1.4 Where Have I Experienced God’s Calling?

[Bradley]

What is an obstacle for you to encounter God?

Business, Laziness, Procastination are all areas that are hurdles for me to encounter God.

In your encounters with Jesus, what was God showing you?

I believe God is showing me that He longs for me to get to know Him Better.

[ECO]

Thanks for your honesty. We believe that God provides us with everything we need for life and for Godliness. Have you ever hear of the book: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices? It helps us as Christians use Scripture to combat the different areas in our lives where we are struggling.

[Maria]

An obstacle I have while encountering God includes, thinking that I don’t have enough time, getting distracted by people, putting family cleaning in front of readying my bible, tik tok but I follow mostly Christian people, and mainly just not being able to focus on one thing when I put so much on my plate to do in one day.

In my encounters with Jesus I’ve been shown that I’m met to be on earth for a reason. When it comes to people of all ages, I’m able to love them like God, everything I do is way better if I do it with God, art can be used to talk to people, and I am comfortable with talking to anyone. (my family thinks I’m weird because of it) These are some reasons why I think I should be a youth pastor with a missionary mindset. It’s about meeting and talking to people without the extra things people put in their houses.

[ECO]

Maria, great vulnerability. It is hard in a modern world to have the discipline to set aside distractions and spend time with the Lord. However, your desire and willingness to admit your weakness shows that the Holy Spirit is working in your life! Here’s a passage for you from Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.”

[Gerry]

What is an obstacle for you to encounter God?

The largest obstacle without a doubt is me and strangely it’s not because I don’t want to, for I do. Sometimes it’s laziness, apathy overloaded schedule or lack of prioritization of the One Thing.

In your encounters with Jesus, what was God showing you?

For the real, deep God-encounters in the last few years, it’s always been about identity. Often His own id is revealed to me and in turn, He then reveals my own God-given id. If there is an activity that He has for me it always comes after His revelation of identity. I have found that if a release of activity is given before id, there’s a red flag that comes up. Not because God can’t do it that way but because it’s not consistent with His character He has revealed to me.

[ECO]

@GerryB very interesting observation about it being a red flag if activity comes before a revelation of identity. I’m sure you have heard it taught before, but the father told Jesus that he was pleased with him before he had actually done anything.

One book that addresses identity quite thoroughly is called “The Truest Thing About You” by David Lomas says that unless our hair is wet with our “baptismal identity” and we hear the words “well done” echoing in our ears, we won’t be able to walk our calling out with confidence.

[Dolores]

I think the only obstacle I would have to encounter God is time. When I do have time, I tend to think about all of the things I need to get done in the day and projects I have underway.

In my encounters with Jesus, God was showing me His love for me, revealing things about what my heart hurts for, such as abortion, women, and the broken. He also has shown that He is putting great trust in me concerning these things.