This message dismantles common misconceptions that calling is reserved for the perfect, the qualified, or the credentialed. Instead, we discover that our primary calling flows from three foundational movements: relationship with God, transformation of our hearts, and vocation in the world.
The story of Nehemiah beautifully illustrates this pattern. His calling didn't begin with a command from heaven but with a burden—something that broke his heart because it broke God's heart. Before he organised or strategised, Nehemiah fell to his knees in prayer, allowing God to build something in his heart before he built anything with his hands. His journey reminds us that calling is both spiritual and practical, requiring both prayer and action, both dependence on God and wisdom in execution.
Most importantly, we're challenged to stop waiting for dramatic revelations and instead pay attention to what stirs within us, what burdens us, what God might be inviting us into right where we are. Living called isn't about achieving greatness for ourselves—it's about joining God's work of renewal in our families, workplaces, and communities.
Discussion questions:
1. In what ways have you experienced the difference between striving to do things for God versus simply being with God in relationship?
2. How does Nehemiah's response of prayer and fasting before taking action challenge your natural tendency to immediately strategize when facing a burden or calling?
3. What burdens or concerns in your community or relationships might God be using to awaken a sense of calling in your life right now?
4. In what practical ways can you cultivate deeper intimacy with God as the foundation for discerning your calling, rather than focusing primarily on activity?
5. What would it look like for you to shift from asking 'What should I do for God?' to asking 'What is God wanting to stir in me?'
