As a pastor I get asked a lot of questions about “God’s will”
in life. People want to know if what
they are doing is in God’s will. It
could be in relationships, in their jobs, buying a big ticket item, giving in
the church, and the list goes on and on.
I know there are time in my life that I have struggled to find God’s
direction. There are those moments when
you are unsure of what is next, where do I go from here type thoughts. I have asked God to give me a sign and when I
say sign I mean “a sign” as one right outside my window that tells me exactly
what to do. I can assure you though I have asked for such things I have never received
them. So, the question comes back to “how
I can know the will of God in my life?”
There are certain bible verse that come to mind when I think about this
and the main one for me is Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore, brothers,
by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed
to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may
discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
Paul in answering this question to the Romans urges the members
to start by offer themselves wholly to God.
Which means if I want to know the will of God it starts by knowing God,
getting close to God. A good way to get to know someone is to go on a walk with
them. In Paul’s time walking was the way
people got around. If you wanted to go
visit somewhere you walked and if you took someone with you really got to know
them. To know the will of God we need to
walk with God. We need to go a distance
with Him in prayer and reading scripture.
By walking with God we start to follow what you learn in his word, we become
doers of the word as James tells us. This can only be done by walking with God,
a quick hour visit on Sunday mornings is not enough. We have to spend time each day.
As you start to live out the scriptures—God starts to change
you from the inside out. He starts to
slowly change your desires. Things that
use to matter begin to slowly fade into the background and your priorities
start to rearrange. As you walk closer and
closer to God something else will start to emerge in your life. You will start to know God’s will because God’s
will, will become your will. God doesn't want you wandering through this life aimlessly, but he wants you to be purposeful
in what you do. And it starts with a
closer walk with Him. I want to
encourage you this month to take time with God, walk with Him in bible reading,
prayer, and serving one another. Live
the way God wants you to live and I promise you will learn the will of God for your
life and it will be good, pleasing and perfect—just like God.
-PS
3 comments:
Yes, intimacy with God. That is a good place to start.
The thing about Paul, which I absolutely love, is that he often builds on top of what he has said previously, and I am convinced that when he says, "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind," what I think he means is, "everything I am about to tell you is HOW you should be transformed. Meditate on the following:" Chapters 12 to 16 are the very real and practical side of that truth. There's no way to get bored with the applications he gives in Rom 12:3-21 alone! Allowing the Spirit to transform us in those areas will allow us to more easily "discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
However, to not meditate on those things, to not pray for change in those areas, means that we are working against God's will; that is, we are then being "conformed to this age." With the chaos of this age as our image and mentor, how can we possibly discern the will of the "age to come" if we are perpetually in front of the boob-tube, or accepting Stoic and Cynic philosophies, and trusting in the pleasures of this life for comfort, and not (as you said) walking with God? Therefore, let us meditate on chapters 12-16 in order to be transformed "by the renewing of our minds" which allows us to more readily (1.) hear, (2.) discern, and (3.) ACCEPT God's will.
Thank you Ben. I would only add that intimacy with God through Christ isn't a "good place" to start, but it has to start with Christ and by drawing near to him, who makes the rest possible. Through Christ the transformation can only take place, for it is through Christ who enables us, we desire to meditate, to pray, and to humble ourselves to his mercies. John 15:5, Jesus reminds us apart from him we can do nothing.
Startin' to sound like Augustine, brother Steve. :D I agree.
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