The call to ordination is one that I have carried with me for many years. One of the hardest things along the way has been whether God was actually calling me to this. Was it really his voice drawing me into full-time ministry in the Church of England, or not? Alongside prayer, worship, time and reading scripture, one of the most important things that helped me work this all out, was sharing this sense of call with others – with fellow sisters and brothers in the church, my family and friends.
I don’t know if you can relate? Maybe it is a day-to-day thing - sensing God’s still small voice prompting you to pray for someone, or God reminding you of his faithfulness by prompting you to stop and be silent for a moment. Maybe it is something bigger – a sense that you want to start giving some time, or skills, or money to God’s work here on earth. Whatever it is, it can be hard to discern if the sense is from God. But don’t let these Holy-Spirit-Prompts pass you by. Instead, let’s share these prompts with one another and bring them before God in prayer. And, in the end, respond! For me, it was a wise member of All Saints Ecclesall who prayed for and with me and helped me discern whether God might be calling me. Having shared some of the journey with me, he reminded me that though God calls, he will never force us to follow; he invites us to make the decision. His will does not bypass our will, but instead we offer our will, our desire and our dreams to him, that he might bring them in to line with his.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)
Ben Lacey