How Do I Know God’s Calling for My Life?

Ask Pastor John
Episode: 744

[HisBelovedSonx]

Pray and read your Bible, a lot.

1. God will not call you to do something that you are not spiritually gifted to do.
2. Consider the needs that you see in the world and the ones that move you most deeply
3. Take into consideration your natural skills
4. Notice your growing and reaccuring awarenesses and interests
5. Be aware of growing desires in your heart of a particular work
6. Take seriously the affirmations and confirmations of the local church.
7. Desire to glorify God chiefly

[EikkatinXD]

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

[Moontess]

Listening to this really encourages me and reminds me of my own journey...

11 years ago, I was finishing university and, despite being a young Christian, I felt God's call to be a missionary. I wasn't sure what to do with this but God definitely knew what He was doing. The part about being transformed by the renewing of the mind is so true. As I prayed and sought God in the Bible about what to do with this calling (actually, it felt more like a 'whispering' at the time because I was still unsure), God really transformed my heart for Him - I learnt to submit to Him with my whole heart and with no reservations. He truly became Lord in my life.

He also used the Christian mentors around me to work through with me some of these points that Ps John laid out: What are my spiritual gifts? What are the needs around me? What are my skills? Is there something/somewhere that I'm becoming passionate about? etc. To help with this, I decided to go on a short-term mission trip to Japan. I felt this was a great way to learn more about God's heart for mission as well as about how I could be used by Him and how He has created me.

11 years later, I'm still a missionary. I ended up serving in Japan for 4 years, reaching out to university students there. I'm now back in my home country but still on mission, reaching out to unreached people groups God has actually brought to our shore as students, immigrants, etc.

Next year will mark 10 years of being a missionary. It has not been an easy journey but I've been thankful for every minute of it because it has been such a wonderful experience of pursuing God's will in my life, waiting for His answers, watching Him provide for me, getting to know Him more, and seeing more people know about His beautiful glory.

[TheBrotherOfPeter]

I needed this. God is growing a deep interest in my heart for the country of Wales. Please pray God discerns this as a clear calling

[louiserosimo]

Please pray for me. It's my desire to be a missionary but I wanna hear it from God that this desire is from Him.

[hillarycontreras]

Thank you for this Pastor John. A lot of things happened and made me understand that my chosen degree back then is really not for me. It's hard to let go but I know that I am not made to walk on that path. There's this thing in my heart that cries for medicine or being a teacher but I still don't know if it's just me or God. I don't really know if it is my calling or not. But I am praying for His will to be done. Pray for me Thank 💛 God Bless you all 💛

[sler]

Thank you for this as an extremely “new” Christian that has been struggling w/ leaving a religious group w/ a questionable doctrine I was starting to feel I have been reading the word of God ONLY to refute the doctrine, but I also have a friend in this group, I find I keep researching this groups learning all the falseness and dangers & reaching out to her trying to help her see, but she’s stronger in her “faith” than I am in my young knowledge of the word I strongly feel Jesus saved me & guided me out of the “cult” and to hear the Truth. Therefore I have been studying the word so that I can hear the word and also help guide others away from the false doctrine. But also to bring me to Christ. 🙏🏼

[kenowens]

That's the trick. For me, I was searching for a religious philosophy and not a religion per se. Then, I met someone who invited me to lunch and it was a religious group. I was asked to come that night for a lecture. I said I would think about it. When I left, a voice came to me saying that I should go, it would change my life. I went, and my life has been centered on God ever since. You don't know when or how you are called, but its up to you to decide which path to take. Luckily I chose the right one.

[iamURHO]

Can you please pray for me? I'm always at home. I need to work or venture or study or both. I'm broke and live with my parents. They want to support me in my back to school (university) so i can help them and if so, it has to be this yr but I want to be independent bec they have debts, I already wasted their money when I had the chance (too many chances), and my case is so helpless. But I also don't like to go back to college, if anything, if given the chance (which in man's perspective is IMPOSSIBLE) it's just so my parents/family won't have to go through shame when people ask abt me. I don't communicate with friends and have no social interactions for over a year although I'm looking forward to refreshing my good old friendships sometime. I'm always praying for a new environment, that way I could have new experiences, friends, and fresh start. Will you please pray for God's will for me? Thank you.

[damienkilcannonvryce]

I too am beginning to feel this unspeakable compulsion to do something more. Whether it is to preach or to be more involved in my faith, both personally and to share with more enthusiasm. May god’s will be done, not mine. Please lead me in the right path and I hope for the strength like the prophets had

[Sean-ngeu]

In this dark world we need to see Gods brightness.
Pastor John has great understanding & passion
for his beliefs.

[animationministry]

I believe God called me to make high quality, CG movies of Bible stories for young adults. Christian animation has been lacking in production quality and storytelling, usually because us Christians keep thinking animation is for little kids. I believe in changing that to reach more people for Jesus!

[oldzensoul]

Wow thank you Jesus for whoever asked this because I did not know where to go to ask my question but thank u for answering this. I love your point about it becoming irresistible and brewing but I feel like my church don't know me very personally and no one confirms it there. That's one hang up ..every other thing I know God is leading me but they feel I'm supposed to stay in church and just sing for them it saddens me the lack of encouragement I get from almost anyone. I love music but I'm not near as passionate about that as I am the poor and hopeless.

[vv.]

This man ... talking about gifts... thank God for the gifts He has given Pastor Jhon to teach 🙌🏼🙏🏼

[Matt_Hil]

Thank you so much for this - I’ve just had my calling to god and currently I’m trying to processing my next steps in where god wants me to be. This has helped me so much on following my path - thank you.

[kutlwanotlhoaele]

Thanks Pastor John. For this full explanarion and depth too

[MaikaBakani]

This was incredibly helpful. Thank you so much.

[mosesruno]

Thank you pastor John. I really appreciate it. God bless you.

[grantmoffatt]

For the past 10 or so months I've had an oddly specific concern for ministering to military service members, more specifically special forces and even more specifically SEAL's. I recall playing high school football and getting to be and example to my teammates just by the way I carried myself and getting to minister to them by my example and being a loyal teammate/friend. I repeatedly think of being able to minister to those in service by serving with them and showing them Christ's love in the things we'd do. I know most of those guys don't think a Godly man is a real man, and given they're usually around the same types of people, what better way to minister to them than being among them. Ministry aspect aside, I notice how God has physically gifted me with being hard working and willing to push myself, so I can see myself doing it in that sense too. And then of course I look at the evil we're fighting against and I want to help end that... as best as possible.


I've been doubtful recently, given how much work is required to become a seal. Also I question whether it's just me wanting to do something 'cool'. But my primary concern is to bring light in the midst of that darkness. I'm 19 and in welding school right now and each these points John made call to me. Specifically point 5, about a growing desire for missions. My desire to serve has grown continually and it makes me anxious wondering if this truly is God's will.


I need prayer about this, and if you guys have any advice I'd love to hear it. THANKS

[justpeachy]

I have an impression I'm praying about that God wants me to move to California and be an encouragement to Christians out there.... I have 2 kids, am a single mom and all my family lives in new England. Seems pretty ridiculous, but praying God gives me clarity