I love these kind of days. Over the course of twenty-four hours I spent time with three alumni from the Arrow Leadership Program. Each one left me inspired, encouraged and energized. Let me briefly introduce you to each one of these leaders:
Leader #1: Is seeking to turn up the temperature on evangelism across his entire country and beyond. So he’s pioneering a new ministry to identify, equip and empower evangelists.
Leader #2: Shared that he and a team from his church spent Christmas morning at their local hospital. Their band set-up by the nursing station and played Christmas carols to bring the message of Christmas to patients and staff. They also visited patients to bless them with some Christmas cheer and a small gift.
Leader #3: Toured me around their downtown hub of services that includes an emergency shelter, addiction rehab center, social housing, medical clinic, and much more.
Three different leaders in three different places and each one passionately prayerfully, creatively and faithfully living out their unique calling. Whatever your calling and vocation, let me encourage you with these words as you seek to live out God’s call, Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Here are three takeaways:
1. It’s a fact. Pursuing God’s call will be met with challenges, resistance, discouragement and sometimes much worse. Paul tells us to “Stand firm. Let nothing move you.” This isn’t about resolve and willpower. It’s about choosing to depend on God’s presence, God’s power, God’s Word and God’s protection. Is anything moving you right now? If so, lean back into dependence on God.
2. Living out God’s call is about being wholehearted not half-hearted. As Paul writes, “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord…”. Are you “all in” right now? If not, what’s holding you back?
3. Whether or not you see fruit, your work has purpose, value and lasting impact. Your faithful obedience is worship to God. God is glorified. God’s mission advances and he is able to do more than we can ask or imagine.
Join with me in this prayer about living out your calling in a new year:
Dear Lord,
Thank you that first and foremost, I am called to you – not to something or to somewhere. Above all else, help me to enjoy a deep intimate relationship with you. Thank you for calling me – regardless of vocation or position – to be part of your body and in your service. For every role you choose to give me, I choose to have deep gratitude. Help me to hear your voice and to be faithful in whatever I do know of your call. By your presence, power, Word and protection, help me to stand firm and to let nothing – other than you – move me. I choose to be “all in” and I ask for a fresh anointing to give myself fully to your work. Whether in my strengths or weaknesses, may only you be glorified. By your grace and power may you do more than I can ask or imagine. I pray these things in Jesus’ name.
Cheering you on in 2020!
Dr. Steve Brown
President, Arrow Leadership
steveb@arrowleadership.org
PS – Arrow Alumni are living out their unique calling in powerful ways! We are excited to cheer them on and share their inspiring stories as the Sharpening Leaders blog focuses on the key theme of ‘calling’ in 2020.
