by Julia M. Bruce, MSPC, Mental Health Coach,
Keynote Speaker, CEO, Wellspring Christian Ministries

Have you been “called”?

We often hear people in ministry say they were “called” to the ministry. And we say that we commission missionaries and ordain ministers. Whether called, commissioned, or ordained, these people feel that God has divinely led them to serve Him in a ministry capacity. But are these the only people God calls to serve Him?

Jeremiah called to be a prophet

In the Old Testament, God called prophets to tell His people what He was doing or will do. Jeremiah was just such a prophet and in the the first chapter, we find the account of God calling and commissioning him. In the first 3 verses, we learn that Jeremiah was a preacher’s kid (the son of Hilkiah the Priest), that his home town was Anathoth in the land of Benjamin and that God called him while Josiah was in his 13th year of being King of Judah. We also learn that he served God as prophet for about 40 years – from 627 b.c. to some time after 586 b.c.

Called to be set apart and ordained

God says to Jeremiah in verse five that God knew him before He formed him in the womb and before he was born God had set him apart and ordained him to be a prophet to the nations. But Jeremiah, like Moses, objected and even used a very similar excuse. He said he could not speak. Moses claimed he had a stutter, but Jeremiah said he was a youth. Bible Study materials indicate that Jeremiah was most likely only 17 at the time God called him. However, God did not care about His age. He had been  preparing and gifting Jeremiah for this purpose since before He was born. What was Jeremiah’s calling? To go to everyone God sends him to and say whatever God tells him to say.

Called and Commissioned – but still human

Then God says, “do not be afraid.” Perhaps Jeremiah was afraid that because of his age, no one would listen to him or that adults would find it disrespectful for him to speak to them. Or perhaps it was the message that he was to deliver. Jeremiah was given the task of delivering an unpopular, convicting message to Judah, one that caused him great mental anguish, as well as making him despised in the eyes of his people.

Often we think of people in the ministry whom God has called and we envision them as spiritually mature, all put together and we hold them to a higher standard than we hold ourselves too. Then when they reveal they are just as human as we are, we become offended or feel betrayed. However, Jeremiah shows us that the people God calls are just as human as any other person. He experienced rejection, depression, discouragement, and great loss all while being obedient to what God had called him to do.

You’ve been called

As Christians, each one of us has been called, sanctified, and set apart to serve God in a ministry that He has gifted and equipped us to do. This doesn’t mean that everyone of us will be a pastor or deacon or small group leader. Serving God doesn’t just happen within the walls of the church. We are to serve Him wherever He sends us.

For some, he expects us to work in a secular job and share our testimony with co-workers.  Some He may call to be writers and share the knowledge and wisdom He gives them with others so that they too can understand. To some He has given the gift of working with their hands, building and repairing homes or fixing appliances. Perhaps your call is to provide this service to free for senior adults in your church. Maybe, He has given you the gift or being good with money and He wants you to volunteer your time teaching low-income, single moms basic budgeting and savings.

Regardless of how God calls you, you’ve been called for a purpose – to go where He sends you and to say whatever He tells you to say. We can trust the God will put His words in our mouth at the right moment and right time.

You’ve gifted and equipped

Whatever He is calling you (or has called you) to do, He will gift and equip you to do it. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:4-10, “Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial: to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of languages, to another, interpretation of languages.”

God has a job for you

Just as God had a job for Jeremiah, He has a job for you. God knew and choose Jeremiah for a specific plan and God knows and chooses you with a specific plan for your life. You might still be trying to figure it out – or maybe you’ve never even considered it. Sometimes, God reveals His plans for us in stages as we are ready. Wherever you are in understanding His plan for you, be obedient to what He has already shown you.

Every Christian should be studying God’s Word and praying. Every Christian should be actively serving within their church. And every Christian is called to serve those within your household. And every Christian is called to be a witness to others. If you are still trying to figure out what God wants you to do, start with these things. As you are obedient with them, He will then reveal His specific plans for your life.

While you’re waiting for His plans, pray for God to reveal them to you. When he does, be ready and willing to obey knowing that like Jeremiah, if God calls you, he will empower your and He will be with you. He will place His words in your mouth and His gifts in your soul.

See our fall designs:

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See our Canvase prints in the Teespring Store: All Things New

We’ve added a new canvas print to the Teespring Store. These prints make great gifts or for decor in your home.

When we ask Jesus to forgive us and save us from our sin, He takes our old, sinful self and makes us new in Him. This beautiful canvas is a great reminder of what Jesus has done for us.

See our Canvase prints in the Teespring Store: All Things New

We’ve added a new canvas print to the Teespring Store. These prints make great gifts or for decor in your home.

When we ask Jesus to forgive us and save us from our sin, He takes our old, sinful self and makes us new in Him. This beautiful canvas is a great reminder of what Jesus has done for us.

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7 FREE Downloadable Resources

Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template

Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.

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What Satan Does Not Want You To know

This trifold document includes Scripture verses that Satan does not want you to know about. As you hide these verses in your heart, you’ll be able to defeat the lies of Satan when he tries his wiles and schemes on you.

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Stress Journal

We all face stress. How we handle stress, however, has many variables. Learning how to recognize stress, coping with stress, and creating a self-care plan during times of stress can begin by journaling. Taken from our series on Biblical self-care for people in ministry, we’ve created this free download to help you through the things that cause you stress.

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2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan

We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.

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The Path to Sin

Satan is constantly trying to trip us up and he doesn’t even play fair because he uses our own desires as bait to get us to sin. James tells us the five steps that lead us down the path to sin in James 1:14-15, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” This download helps you identify your desires so that you can better recognize when Satan is baiting you and you can avoid falling into sin. When used along with prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to identify the desires that Satan baits you with, you can then ask the Holy Spirit to help you not become a victim to the bait of your desires. Download the worksheet today.

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One Year Bible Reading Plan

With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!

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Self-Care Wheel

The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.

Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position (paid staff or volunteer) and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.

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You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel

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God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

• Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
• Conversation Starters.
• Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
• Romance Builders.
• Relationship Builders.
• Personal reflections.
• Date ideas.
• Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

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