Kingdom Calling Blog…

Have you ever fancied trying a new hobby, like painting, writing, sewing or even dancing? If you have, like me, you may then have gone as far as buying all the gear you are going to need, watching a few YouTube videos or speaking to friends who already pursue this hobby so they can explain or show you ‘how to’. 

I realised that I have done this many times!

I can get all inspired by something I’ve seen and then I get all excited about starting it, to then go on and give it a few goes before deciding it’s too hard and I’m not very good at it, losing heart quickly, then trying to sell the kit I’ve bought, usually on EBay, because I no longer need it (please say it’s not just me).

Well, walking with God and stepping out to ‘do the stuff’ can be a bit like that. We may see other people being courageous and sharing what they feel God is saying, praying for friends or colleagues and seeing results or seeing people get healed. They make it look so easy and so you give it a go and maybe it doesn’t go so well and before you know it we can start to think,

Why am I not hearing God like they do?

Why am I not seeing people healed when I pray?

Why can’t I talk to people about Jesus so freely and naturally?

Do you ever think things like this?

I am going to put my hands up and say that I have had thoughts like this!

The thing is, God created each of us as individual and unique masterpieces and He never makes mistakes. You are incomparable and God wants you to realise this so that you can run the race that He has marked out for you and you alone. If you try and pray like someone else or do ministry in the same way as someone else you are not going to step into all that God has for you. He wants you to use the gifts, personality and talents that He has given you to steward. If you are moulding yourself on someone else the gifts you have been given will never come into their fullness and you may be left feeling disapointed or disillusioned in the areas you are trying to move in.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Before we know it we may have started down the road of comparison, a very dangerous road to go down. When you start to compare yourself to people around you, even those that inspire you the most, it can be a slippery downhill slope until full blown comparison sets in and you start to feel insignificant, not good enough or that you are somehow less and I can guarantee that never leads to the fruitful life that God has mapped out for you. 

Heb 12:1 And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

We don’t really know where other people are on their walk with God and we only see what is in front of us now, their ‘today’. We really have no idea how long they have been stepping out and doing this stuff or what their journey to this point may have looked like but, we are judging ourselves on what we see them doing, does this sound at all familiar?

Today God wants to reassure you that we all need to start somewhere (starting somewhere is better than not starting at all) and we are on a journey into becoming who we are called to be. I love this scripture;

Zech 4:10 “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand”.

God knows human kind so well that He knew what we would be like and that we wouldn’t see that our lives are a journey and that it’s not just about getting to the destination as fast as possible but the journey is where all the fun is and where God can mould us and shape us into the people we were meant to be, the very best versions of ourselves.

When we become Christians we are just like babies, who need milk for nourishment to grow, except we don’t need milk but spiritual food to grow.

1Pet 2:2-3 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

But, unlike human babies, who rely on somebody else to feed them, baby Christians need to feed themselves and the best, most wholesome food available is the word of God. So, reading your bible regularly, whether that means following a bible reading plan, bible in a year (BIOY), daily devotionals or bible journaling, that one way or another we need to get the word into us so that we grow spiritually healthy and strong.

On this lifelong journey with God, despite the temptation, you can’t rush the journey otherwise you wouldn’t be ready for all that God wants you to do. This can be hard in a world that seems to be going at a hundred miles an hour and everybody gets things when they want them, without seeming to wait for things anymore. He has great plans and purposes for your life, each and every one of you, and there are lessons He needs to teach you along the way that will develop and shape your character to be more like His precious son Jesus.

The bible is full of amazing men and women who have started with small acts of obedience like the boy who gave his lunch when Jesus needed to feed the 5000. It took just a small act and look what Jesus did with it, a miracle of feeding 5000 with the contents of a boys lunchbox!

God can take the small stuff we do and turn it into something amazing, if we let Him. He just needs us to take a step of faith when we hear His still, small voice and act. Remember, we don’t need to worry about the outcome because that is not our responsibility but God’s-phew! God in his grace doesn’t choose a few super stars to do ‘the stuff’ but He chooses us with all our failures and weaknesses. When we feel weak this is when God can step in and take over and He gets the glory because it’s beyond anything we could do in our own strength.

2Cor 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Anyway, back to the start of the blog and hobbies. I have recently started my new journaling bible and have paint, stickers, pens and washi tape, I’ve watched the YouTube videos and I feel inspired! I have used the skills I have and started to practise and have posted pictures of my pages to encourage others to have a go and try something new. 

What has God put on your heart?

What small steps are you taking to turn the dream into a reality?

We all have to start somewhere and it doesn’t matter how small the start as long as we start.

What’s your Key? Series

Part 1 You’re Invited 

Part 2 My Sheep Hear My Voice

Part 3 Is That You God?

Part 4 Stepping Out

Part 5 Choose to live…Courageously

Part 6 Who’s your Courage Buddy?

Part 7  The Small Stuff Matters

Part 8 Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

Part 9 You Are So Much More Than Your Likes