Guard What Has Been Entrusted to You

By Gisela Yohannan

I was saved and called by the Lord during a two-week youth vacation held by a church that was 350 kilometers from my village. It was impossible for me to attend that church more than maybe once a year. In addition, I was very shy and not at all used to sharing my heart with anyone.

When I returned to my home, I had so many questions about my salvation as well as everything else. I decided to write them in a letter to the pastor who had led me to the Lord. A few days later he replied, and I was so grateful. He and his wife continued to pray for me. Whenever I had trouble with my new faith, I wrote another letter. He always wrote back within two or three days—I could count on it. He would share Bible verses, correct me and give me advice.

When I told this pastor that the Lord had called me for missions, he took it very seriously. One day he wrote some advice in his letter that became the greatest help for me in making the right choices and decisions. This is what he wrote: “Your call must come first in your life, above everything else, including job, friendships and marriage.”

I accepted his advice, and I began to consciously live with it in mind. I discovered it to be the best protection from traps, sins and detours.

Practically, this meant for me that everything needed to line up with and further this call; otherwise, I must gladly give it up, regardless of the cost. This principle determined the places I would go, which friendships I could have, how I would spend my time, what I allowed my eyes to see and even my future plans for marriage.

I remember well the yearly high school parties and functions our whole class was required to attend. Part of the program didn’t line up with the convictions I had about my life and call. Knowing the embarrassment I would cause myself, I refused to participate in certain activities as the only one in my class.

My father took me and my sister to some of the social events of his club. It was important to him that we would be well-equipped to move within our society according to Western culture.

One night, on the way home from such an event, I sat in the backseat of our car, looking out the window and thinking about the evening. It had been fun.

At that moment, the Lord began to speak to me in my heart. He said, “If you take part in this kind of lifestyle, it will take away your interest from Me and from your call. Your heart will be divided.”

Right there in the car, I made the decision to no longer go to these social events so my heart could focus on the purpose for which God had called me. I was not even 15 years old then, and I remained firm in my decision, even if it was impossible for my family to understand some of my new “ideas.”

Later, at nursing school, I had two roommates. They were nice, but their lifestyles and principles were not the same as mine. Among other things, both read magazines that were quite worldly and questionable. Because they left stacks of them on our table, I also began to look at those pictures and read some of the articles.

Again, the Lord reminded me that I must put my call first in my life, and therefore, I could not allow my mind to be filled with those things. That day, I decided that I would not touch those magazines again; and by God’s grace, I didn’t, even though they sat around our room for the next three years.

Because I had to consider God’s call first, I knew I never could marry an unbeliever, just a “normal” believer or even a pastor. The only person I could marry would be someone whom God had called for foreign missions. That eliminated almost everyone. I was aware that I had to walk so carefully—I couldn’t waste my life. I had to wait for God’s choice and be willing to stay alone rather than make a fatal mistake and jeopardize my call.

Paul wrote to Timothy, “Guard what has been entrusted to you” (1 Timothy 6:20).

God actually entrusted Timothy with many things. One of these was his call to the ministry. The job of guarding, according to Paul’s writing, was obviously not just heaven’s business but very much Timothy’s as well!

In the same way, your call is entrusted to you, and you must guard it. How can this be done? Accept safety limits, such as the advice I received, or set them up yourself. Believe me, it is hard enough to learn to be guided by the Spirit. Safety limits and boundaries are a great help to keep us going in the right direction.

From experience, I can tell you that the knowledge of God’s call on my life and my decision to put it first became the greatest protection for me as I grew up, waiting for the day when I could finally leave my home and begin to carry out the plan He had for me.’

=====

Excerpted from Gisela Yohannan, Consider Your Call (Carrollton, TX: gfa books, 1994).

Gisela Yohannan serves the Lord along with her husband, KP Yohannan, who is the founder and director of Gospel for Asia. She is the author of four well-known books: Broken for a Purpose, Consider Your Call, Dear Sister and Let Me Walk With You. Gisela’s life and commitment to the Lord are a challenge and encouragement to many.

If you would like to have Gisela Yohannan speak at your women’s retreat or conference, email church@gfa.org or give us a call at 1-877-300-7878. Examples of her messages can be heard here.

=====

Click here, to read more articles on Patheos by Dr. KP Yohannan Metropolitan.

Go here to know more about Dr. KP Yohannan: GoodReads | Radio | Amazon