Great Shoe Designers Have Great Soles

Master Shoe Designers Have Good Soles

Each of us is being called every day. Many different things are calling us. Some will be answered and some will not be answered. Some won’t even be heard. Some calls no one will answer.

There are many different kinds of calls. The call that has been on my mind is the calling of God in my life. I can only hear that call if I am “in tune” to Him. I must have His nature in me to hear that call. “The call is the expression of the nature of the One who calls, and we can only recognize the call if that same nature is in us.” (Henry Blackaby) To me, when God calls me to do something, it is a gift from Him coming from a passion in my heart that He has placed there that motivates me into action. It is usually something that takes me out of my comfort zone making me uncomfortable.

I think the calling of God is exclusive between each one of us and Him. It is NOT a conference call between you, Him and others. He may call more than one person to a specific thing to be done together but it is still a one-on-one calling between you and Him. You don’t need to ask another person for an opinion on your calling but you can get a confirmation from another person. We need to learn to hear from God directly and not indirectly through others.

We’ve all had a new pair of shoes. “New” shoes are new to us because we have not had them before. We either paid for them or someone gave them to us but they are new to us. A calling is like a new pair of shoes. It is new to us. We have the ability to purchase them because of what God has done for us. Or, He gave them to us as a gift. He will never take them up and He will never take His calling back. “For God’s gifts and His call can never be withdrawn.” Rom. 11:29

A new pair of shoes can sound wonderful and even look good but a new pair of shoes is usually uncomfortable. When God calls us to something new, it can make us uncomfortable AT FIRST. As you get moving, your calling becomes more comfortable. The newness of the shoes won’t last forever. Most of the time, God’s calling in our life is for a season but He can call us for something new whenever He chooses. Comfortable shoes become worn and unusable and will eventually need to become “new” again. We, too, become comfortable and we are not as usable by Him then. We need a calling renewed or a totally new calling for a new season.

New shoes are a necessity. New callings and seasons in our lives are a necessity. New shoes are a necessity for walking longer and farther. God’s voice calling us is necessary for us to walk longer with Him and farther than we’ve ever been before. “Stay on the path that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow. You will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to occupy.” Deut. 5:33

New shoes make a statement about the designer and about you. Does your calling make a statement about your designer, God? Do they make a statement about you and your walk?

Who or what is calling you today? “Lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.” Eph. 4:1