattern of confirmation. Have those who have a similar calling perceived the grace of God in you? For example, has other pastors felt that you were called to pastor? 

3. Look at the grace you have had from the beginning. What tools has the Lord outfitted you with? God always gives us what we need to do the job long before we become aware of what He has called us to do. You should have grace in the form of abilities and grace in the form of desire. What floats your boat? What do you have passion for? What moves you? If you do not have a strong desire about a certain call, perhaps you are not called to that particular area of ministry. Usually this grace is put within us when we are young and shows up as we find work and follow our basic inclinations.

4. Look at where the fruit has been so far. One young man in our church insisted that he was called to be an evangelist. He did this for a while until I sat down with him for a frank talk. I told him he was not an evangelist. He insisted that this was what God had called him to do. I told him he was not an evangelist because in all the time I had known him, he had not won anyone to Christ. The reason I told him this, was so that he could become free to seek the Lord for his calling. You cannot recieve what God has for you if your hands are already full. What I shared with him that morning was confirmed by two other people before the week was out. He began to seek the Lord, and soon saw what he was called to do and this was confirmed prophetically a short time later. After he looked further into why he had an aversion to this particular calling, he was free to embrace it. 

5. Look at your motives. Some people want to be in leadership because they don't like to be told what to do by others. Others have a need to be at the center of attention. Get raw honest about what motivates you. You will see it as you look back at the inner dialogue that plays within your heart. 

6. Look for your heart’s inclination. This can show up in the kinds of books you like to read and what you day-dream about. It also shows up in the leanings of your heart. For example, if you are called to pastor, you will be inclined to care for people, wanting to bring them further along in the Lord. It shows up in how you relate to people.

7. Look at yourself through your spouse’s eyes. In other words, ask your spouse what they see you doing. I would also talk to family members and those who know you well. If you have the courage, ask them to evaluate how well you are functioning and what you need to work on so that nothing mars your ministry. 

8. Look for those things that were imparted to you by others who have a similar calling. If God calls you to be a prophet, very likely He has placed you in the proximity to prophets so that He can impart grace into your life. Write out your history in this regard. Make a list of who has influenced you and then look for a pattern. 

9. Look at what you are already doing. I knew a pastor who was aspired to be a bishop or overseer of other pastors. The problem was he didn’t initiate care or concern for other pastors. Neither did other pastors seek out for advice or share their heart with him. He expected to be given the responsibility because of tenure rather than real pastoral experience. If he was called, he would have been doing it on the most basic level whether he had the title or not.