Calling and Purpose 5--Deborah
Threads of calling and purpose can be seen in the roles you play—past and present. Consider the example of Deborah in the book of Judges. We are told that Deborah’s roles included:
· Prophet (Judges 4:4).
· Wife (Judges 4:4).
· Leading Israel (some translations say judging Israel) (Judges 4:4).
· Holding court, deciding disputes for the Israelites (Judges 4:5).
· Giving advice and guidance to the leader of the Israelite army (Judges 5:6-9, 14).
· Bolstering the courage of the army leader (Judges 5:8-10).
· Riding with the army into battle (Judges 5:10).
· Writer and singer of praise and worship song (Judges 5).
· A mother in Israel (some translations say a mother to Israel) (Judges 5:7).
· Her leadership represents a turning point for the people to defend themselves from oppression (Judges 5:7).
The result of God’s guiding and Deborah’s faithful, wise, God-gifted leadership? “Then the land had peace forty years”(Judges 5:31).
Think about the roles you play—as a family member, a worker, a part of a community, a citizen of a nation. Add your gifts—do you have prophecy and leadership like Deborah or an entirely different mix of gifts? What does your mix of gifts tell you about your purpose? When you add your gifts to your context, how does that perhaps help you see your calling and purpose more clearly?
If you are unclear on which spiritual gifts God has bestowed on you, take the free online Spiritual Gifts Assessment on GodGiftsYou.com.
Read more:
· Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog: https://godgiftsyou.com/blog/
· Downloadable Resources: https://godgiftsyou.com/resources/
o See Sample List of Interest Areas; Your Spiritual Gifts—A Study Guide; Knowing Your Unique Calling and Purpose Study Guide; Whole-Life Ministry: A Form of Worship, Grace-Giving, and Living into Your Calling.
Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and law enforcement leadership for over 30 years. Shirley has been EquipConnectServe Director at First Pres Boulder since 1999. She has worked with leaders and organizations in 47 of the United States as well as having clients outside the U.S. Contact Shirley.