Seek, Find, Pursue: Knowing and Following God’S Calling

By Jenny Deptuch

We know that God has a purpose for each of us. However, knowing exactly what He wants us to do can oftentimes be unclear.

In Seek, Find, Pursue, well examine the lives of people whose stories are recorded in the book of Acts. Just like us, these people struggled to know and live for Gods purpose, and their stories will help us discover how we can:

• Seek Gods calling

• Find what He wants us to do

• Pursue His calling for us

Well gain a clearer understanding of Gods will for our lives and His purpose for each of us individually. And by knowing and following Gods calling, well experience the confidence, peace, and fulfillment that He desires for every one of us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 31, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490862828

Jenny Deptuch

Jenny Deptuch is a ministry director, Bible teacher, and retreat leader. Having taught people of all ages about the Bible for over 15 years, she enjoys speaking to youth groups, college students, and adults about applying God’s Word to daily living. She lives in Helotes, Texas, and works full time as a software marketing manager in the healthcare industry. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, planting cactus, and walking her dogs.

Book preview

Seek,

Find,

Pursue

Knowing and Following God’s Calling

Jenny Deptuch

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Copyright © 2014 Jenny Deptuch.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV). Copyright © 2001, 2003 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV). Copyright © 1972 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV). Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-6283-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-6282-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014921922

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/29/2015

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Prepare for Your Calling

Think About the Tools God Has Given You

Look for Needs You Can Meet

Turn Your Trials into Opportunities

Use Your Big Breaks

Qualify for Your Calling

Put Your Life into It

Consider Your Motives

Live in Obedience to God

Think Outside the Box

Be Prepared to Share Your Faith

Seek God During Uncertainty

Keep Trying

Get Others Involved

Set the Record Straight

Have a Good Attitude

Waste No Time

Train Up Others

Remove the Distractions

Finish What You Started

Ignore Your Fears

Don’t Delay

Take Courage and Press On

Know When to Pursue a Different Calling

Rely on God’s Timing

Be a Fool for Christ

Remember the Small Stuff

Navigate the Roadblocks

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, thank You, God, for Your patience, for Your unending love, and for being my inspiration. On the days when I didn’t know what to write, You gave me the words.

I’m also thankful for those in the early church who endured so many trials, persecutions, and oppositions for their faith but continued to live for Christ regardless. Their endurance, passion, and efforts set the stage for me to know about Jesus and to understand the importance of faithfully following His calling.

Thank you to my parents and brother Matt for spending countless hours editing and reviewing this manuscript. Your time, wisdom, and attention to detail were such a blessing to me, and I am certain that God will use your efforts to strengthen others in their faith.

I’m also grateful to my brothers and sisters in Christ for your support. You are my family, my home away from home, and your enthusiasm for the Lord is truly energizing.

And last but certainly not least, thank you to everyone who has been my Sunday school teacher, youth ministry leader, pastor, or mentor. This book is the result of all your planting and watering of God’s Holy Word into my life.

Introduction

Is there something more than this? You may have asked yourself that question and pondered possible answers.

What exactly does God have in mind for my life? You may have thought of possibilities but found that the true answer still eludes you.

How do I know if this is what God is calling me to? Although you think you know the answer, you want to be sure so you don’t pursue something that is a dead-end road.

What led you to this book? Are you overshadowed with the monotony of life and looking for a way to bring more meaning into it? Do you feel that spiritually you are going through the motions and want to take your relationship with Christ to a new level? Perhaps you don’t know Christ at all but know that you don’t like where you’ve been and desperately want something more for your life.

Whatever your reason may be, we have all come here for the same one. The way we’ve been living is no longer good enough, and we are seeking a greater sense of purpose. Indeed, all of God’s creation was made with a purpose. In Isaiah 55:10–11, God tells us,

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

If God has created rain and snow with a specific purpose, how much more so has He created us with a specific purpose? God did not create anything or anyone simply because He felt like it; as verse 11 reminds us, God creates all things with an expectation that each part of creation will accomplish what He desires. Psalm 139:13–16 provides further emphasis that God has a specific purpose for us in mind.

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.

Before each