Godly Mystics

7 Things to Do if You’re Not Sure What You’re Called To Do

Taking a shortcut will eventually land you in a lot of trouble

1. Lay The Foundation

It is human nature to complicate things. We do it all the time. We worry, stress, and fret over the future and where we are going in life. We spend a lot of time obsessing over things that do not matter.

Sometimes we just need to let go of all the complications and return to simplicity.

“Guide me, Spirit, and lead me where you want me to go.”

Isn’t that what the calling is all about? To walk with God along the path of your destiny?

To fulfill your calling, you must return to simplicity. You must go back to the basics. Many people would skip this step because it is simple and boring.

We’re all called to build our lives but you can’t build without a foundation. The question is, what type of foundation is your life built on? Is it built on a rock that won’t move when the storms come or is it built on sand, which is easily shaken when the winds and the rains come? Laying your foundation is the first thing to do in any endeavor. It is your foundation that determines how high you can build.

You build a solid foundation by being grounded in God, or what you build will be shaky. What you build will be unstable if your foundation is weak, with pockets of air in it and no cement to hold it together. You will build something that is not able to withstand the storm.

The first step in building a strong structure that can withstand the storm is to stay rooted in the vine. God is the vine, and we are the branches. Apart from God, we can do nothing. Apart from the vine, we bear no fruit.

You don’t want to lay a quick foundation and raise a tower that crashes and falls when the strong winds blow. By laying a solid foundation early on when you are called, you are setting yourself up to remain no matter what comes. Remaining in God is what it’s going to sustain whatever you build.

It’s really quite simple. We can’t complicate this. You don’t need to be perfect but there must be some level of devotion to walk effectively in your calling.

In order to fulfill the mandate that God has placed on your life, you must begin on the right path. You must focus on the roots. The foundation. You must focus on what’s unseen.

You become rooted in God when you read his word, seek his face, and walk in his ways no matter how many times you mess up and have to begin again. When you root yourself in God, the fruits of the spirit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control begin to grow in your life.

As you remain in God, the Holy Spirit begins to curb the way you speak and change the way you act. When that happens, your words and your life brings life and hope to the people around you.

We’re all called to build our lives but you can’t build without a foundation. It is your foundation that determines how high you can build.

2. Detach From The World

If God has called you, then you will find your calling in him. You can’t be called by God and do the opposite of what God says.

Many are called by God, the Father. That is true but many are also called by the other — the god of this world and that is also very true. If you have reason to believe you’re called but you’re going against God’s words; then it’s time to be honest and ask yourself, “Who called you?”

God will not call you to a calling that is separate from him. Your calling will be rooted in God and aligned with the word of God. If your calling is not rooted in God, it’s not a calling, it’s a career. A career is a thing of the world.

Those who are caught up in the world never fulfill the call of God because they’re too distracted and before they know it, they’ve spent their whole lives working on their career instead of fulfilling their calling. This is why you must detach from the world.

Detaching from the world does not mean completely withdrawing from society or isolating from the world. Isolating from the world is withdrawing or separating yourself from society and relationships due to fear, anxiety, or a desire to avoid discomfort. It is a defensive reaction to external stimuli and can lead to feelings of loneliness, depression, and disconnection from others.

Detaching from the world is a proactive and intentional choice made with the goal of getting to know God better through his word. It is intentionally disconnecting from the material and sensory distractions of everyday life in order to cultivate inner peace, clarity, and spiritual growth. This may involve practices such as meditation, mindfulness, or spending time in solitude to gain perspective on one’s priorities and values while still maintaining relationships and engagement with the world.

While both detaching and isolating involve creating distance from the external world, the primary difference is the intention behind the action. Detaching from the world is a voluntary choice that is made with the intention of creating a healthier relationship with the external world.

Detaching from the world brings you to a place where you crave the spiritual more than the natural. You crave being in the Word more than being in the world. You crave time in God’s presence more than you crave time in the presence of friends and family.

But you must be careful not to let this make you feel like everyone is a contamination to your spiritual growth or that every activity of the world is a sin. No. That would be coming from the ego.

The goal is to detach from the cares of this world.

If you detach from the cares of the world and yield to the things of the Spirit, you develop your character to become someone who is capable of fulfilling the call of God.

Detaching from the world brings you to a place where you crave the spiritual more than the natural.

3. Develop Your Character

You may have many spiritual gifts and abilities but your gifts will not sustain the call of God. Only your character can.

When you’re called by God, your character must be consistent despite your surroundings or circumstance. It’s consistent whether people are watching your every move or when no one is watching. It’s consistent whether things are going well for you or when things aren’t going your way.

Understanding your personal strengths and areas for improvement can help you develop a plan to build character and address any obstacles that may be hindering your ability to fulfill your calling.

Building character to fulfill the call of God typically involves a combination of self-reflection, personal growth, and spiritual development. Virtues such as humility, compassion, and perseverance can help you develop a strong character that is better equipped to handle the challenges and opportunities that come with fulfilling the call of God. You can cultivate these virtues through regular practice and self-reflection.

Engaging in regular spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, and scripture study can help you deepen your connection with God and develop the character needed to fulfill your calling.

The true mark of the one who has answered the call of God is not the ability to preach a storm, cast out devils, or sing shivers down a spine. The true mark isn’t the ability to heal the sick or prophesy the mysteries of God to the people. These things are great but it’s not the true mark. The mark of the called is the character and nature of Christ being developed within them.

You cannot rely on external voices to point you where you’re meant to go. It is your character that pulls you into the destiny of God.

It will be impossible to miss the call of God if you’ve developed a Christ-like character. When you develop your character, a new person is created within you who is capable of fulfilling the divine mandate.

It’s a good idea to seek out the voices of mentors if you’re unsure about your character.

It will be impossible to miss the call of God if you’ve developed your character.

4. Seek Guidance From Mentors

If you struggle with your character, seeking guidance from spiritual mentors or trusted advisors can provide you with valuable insights and support as you navigate your path. They can help you identify areas for growth and offer advice on how to develop your character.

As you work to build your character, it is important to take action toward fulfilling your calling. This may involve volunteering, joining a ministry, or taking steps toward a career that aligns with your sense of purpose. By taking action, you can put your character into practice and begin to fulfill the call of God in your life. As you work with mentors, they can show you the areas where you fall short and how you can improve.

The one who God calls is called to be Christ-like. Kindness, gentleness, humility, self-control, love, joy, and peace are all attributes of Christ. Where are these things in your life? How do these things hold up under difficult situations? When you come under pressure, do you lose your peace and joy? When you are pressured by the world, do you lose your ability to say no to temptations?

These things may not be considered by many as deep or important when fulfilling the call of God but we must be careful not to mistake complexity for depth. True depth is the simplicity of Christ-likeness in you.

Christ-like character is a magnet for godly purposes. Develop Christ-likeness and your purpose will be revealed to you. Godly mentors are divine helpers that can help you as you develop your Christ-like character so you can get to the next level.

And as you wait for God to reveal the details of your calling, you must serve right where you are.

As you work with mentors, they can show you the areas where you fall short and how you can improve.

5. Become a Servant

Many people have the mindset that people should not stoop so low to serve. Servants are seen as the least of them all and so nobody wants to be seen as the servant but that’s a worldly mindset.

Servanthood is a calling.

When God calls you, he calls you to serve. The greatest among them is the least of them all.

The least of them all run errands for those who need help, wait on tables when the family gathers, and perform menial tasks for others. And there’s a blessing in being a humble servant. Those who humble themselves are exalted. They are chosen for great works.

If you are not willing to serve where you are, if you’re not willing to do something for God right where you are with what you have, then you have to begin to look at your motives.

It’s in the season of serving that your true motives is revealed and your ego exposed.

If God calls us, we must deny our ego and serve.

When God calls you, he calls you to serve. The greatest among them is the least of them all.

6. Deny Your Ego

The ego is the part of the self that is concerned with personal identity, self-preservation, and self-promotion.

Having an ego can prevent us from fulfilling the calling of God because it can lead to a focus on self-centered desires and priorities, rather than on serving God and others.

When the ego is in control, it can lead to behaviors such as selfishness, pride, and a lack of concern for others. These behaviors can interfere with fulfilling the call of God, which often involves serving others and putting their needs before one’s own.

The ego is a little fox that spoils the vine.

If someone is focused on their own success and recognition, they may be less likely to make sacrifices to serve others. They may also be more likely to pursue their own interests, rather than seeking to follow God’s will.

Having an ego can lead to a lack of humility, which is an important virtue in your walk with God. Humility involves recognizing one’s own limitations and weaknesses and being willing to learn from others. If someone is focused on their own self-importance, they’re not open to feedback or guidance from others, which can hinder their spiritual growth and ability to fulfill their calling.

Keeping the ego in check when fulfilling the calling of God can be challenging, but paying attention to your own thoughts and feelings can help you become more aware of when your ego is starting to take over. When you notice yourself becoming too focused on your own desires or needs or becoming prideful, take a step back and refocus on serving God and others.

Cultivating a spirit of gratitude can also help keep the ego in check by shifting your focus away from what you want or need, and towards what you have and what you can give.

Regular spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, and scripture study can help keep you connected to God and focused on fulfilling your calling. By seeking God’s guidance and wisdom, you can keep your ego in check and stay aligned with God’s will.

Once you’ve taken care of the little foxes that spoil the vine and have your ego in check, the next thing you do is figure out where God is calling you.

Those who humble themselves are exalted. They are chosen for great works.

7. Find Your Area of Passion

Paul in the Bible was a messenger to the Gentiles. Nehemiah was called to rebuild the wall. I am a spiritual teacher with a gift of prophecy and I teach often on callings and purpose. This is the area to which I am called.

Where are you called?

God has given you an area of focus. You’ve got to find your area of grace and focus on that so you can determine your message.

When you focus on where you’re called, you will bear much fruit because you know who you are and what you are called to do.

Many Are Called

Few are chosen because few are willing to do what is required. It will be impossible to miss your calling if you devote yourself to the basics by building a solid foundation, detaching from the world, developing your character, denying your ego and dedicating to service, letting your spirit lead, and finding your message.

If you haven’t done any of these things and yet you pray, “God, tell me specifically what you want me to do,” then honestly that is just laziness. You do not want to do the work. You’re not serious about your calling.

You take your calling seriously by developing spiritually to become mature enough to hear the voice of Spirit on a daily basis in a way that you’re led into your calling.

But of course, developing spiritually to become mature is not the easy way. It gets hard and frustrating but if you try to do it any other way, you’re taking a shortcut and you will eventually find yourself in a lot of trouble.

Taking a shortcut can be dangerous because it involves compromising one’s values and morals to achieve a desired outcome. Taking shortcuts often means neglecting the hard work and perseverance required to truly fulfill one’s purpose and calling in life. This can lead to negative consequences.

When you build a tower on an unstable foundation, someday it will come crashing down.

It’s never too late to begin to make it right. You can begin now to lay a much stronger foundation by rooting yourself in God.

Every person who has been called by God ought to live Holy because God is holy. Every person who has been called ought to pray and worship in spirit and in truth. Every person who is called by God ought to know God’s word, demonstrate love, and serve others.

If you do the right things even when it’s difficult, then there is no way you will miss what God is calling you to do. You will be chosen to do great work. Then you will receive revelation and power, and grace. And favor and honor and every good thing will also be added unto you.

This article is an excerpt taken from my upcoming book “Who Am I?: A Journey From Unworthy to Called and Chosen.”

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