Responding to God's Calling

While January was a time of reflection, heart-searching, and aligning our hearts and lives with God’s purpose, this month of February, God is calling us to take a step of faith. We don’t have to know every detail of the Lord’s plan. All we need is a willing heart to respond to God’s call, and hunger to do His will and he will show us an open door to take a step of faith.

About three weeks ago, I had a vivid dream. I was in an airport and about to board a plane when I realized that I did not have my passport, airline ticket, or luggage. I was practically empty-handed. I approached a man behind a desk and told him about my dilemma. He said nothing about my lack of a passport or ticket, but he did mention that my plane was waiting for more passengers. Then my dream ended.

God speaks to us in many ways, and dreams are one of them. Did you know that, on average, humans sleep about one-third of their lives? That’s between 25 and 26 years of sleep for a typical 75–80-year lifespan! God does not waste time. While we are sleeping, He is working! He surely makes His purpose known!

In Job 33:14–18, it says,

14For God does speak—now one way, now another—
though no one perceives it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls on people
as they slumber in their beds,
16 he may speak in their ears
and terrify them with warnings,
17 to turn them from wrongdoing
and keep them from pride,
18 to preserve them from the pit,
their lives from perishing by the sword.

I prayed that the Lord would reveal to me what the dream meant because it’s been on my mind; it was vivid, and He apparently wanted me to remember it.

The following week, the Lord gave me the interpretation.

Going empty-handed. Without God, we are nothing. John 15:5 says, “apart from me you can do nothing.” We can’t boast about anything we have on this earth because it is all temporary—wealth, prestige, physical beauty, material possessions, business, a good job—they will all pass away. What remains is the Word of God: His promises, His will, and purpose. Matthew 24:35 says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

Whatever God is calling us to do, we can’t take credit for it because we’re going in empty-handed. Without Him, we can do nothing.

In the same way, as long as we are responding in faith to what He has called us to do, He is all we will ever need. We could be ill-prepared or we could feel the least qualified for the task, but it does not matter, if He has called you, He will equip you!

The plane was waiting for passengers. The Lord is inviting people to go on His plane. This is an open invitation—no passport or tickets required.

Around the time I was pondering this dream, I had been studying and meditating on Isaiah 55.

Isaiah 55:1–3 says,

1Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.

Do you see the connection here? The Lord has been driving home a point, and I was oblivious to it until very recently!

This invitation in Isaiah 55 was spoken by the prophet Isaiah to the people of Israel—not an offer of actual physical food or drink, but an invitation to come to God, be reconciled to Him, change their ways, and do His will.

In John 4:34, Jesus said, “My food…is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

This invitation still stands and speaks to us TODAY!

If we would only respond to His calling and live according to His will and purpose, we won’t have to waste our lives—time, money, and energy—on things that don’t satisfy. What God offers in Isaiah 55:2 is life that is good, satisfying, and that will give us joy and fulfillment.

Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.

My prayer for you, upon hearing or reading about this invitation, is that you would realize how hungry and thirsty you are for God, and accept what He offers—it is free!

You only need to “come” as you are.

Just come.

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