Knowing God's Will

“Do not love the world not the things in the world.
 If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life,
is not from the Father, but is from the world. 
The world is passing away, and also its lusts;
but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”
 
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ,
keep seeking the things above,
where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 
Set you mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”
1 John 2:15-17 and Colossians 3:1-2

So the question is “How?”  How do we set our minds on the things of God and not on the things of this earth when needs have to be met, careers have to be worked out, children have to be raised, etc…  the key is in 1 John 2:17 – “…but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”  So what is the will of God and how do I discern it?  First, we ask the Holy Spirit to guide us and teach us and illuminate the Scriptures for us.  Then we spend time studying the Word of God, seeking for His moral will.  God’s will can be broken down into two categories.  God’s moral will and God’s individual will.  The moral will is universal and laid down in Scripture for us all.  The individual will is the plan and purpose that God has for each of our lives individually. 

Jesus tells us in John that when we follow His commandments (moral will) then we will find joy.  He goes on to explain that we must abide in the word, in Him, and in God in order to follow those commandments.  In other words, He knows that we cannot be perfect and that we can only follow the commands through the power given to us by the Holy Spirit.  We tap into that power through the relationship with God.  As we walk in the moral will of God, seek a relationship with God through prayer and praise, then God leads us to His individual will for our lives.  He usually does this one step at a time.  I love lists.  I wish God would just  write it down, hand it to me and let me check off the boxes.  But lists do not require a relationship!  I must walk closely with God to discern His will for me. 

Sometimes, God has hit me over the head with a two-by-four (not literally), by someone speaking or by something I am reading.  These times stand out as real life changers.  One Christmas, as I was wrestling with my relationship with God as my Father and what that looked like, I was sent to my knees in praise and adoration through the song, “Little Drummer Boy” while at a Christmas program.  Another time, God led me to accept His direction of moving to another state through a book that I was reading.  Still other times, I clearly heard God’s voice in my heart telling me to let something go and to trust Him.  He often uses Scripture that I have memorized to remind me of His sufficiency and to lead me to an action.  “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

When we are abiding with Christ and studying His word, then God can speak to us, and we can know the direction that He is leading.  If it is still unclear, we have learned to keep doing what we are doing until we know that God is calling us to change direction.  My husband gives the illustration that it is easier to change direction of a moving vehicle than the direction of one sitting still.  So, we keep moving, doing what we feel God has called us to and knowing that He is able to get our attention and lead us in a different direction at His bidding.  Think of Abraham, Joseph, Paul, and others.  They were not on their knees begging for God to reveal His will.  No, they were living life the best they knew how (even Paul/Saul was killing Christians thinking that he was pleasing God.)  God was able to get their attention when He had a purpose for them to change direction.  So, live according to the moral word of God (confessing and accepting total forgiveness when you mess up).  Seek a right relationship with God – be growing and becoming holy before God, and He will let you know what He wants you to do.

It is easy to look at the world, and other people, and to desire what is of this world, but God says to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and He will provide all that you need.  This has been so true for us throughout our lives.  My husband and I just celebrated our 29^th anniversary.  We spent time remembering God’s awesome guidance in our lives; the growth in areas of relationship with God; our growth in the fruit of the Spirit; and the wonderful adventures that we have had following Him. 

Success for the Christian is not a big house, money, greatness, or fame, but rather success for a Christian is obedience to the will of God both  morally and individually.  And in obedience is joy and peace and hope.

 

“In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge;
Let me never be ashamed;
In Your righteousness deliver me.

Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly;

Be to me a rock of strength,
A stronghold to save me.

For You are my rock and my fortress;

For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.

You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me

For You are my strength.
Into You hand I commit my spirit’
You have ransomed me, O Lord, God of truth.”
Psalm 31:1-5

Lean on the Rock.  Keep leaning on the Rock.  Then lean some more!  David is asking God to incline His ear to hear him.  This means that David was calling out to God.  Call out.  Be on your knees.  He will rescue you.  And not only from the secretly laid nets of others, but farther on in verse 10, David admits that he is also crying out because of his own iniquities.  Remember 1 John 1:9 and be quick to repent and call out to God.  Be restored to that relationship and know that God hears you and will lift you up.  He is also our fortress.  A place of refuge and safety.  A place of peace and quiet in the midst.  Go to Him in the midst.  Spend time and find peace. 

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11

 

No Offense Meant

These blogs are a compilation of verses that I send to my own children each day.  Now that list also includes daughters-in-law and friends. 

 

I have struggled with writing the verse of the day because it seems that each verse that I choose could offend someone.  That is not my intent.  Rather, I am hoping to encourage, uplift and love you through these emails.  If you are offended by any of my emails, please know that that was never my intention and that I don’t write any of them pointedly for any one of you.  I am choosing to keep sending them, because God’s word is truth and only by the word of God will you be transformed into the young men and women that God would have you to be for all of eternity.  Please forgive me if any chosen verse offends and then check your heart and see if the Holy Spirit would have you learn from that verse.  Most of all, know that I love you.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,

that He may exalt you at the proper time,
casting all your anxiety on Him,
because He cares for you. 

Be of sober spirit,

be on the alert. 
Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour….

After you have suffered for a little while,

the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”
1 Peter 5:6-10

 

Christian Success

“Submit therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…”
James 4:7-8

 Success in the Christian life is obedience.  Once you know what God is asking you to do, move heaven and hell to do it.  And you just may have to!  But these verses tell us that we have the power that we need.  “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  Tell Satan, “No, Get out of my way!”  And he will.

 The best way to know God’s will and direction is to draw near to Him.  Seek Him.  Abide in God and His word.  Be in prayer and praise.  Live your life obeying what you know.  If God has something else for you, He will make it clear to you.  Abraham was living among pagan moon worshipers in Sumer when God called him out.  Paul was murdering Christians when God called to him.  Again and again in Scriptures we see men living righteously before God and God letting them know when He has a directive for them.  Don’t worry about missing God’s will in your life.  Life with integrity and according to the Scriptures and if and when God needs you, He is big enough to let you know.  Decide now that when God calls, you will follow.  That is true success.

Remember that God is more interested in your character development than in your comfort.  Character is for eternity; comfort is but for the moment.  We will be judging angels in heaven (1 Corinthians 6:1-3).  The maturity we gain here on earth is to prepare us for our eternal destiny.  Let God have His way in your life now, and wait for the reward in heaven.

 

Perfection!

 “Now the Lord is the Spirit,

 and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
 But we all…are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory,
 just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:5,17,18.

The place to begin is on our knees understanding and claiming that we are not adequate, but that our God is!   Then through Bible reading, prayer, and holy living we will be transformed.  God is transforming our character and inner  man with eternity in mind.  He has jobs for us there that will require the maturity of our souls.  There is much liberty since we are not under law, but use your liberty to make wise decisions about your time and activities that God might be glorified.  Give yourself much grace and know that “We are all in process, and that’s okay!”  Perfection will come when we get to heaven!

 

My Prayer for You

“To this end also we pray for you always,
That our God will count you worthy of your calling,
And fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power,
So that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you,
And you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 1:11-12

What is your calling?  For Billy Graham it was a call to evangelism.  For a little girl that I met in Springfield, MO it is to give her big beautiful smile to everyone she meets.  For now my calling is to be faithful in my writing and speaking and in hosting students for the holidays.   What has God called you to do in this stage of your life?  Whatever that calling is, be faithful to it that God might count you worthy to fulfill that which He has given you to do.  And, remember that He has equipped you to do what He has called you to (Hebrews 13:20-21).  God will also fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power.  If you aren’t feeling the power, you aren’t living the faith! 

It isn’t all about you, either (although, it is a little bit!).  But first, our purpose is to bring glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus.  And in so doing, you will be glorified in Him (that’s the little bit!).  It’s really not about what man may think anyway.  Live your life in obedience to God and you will glorify His name and find your glory in Him.  All because of the grace of God that poured out upon you at Calvary.  You have the Holy Spirit within you.  Follow that voice; He will lead you into obedience and glory.  There you find peace.

God will...

“In Your presence is fullness of joy…”
Psalm 16:11

Overwhelmed, frustrated, unsure, confused?  Find your joy in the midst of life’s circumstances by seeking God and going into His presence through prayer and praise.  There you will find the joy that you need to carry you through each day.  He is not finished with you yet! 

 “For I am confident of this very thing, that He wo began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6.  The song says that “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it in you.”  Trust God, sit with Him, walk in His ways, and wait upon the Lord.