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So Now What? - Encouragement Café - November 27, 2017

So Now What?
By Debbie Giese

Monday, November 27, 2017

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”  Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

As Christians, we are generally clear on the do’s and don’ts of our faith. Don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t covet, and oh yeah, love God and your neighbor. I have it pretty much covered. I know what I’m supposed to be doing.

It’s all the other stuff that leaves me confused sometimes. How do I live out my calling? How do I even know what it is? How do I know what He really wants me to do?

I think, if you will permit me an opinion here, that if we look at our gifts, strengths, passions, and opportunities, we will find our path.

We are all wired differently, but the expectation of God is that we all shine for Him, that people may give glory to our Father in Heaven. (Matthew 5:15-17). When I line up that scripture with my gifts, strengths, passions, and opportunities, I find communication to be my path.

I’m not afraid to speak in front of groups, enjoy researching, and love to tell people about the transforming power of Jesus Christ. The natural intersection of all this was to become a teacher in our mom’s ministry at my church when the opportunity presented itself.

When I pondered whether this was a good choice for me, Isaiah 50:4 just happened to be part of my reading for the day:

The Lord has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. (NIV)

The progression of that was to become a speaker in other mom’s ministries and women’s events. My interest in writing led me to start a blog, which led to some articles, which led to writing my first novel, He Knows Your Name.

As I wondered what to do with it, I heard the K-Love verse of the day Psalm 96:3,

Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. (NIV)

Well alrighty then. I went ahead and published it.

God may not purchase a billboard with a personalized message for you, but the whispers are there.

If you are wondering what God wants you to do with your life, consider the way He has gifted you. How can you enhance or leverage that into action? What Scriptures speak to you? How have your past activities pointed to a possible future direction?

Lord God, help my sisters realize that they have been given gifts and talents that You want to use in Your kingdom. Give them clarity of vision, strength of heart, and Your hope for the future. Plant a dream in their hearts that can only be accomplished by walking closely with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

© 2017 by Debbie Giese. All rights reserved.

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