Embracing God’s Fresh Call
Have you ever felt like your spiritual life has become stagnant? Do you find yourself longing for the "good old days" of your faith journey, wondering if God can still use you in powerful ways? The truth is, every believer has an anointing – a special empowerment from the Holy Spirit. But how we respond to that anointing can determine whether we're living in yesterday's faded glory or stepping into the fresh call God has for us today.
The concept of "anointing" has often been misunderstood in Christian circles. Some view it as a mystical state reserved only for super-spiritual leaders or those with public ministries. However, this limited view misses a fundamental biblical truth: every believer has an anointing because the Holy Spirit lives within them. This indwelling presence isn't limited to one denomination or another – it's the birthright of all who put their faith in Christ.
While we all have an anointing, it's clear that some believers seem to operate in it more powerfully than others. This isn't about favoritism, but rather about how we position ourselves to receive and steward what God wants to do through us. Two key factors determine the degree of our anointing: faith and faithfulness.
Faith opens the door for God to work miraculously in and through us. The more we trust Him, even when it doesn't make sense, the more we'll see His power manifested. Faithfulness, or obedience, creates a track record of reliability that God can build upon. As we prove faithful in small things, He entrusts us with greater responsibilities and opportunities.
One of the biggest obstacles to walking in a fresh anointing is our tendency to look backward. We get stuck in nostalgia, constantly reminiscing about past revivals or powerful encounters with God. While it's good to remember what God has done, we can't camp there. Jesus addressed this very issue when He spoke about new wine and old wineskins (Luke 5:37-39). He pointed out how people often prefer the familiar taste of old wine, even when something new and potentially better is offered.
This preference for the old and familiar can keep us from embracing the new things God wants to do. We might cling to certain worship styles, preaching methods, or ministry approaches simply because they're comfortable – not because they're the most effective for reaching people today. God is always doing a new thing, and He invites us to join Him in that fresh work.
Another reason we miss out on today's anointing is our discomfort with being singled out. When God calls us to step out in faith, often in ways no one else around us is doing, it's natural to feel exposed and vulnerable. We see this illustrated beautifully in a conversation between Jesus and Peter, recorded in John 21.
After His resurrection, Jesus reinstates Peter and gives him a sobering prophecy about how his life of ministry will end. Peter's immediate response is to look at John and ask, "What about him, Lord?" It's so human – when God puts His finger on our hearts, calling us to something challenging, we often try to deflect or compare our calling to others.
Jesus' response is gentle but firm: "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me." (John 21:22) This exchange teaches us a crucial lesson: God's call on our lives is personal. We can't base our obedience on what He's asking of others or whether we'll have company on the journey. Sometimes, stepping into a fresh anointing means being willing to go alone, trusting that God is with us even when no one else understands.
God rarely calls us to remain in our comfort zones. In fact, He seems to delight in stretching us beyond what we think we're capable of handling. This isn't to frustrate us, but to position us where we must rely fully on His strength and guidance. It's in those moments of feeling desperately inadequate that we often experience the most profound moves of God's Spirit through us.
The beautiful truth is that when God calls us out of our comfort zones, we're never truly alone. His Spirit lives within us, empowering and enabling us to do what He's called us to do. Nothing is too difficult for Him, and He delights in working through yielded vessels who say "yes" even when they don't have all the answers.
So how do we position ourselves to walk in a fresh anointing? It starts with honest self-reflection. Have we allowed sin to misalign our hearts from God's will? If so, repentance is the first step. The Holy Spirit's conviction isn't meant to condemn us, but to realign us with God's purposes.
Perhaps you're not dealing with outright sin, but you've allowed doubt, fear, or simple reluctance to hold you back from what God is calling you to do. Remember Peter walking on the water – he wasn't the only disciple who could have joined Jesus, but he was the only one who asked. Sometimes, experiencing God's power in fresh ways is simply a matter of being willing to step out of the boat.
Ultimately, walking in today's anointing comes down to surrender. It's saying "yes" to God's will, His way, and His timing – even when it doesn't match our carefully laid plans. It's looking into the eyes of Jesus, seeing His love and grace, and responding with a wholehearted, "Here I am, Lord. Send me."
As you reflect on these truths, ask yourself:
- Am I living in yesterday's anointing, or am I open to the fresh thing God wants to do?
- What comfort zones might God be calling me to step out of?
- Am I willing to say "yes" to God, even if it means going where no one else around me is going?
Today can be the day you experience a renewed outpouring of God's Spirit in your life. Open your heart wide to Him. Surrender your plans, your fears, and your excuses. Say "yes" to the adventure of following Jesus into the unknown, trusting that His anointing will be more than enough for whatever lies ahead.
The concept of "anointing" has often been misunderstood in Christian circles. Some view it as a mystical state reserved only for super-spiritual leaders or those with public ministries. However, this limited view misses a fundamental biblical truth: every believer has an anointing because the Holy Spirit lives within them. This indwelling presence isn't limited to one denomination or another – it's the birthright of all who put their faith in Christ.
While we all have an anointing, it's clear that some believers seem to operate in it more powerfully than others. This isn't about favoritism, but rather about how we position ourselves to receive and steward what God wants to do through us. Two key factors determine the degree of our anointing: faith and faithfulness.
Faith opens the door for God to work miraculously in and through us. The more we trust Him, even when it doesn't make sense, the more we'll see His power manifested. Faithfulness, or obedience, creates a track record of reliability that God can build upon. As we prove faithful in small things, He entrusts us with greater responsibilities and opportunities.
One of the biggest obstacles to walking in a fresh anointing is our tendency to look backward. We get stuck in nostalgia, constantly reminiscing about past revivals or powerful encounters with God. While it's good to remember what God has done, we can't camp there. Jesus addressed this very issue when He spoke about new wine and old wineskins (Luke 5:37-39). He pointed out how people often prefer the familiar taste of old wine, even when something new and potentially better is offered.
This preference for the old and familiar can keep us from embracing the new things God wants to do. We might cling to certain worship styles, preaching methods, or ministry approaches simply because they're comfortable – not because they're the most effective for reaching people today. God is always doing a new thing, and He invites us to join Him in that fresh work.
Another reason we miss out on today's anointing is our discomfort with being singled out. When God calls us to step out in faith, often in ways no one else around us is doing, it's natural to feel exposed and vulnerable. We see this illustrated beautifully in a conversation between Jesus and Peter, recorded in John 21.
After His resurrection, Jesus reinstates Peter and gives him a sobering prophecy about how his life of ministry will end. Peter's immediate response is to look at John and ask, "What about him, Lord?" It's so human – when God puts His finger on our hearts, calling us to something challenging, we often try to deflect or compare our calling to others.
Jesus' response is gentle but firm: "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me." (John 21:22) This exchange teaches us a crucial lesson: God's call on our lives is personal. We can't base our obedience on what He's asking of others or whether we'll have company on the journey. Sometimes, stepping into a fresh anointing means being willing to go alone, trusting that God is with us even when no one else understands.
God rarely calls us to remain in our comfort zones. In fact, He seems to delight in stretching us beyond what we think we're capable of handling. This isn't to frustrate us, but to position us where we must rely fully on His strength and guidance. It's in those moments of feeling desperately inadequate that we often experience the most profound moves of God's Spirit through us.
The beautiful truth is that when God calls us out of our comfort zones, we're never truly alone. His Spirit lives within us, empowering and enabling us to do what He's called us to do. Nothing is too difficult for Him, and He delights in working through yielded vessels who say "yes" even when they don't have all the answers.
So how do we position ourselves to walk in a fresh anointing? It starts with honest self-reflection. Have we allowed sin to misalign our hearts from God's will? If so, repentance is the first step. The Holy Spirit's conviction isn't meant to condemn us, but to realign us with God's purposes.
Perhaps you're not dealing with outright sin, but you've allowed doubt, fear, or simple reluctance to hold you back from what God is calling you to do. Remember Peter walking on the water – he wasn't the only disciple who could have joined Jesus, but he was the only one who asked. Sometimes, experiencing God's power in fresh ways is simply a matter of being willing to step out of the boat.
Ultimately, walking in today's anointing comes down to surrender. It's saying "yes" to God's will, His way, and His timing – even when it doesn't match our carefully laid plans. It's looking into the eyes of Jesus, seeing His love and grace, and responding with a wholehearted, "Here I am, Lord. Send me."
As you reflect on these truths, ask yourself:
- Am I living in yesterday's anointing, or am I open to the fresh thing God wants to do?
- What comfort zones might God be calling me to step out of?
- Am I willing to say "yes" to God, even if it means going where no one else around me is going?
Today can be the day you experience a renewed outpouring of God's Spirit in your life. Open your heart wide to Him. Surrender your plans, your fears, and your excuses. Say "yes" to the adventure of following Jesus into the unknown, trusting that His anointing will be more than enough for whatever lies ahead.
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