How Do I Know What God Wants from Me?

God has not forgotten you - the pastor said - Have you ever looked up in the nighttime sky and wondered if God thinks about you? As a child I used to collect starfish on the beach near grandpa's home in Florida. I learned that a starfish could lose pieces of itself, but heal completely if thrown back into the ocean. That's what God has done and is doing in my life. God took all the broken pieces and made me whole again. It doesn't matter who you are, where you are in your journey, how broken you think you are, God is there for you.

Everyone has a light to shine. God created you with gifts, time and a passion in life for something this is what we call vocation. Nothing is more fulfilling than doing what God designed you to do.

So how do you know what God is asking of you? At I Chose You, we have a saying "What's in your heart? Watch for God's signs, Make it happen!"

First, God speaks in the silence of your heart; only you will hear the whisper. When you go to Church God speaks through Scripture, the homily, after receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. That is why is important that you find time during your day to find some solitude to meditate. God dwells and lives in you.

Second, God speaks through people, events in your life. Grandma used to say that when a door closes another opens, and that is how God works too. When all the doors are being slammed in your face, don't give up; there might be a letter, an email or phone call waiting. Watch for God's signs. And make it happen! Pray, trust and do. When you think that something just happened by chance that's when God decides to remain annonymous.

Begin by recognizing the light that God has given you to shine, not for your own but for God's glory. Then pray "What do you want me to do for you?" (Luke 18:41) Listen to what God is going to say and trust "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25: 46).

Mother Theresa described her strategy to find what God asked of her as praying much, going out and looking for the dying, the cripple, the lonely, the unwanted, the unloved - "Jesus in disguise". It is in serving that we will encounter the living God.

Practice

Take a stand today to be God's instrument. Ok, how do you translate this to real life? Leave your computer, if you never come back to this website but you are able to find fulfillment in your life by serving and encouraging others we have accomplished our goal. Here is a list of 10 ways you can start serving:

1. Make a phone call, a quick call to tell the other person you are thinking about them and praying about their situation.
2. Leave a message, call the person when you know they are not home and let them know how much you care.
3. Send a note on a card; handwritten notes are greatly cherished.
4. Give a gift, something that has meaning to the other person, add a short note.
5. Provide a meal. If you don't have the time or talent to cook just drive through!
6. Complete a task, mow their yard; a little break can mean a lot to a person who is down.
7. Buy a bag or two of groceries; staples such as bread, cereal, peanut butter, canned vegetables, and toiletries are a way to start. Don't forget to add some yummies for the kids, as families may not afford the "extras".
8. Remember an important date; everyone has a birthday, anniversary or other special day. At I Chose You we care about each person in such a way that we have asked the seminarians to pray for you during your birthday or anniversary. If you would like to share this with us email us at esandstad@cdlex.org
9. Attend an event; maybe you know someone who is acting in a play, receiving an award or having a recital.
10. Pray, praying for them is great, praying with them is better.
11. Call everything you do in God's name your ministry. Then you are fulfilling your call to ministry or apostolate from your baptismal commitment.

Do you want to know what God is asking of you to do? Pray, get out, recognize a need, think of an action, act upon that thought. Jesus Christ will transform you and use you for great things. Welcome to your vocation in life.

Pray, trust and do.