This week, we’re going to do something different. Each day this week, we will be in the book of Romans for a deeper study. Over the past few days, God has been drawing me in to these specific scriptures and making them come to life like never before. I’m excited to share all of this with you!

Today, we will begin with my favorite verse in Romans. A verse that brings me the greatest comfort in troubles and hope in the future. But, we’re not going to just stop with this one often quoted scripture, we’re going to read the rest of the paragraph for even more. I’m telling you, what God has shown me in this one little paragraph in my bible has had me in a perpetual ah-ha for days.

How many of you would admit you over-complicate things sometimes? You overthink things and make things harder than they really need to be. Today, let’s let God drastically simplify a few things for us so we really get it.

Romans 8:28 (you might know this scripture): “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Other translations put it in terms we can really understand. “We are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good. We have been called to fulfill his designed purpose.”

My sister, EVERY DETAIL of your life becomes part of something good when given to God. He wastes nothing and uses everything. You don’t have to hide those struggles from him … hey, he already knows about them, and yet here he is today still pursuing you. In your hands, those struggles just eat away at your confidence and self-worth. In God’s hands, those struggles become a ministry! They become an open door for God’s power to flow through you! Of course the enemy of your soul wants you to hide in your shame and wallow in your guilt because he knows what will happen if you turn that over to God! He knows every ounce of harm he has thrown your way will be turned on him by God, and it will all be used for good. And this goodness is part of God’s designed purposes for your life!

But, it doesn’t stop there. I usually stop there. I read verse 28 and I’m off searching for my purpose. I’m digging through the bad things in my life and reminding God they’re not good yet. But today, let’s keep reading.

Romans 8: 29 & 30, “For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.”

Woah, that’s a lot. We have an entire waterfall of promises here. Don’t choke on the overflow, let’s get in the flow. One leads to the next, then the next, flowing over our lives and flooding us with hope and assurance. Today, let’s get in the flow and receive everything God is offering us!

This flow begins with those God foreknew. Foreknew means to know before. And honey, God knew you before! He knew you before you achieved any level of success and before you screwed up. He knew you before you got it wrong and before you got it right. He knew you before. You are among the “foreknew”. Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” Oh yes, he definitely knew you BEFORE. He knew you before because he CREATED you with a great purpose in mind.

And with that, the flow over your life begins.

For those he foreknew, he predestined. Do you understand what predestined means? It means you are chosen. YOU. ARE. CHOSEN. God Almighty, the creator of the universe, chose YOU. He wanted you. He knew everything about you and said, “she’s the one I want.” Girl, stop dismissing yourself! You have not been dismissed. God doesn’t regret his choice.

What has he chosen you for? He has chosen you to be conformed to the image of his Son. Now I didn’t know what that meant, and it certainly sounded like something I couldn’t live up to, so I had to dig a little deeper. What it means is God has chosen us to become more and more like Jesus, and ultimately, that means we’re just returning to what we were always meant to be from the beginning. Remember back in Genesis 1:27, “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one. We were always created to bear this image, now God has chosen to bring us back to it.

That feels like pressure to be chosen to represent Jesus. But remember this, you naturally become more like Jesus with each surrender of your own way. When you’re living in the flow, it just flows.

You are chosen to bring life to the room. You are chosen to bring hope to the people. You are chosen to bring love to the table. You are chosen to wash some feet. (Who saw that Super Bowl commercial last night?!!! Go Jesus!). If you’ve been looking for your destiny, here it is. Your destiny is to become more and more like Jesus!

And for those God has created, he has chosen, and for those he has chosen, he has called. And this is where God got me. I am called. You are called. We are called. But, we all want to know to WHAT? Where am I being called? What am I being called to? What is my calling.

Of all the questions I receive, this is probably a top 3. “Pamela, how do I know my calling?” Is that a question you’ve been asking?

Well first, we know you have been called, because you’re in the flow of all of this. God created you. No doubt. Only he could have done that! You aren’t some random accident. You didn’t accidentally form from nothing. Your creator designed you with great intention and knit you together. And because he created you, he chose you. Chose you to become more and more like Jesus and reflect his image. And that means you are no doubt called.

But called to what?

I began studying this word, “called.” And you know what I found? I found we’ve been over-complicating it! We’ve made this a whole lot fussier than it needs to be. Think of it like this … If we were in the store together, but on separate isles and I called out to you, it would be for 2 purposes: First, I’m making it known where I am, and second, I’m leading you towards me. If you’re a mom and you call out your child’s name, they hear you, then they know where you are and they know to just come to you.

And that is precisely what a calling is. To be called by God is two things: God is breaking into your awareness so you know he is there, and he is drawing you toward him.

If you feel “called” toward a new job, that is simply because God is making you aware of his presence and he is drawing you to move toward him. This is how you step right into a new job … you follow the calling. God, I am aware of your presence in the details of my life. I’m moving toward you in faith.

Where do you sense God’s presence? Move in that direction! Ahhhh, so simple.

1 Samuel 3: 1-10 shows us exactly what a calling sounds like and how we’re supposed to respond to it. This chapter in my bible is titled “The Lord Calls Samuel”. I think that’s the chapter you’re at in your life. The Lord is calling you. Oh, yes he is. How do I know? Because he created you and he chose you, and the flow from there is to be called!

Samuel is a young boy and he’s living under the care of his mentor, Eli. It says, “In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel.
Samuel answered, “Here I am.” And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.
Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”
Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

God is making him presence known. He is breaking into your awareness. If you feel God is calling to you, simply say, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.” For real, why would we make it more complicated than that?!!!

When you sense his presence, move toward it. To step into your calling, you simply need to be aware of God and move toward him! You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t have to understand the next 10 steps. You don’t have to see precisely where it’s all leading. You simply ask, “God, is this you? I’m listening.” Then start taking some steps of faith in that direction.

And there’s more great news standing in this overflowing waterfall of God’s goodness. For those he created, he chose. For those he chose, he called. For those he called, he justified. Do you understand what it means to be justified? It means to be made right with God. Not because of anything you have done or could ever do, but because of what God has done for you. You have been made right.

Ahhhhh, yesssssss. Breathe that in. Jesus has brought you into right standings with God. You have been given full access to the throne!

And for those he made right, he also glorified. Yes, we are to bring glory to God, but did you know he also wants to glorify his children? Do you know how he does that? He makes us more like Jesus! He redeems us. Here on earth, to be glorified means we have the privilege of seeing him in everything and being transformed from the inside out. In Heaven that means full redemption of our bodies. Honey, this body will be made glorious after your journey here is complete!

Who’s excited about a new glorious body?!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoop Whoop … it’s coming. It’s promised. Get in the flow.

That’s God’s promise. That’s how this all ends!!!!

Stand under that overflowing waterfall and get in the flow.

The flow begins with:

YOU ARE CREATED.

YOU ARE CHOSEN.

YOU ARE CALLED.

YOU ARE MADE RIGHT.

YOU ARE GLORIFIED.

And God, well he is in every detail of our lives, continually weaving it all together for good. And he’s calling out to his girls. Calling out so we are aware of his presence, and we continually move toward him. Just keep moving toward him. This is living in the flow and fulfilling his designed purpose for your life.

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