When God Calls Your Name - Girlfriends in God

October 11, 2016
When God Calls Your Name
Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27 NIV).

Friend to Friend

What are you going to do when God calls your name?

When He taps you on the shoulder and says, “Hey girl, now’s the time”?

There was a kid in the Bible who had the right idea. Let me introduce you to him.

See, there was this prophet named Samuel, and God told him to go to Jesse’s house to appoint the next King of Israel. So, “Samuel did what the Lord said” (1 Sam. 1:4). (By the way, that’s always a great way to start your day!)

He traveled to Jesse’s house in Bethlehem and asked to see his sons. When they paraded by for inspection, Samuel was very impressed with the eldest right away. Eliab was tall, dark, and handsome.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).

Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” Seven sons. Seven rejections. I’m sure Samuel was scratching his head about this time. Confused, he turned to Jesse and asked, “Is this all your sons?”

Then, as if it were an after thought, Jesse mutters, “Oh yeah, I do have another son. I forgot all about him. His name is David—my youngest. He’s out taking care of the sheep.”

Samuel then said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” They didn’t take a knee, take a seat, or take a break. They stood and waited with the Jeopardy theme song playing in the background.

And in walks young David—a smelly, inexperienced, unqualified kid who was probably around thirteen years old.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

So right there in the presence of his older, and no doubt incredulous brothers, Samuel anoints this boy to be the next king of Israel.

David was the littlest. The leastest. The loneliest.

But in God’s eyes, David was Chosen. Anointed. Appointed.

God chose David. God has chosen you. Maybe not to be the next king of Israel, but He has chosen you to be His for a specific purpose.

He is saying to you right now, “You are the one!”

Little ole’ me?

Little ole’ you!

Consider this: David was so insignificant to his own family; his father didn’t even bring him in the house when Samuel asked to see all of his sons. At least he could have invited him in to watch. And even though he was forgotten or at least ignored by his family, David was the very one that God chose for a great purpose and a wonderful plan. From that moment on, David was anointed by the power of the Holy Spirit for God’s purpose that was yet to unfold.

I don’t know what your childhood was like. Perhaps you felt insignificant or ignored by your parents or siblings. Perhaps you have experienced rejection by your friends, classmates, or coworkers. But make no mistake about it…

You Have Been Chosen

God has chosen you. You! “For He [God] chose you in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Eph. 1:4, emphasis added).

You Have Been Appointed

Not only has God chosen you to be His child, but He has appointed you to be an Ambassador of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) and bear fruit in His name. Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you” (John 15:16).

You Have Been Anointed

And like David, you have been anointed, not with oil but with the power of the Holy Spirit to do everything God has called you to do. “He (God) has anointed you, set his seal of ownership on you, and put His Spirit in your heart as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Cor. 1:21–22).

I don’t know what God has called you to do, but I do know it’s something good. Yeah, David had to go back out and take care of those smelling sheep for a while. But then one day, when he least expected it, God said, now’s the time.

And you know what? David was ready.

You might be taking care of a few sheep yourself. Sheep with pink hair bows or dirty tennis shoes. But girl, remember, you’ve been chosen, anointed and appointed to do great things!

Be brave.

Live Bold.

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, if you call my name today, I will be ready. Even though I might be afraid, I will move forward in faith. Even though I may feel weak, I will step out in Your strength. Even though I may feel inadequate, I will take hold of Your sufficiency. Even though I may feel inferior, I will take hold of my true identity. Even though I may feel insecure, I will take hold of the truth that I am equipped by You, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and enveloped in Jesus Christ.

In His Name I pray,

Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Often people tell me they are asking God to show them the next thing to do in their lives, and they just aren’t hearing anything. I always ask them a question in return, one that I’m asking you today:

Is there something in your life that God has asked you to do, that you have not done? (That is a question I want you to ponder and answer today.) Perhaps He is waiting for you to obey what He’s already told you to do before He shows you the next thing He wants you to do.

Did something come to mind? Let’s share over on my Facebook page. Leave a comment (not a message because I sometimes miss those).

More from the Girlfriends

Today’s devotion came from my latest book, Take Hold of the Faith You Long For: Let Go, Move Forward, Live Bold. It’s all about how to get unstuck in your faith. Learn how to let go of all that holds you hostage to a “less than” life, and take hold of all that Jesus has done for you and placed in you…the faith you’ve always longed for. Check it out at www.takeholdthebook.comwhere you can download a free chapter and watch a video book trailer. The book also comes with a Bible study guide.