i came across the following stop-and-thinker in FORGOTTEN GOD by Francis Chan:
"Did God lead you to where you are? A lot of people in my church and in my travels tell me, 'I believe that God has called me to Simi Valley.' Or Wichita. Or New York. Or Greenville. Or wherever. That very well may be the case. But it could also be a cop-out because you like where you live. You have a good job. The school district is safe and has high ratings. Your family lives close by (or perhaps far way, depending on your relationship with them). It makes sense that you are 'called' to be there, right?
"It is true that God may have called you to be exactly where you are. But it's absolutely vital to grasp that He didn't call you there so you could settle in and live out your life in comfort and superficial peace His purposes are not random or arbitrary. If you are still alive on this planet, it's because He has something for you to do. He placed us on this earth for purposes that He orchestrated long before we were born (Eph. 2:8-10). Do you believe you exist not for your own pleasure but to help people know the love of Jesus and to come fully alive in Him? Is so, then that will shape how you live your life in the place where you are."
MAY i BE SO SHAPED, LORD, ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL!
"Did God lead you to where you are? A lot of people in my church and in my travels tell me, 'I believe that God has called me to Simi Valley.' Or Wichita. Or New York. Or Greenville. Or wherever. That very well may be the case. But it could also be a cop-out because you like where you live. You have a good job. The school district is safe and has high ratings. Your family lives close by (or perhaps far way, depending on your relationship with them). It makes sense that you are 'called' to be there, right?
"It is true that God may have called you to be exactly where you are. But it's absolutely vital to grasp that He didn't call you there so you could settle in and live out your life in comfort and superficial peace His purposes are not random or arbitrary. If you are still alive on this planet, it's because He has something for you to do. He placed us on this earth for purposes that He orchestrated long before we were born (Eph. 2:8-10). Do you believe you exist not for your own pleasure but to help people know the love of Jesus and to come fully alive in Him? Is so, then that will shape how you live your life in the place where you are."
MAY i BE SO SHAPED, LORD, ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL!