Finding Your Purpose | How To Hear God's Voice

In this episode, we explore the difference between Purpose, Calling, and Godly Assignments, three words that are often misunderstood or dismissed. You'll learn how every Christian shares the same purpose, how to discover your unique individual calling, and how God reveals the assignments that bring it to life. If you've ever wrestled with questions like "What am I here for?", "Why do I feel like there's more?", or "How do I hear God's voice?", this conversation is for you. Whether you're waiting, afraid to take the next step, or simply searching for direction, this episode will encourage you to stop striving, start listening, and trust that the God who calls you, also equips you.

Transcript

Host: Smilla 0:00

Hey guys, welcome back to Revival Podcast, a podcast that we reflect, we restore, and rebuild based on biblical wisdom and doctrines. I'm your host, Smilla, people call me Smile, and today's episode is called Finding Your Purpose. Yeah. If you've been tuning in since we started, you know that God gave me very clear instructions of what He wanted me to release before I even started to record. Um, and I truly believe these messages are from God. Um, words, wisdom, and and verses come out very paranormal as I type out these messages, and I truly believe it is the Holy Spirit that is guiding and speaking to me as um I've been blessed and blown away by these episodes as well. So with no further ado, let's pray. Dear Heavenly Father, I just thank you for your mightiness. I thank you that although you don't need us, you want us, Father. And that we are always welcome to run back to you, Father, regardless of where we are and what season we're in, Father. I just pray that this message will plant seeds in their lives, that you will use me as a stereo and speak through me, Father. Let no word of mine come out, but only yours. I thank you, Father, for this message. I pray that you will bless your daughters and your sons and anyone who's listening or or will be sharing this, Father. I just pray that that this will elucidate and really explain the times that we're in and what our calling, what our purpose, what our godly assignment is, Father. That you will help cause a revival in our lives with an understanding, although your knowledge is beyond our logic, I pray that you will reach us in a way where we understand what you're saying and we can hear you. I pray that you will roar like a lion in our heads, and all the other voices will be silent except yours, Father. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. The words purpose, godly assignment, and calling are three words that often get thrown around in church, but rarely broken down and explained. And they may sound similar, but they're actually totally different. And I wish I had someone to tell me that when I was younger. That urge we have to reflect on our purpose, on the meaning of life, and the meaning of my life, and whether you're religious or not, we all are born with that seeking desire to um, you know, desire for meaning and and understanding. And I truly believe that it is planted in us because it points us to the one who put it there, our Heavenly Father, our Creator. And that desire opens our posture to receive the truth. Ecclesiastes 3.11, an amplified version, says, He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity, a sense of divine purpose in the human heart, a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy except God. We are born with a longing for meaning, the point of future, because it points us to Him. So if you've been reflecting on whether there is a purpose with your life, yes there is. However, there's also a specific calling on your life if you choose to accept it, and that comes with godly assignments for you to complete if you choose to fulfill it. Ephesians 2.10 NIV says, For we are God's handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. For we are God's handiwork. The original Greek word here is poiēma, and this is the the word in English that we get poem from. But poiēma, as in because obviously the Old Testament we are um we translate from Hebrew, and then the New Testament we translate from Greek. So in this verse, in the original transcripts where Paul was writing God's handiwork, it translates to um God's poiēma, which is translated to masterpiece. Poema means masterpiece, creation, or something skillfully crafted. So it doesn't mean that we are God's slaves or we are um made for his labor, but rather God's masterpieces designed intentionally with a specific mission already mapped out for us to fulfill. Romans 8 28 says, and we know that in all things God works for the good for those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Matthew 22 14 says, For many are called, but few are chosen. I get calls every day on my phone, and I have a decision, whether it's an unknown number or someone I know, I have a choice to pick up the call. However, if I leave my phone in a different room, whilst I do my laundry or take a shower, or perhaps leave it with securities as I go to film sets or or my work studios, if I get a call, I won't be able to respond because not only am I unaware and unable to respond to the call, but I'm also not positioned to hear it. Matthew 22, 14, for many are called, but few are chosen. Called and chosen. The original Greek words here are Klētoi, and um it translates to calling, invitation, summoning, and to beacon, and chosen is Eklektoi, translates to chosen, selected, picked out from among others. Now, when I long ago study this verse, I thought it was a bit confusing because I was like, How can you be called if you haven't first been chosen? And how can you be chosen if you haven't first been called? And God explained it like a job ad. Many are called to work, right? We're all called for job interviews because we all need to land a job, we all need a job. So many are called, as in called for job interviews. But those that got selected and chosen and actually accepted a job, the manager selected and chose them. So many are called and free or chosen because some might deny the job offer. If that made any sense. See, many don't accept the call because they never knew someone was ringing. And some never asked God to ring them, so God never rang. The whole circle equation of called and chosen equals a consensual partnership. God isn't a forceful God. Have you seen the news? Like God will allow us to choose him or our own ways, to drop bombs or drop love. Cause if he forced us to live according to his will, that wouldn't be love. And he wants us to choose him free willingly. So you can be Christian and walk with him for for years and years and not know your calling and your godly assignment for your life because you never asked to be involved. Your invitation to be involved was that very feeling of seeking for meaning and longing for purpose. So, what differs purpose from godly assignment to calling? I'm going to go through the practical steps, but first we need to understand what purpose godly assignment and calling first

Purpose

Host: Smilla 7:34

is. So let's start with purpose. As Christians, we all have the same purpose to love as Christ and to make heaven more crowded. Matthew 28, 19 to 20 says, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I've commanded you, and surely I am with you always to the very end of the age. All our purpose and goal as Christians is to follow Jesus, picking up our cross and helping others do the same. We need to evangelize his name, all of us. But the way we do that is through our calling and godly assignment. You're gonna want to write this down. Your calling will tell you your who or your where. Your galling assignment will tell you the how and the when. Those two things will lead you to purpose. Executing Matthew 28, 19. The way God explained this to me when I was younger was through this vision that I will never forget. And I will try to draw it up or post a photo for those that are tuning in via YouTube. But if you're listening, imagine purpose as a destination, as uh like an island, and um the bridge that will take you to that destination, the bridge that will take you to purpose is only designed for you. This is your bridge with your name on it, and it's called the godly Assignment Bridge. So the godly Assignment Bridge is what takes you to the purpose island. Now, for you to find the bridge entrance, you have to go to a place called the calling. So you find your calling, and then you cross over by the godly Assignment and you reach purpose. So let me put it practically.

Calling : The Who or The Where

Host: Smilla 9:34

Your calling will tell you the who or the where. So the demographic group that you are called to evangelize to. And it might be a nation, an industry, it might be an age group, or um such as like youth or marriages, or the homeless, the Russian or the Chinese demographic, or it can be people who struggle with addictions, the who or the where. Your

Godly Assignemt : The How & The When

Host: Smilla 10:02

godly assignment will tell you how and when. So the assignment tells you the instruction of how you live out your calling to reach purpose. So it can be anything, um, it can be starting a business, it can be a support group, it can be starting a homeless outreach, um, maybe street ministry, um, investing, selling, or creating. The instructions might not be super detailed, although sometimes it is, but it will always answer the how question. So your calling, which is the who and the where, the godly assignment will tell you how you're reaching the who and the where. With other words, the godly assignment is the action, and by doing that leads you to purpose, executing Matthew 28, 19.

Biblical Examples

Host: Smilla 10:57

Biblically, Adam was called to the garden, and his godly assignment was to name the animals. Noah's calling, um, he was called to the corrupt generation, and his assignment was to build an ark to restore it. And Moses was called to um Egypt, and his godly assignment was to save the Israelites, and then it was to build a tabernacle, and then it was to start the Messiah Law. He had a couple of godly assignments. Um Deborah was called to the Israelites as well, and her godly assignment was to organize Israel's liberation from 20 years of Canaanite oppression. I can go on and on about Esther, John the Baptist, the disciples, to Jesus, who was called to the world and assigned to die for it, who was born in Bethlehem, which in Hebrew means house of bread, who later then became the bread of life. They were all called to a group of people, a demographic or place to follow through specific instructions from God, and by doing so they made many Christians. They executed Matthew 28, 19. Notice, however, a pattern. They all had to seek God to hear God. And once they heard God, they had to respond. Secondly, once calling uh was accepted, they didn't need to go out and collect or or find and chase and make these tools to be able to execute their assignments. The tools were provided for them. And by tools I mean like gifts or like the skills, like either metaphorical tools or maybe physical tools. Like when God assigned me to open up a photography studio, I already had the camera and the location. I already had like the basic skill set to take photos and and handle that equipment, but he also provided the rest of the equipment that I needed for the business, the rest of the business strategies that I didn't have. Quote unquote, the tools. The animals came to Adam and Noah. They didn't need to go out and find and collect them. Genesis 2.1 says God brought the animals to Adam. Later in Genesis 6.7, we read how the animals came to Noah and entered the Ark themselves. Like the staff was given to Moses and Aaron. When God gives the instructions, he also provides the tools that you need to execute and carry those instructions out. So if you are not getting what you need for your calling, ask yourself if it's really God that called you, or did you call yourself? Because it should be provided, like it should feel like you are getting what you need to be able to start it off. If you are feeling like it's a blockish, a blockish, a blockish, it might not be spiritual warfare. You might just change chasing something that God never asked you to chase. However, if you feel unqualified yet have been assigned, know that he finds you ready. If you feel like you don't have the tools yet, yet have been assigned, and you have have got the instructions and you who and the the how, like clearly you don't need any tools. So it might just be one of those very common cases in the Bible where he used and continues to use a lot of unqualified people. A carpenter, guys. A carpenter saved the world. A carpenter died for our sins. That's also a huge illustration of how your calling and your employment can be completely different. Yet your employment may help you fund your calling. I was a waitress for many years that helped me fund my calling that I did on the side. And that might be the life for many of us. Your employment doesn't necessarily have to be your calling, they're separate. If they are the same thing, like let's say you're a paid pastor and your calling is ministry, but you can also be like a dentist or a lawyer and your calling be homeless outreach. Us being unqualified and still walking in our testimony reflects Jesus. If we are to equip like Gideon and his army, I think we put this example up um in the last episode, people wouldn't say that it was because of God, it would say, Oh, it's because of you. Like you were so equipped. You were so lucky, you had all the equipment and tools that you needed. Rather, if we aren't and still able to do God's work, despite that we're not fully equipped, that raises more eyebrows and creates more space for us to actually proclaim his name. And don't value or underestimate the tools that God gives you, little or small. Moses was given a stick, okay? He split the C with that thing. And he saved a bunch of slaves with that thing. So don't underestimate the tools that you have or don't have, okay? If he gives you the assignment and the calling and says go, go. A pastor once said, I can't remember if it was Rich or not. It might have been Rich Wilkerson Jr. from uh Vous Church, Miami, possibly, but some pastor basically said that um if you feel completely ready for something, means you're not. And if you're scared, usually means you're ready. So, why don't more people walk in their God-given calling and godly assignments? A couple years ago, I went on a walk to talk to God an evening, and I was reading this book and discussed it with him. Um, it was called HE-motions by TD Jakes. Definitely recommend. And we came into this conversation about um answering God's calling for our lives, and

Groups A,B,C

Host: Smilla 17:05

God kind of elucidated that there is three main groups, so be patient, as I now try to elucidate which group you possibly are in. Group A. People who are waiting for their tools, for a calling that they are fully aware of, but a godly assignment that is yet to be delivered. So they are aware of their who or their where, but they don't know their how yet. And this group is often in a season where God is shaping them to become this person that they need to be to be able to handle the tools and the instructions that are on the way, such as perseverance or etc., depending on depending on you. But so they might have an inkling, basically, this group have an inkling of who and their where, but haven't received the how, the assignment, the instructions. So they're in a season where God is posturing their hearts and shaping their characters and discipling them to be able to disciple others. Okay? That's group A. Group B is people who know their calling and have heard and received their tools and the assignment, the instructions, but because of fear, they are not positioning themselves to follow through on their assignment. They may have heard from God directly or from a God representative, a person, or community, yeah, asking themselves, but did God really did God really say that though? Like, is this really from God, you know? Because if they choose to stay uncertain like that, they never have to be brave. They never have to take the step in and actually commit. They are the group that might be praying for a sign because they think that confirmation will eliminate courage. But out of love, I'm telling you now, sweetie, the only thing that will eliminate courage is courage. The root of fear is that we need to like to to conquer the root of fear, we need to do it anyway. Moses was so anxious that he had to have his brother Aaron with him until he was brave enough. Even though the burning bush was weird and didn't make sense, he chose to approach it. And if he had run away or walked the opposite direction and pretend that he didn't see anything or pretend that he wasn't there, he wouldn't have got his calling and assignment. He chose to investigate. He chose to draw near. Moses already felt bad and had a desire to help the Israelites, hence why he killed one of the officers that was beating one of them and buried them and fled in the first place. And that desire that kind of feels like, hey, I'm I'm kind of suitable and can relate and I help I can I can see myself helping here. Later he would find out that God would use that and assign him to help that very same group of people. So that inkling that we sometimes get of like the who and the where that we feel drawn to, that we can relate to, that we feel like we can help to. Maybe our gifts are in that area, or gifts resonate with those people or that group or that demographic, that nation industry, whatever it is, the who and the where is our first kind of clue to figuring out and draw near to God to then listen out and hear our how. Like what do we do with this now? Let's read um Exodus 3. I got so many notes in my Bible. Hold on. Okay. Now, Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock of the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There an angel of the Lord or a form of God appeared to him in flames of the fire within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire, it did not burn up. So Moses thought, I will go there and see this strange sight, why this bush does not burn up. And when the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called him from within the bush, Moses, Moses, okay, just pause quickly. You're calling my look strange and my look weird. Maybe this timing doesn't even make sense. Maybe it's something you've never even done before and you're like, this can't be from God. Approach the bush. Approach it anyway. And also,

Is God Silent Or Are You Distant?

Host: Smilla 21:40

God didn't introduce or like speak until Moses approached. If you are walking the opposite direction to where this little calling, inkling is popping in in your life, might be why he's silent. You'd be like, I don't hear God, I don't hear God. Have you approached it or have you avoided it? God didn't start and speak until Moses got to the fire and approached the fire. Maybe it's the gifts that God has given you, and you have already noticed the type of demographic or the where or the who that those gifts can be used for, or how you can evangelize, or the people that you're able to reach and and proclaim the Almighty God for like until you actually start walking in that and exploring in that, even though you haven't even got the instructions yet, God might be silent because you're distant from him, you're walking away from the bush. You gotta walk towards the bush. I don't know why I like saying the bush. Moses said, Here I am. Do not come any closer, God said. Sorry, but like I just want to deep the fact so that you get this. Like, God did not speak until Moses approached a bush. So if you're gonna see some right now where you haven't actually started walking in that little inkling or that little small sense or that you're drawn to a sort of industry, you're drawn to apply for this job or this study, so dedication, whatever it is, please just do it and not wait for confirmation or for God to speak, because God is not gonna speak until you start walking in that. Okay, let's continue. Do not come any closer, God said. Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. Then he said, I am God of your father, and the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. At this Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. The Lord said, I have indeed seen the mystery of my people in Egypt, and I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of the land into the into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, a home um of the Canaanites, Hididis, Amorites, Parasites, uh Hivides, and the Yesabites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way that the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now go and I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people to the um people the Israelites out of Egypt. But Moses said to God, Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? And God said, I will be with you, and this will be the sign for you that it is I who have sent you when you have brought the people out of Egypt. You will worship God on this mountain. I will be with you, and it it will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you. God said to Moses that he wouldn't know that this was God's doing until after the instructions had been fulfilled. First then would he know after that it was God's confirmation. After he would get the confirmation and praise God. Many times we want the confirmation first before we commit. We want to know that God's hand is on it, but we're called to walk by faith and not by sight. But that confirmation that were you waiting for isn't gonna come until you start walking in your calling. That's when the discernment of the Holy Spirit is able to guide your next steps. Abram was told to get up and walk. He didn't know where or to or who. And he didn't go to his wife and be like, hey girl, can we just pray? Did you get the same thing? Like, did you get what I got? Should we just fast and pray about this? Like, let's pray for a sign, let's be sure. No, he just got up and started walking. It needs to feel a bit risky and a bit shaky. Cause that is what clings us to God. That strengthens our testimony. It's the um, hey, I didn't think I was able to walk up to that person or start that business or leave that that job or studies, but God was with me, and it was by his strength, not mine. So if you are in group B that I just described, know that you have to crucify that fear and start walking and not sit and wait for confirmation. Walking in Christ is uncomfortable and there is no way in avoiding that. Sorry to break the news. Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid it. You are going to make many mistakes and seem like a fool to many. But boy, are we gonna become these incredible people that God has designed for us to become. Hearing that even here on earth is like, dang, imagine in front of him in heaven. No thanks.

Enemy Playing Dress-Up

Host: Smilla 27:39

Don't confuse what's comfortable and safe with God's peace. Peace is a gift from God that He's already given us, that we need to apply. So if you're discerning your decisions based on feelings and um how much peace you feel over a certain decision, that might be the enemy playing dress up. Cause where it's safe and comfortable, it's right where the enemy wants you. Now, last group is group C. Group C is people who do not know their calling and don't necessarily know if they have any useful tools or gifts and they don't really hear from God speak to them. They're the ones who might dwell on the meaning of life the most and their purpose the most, and they might be the ones that are in church not really know what team they fit into, like where they're most useful or what they're good at. And they might have a lot of blue days and feel like they're mentally attacked a lot of the time. But one thing for certain of group C is that they have not heard from God, they don't hear God speak to them, they don't know his voice. Now, my question to group C, regardless if you have blue days or not blue days, and regardless if you are on team or not on team,

Hearing God's Voice

Host: Smilla 29:12

the main thing with group C is like you haven't heard from God. My question, if you are in group C, is are you letting him speak to you? Prayer is a conversation. You talk and he talks. But are you allowing him to speak back to you? Or do you go about your day after you say amen? Or maybe you don't really have a like maybe you don't really pray that much. When was the last time you opened up your Bible? Practiced share time or silent prayer where you just sit in his presence in silence and just surrender yourself to his voice and his will. When you allow him to not just listen to you, but speak back to you. It's so easy for us to pray like, oh Father God, da da da da da da da Amen. And then you go to work and then you do, but then you aren't actually giving space to just sit in his presence and and listen in case he wants to say anything to you. Many times we often pray speaking to him but not actually listening to him. And he's too loving to interrupt you. Although sometimes he will. But unless you surrendered and open for him to do that, he's gonna wait for you to give him space to talk. We have so many voices in our heads and around us, from the flesh to the enemy versus God. Can you confidently say that you can discern which voice is which? Taking every thought captive and be able to discern which thought is planted and spoken by God? If I called you on an anonymous number, you probably wouldn't recognize as me. Especially not if I had a cold or lost my voice a little bit. But if your closest friend or person in your life, your your mother or dad or your brother or sister, your best friend, it doesn't matter if if they have a cold or put on a funny voice or if they are happy or if they are sad, you can recognize their voice amongst many others. You can recognize them on an anonymous call. Why? Because you have spent enough time with them to know how they speak and how they sound. You know when they are sarcastic, you know their character enough to know when they lie or something's a bit off. It's the same with Jesus. The more we spend time with him, reading his word and spending time in his presence, speaking and listening to him, we are training to hear his voice amongst the other voices. We are able to hear him. We're gonna read 1 Samuel chapter 310. The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare. There were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, Here I am, and he ran to Eli and said, Here I am, you called me. But Eli said, I did not call, go back and lie down. So he went and he and lay down. Again the Lord called Samuel. And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, Here I am, you called me. My son, Eli said, I did not call, go and lie down. Now, Samuel did not yet know that the Lord, the word of the Lord, had not yet been revealed to him. A third time the Lord called Samuel, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, Here I am, you you called me. Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. So Samuel went and lie down in his place. Then the Lord came and stood there, calling us the other times, Samuel Samuel. And Samuel said, Speak, for your servant is listening. And the Lord started speaking to Samuel.

Exercise Our Spiritual Discerment

Host: Smilla 33:58

Eli helped Samuel know that we gotta practice hearing and discerning God's voice. Because it can sound like someone else. Samuel went from not being able to recognize or hear God to becoming one of the most significant prophets of Israel history. We have to prepare for what for the covenant that we are already in. Just as people are preparing for their future spouse or their future partner, we sometimes forget that we are already somebody's bride. We are already in a covenant that Jesus shed his blood for and paid the price for. Imagine not being able to hear your husband or your father growing up. You wouldn't hear the guidance, the moral lessons, the affirmation. Imagine not hearing God. You wouldn't hear the correction, the direction, the conviction. Samuel became known for hearing God's voice and exercising his spiritual discernment. He served as a prophet, a judge, a leader of Israel. He anointed a king whose lineage would lead us to Jesus. Exercising our spiritual discernment and identifying God's voice is so, so, so important in our walk with Christ. However, if God is silent and you are praying and you are having your silent prayer time or share time, and he still seems silent, you might be the one who's covering his mouth. Many of us ask God questions that we unconsciously don't want to know the answer to. Especially about life-changing decisions like purpose and relationships. Because what if God tells you to end that relationship, to break up with him, to end or pause that engagement, to quit that dream job or sell that really nice house? What if he calls you to an assignment that you have no passion for? Our trepidation can put a wall between us and the Lord. Because unconsciously, you have already made a decision that you don't want to hear what he has to say out of fear. And because he's not a forceful God, and it's all about consent, he's not going to speak over your fear. You're going to have to let go of that fear to be fully surrendered and open to receive receive anything that he might say. Let go and let God. Jeremiah 29, 13 says, You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. We find him not when we seek him halfway, not when we seek him with fear, but with all our hearts, all our capacity. That means seeking him, open to get corrected, open to get told off, open to get our course changed and shifted. He is our shepherd for a reason. Us sheep needs a shepherd. Have you seen humanity lately? We are silly, silly, silly beings that are making incredibly dumb decisions that we relabel as self-discovery when it's really just stupidity. We need to seek him fully. And many people are not willing to do that because of the conviction that comes with it. I don't know if you've ever been with a group of people, Christians or not, when things will shift just in your presence. Because as the Holy Spirit lives in all of us to have accepted Lord into our lived and Christ as King, it's almost like they feel so convicted without you barely saying anything. I want us to reflect on where we are with God. Ask yourself, what group am I? Am I A, B, or C? But Smilla, why is this

Godly Marriage

Host: Smilla 37:58

important? Because you fulfilling Matthew 28, 19 and knowing your your individual calling is the first step to assess your future partner. Not only is it the way that we are making disciple, it's also the very beginning in Genesis, when God made Adam. He had a calling and he had a godly assignment, and he started them before he gave was given Eve. He said it's not good for a man to be alone after the calling and assignment had already begun. That tells me that walking in our calling is more important than us getting a spouse. Because otherwise he would have made Eve and then gave them their assignment and the calling. But God makes no mistakes, right? And God said that Eve was a suitable helper, a suitable partner for Adam. And that verse translates in Hebrew to Ezer Kenegdo. And Ezer Kenegdo means helper, a strength equal to him, one who matches him. When two becomes one, they go into partnership to fulfill Matthew 28, 19. If you have completely different callings than a Simon, how are you going to build his kingdom together? Marriage is not for our enjoyment, and it's such a misconception. It's not for us, but for God's glory, a reflection of Jesus. It's covenant and partnership that has the same or similar calling so that they together can go and help each other fulfill the godly assignment. The Mauno Christians that rush into marriages based off on faith alone. He's a Christian, I'm a Christian, we're equally yoked. Two people with different assignments will not pull a plow or cart straight. I'll tell you that. And that's what equally yoked is supposed to be. And it saddens me to hear so many marriages and counseling, even like Christians and pastors counseling for years, the amount of testimonies even that I've I've heard recently, when they just realized how vital purpose alignment was too late and they settled for someone who they didn't align with. Calling wise. And I was just kind of quiet listening. You know, I would went up vent about my day a lot, but in terms of like asking him for things, it might be like help remember homework or you know, dance routines and stuff like that. But I practiced hearing God's voice. And I think coming from a background with so much anxiety and leaving a foothold for the enemy, the enemy filled me with so many whispers of lies in my head and uh tried to take my tried to make me take my life. Voices in my head I was used to as a kid, and being able to discern which ones was gods versus the flesh versus the enemy, that was confusing and not very easy. So I started practicing. And I thought also mainly it wasn't easy because I hadn't built up my identity yet. I didn't know who I was, so I let the voices in my head tell me who I was. So share time and and silence prayer time, practiced um hearing God like it was such a good useful tool for me because I was desperate to organize the voices and thoughts in my head and take them captive. I started praying a lot about um hearing God clearly and for him to roar like a lion and silence every voice that was not of him. That was a constant prayer of mine. And now looking back, I can see how I started to hear God more and more and more. Moses, like we read in Exodus, had to keep going back to God for reassurance. Like even in chapter 4, we didn't read that, but he was like, What if they don't believe me or listen to me and say, The Lord did not appear to you? That's Exodus 4 1, by the way. And even when When God gave him the staff, verse 3, Moses threw it on the ground and he became a snake and he ran from it. God literally gave him a tool and he ran the opposite direction. So he's scared that he's not qualified. So God gives him a stick, so he has some sort of tool, and he still runs the other way. Moses didn't feel qualified to save a nation in captivity. Especially not from the very place that caused him trauma, which is a valid reason for actionness, but no worries are valid when we walk with Christ. And the fear is usually the biggest delay breaker. He has given He has given us the staff, the support. The only thing that's missing is our commitment. And maybe you haven't looked for the fire. Maybe you haven't prayed about what your specific assignment or calling is. What your staff for your assignment is. Ask him. Therefore, if you want to be involved in his plan, you're gonna have to go to him and ask him. Like Samuel. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. Have you done that? My pastor last week said that not many people will respond to the call. And he described it as the greatest sin to not respond to the call in your life. And although it's not biblical, I do get what his heart was and where he meant. Because when you understand who God is and he says, come follow me, and you say no. Like deep that for a second. And Saul who didn't hear from God in 1 Samuel chapter 15, God had to send Samuel to speak to Saul because Saul couldn't hear God. Like God sent people to me to speak to me to start this podcast because I blocked God's voice. Because I thought I knew the answer, I thought I knew better. I thought what God wanted with me. Sometimes God speaks for someone else because we're not hearing him. And if we can't listen and receive the word of man, it is very, very likely that we're not receiving or hearing from God either. Sometimes God will speak through a person to you because you're not hearing him. So the same shield that you may put up of defensive stubbornness when a person corrects you is the same shield that you are using to silence and separate yourself from God. So as we reflect onwards, let's ask ourselves: has many people or a specific person told me something I should do, start or stop doing? Could I be blocking God's voice with fear due to what his response might be? With other words, is trepidation holding me back from commitment? What group am I? A, B, or C? Am I currently living out Matthew 28, 19? Y'all, it is the end of times. It's the end of days we're living in. Not trying to scare you or rush you or rush God, but take we need to start taking this seriously because it will be a day when Jesus is coming back and we will literally watch our loved ones go to hell. And God said that we can help prevent that with the very gift and calling that he's assigned us. We can help reunite our loved ones with a father who loved him so much he died for them, even though he knew that they would not love them back. Love him back. That you don't long for our performance or our works or our labor, but you just long for a deep, intimate relationship with you, Father. I just pray that we will get a new lens and perspective of what you really did on the cross for us. And a revelation and a revival in the Matthew 28, 19 and apply that to our lives. And I pray that you help us walk in boldness, regardless if we are in group A, B, or C, that you broke down for us today. I pray that we get the courage of Abraham and the faith of Abraham as you say walk, we walk, even though we don't know where or to whom. I pray that that inkling that some of the listeners or watchers might have of maybe a little clue of what their who or their where or their how is, that you just elucidate what that is, Father. I pray that you draw near. I pray that you give us visions and dreams and loud thoughts and lower any voice that is not of you. Cast them out from our heads. Help us crucify our flesh. Help us elucidate, like illuminate in our life exactly what it is that we are prioritizing above you to make you feel distant, to make you feel far away, to make you feel separated. Help us get closer to you and help us identify what it is in our individual life that we need to do, stop doing, start doing to make that happen. Cause a revival in our lives, Father. I pray that after this message, we are able to apply it, that you're able to speak to us so we can fill out and fulfill Matthew 28, 19 and make heaven more crowded. And make this planet Earth ready for your soon coming. Thank you, Father, for your patience and for your love and for your understanding. Regardless of what season we're in. In Jesus' mighty name I pray, Amen. We need to start walking in faith, not by sight, guys. Regardless of what season it looks like. Regardless what funds or non-financial funds or what tools and not tools you have. If he has given you a calling and an assignment, you take it from there. There's a reason why he gave it to you then and not later. And now and not before. So make sure to tune in and share this with someone you know. And please let me know if you identify with those groups like A, B, or C. And um, I love to pray for you. I love when you guys DM, I love to continue the conversation. So make sure to follow us on socials and yeah, we'll continue the conversation on the next one. Until next time. Bye.