The Rest Of Your LifeSample

Being careful with your “Yes”

For much of my life I have been a bit directionless. If someone asked me to do something and it even vaguely felt like a good idea, I would do it. I spread myself quite thin. Because I could turn my hand to a number of things (to a certain degree) I was tempted to follow other people’s dreams and even copy their vision because I wasn’t sure of my own calling. 

Perhaps you know that feeling?

But a number of years ago, I realized that I needed to say “no” to certain things in order to be more effective at keeping to the revelation God had given me. I think I had been wandering around, keeping manically busy, but not feeling centered or purposeful. It felt like a minor miracle if I managed to avoid clashing all the crazy activities of each day! 

I am not meant to support every charity or help to run every event I hear about. I am not supposed to be at every church activity or give my time and energy to every person that asks me for help. I would never get anything done that God HAS asked me to do if I did this. If I spend all my energy on things that aren’t my anointed gifting, I will stop others from stepping into their God-given roles. I will also neglect the tasks God has assigned to me.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) from our reading today helps us here. It says, 

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

We are uniquely created by Jesus to do certain things which He has already set out for us. If we are not careful, we could miss that calling, trying to do everyone else’s work for them. 

God needs to be in charge of our calling and our direction, not other people. And the beautiful promise He gives us when we do this is true REST for us, His loved ones. 

• Pray today that God would reveal your unique calling to you and enable you to fulfil it.