Calling

¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit^[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength. -Ephesians 1:17-19

Yesterday I wrote about how I've seen the Holy Spirit GATHER believers.  Today, I'd like to reflect on his CALLING.  When the Holy Spirit calls us, it is an entirely different feeling from simply wanting to do something.  In fact, often we DON'T want to do what we are being called to do, but the idea simply will not go away.

Some of the things the Holy Spirit has called me to:

• attending Holy Cross for the first time
• teaching Sunday school
• chairing the Christian Education committee and heading up VBS for several years
• attending Via de Cristo
• writing skits for clown ministry
• working at Holy Cross
• writing these devotions

There have been many, many more lesser things.  We are often called to do things for others on a one-time basis.  For instance I remember feeling called to pick up a young woman walking beside the road in the rain.  I would normally fear picking up a stranger, but was not the least bit concerned.  I only knew she needed some kindness, and I was right.

A call doesn't necessarily mean you are supposed to do that thing for the rest of your life.  On the contrary... many times a call is just for a season or for a particular purpose God has in mind.  We can tell when a call is over when the feeling changes.  Suddenly we find we are doing the work on our own and it is just not bearing the fruit it did when God was surely working through us.  Many times we keep trying to continue to do it on our own and become frustrated with the sudden lack of inspiration for something that once came so easily.   Maybe we want to recapture that wonderful feeling of God working through us.  Or maybe we want to live up to the expectations of others.  Whatever the reason we try to continue, it is better to accept the fact that God has finished that work and wait for our new call.

In what ways has the Holy Spirit called you over the years?  Are you still holding on to old calls?  If you are, you might be missing something new and exciting.  Pay attention to the nudgings of the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit,
Thank you for your guidance and call over the years.  Help me to stay tuned in to how you want to work through me that I may bless others and be blessed.  Amen.

Joys:  good prayer time at STAR last night; Richard's cooking; beach vacation almost here