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The Principle of Calling

ByMarques Clark

Calling is the personal invitation to use your gifts, experiences, and influence to serve others and fulfill the unique role you were created to play in God’s bigger plan.

Living Without This Principle

When you live without a sense of calling, life feels uncertain or directionless. You may bounce from job to job, relationship to relationship, or idea to idea—always busy but rarely fulfilled. You might feel the pressure to impress others while quietly wondering if you’re doing what you were actually made for. Without calling, it’s easy to feel like you’re behind in life, out of place, or unsure if your work really matters. You drift, compare, or stay stuck because you don’t know where you truly belong.

What This Principle Unlocks

Calling gives your life meaning, clarity, and momentum. It connects your gifts, passions, and story to something greater than yourself. You stop living by default and start living by design. Calling shows you where to focus your energy, how to serve others, and when to step out in faith. It helps you resist comparison and embrace your role—because when you know you’re called, you stop competing and start contributing. You live with purpose, confidence, and joy.

Hebrew and Greek Root Words

  • Hebrew: qara (קָרָא) – to call, summon, invite, or name; implies being marked for a purpose or set apart.
  • Greek: kletos (κλητός) – called, invited, or appointed; from kaleo, meaning to call forth or invite someone into something meaningful.

Bible Verses on Calling

Calling isn’t just about what you do—it’s about who you are becoming. You’re not just picked to perform; you’re invited into a relationship, a purpose, and a mission that’s bigger than your job title. Your calling is where your identity meets your impact.

  • Romans 8:30: “And those he predestined, he also called (kletos); those he called (kletos), he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
  • 1 Corinthians 1:2: “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called (kletos) to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours.”
  • 2 Timothy 1:9: “He has saved us and called (kaleo) us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”
  • Romans 1:6: “And you also are among those Gentiles who are called (kletos) to belong to Jesus Christ.”
  • Isaiah 49:1: “Before I was born the Lord called (qara) me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.”
  • Exodus 3:4: “When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called (qara) to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’”
  • Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed (qara) you as a prophet to the nations.”

Examples of People in the Bible Who Used This Principle

  • Moses – Called from a burning bush to lead a nation, Moses didn’t feel qualified, but God’s call came with God’s power (Exodus 3:4–12).
  • Jeremiah – Even before birth, God called Jeremiah to be a prophet. Though young and insecure, his calling shaped nations (Jeremiah 1:5–10).
  • Paul – Once a persecutor of Christians, Paul’s life was radically redirected by a divine call to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (Romans 1:1; Acts 9:15).

Tips for Using the Principle of Calling

  1. Look at what energizes you—your calling often lives where passion meets impact.
  2. Don’t confuse your job with your calling—your career may change, but your calling stays rooted in who you are.
  3. Ask, “Who am I uniquely positioned to serve?”—your story equips you to reach specific people.
  4. Start where you are—calling is often revealed as you move, not while you wait.
  5. Don’t chase titles—calling is about faithfulness, not fame.
  6. When doors open or close, ask, “Does this align with what I’m called to do?”
  7. Keep listening—calling deepens with time and clarity grows with obedience.

Connected Principle: Purpose

Purpose is the bigger picture that calling fits into. Purpose answers the question, “Why was I created?” Calling answers, “What am I here to do with what I’ve been given?” While purpose is the foundation, calling is the personal assignment—how your unique gifts, timing, and story serve something greater. When you understand your calling, you begin to live your purpose with focus, courage, and intentionality.

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