What is a call of God?

A call of God is an inward desire, compulsion or conviction that God gives us to do a work of ministry for Him. This work of ministry can be anything from teaching to hospitality to foreign missions; it can be for a particular people or place.

A call of God is not anything we can develop on our own. Neither can another person develop it in someone else. Only God calls; and when He calls us, He always makes it crystal clear what He wants us to do; He will provoke us until we do it! An example of this is the prophet Jeremiah, who was called of God to preach; he testifies in 20:9 of what happened when he tried to keep silent: "Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay."

If we are wondering if we are called for a particular task, people, place or ministry because we are feeling a response to an outward appeal, always bring this response to the Lord. If this is what He wants us to do, He will make the call certain; He will burden us to do it, and will bring other people to confirm it. If He has a different work in mind for us, uncertainty will remain. If there is no clear answer in the affirmative, then do not pursue it! Continue to seek His will and what particular work He has for you. He will always place a burden on our hearts, a desire to do what ministry He has for us to do.

Can we miss a call from God? Yes, if we are out of fellowship with Him (we are walking by the flesh and not the Spirit, that is, we are in sin) we will not be able to hear His call. "If I regard iniquity in my heart,The Lord will not hear." (Psalm 66:18)NKJV We can also hear it and choose not to obey it (which is sin and results in misery).

Something to think about

The flesh (our human nature) cannot be reformed, "worked" with, "dealt" with, or
appeased without submitting to it. The only victory obtained in our struggle with
the flesh is to deny it and submit to God.