Category: Daily Devotion

Author: Pastor Andrew Farland

As we discussed yesterday, our natural inclination is to pray and wait for God’s guidance, expecting Him to tell us where to go. However, God desires us to take action and to have faith in him that He will meet us on our journey.

We start without having all the information we need. It’s trial and error. It’s like putting together a puzzle without any instructions.

I don’t want to make it sound like finding your calling is a game of chance. God has created every one of us to worship Him and build His kingdom on earth. Because of that, we need to be intentional about finding God’s specific calling in our lives.

There are three key steps you can take to move toward your calling:

1. “Discover your passion, but don’t settle for something that merely gives you momentary pleasure. Look for something that you can commit to seeing through to the end. What activity or pursuit will bring you a sense of fulfilment? If you have a natural talent for encouraging others, find ways to do so. If you are inclined towards generosity, strive to be an amazing giver. Consider how God has uniquely shaped you and let that guide you in your search for purpose.”
2. Choose your tool wisely. Determine the path through which you will pursue your passion. Will you opt for teaching, organizing events, or starting a podcast? Make a decision about how you want to manifest the zeal that God has instilled in your heart.
3. “Stay the course. Many people give in and give up too early. The Bible teaches us that when we are responsible for a small amount, we will be entrusted with more. Therefore, when you are in the midst of your journey to find your purpose, be patient. Do not allow the pressures of the world to force you to quit.”

“As you go about your day today, take some time to reflect on how God has uniquely wired you. Consider what God may be calling you to do in order to find true fulfilment. Ask Him to give you the courage to take the first step out on faith, knowing that you may need to move forward without a clear understanding of your final destination.”

“Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 1:8)

Author: Pastor Andrew Farland

“In the Kingdom of God, we learn and grow as we go. It’s similar to a father who builds a treehouse with his son. Initially, the kid may not have any experience and might accidentally hit his fingers with the hammer many times. The father doesn’t necessarily need his son’s help; he might slow down the project and make it difficult for the father. But despite these challenges, the father wants his son to be involved because he loves him and wants him to learn and grow.”

Similarly, God doesn’t need us but; He wants us to grow and learn, so He lets us build the treehouse with Him. This means that God wants us to start living for Him, even if we are young, immature, lack knowledge, or feel insecure. He wants us to live for Him even before we have our addictions or issues fixed. God wants us just the way we are.

There is a story in the Bible where Abraham sends his servant on a mission. After the servant returns, he says, “While I was on my way, the Lord led me.” This means that as the servant was taking steps forward, God showed him where to go. The servant didn’t receive guidance from God; until he had started his journey.

To discover our true purpose, we must align ourselves with the principles of the Kingdom of God. Although we may usually rely on prayer and wait for divine guidance, God also wants us to take courageous leaps of faith, step out of our comfort zones, and have faith that He will take care of the rest.

If you’re waiting for God to answer before doing something for Him, maybe He wants you to take the first step. Consider what God might want from you and what you’ve been holding back. God wants you to be like the boy building the treehouse with his dad: start building it, even if you don’t get it right for the first time.

“So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.” (Hebrews 6:1)

Author: Pastor Andrew Farland

I don’t know about you, but I get bogged down with the little things of life. My head gets buried in work, politics, relationship problems, or whatever stressors I might have. And when I have a lot going on, I focus on myself. I turn inward.

Have you ever been through a similar season of life?

God doesn’t want us to live like that. Why? Because it’s in the seemingly insignificant where He speaks to us. And if we’re too busy or focused on ourselves, we can miss Him moving into our lives in incredible ways.

One day, not too long ago, I was planning for an event where I would be raising awareness about a group of African women with HIV. It’s my God-given passion to serve and help them in any way I can.

A week before the event, I made sure that everything was set and ready. I sent out the invitations, confirmed the speakers and booked the venue. The only thing left on my list was to purchase a canvas, which I intended to use for an object lesson.

I was stressed out. So, I decided to pull my car over and pray. As cheesy as it sounds, I asked God to help me find a store with a canvas. Immediately after my prayer, I heard someone on the radio singing, “I’ll paint your love on the canvas of my heart.” As if that wasn’t wild enough, I looked across the street and saw a Hobby Lobby store.

I found the perfect size canvas at Hobby Lobby and proceeded to the counter to purchase it. The cashier said, “Hey! Do you want to use my employee discount of 45% off?”

“Um, yes!” I replied with a smile, silently thanking God for taking care of me. As I walked out of Hobby Lobby, I realized that if I had been too focused on my to-do list and survival, I would have missed God’s presence in the little things happening around me.

“I’m sharing that story with you today to encourage you. Remember that God is always working, so if you have a need, try not to dwell on it too much. Instead, focus your attention on the One who fulfils all of our needs and trust in His ability to work in the seemingly insignificant moments around us.”

“Everything is possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

Author: Pastor Andrew Farland

Starting something new is always exciting, isn’t it?

Whether you’re beginning a new job or starting a new project, it’s easy to be motivated by the freshness of it all. The problem is that once the honeymoon period wears off, it can be challenging to stay joyful and focused.

In the Old Testament, we read about Nehemiah, who was in charge of rebuilding the temple. He started a big team of workers who bought into the vision and worked night and day to complete it. They persevered until their adversaries threatened to destroy them, their families, and their project.

In the face of threats, Nehemiah could have given up and decided that life was more important than completing the construction of God’s temple. Instead of giving up, he developed a plan. Half of the workers would stand guard while the other half worked. After a while, they would switch roles.

Here’s what we learn from this story: You must protect your heart from the enemy’s attacks. If you follow Jesus, you are signed up to become the person God created you to be. And, the evil one wants nothing more than to distract you to the point that you give him a foothold in your life. In other words, Satan wants you to stop building the temple.

Today, think of the areas of your life that prevent you from guarding your heart. What is distracting you? Is it TV, the news, the friends you hang out with, dreams for your life?

Whatever it is, don’t quit on the project that God wants to do in your life. He wants you to become the best version of yourself. You might have to reorganize, restructure, or change your approach. But, don’t quit! Nehemiah didn’t and neither should you. Will it be hard? Will it feel like the world is caving in on you? Maybe. But, it’s worth it!

(“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7)