There is no universal answer as everyone experiences God differently and what He calls us to do will be unique to each individual. However, there are some common ways in which people say they know God is calling them to do something. These can include feeling a strong sense of conviction or peace about a certain decision, having multiple people confirm the same thing, or having a clear and direct sign from God.
Some people may feel like they have always known what God has called them to do, while others may struggle with making major life decisions and need more guidance. If you are unsure of what God is calling you to do, it is important to seek out wise counsel from other Christians who can help you prayerfully consider your options. Ultimately, though, it is up to each individual to discern what they believe God is asking of them.
Manifestation of spiritual gifts
There are many ways to tell if God is calling you to do something. One way is through the manifestation of spiritual gifts. If you have a spiritual gift that you feel strongly called to use for the benefit of others, then it is likely that God is calling you to use it in some capacity. Another way to tell if God is calling you to do something is through a sense of inner peace and guidance. If you feel at peace with a decision or action you are considering, and you have a strong inner guidance leading you in that direction, it is likely that God is Calling You To Do Something.
Receiving the calling supernaturally
There are a few ways that God may call you to do something. Sometimes, He will speak to you directly, through His Word or through a prophetic word spoken over your life. Other times, He will impress upon your heart a certain desire or burden for something, which you may sense is from Him. And sometimes, He will confirmed His call to you through the circumstances of your life coming together in such a way as to open up an opportunity for you to pursue what He is calling you to do.
However it happens, when God calls you to do something, it will always be in line with His character and purposes for your life. It will never be anything that goes against His nature or that would lead you away from Him. So if you are ever unsure about whether or not something is from God, ask yourself if it aligns with who He is and what He has already revealed about Himself and His plans for your life. If it does not, then it is likely not from Him.
When God calls us to do something specific, it is always for a reason. There is always some greater purpose at work that we may not be aware of initially. But as we step out in faith and obedience to what we believe He is asking us to do, we can trust that He will reveal more of His plan along the way. Often times, the things He asks us to do end up being much bigger than we could have ever imagined – but that’s just how our great and mighty god works!
Having persistent thoughts
There’s no universal answer – it depends on the individual and what they’re experiencing. However, if someone is wondering whether or not God is calling them to do something, here are a few key elements:
First, are the thoughts you’re having persistent? Do they keep coming back to you, even when you try to push them away? If so, that’s a good sign that God might be trying to get your attention.
Second, are the thoughts accompanied by a sense of peace? This isn’t always the case, but often when we’re being called by God to do something, it comes with a sense of calm and assurance.
Third, are other people confirming what you’re feeling? This could come in the form of someone telling you outright that they think you should do something or through more subtle signs like doors closing or opening in your life.
Ultimately, only you can know for sure if God is calling you to do something. But if you’re paying attention and following His leading, He will make His will known to you.
Hardwired for the ministry
There’s no question that God wired each of us for ministry. The question is: what is that ministry? And how can we be sure we’re following God’s call?
God has created each of us with unique gifts, talents and abilities. It’s part of His plan for our lives. He wants us to use these gifts to serve others and glorify Him. But how can we be sure we’re using our gifts in the way He intends?
Here are a few key elements as you prayerfully discern God’s call on your life:
1. What are your passions? What things do you love to do? What makes you come alive? These are all clues about the kind of ministry God may be calling you to.
2. What are your skills and abilities? How have you been gifted by God? Again, these can point to the areas of ministry He may be leading you toward.
Given the first step
If you’re like most people, you probably have a pretty good idea of what you’re supposed to do with your life. You may not be sure about the details, but you know the general direction you should be heading.
But what if you’re not sure? What if you have no clue what God is calling you to do?
Here are four questions to help you figure out if God is calling you to do something:
1. Does it align with God’s character?
One of the best ways to determine if something is from God is to see if it aligns with His character. Is it consistent with what we know about Him from the Bible? Does it reflect His love, mercy, and justice? If not, then it’s likely not from Him.
2. Are there other believers doing something similar?
There’s strength in numbers, and when it comes to following God’s call, that’s definitely true. If other believers are doing something similar to what you’re considering, that’s a good sign that it might be from God. Of course, this isn’t an infallible method – there have been plenty of times throughout history when Christians have gone against the grain – but it can be helpful nonetheless.
Called to serve
There are many ways to know if God is calling you to do something. Sometimes it is a gentle nudging, other times it is a clear and concise directive. But how can you be sure? How can you know for certain that what you are feeling is truly a calling from God and not just your own desires or imagination?
There are a few key things to look for when trying to discern whether or not God is calling you to do something. First, ask yourself if the thing you feel called to do aligns with the character and nature of God as revealed in Scripture. If it does, then it’s likely that God is indeed behind the call. Second, consider whether or not the thing you feel called to do will bring glory and honor to God. If it will, then that’s another good indicator that the call is from Him. And third, ask yourself if obeying the call would require any sacrifice on your part – either of time, energy, resources, etc. If it would, then that’s yet another good sign that the call is from God since He often calls us to step out in faith and trust Him with the results.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that every single thing we feel called by God to do will meet all three of these criteria perfectly. But if we see even two out of three present, then there’s a strong likelihood that we are indeed being called by Him into something special and meaningful. So don’t ignore those nudge.
Having peace despite trials in the ministry
When you’re in the ministry, you will face trials. It’s inevitable. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t have peace despite those trials. In fact, God calls us to have peace in the midst of trials.
The first step to having peace despite trials is to surrender your life to God. When you do that, you are saying that you trust God and believe that He is in control – even when things are tough. You are also acknowledging that He knows what He’s doing and has a plan for your life – even when it doesn’t make sense to you in the moment. Surrendering your life to God is a choice we make every day – sometimes multiple times a day! – and it sets the foundation for everything else in our lives.
The second step is to focus on God’s goodness instead of your circumstances. This can be difficult when things are tough, but it’s so important! When we focus on how good God is, we start to see Him as our source of strength and hope instead of our circumstances as our source of strength and hope. And when we see Him as our source of strength and hope, we can begin to experience His peace despite whatever trial we may be facing at the moment.
Finally, remember that trials are temporary but God is permanent! This world is not our home – Heaven is! And one day, all of these earthly troubles will be gone forever because we will be with Jesus in Heaven (Revelation 21:4). So don’t lose heart during difficult times; instead, fix your eyes on Jesus and press on towards eternity with Him!