While entering into ministry is a calling from God, how you respond is your choice. Even though we know that God equips believers and leads them in the direction He would have them serve, it can be difficult for us to recognize His hand. This article will provide some practical advice on how to find your ministry.
Start with Prayer
Before taking any other steps, you should begin with prayer that God will disclose His will for you on how you can best serve Him. God always answers prayer, and He will definitely answer this one if you ask with a sincere heart. Some people are afraid to ask God to reveal His will because they are afraid they won’t like it. However, God does not call people into ministries they will hate. He understands they won’t be able to be effective if they do not have a passion for the task. So, don’t be afraid to ask God’s will. When the Bible says that He equips those who He calls, it also means He gives them a desire to serve in this way.
Make a List
Once you are open to hearing God’s will for where and how you will serve, make a list of all of your interests, abilities and experience. Include past volunteer experience, jobs, hobbies, education and anything else that is relevant. It’s kind of like creating a resume, except in this case you don’t know what job you’re applying for. Include things you are interested in even if you don’t know anything about them. Wherever God has plans for you to serve, He will create an interest.
Look at Your Life
Look back at your life, and you’ll begin to see a pattern. It’s kind of like following footsteps as you go down an unknown path. You can’t find the way on your own, but the footsteps will lead you. This pattern will help you see where God is calling you. I can look back on my life and see where God led me to becoming a foster parent. I grew up with family and friends of the family who either fostered or adopted children. Even more importantly, my dad was an orphan who never had a home, and that loss affected me greatly because I knew how much he missed having a mother. As I got older, I became involved in the nursery in my church and then VBS and other programs with children. I even took care of a couple of kids and had half of the children from church at my house at one time or another.
All of these life events helped me to develop a heart for children from broken homes. I learned how to love them and care about them even though they weren’t mine. Through various other events, I realized I would never have biological children, and it was then that I knew God had called me to become a foster parent. I didn’t know this was where God was going to have me serve as I went through each phase of my life, but as I looked back, I could see how everything went together. You will be better able to see God’s plan for your life in ministry if you look at the big picture instead of just one or two isolated events.
Wait on God’s Timing
After you’ve prayed and done inventory of your life and your talents, be patient. Wait for God to reveal His will for you. He may not reveal His entire plan at once, just the first step. Be open to His leading in every situation and opportunity. Read your Bible with an open mind, because He may reveal something to you in what you read. But know that waiting is not a passive action. You should be active while you wait. Find places where you can help out and serve. Even though these areas may not be “your ministry,” they may provide some necessary skill or prepare you for where God is leading you.
Just remember, God has a place for you, and He will lead you there if you are willing to follow. Until you find that place, stay focused on Him.
