​Hearing God’s Call 
From last week:
 
Being in tune with the inner workings of the Holy Spirit and  strengthened by the companionship of Christ, you begin to discern the presence of God in all things. 
 
Hearing God’s Call
 
For many people of faith, Hearing God’s Call is alternately a source of mystery, frustration, confusion, and hope. God is calling each of us to a certain “Way” of life–a general Call, and to a specific mission in the moment.
 
The general Call is often discounted precisely because it is not specific. As we read and hear the Bible read aloud, we become aware that through repetition, circumstances and living examples God makes it clear that we are to love others, care for the poor, and live our lives in such a way that we point to the power of the Gospel. 
 
In too many places to list here, God sets forth the plan of living as people of faith. The Prophet Micah proclaims, “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8b To act justly is not simply a reference to how justice is dispensed through the court, it is an expectation of a way of thinking. To be just is to see the world and all the circumstances of life fairly, to seek the good, the right in all things. To love mercy, the Hebrew word is hesed, which means “loyal love” or “loving-kindness,” is not to simply dispense it when circumstances are right, but live in it, for it. Both justice and mercy are foundational to God’s character as is written in Psalm 89:14, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before You.” God expected His people to show love to everyone and to be loyal in their love toward Him, just as He had been loyal to them (Micah 2:8-9; 3:10-11; 6:12).
 
As we listen for the specific Call we so long for it is important to be living into the general Way of life God expects of us. As I said last week, Being in tune with the inner workings of the Holy Spirit and strengthened by the companionship of Christ, you begin to discern the presence of God in all things. 
 
We have heard these words before, “Surrender to God’s will.” “Surrender” sounds strange to us; we are never taught to surrender and this is why it is so important for us to do it. To surrender to God is simply let go. You have done this before many times, perhaps when traveling on a delayed flight, or in a waiting room somewhere, or standing in line at the grocery store. You, after a period of stress or frustration, simply said, “Oh well,”and it was over. Like exhaling, you breathed out your stress and accepted what was happening for as long as it took–this is surrendering.
 
Surrender to God, follow God. Love God. Love others the way that Jesus loves you, He is our example of godly living.  Can you imagine how different life would be if every human being found their meaning, purpose and identity in Christ's love and claimed the call and mission over their lives? Wow! That would change everything. When you do this, when you live like this, God gets to be God and you get to live stress free.  You don't have to be anxious about anything because it's all within the framework of what Jesus said and did. Living this Way opens the heart and spirit to the will of God and the Call to a specific mission.
 
The Call to specific mission can come out of the blue, unexpected and un-sought as it was for Amos, he explained to Amazia, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet, but a herdsman and a grower of sycamore trees. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go prophesy to My people Israel.’ (7:14-15)
 
The reality is that Amos was a holy and righteous man in tune with God. Amos, like Mary when she was called to bear the Son of God, was in tune with God to start with. Surrender enables the Holy Spirit to flow in and through us in a manner in which we know the divine presence. Surrendering to God makes it possible for us to perceive the will of God through the presence and power of God, it is not our effort, it is God’s Call.
 
“You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.” John 15:16
 
Discerning the Will of God and his Calling in our lives is first and foremost about building a closer relationship with God through Jesus. We can do so by reading the Bible, joining a Christian community, and submitting our lives to God through the Holy Spirit. 
 
Next week, the specific Call and mission.
 
Surrendering,
Fr. Bill+ 

From two weeks ago:
 
Next week we will look at how we can strengthen our focus to do this continuously through our daily ups and downs.
and
Just like tuning a radio to your favorite station, you must tune your spirit to God’s Spirit to hear the “broadcast” of heaven!
 
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”         Romans 12:2
 
Discerning the will of God assumes a renewed mind. St. Paul is talking about how our adherence to the biblical witness and teaching produces a direction in life that leads to communion and fellowship with God. For our part, this communion and fellowship puts us on the “the same frequency” with the Holy Spirit, compelling us to godly thoughts and actions.
 
The renewal of the mind begins with the awareness that our focus on self, on temporal concerns and desires, is wrong thinking. We know this is true in the same way that we know that, because of selfishness, ignoring or dismissing others is wrong behavior. We are self-aware whether we like it or not, God only wants us to live into it.
 
Living into our self-awareness is a godly practice through which we are aware of our deep need for God’s divine power to help us grow and change. This need compels us to soak our minds, marinate our thoughts, and saturate our reflections with the Word of God. This practice of self awareness, reflection and change is as old as the church itself, it is the pattern of devotion. Once we embrace God in this way, the renewal of our mind makes it possible for us to commune with God (be aware of God’s presence) throughout the day.
 
In a wonderful way, the reward for devotion and focus on God, is renewed devotion and focus on God. Our efforts produce the fruit which becomes the food that empowers the transformation. The ups and downs of the day are leveled out by the proper perspective of divine intention. In the same way we look forward to or even obsess over a character in a book or on media and “can't wait” to get back them, the revelation of God becomes that and more. Prayer and Bible reading/study are no longer something we plan for, but an integrated part of everyday life.
 
Being in tune with the inner workings of the Holy Spirit and  strengthened by the companionship of Christ, you begin to discern the presence of God in all things.
 
A prayer:

“O God, shape me. O God, make me. O God, bring me into conformity to this Word at the depths of my being.”

Next week: Hearing the Call.
Listening,
​Fr. Bill +