As of today I have exactly a month before my first day in Chicago, August 18th is the date that orientation starts. As I look forward to what is coming, I am so glad for the journey that God is taking me on.
It was when I was in eighth grade that I first started thinking God had more for me in my life that I originally thought. Up to that point I hadn’t considered my future too seriously, other than to think I wanted to be a teacher or basketball coach.
As I moved into my freshman year of high school, my walk with God began to deepen and grow. I began to realize that my future was not really mine, but God’s, and my job was to figure out what He wanted me to do with it.
I didn’t feel a direct calling until I started considering ministry as an option for my future. As my love for Christ grew, my desire to live for Him and share Him also grew. I can’t remember a particular instance that changed my thinking, but I do know that somewhere in my sophomore year of high school I knew that God wanted me to give Him my life and become a pastor. I felt Him press on me youth ministry in particular.
As believers there are certain things all of us are commanded to do, one of these being surrendering our lives to Christ and His control. Not everybody is called into full time or part time vocational ministry; however all of us are called to be ministers to those around us. We are commanded to share Christ’s love, we are commanded to share the gospel. We are commanded to give our hearts, soul, mind and strength to God. I felt a particular calling from God to be in full time ministry, in a church, as a pastor. I believe that more young believers should seek God to see if ministry is where they’re called.
Through high school God did nothing but confirm for me my calling. He combined my passion for youth, and love for Him. God didn’t give me a desire to be with and teach youth, and not want me to use it. He has given me my desires and abilities for His glory and His kingdom. Right now, I’m sure that this is what God wants for me. If in the future I feel differently then I am open and ready to follow His voice where he leads me. Everything I have is from God, and so I owe everything back to Him. He is the leader of my life, and I will follow God.
Eventually my choices for colleges came down to Bethlehem Baptist College in Minnesota, Crown College, Moody Bible Institute, or the University of Montana. I visited each school, spent time studying them, and prayed fervently for God to show me where He wanted me to go. I had a deadline of May 1st because of scholarship options and admissions deadlines. Daily I asked God to show me where to go, and daily nothing happened.
I began to think that God would never show me, and I’d have to make the decision by myself, which didn’t make sense to me because all I wanted to do was follow His will wherever it was. I couldn’t understand why God wouldn’t just show me where to go.
It was the morning of April 24th that God spoke to me. I was having a quiet time and felt the Holy Spirit put Moody Bible Institute on my heart. I told God that I would follow His voice.
Within the next two weeks of my decision God confirmed my choice several times over through things that happened in my life such as generous support from friends and family, and confirmation through prayer and His word. Sometimes God waits for us to make a step of faith, before confirming it in our lives. I am sure now, that Chicago is where God is leading me. I can’t wait to see what He has in store for me.
To Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever amen.
