Is He Really Lord?

"Joy means the perfect fulfillment of that for which I was created and regenerated, not the successful doing of a thing" -- Oswald.

And for what was I created and regenerated? The Westminster Shorter Catechism states: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever." John Piper says, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him." Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Have I received a ministry from the Lord? Have I? What are the good works God has prepared for me? I am a wife and mother. These are ministries certainly. I need to serve my husband and my children through daily tasks, prayer, devotion, laughter, listening, time. I work for a ministry to the poor and homeless, but is that my ministry? I cannot argue that it is where God has me at present. I am a writer. Is that my ministry? How do I know?

Oswald's answer: "There is no choice of service, only absolute loyalty to our Lord's commission; loyalty to what you discern when you are in closest contact with God."

My assignment: Strive to be in close contact with God. Listen.