Solutions June 2017 | Page 58

why there’s a broken compass on the front of my new book titled Intentional Christian—the ways of searching for a dream job and God’s call as outlined in the products mentioned above are broken. At least they feel broken to me. After all, if one—just one—of the books I’m referring to had answered all of my questions, I wouldn’t have a shelf full of resources on the same topic. If one of those books had—like a working compass—directed my steps to my dream job, I wouldn’t have put a broken compass on the new book or subtitled Intentional Christian, “What to do when you don’t know what to do!” Many of us don’t know what to do. So if you’re in the same boat—if you’re searching for a dream job and God’s will for your life—here are a few things I would ask you to consider. 1. Separate the search for a dream job and the will of God. They are not the same thing. Here’s one example, check out 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (ESV). Notice that God’s will for our lives is not a calling to a specific job, but is a calling to live a certain way. There are more of these verses, and in Intentional Christian we examine more passages that describe God’s will and calling for your life. Here’s the interesting thing: none of the verses describe a specific job. Instead, all of them could apply to any job. 2. Focus on living out the will of God, first, and trust that God will direct your steps. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Proverbs 16:9, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (NKJV). We are 58 Solutions not called to the pursuit of a dream job, we are called to follow God. It’s okay to plan our way, but ultimately God will be the one who directs us to whatever job—or jobs—we should have. So instead of spending so much energy trying to discover a dream job, focus on living out the will of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let God direct your steps because then you will end up where He wants you to be. Daniel Ryan Day is an author, speaker, blogger who spent quite a few years trying to figure out God’s call on his life. His search for answers—accompanied by the pursuit of a master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary—led him to discover that God reveals every Christian’s broader calling within the pages of Scripture. Daniel attempts to live out intentional Christianity in North Carolina, as a husband, father, and businessman.