The Highest Calling
Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of leading a retreat for the women of First Baptist Church Simpsonville in Charleston, SC. The group was fantastic, the weather was dreamy, and Charleston always exceeds expectations. It was an amazing weekend! But my biggest joy that weekend was listening to and watching women’s stories of…
Overcoming infertility with fostering and adoption.
Battling addiction, winning, and helping others toward healing.
Finding wholeness from abuse through Jesus and passing it on to other hurting women.
Facing an unexpected pregnancy with joy and receiving the gift of a “late blessing”. 🙂
Recognizing disrespect toward a husband and returning home to encourage him.
Leading worship with both humor and tears.
Being called to deeper time with Jesus and responding with a committed daily time.
The list could go on and on. The stories were ones of obedience both big and small which was a confirmation of something God has been whispering in my ear over and over.
God’s highest calling is daily obedience.
We’re so apt to look at the woman on a stage in front of thousands and whisper, “Wow. She has a high calling.” Or to pick up the latest book by a New York Times best selling author and marvel at her high calling. Or to think of the missionary on a far away field and to imagine that we could never follow her high calling. But when we think that way, we’re missing the point and buying into our culture’s cult of celebrity.
Jesus doesn’t have famous followers. He just has followers. Period.
His calling isn’t measured by the world’s standards of success– beauty, dollars, numbers, social status, professional titles. When we take daily or even moment-by-moment steps of obedience, we have stepped into His highest calling.
Daily obedience isn’t easy, and it requires the kind of intention that Jesus reflects when He said, “I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” (John 8:28b-29) The fact that Jesus followed His Father here on earth in every word and deed is the example for us.
Obedience is following our Father in everything that we say and do. That kind of obedience requires rest and listening. Studying and applying. Resisting and acting. Jesus lived the Principle of Intention by practicing these disciplines, so we need to do the same.
Your daily obedience might look like giving up free time to attend a soccer game or being honest at work when your boss is lying or staying celibate as a single when so many others are not. These are high callings, and I stand with you, desiring to live each day following God in obedience in the big and small.
One of my greatest joys in life is speaking at events where I get to encourage women to follow God in daily obedience. I’d love to be considered for your next women’s event! Please watch the video below and/or click here to watch a sample video and look at a list of topics. To book me for your event, connect with our Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker coordinator.
I lived in fear growing up. That means I missed out on a lot of things because of fear. I still have fear. Now I see my granddaughter has fears too. I would love to win the fear book for girls. Thanks.
Iam assign by God to give a gather of the saints
Gathering isa50:5 @psa 50;5 on April 16th and i no God will show
Up and touch many
I loved this! We do all have a ‘high’ calling, if it’s from our awesome God.
Thanks for this!