Vocation and Career Path - Does God have a personal plan for each Christian?

Korean-American Christian · Aug 11, 2017

I am seeking advice from my CF sisters and brothers.

I am seeking vocation/career path guidance.

Does God have a personal plan for each individual follower of Jesus the Christ?

If the answer is yes, how can a follower of Jesus discern God's personal plan for his or her life?

If the answer is no, what are you reasons for your "No" answer?

I am fully aware that God's personal plan for Jesus followers is that they develop and maintain a close relationship with Jesus as Savior and Lord, that they tell everyone about the Good News of Jesus Christ, and that they actively show the incredible love of Jesus to everyone.

God's personal plan to which I am referring encompasses whether or not God has a personal plan for the individual Christian believer's vocation/career path.

What can I do with an undergraduate university degree in general Social Science?

Please recommend books and resources regarding discernment/Christian decision making

Please recommend books and resources that can help me choose a vocation/career path

Tolworth John · Aug 11, 2017

God's plan is for each of us to know him and to follow him.
As for guidance for a career, do what you are best at or what will enable you to earn a living

Korean-American Christian · Aug 11, 2017

Tolworth John said:
God's plan is for each of us to know him and to follow him. As for guidance for a career, do what you are best at or what will enable you to earn a living

My dear sir, thank you for your response.

How do I know what I am best at?

How do I know the gifts/talents that God has given to me?

TimAM · Aug 11, 2017

I believe that God does have a personal plan for each Christian. But, if they're not walking in step with God, they can miss it. I'm not sure how to explain it, but I've seen God direct my steps to new areas, including in vocational areas (though there's been times I have had to wait for a while).

Have you considered ministry? There are other ministry jobs and career paths out there other than just being a Pastor. There's music ministries, lawn care, facility maintenance, etc. I know a person that works as a facility maintenance person for a Christian charity. Personally, I do lawn care for that same charity. At that same charity, there are case workers, food pantry manager, operations director, etc.

As far as decision making, hang on to this verse:

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths." (NKJV)

As far as discernment goes, I just follow God's plan. There's been times I've made my own plans, but God has directed me elsewhere and showed me His plans and put me on His path. It turns out that His plans are far better than my own. I thank God He directed me away from what I thought I wanted years ago.

A part of discernment is making sure you're walking in step with God and obeying Him like I mentioned above or else you could miss what God has for you.

Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God."

The way I've found how to renew my mind is definitely with the Word of God. This means actually getting into it and understanding it rather than just casually reading and not getting anything out of it.

I'm still trying to figure out the next step in my own life. I don't know it yet, but when the time is right, God will direct me as He always has. Before God directed me to my current vocational areas, He had me in a season of waiting and serving Him in other ways (like volunteering which I'm still doing).

Pray about it and also, I'll pray for you.

Tolworth John · Aug 11, 2017

What are you good at at school or college, where did you gain the highest marks?
Is there a subject or a career that interests you?

Years ago, a son would follow his father into what ever work his father did. Today we have freedom to follow other jobs and careers, but we have to search for one we enjoy or where we can support ourselves ad our families.

Korean-American Christian · Aug 11, 2017

TimAM said:
I believe that God does have a personal plan for each Christian. But, if they're not walking in step with God, they can miss it. Have you considered ministry? There are other ministry jobs and career paths out there other than just being a Pastor. There's music ministries, lawn care, facility maintenance, etc. Pray about it and also, I'll pray for you.

My dear friend, thank so very much for your prayers.

Thank you for informing me that there are other ministry jobs other than being a pastor/ordained Christian minister.

How does God direct you to your next vocation/career?

May our Lord Jesus be with you always

Korean-American Christian · Aug 11, 2017

Tolworth John said:
What are you good at at school or college, where did you gain the highest marks? Is there a subject or a career that interests you? Today we have freedom to follow other jobs and careers, but we have to search for one we enjoy or where we can support ourselves ad our families.

My dear sir, when I was at the university, I gained my highest marks in Psychology courses.

I am still searching for a career path that interests me

What can I do with an undergraduate degree in general Social Science?
(My undergraduate degree was in general Social Science)

Korean-American Christian · Aug 11, 2017

Seek godly counsel. Sometimes, consulting with a friend or family member is enough. At other times, consulting with a pastor or other trusted voice can make the difference between a harmful decision and a helpful one.

Trust the Lord with your decision. In other words, if you’ve make your decision with prayer, sound wisdom, and biblical counsel, trust God for the outcome.

Be willing to admit mistakes and adjust accordingly. In most cases, there is no wisdom in continuing down a wrong path after you have discovered it is wrong. Be willing to admit mistakes or failures and ask God for the grace to change.

What do I do if I miss out on God's personal plan for my vocation/career path?

Korean-American Christian · Aug 11, 2017

You need to consider your own desire. If the Bible is silent about your decision, and if one choice is not clearly wiser than the other, then do what you want. You have the freedom to do so, and God sovereignly works out His plan through your desires.

Any opinions on this?

Korean-American Christian · Aug 11, 2017

Perfectionism paralyzes potential. God has always used imperfect people in imperfect situations to get his will done. Ecclesiastes 11:4 says, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.” You have to trust God and start moving in spite of your problems, fears, and doubts.

Is this true? Do I have to make a vocation/career decision despite my doubts?

Korean-American Christian · Aug 11, 2017

The person who honestly desires God’s guidance — that person will most assuredly receive God’s specific conscious guidance to him

But, HOW do Christian believers receive God's specific guidance?

TimAM · Aug 11, 2017

+How does God direct you to your next vocation/career?

One example is my current lawn mowing job. I started volunteering at that Christian charity and months later, they offered me the job.

+What do I do if I miss out on God's personal plan for my vocation/career path?

I believe with God, it's never too late and He will meet you where you're at and direct you from there.

+God sovereignly works out His plan through your desires.

I believe there's a lot of truth in this. But, it varies I believe... Like, if you have a wrong desire, then obviously God isn't going to work through that. But, if your desire is right, then yes, I believe God can and sometimes does work through that.

+Is this true? Do I have to make a vocation/career decision despite my doubts?

I would not do anything rashly or else you could make a big mess of things. Take your time. However, you do eventually have to make a choice instead of waiting around forever. But, before making a choice, I would commit to A LOT of praying and scripture reading. Don't do anything that is against scripture.

+But, HOW do Christian believers receive God's specific guidance?

In my own life, a lot of times when I have peace about a decision, then I know it is God's will. We do have to be very careful in this area or else we could get a false sense of peace that isn't from God and end up making a wrong decision.

I've also seen obvious opportunities come my way like the mowing job above that I mentioned. I had been praying for a job with that Christian charity, if it was God's will, and when the door opened I knew it was an answer to prayer. There's been other ways. In my other job (which is only occasional at the moment), I had prayed about a certain situation and when that situation occurred like I had hoped, I knew it was an answer and that it was God's will.

So, pray a lot and look for God's peace and His still small voice. Look for open doors and opportunities. Honor God with what He gives you. Don't hide your faith or commit sin. Give a certain portion of money to a cause at His leading (be careful in this if you do this as I have messed up in this area at one time, give the exact amount He tells you and to the place He tells you).

Korean-American Christian · Aug 11, 2017

TimAM said:
In my own life, a lot of times when I have peace about a decision, then I know it is God's will. We do have to be very careful in this area or else we could get a false sense of peace that isn't from God and end up making a wrong decision. So, pray a lot and look for God's peace and His still small voice. Look for open doors and opportunities. Honor God with what He gives you. Don't hide your faith or commit sin. Give a certain portion of money to a cause at His leading (be careful in this if you do this as I have messed up in this area at one time, give the exact amount He tells you and to the place He tells you).

My dear friend, thank you for the very helpful response.

If I make a wrong decision, will God re-direct me?

TimAM · Aug 11, 2017

+If I make a wrong decision, will God re-direct me?

Yes, I believe He will if we seek Him and His guidance and acknowledge Him (like the Proverbs 3:5-6 verse I posted mentions).

Usually, when I make a wrong decision, things do not go right and it gets frustrating. When that starts happening, that may be a big of sign that you've made the wrong decision and God is trying to stop you from going down a wrong (and often harmful) path.

Korean-American Christian · Aug 11, 2017

TimAM said:
Usually, when I make a wrong decision, things do not go right and it gets frustrating. When that starts happening, that may be a big of sign that you've made the wrong decision and God is trying to stop you from going down a wrong (and often harmful) path.

My dear brother, thank you so much for your help!!

Korean-American Christian · Aug 11, 2017

Considering Intuition and Felt Senses

In silent prayer (allow at least 20 minutes), listen to your intuition as individuals around the options you face in answering the question. If you need to walk around or stretch or go outside, please do so.
In silence, listen to your body’s “felt senses.”

Make a note of how your body is leaning on this question. Write about your “gut feelings.”

Is this process Biblical? Why or why not?

LoricaLady · Aug 11, 2017

I am not familiar with the type of social services training you refer to and what jobs would be good to pursue However, as to the question of whether or not He has a plan for everyone, yes, of course.
"Trust in YHWH" aka God "with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

You are already seeking him so that that's great. I would just add that sometimes He leads us and we are not even aware until later what He has done. In fact in the meantime things can look grim.

Korean-American Christian · Aug 11, 2017

LoricaLady said:
However, as to the question of whether or not He has a plan for everyone, yes, of course. "Trust in YHWH" aka God "with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." You are already seeking him so that that's great. I would just add that sometimes He leads us and we are not even aware until later what He has done. In fact in the meantime things can look grim.

My dear sister, thank you for your very helpful response. It is very very helpful to me.

May YHWH bless you abundantly

Vocation and Career Path - Does God have a personal plan for each Christian?

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raised Presbyterian. member of the Nazarene Church

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raised Presbyterian. member of the Nazarene Church

raised Presbyterian. member of the Nazarene Church

raised Presbyterian. member of the Nazarene Church

raised Presbyterian. member of the Nazarene Church

raised Presbyterian. member of the Nazarene Church

raised Presbyterian. member of the Nazarene Church

God fearing and God loving!

raised Presbyterian. member of the Nazarene Church

God fearing and God loving!

raised Presbyterian. member of the Nazarene Church

raised Presbyterian. member of the Nazarene Church

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raised Presbyterian. member of the Nazarene Church

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