God's Plan. God's Will. My Purpose. - Part II - Understanding and Seeking God's Will

Understanding and Seeking God's Will

Most of God's Will for our lives have already been revealed in the pages of the Bible. There is a catch. We need to learn and live it. He has given us His written Word as revelation, gifted teachers for our instruction, and His Spirit for illumination, direction and power. God truly wants the best for everyone, and He's provided all we need to experience it. 

God reserves knowledge of many things to Himself alone. He may or may not reveal such knowledge to us at His on discretion. For example, He has provided some information about future events in the prophetic sections of the Bible. But, God's Will regarding our lives in the present is quite clear: It involves knowing and obeying His written instructions. Where are those written instructions? The Bible!

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path - Psalm 119:105

If you're primarily interested in God's Will regarding your own future, the idea of learning and obeying God's Word may be the last thing you want to hear. But, be careful, God's Will is found in God's Word -- and His Plan for all our lives begins with His moral Will as described in scripture.

It is human nature to make our own plans an then ask God to bless them. Instead, we should seek God's Will first. By constantly thinking about the Lord and His way of living, we will gain insights that will help us make right decisions and live the way God desires. Communicating with God allows Him to counsel us and give us wisdom.

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me,
even at night my heart instructs me.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
- Psalm 16:7-8

Seeking God's Will for Us

To discover God's individual Will for our lives, we must first learn to obey His moral Will. 

One of the Christian's greatest blessing is guidance from God's Spirit. In fact, as Romans 8:1:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

Think of life this way: the whole human race is on death row, justly condemned for repeatedly reading God's holy law. Without Jesus, we would have no hope at all. But thank GOD! He has declared us not guilty and has offered us freedom from sin and power to do His Will. 

There is no shortage of books on God's Will. Clearly, the Bible itself is a book that reveals God's Will. We have plenty of information on the subject - what we need now is ACTION. God wants people who will do His Will, though many, sadly won't.

People after God's heart seek God's Will. They learn it. They fulfill it. Even Jesus Christ, in flesh form, worked for God's Will, not His own.

Even Jesus and Paul lived to fulfill God's Will

All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me. 
- John 6:37-38

Jesus did not work independently of God the Father, but in union with Him. This should give us even more assurance of being welcomed into God's presence and being protected by Him. Jesus' purpose was to do the Will of God, not to satisfy Jesus' human desires. When we follow Jesus, we should have the same purpose.

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the Word in the province of Asia. - Acts 16:6

We don't know how the Holy Spirit told Paul that he and his companions should not go into Asia. It may have been through a prophet, a vision, an inner conviction, or some other circumstance. To know God's Will does not mean we must hear His voice. He leads in different ways. When seeking God's Will:

1. Make sure your plan is in harmony with God's Word
2. Ask mature Christians for their advice
3. Check your own motives t see if you are seeking to do what you want or what you think God wants
4. Pray for God to open and close the doors and He desires

Our Desire to Please God

Paul knew he would be imprisoned in Jerusalem.  Although his friends pleaded with him to not go there, he knew that he had to because God wanted him to. No one enjoys pain, but a faithful disciple wants above all else to please God. Our desire to please God should oversee our desire to avoid hardship and suffering. When we really want to do God's Will, we must accept all that it comes with - even the pain. Then we can say with Paul, "the Lord's will be done."

Then Paul answered, "why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready to only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "the Lord's Will be done." 
- Acts 21:13-14

What is Our Purpose According to God’s Will?

Christians should be joyful, prayerful, and grateful without ceasing.

True believers all strive to follow the message Jesus taught and imitate the life He lived by the power He provided.  If you are concerned about knowing God's Will for your life, I have good news for you: God is not hiding His Will. In fact, He's trying to show us all the time. 

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. - Romans 2:7

Paul says that those who patiently and persistently do God's Will find eternal life. He is not contradicting his previous statement that salvations comes by faith alone (Romans 1:16,17). We are not saved by good deeds, but when we commit our lives fully to God, we want to please Him and do His Will. As such, our good deeds are a grateful response to what God has done, not a prerequisite to earning His grace.

How to Recognize God's Purpose for our Lives

In one short phrase, Paul gives insight into his reason for living. The process begins with the proclamation of faith, continues with knowledge of the truth, which is then shown by people living in godliness. Paul wanted men and women to be mature in Jesus Christ. This was his ultimate objective by which he evaluated all he did. 

How would your church evaluate its ultimate objectives? What specific goals, ministries, and service opportunities bring believers to faith, spiritual maturity and godliness? Do established members reflect good Christian conduct and desire for Christian service? How would you describe your purpose in life? To what are you devoted? Are you willing to share your faith, teach the truth, and live a godly life for all to see?

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God's let and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness -- Titus 1:1

My Will and the Will of God

I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My Will. - Acts 13:22

The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart - 1 Samuel 16:7

Judging. God warned Saul against judge by appearance alone. When people judge by outward appearance, they may overlook quality individuals who lack the particular physical qualities society currently admires. Appearance doesn't reveal what people are really like or what their true value is.

Can't Change God's Will

Micaiah prophesied death for Ahab (2 Chronicles 18: 17, 27), so Ahab disguised himself to fool the enemy. Apparently the disguise worked, but that didn't change the prophecy. A random Aramean arrow found a crack in his armor and killed him. God fulfills His Will despite the defenses people try to erect. God can use anything, even an error, to bring His Will to pass. This is good news for God's followers because we can trust Him to work His plans and keep His promises no matter how desperate our circumstances are.

But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the breastplate and the scale armor. The king told the chariot driver, "Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I've been wounded." - 2 Chronicles 18:33



Fortunately, God judges by faith and character, not appearances. And because only God can see on the inside, only He can accurately judge people. Most people spend hours each week maintaining their outward appearance; they should do even more to develop their inner character. While everyone can see your face, only you and God know what your heart really looks like.

What steps are you taking to improve your heart's attitude?

Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. - Deuteronomy 10:16-19

God required all male Israelites to be circumcised, but He wanted to go beyond performing the surgery to understanding its meaning. They needed to submit to God inside, in their hearts, as well as outside, in their bodies. Then they could begin to imitate God's love  and justice in their relationship with others. If our hearts are right with God, then our relationships with other people can be made right too. When your heart has been cleansed and you have been reconciled to God, you will begin to see a difference in the way you treat others.

But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain You. How much less this temple I have built! - 1 Kings 8:27

In his prayer of dedication, Solomon declared that even the highest heaven cannot contain God. Isn't it amazing that, though the heavens can't contain God, He is willing to live in the hearts of those who love Him? The God of the universe takes up residence in His people.

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. -- Matthew 12:34-36

Jesus reminds us that what we say reveals what is in our hearts. What kinds of words come from your mouth? That is an indication of what your heart is really like. You can't solve your heart problem, however, just be cleaning up your speech. You must allow the Holy Spirit to fin the ill you with new attitudes and motives, then your speech will be cleansed at its source.

In the parable of the Two Sons, a verse stands out the demonstrates how God knows our true intentions.

"Then the father went to the other son and sid the same thing. He answered,  'I will, sir,' but he did not go. -- Matthew 21: 30

The son who said he would obey and then didn't represented many of the people of Israel in Jesus's day, particularly the religious leaders. They said they wanted to do God's Will, but the constantly disobeyed. They were phony, just going through the motions. It is dangerous to pretend to obey God when our hearts are far from Him, because God knows our true intentions. Our actions must match our words.

Please complete this series by reading Part III.

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Thanksgiving Series - Practice an Attitude of Gratitude

The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been in the mainstream for years. Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from surgery.

But while we may acknowledge gratitude’s many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain. So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or lacking in our lives. And for gratitude to meet its full healing potential in our lives, it needs to become more than just a Thanksgiving word. We have to learn a new way of looking at things, a new habit. And that can take some time.

That’s why practicing gratitude makes so much sense. When we practice giving thanks for all we have, instead of complaining about what we lack, we give ourselves the chance to see all of life as an opportunity and a blessing.

Remember that gratitude isn’t a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad things in life are whitewashed or ignored. It’s more a matter of where we put our focus and attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world, but when we focus on the gifts of life, we gain a feeling of well-being. Gratitude balances us and gives us hope.

There are many things to be grateful for: colorful autumn leaves, legs that work, friends who listen and really hear, chocolate, fresh eggs, warm jackets, tomatoes, the ability to read, roses, our health, butterflies. What’s on your list?

Some Ways to Practice Gratitude

•  Keep a gratitude journal in which you list things for which you are thankful. You can make daily, weekly or monthly lists. Greater frequency may be better for creating a new habit, but just keeping that journal where you can see it will remind you to think in a grateful way.

•  Make a gratitude collage by drawing or pasting pictures.

•  Practice gratitude around the dinner table or make it part of your nighttime routine.

•  Make a game of finding the hidden blessing in a challenging situation.

•  When you feel like complaining, make a gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel.

•  Notice how gratitude is impacting your life. Write about it, sing about it, express thanks for gratitude.

As you practice, an inner shift begins to occur, and you may be delighted to discover how content and hopeful you are feeling. That sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work.

Thanksgiving Gratitude Infographic courtesy of Mind Valley Academy

Author’s content used with permission, © Claire Communications

Mystery or Creativity - Guest Post

WE ARE EXHORTED TO REJOICE ALWAYS, IN EVERYTHING ...THIS IS POSSIBLE, ONCE WE UNDERSTAND GOD'S HEART AND PURPOSE FOR US...
HE IS NEITHER MAD AT, NOR PUNISHING US...OUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE NEITHER KARMA OR CHANCE...THEY ARE NEITHER FOR OUR PUNISHMENT OR DESTRUCTION ...SEEING GOD'S HAND IN EVERYTHING, EVEN TRAGEDY AND SORRY HE WILL REDEEM, BRINGING BEAUTY FROM ASHES,TRULY CAUSING EVERYTHING ...EVERYTHING ...TO WORK FOR OUR GOOD AND HIS GLORY, IN HIS DIVINE PLAN, FOR HIS PURPOSES, IN HIS UNFAILING LOVE FOR US

FATHER IN HEAVEN, KING AND CREATOR OF ALL THINGS,OPEN THE EYES OF OUR HEART,THAT WE MAY KNOW YOUR TENDER LOVE FOR US,THAT WE MAY SEE YOUR HAND IN EVERYTHING, THAT WE MAY TRUST IN YOU,NO MATTER WHAT,THAT WE MAY KNOW, AND BELIEVE THAT YOU DELIGHT YOURSELF IN US AND TRULY DO HAVE GOOD FOR US,PLANS THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN OR TAKEN,FOR YOU ARE GREATER THAN ALL, AND NONE CAN CHANGE WHAT YOU HAVE PURPOSED IN YOUR HEART FOR US...WE LOVE YOU AND PRAISE YOU AND REJOICE IN YOU,IN YOUR HOLY SPIRIT YOU HAVE GIVEN US,THAT OUR NAMES ARE IN YOUR BOOK OF LIFE!!!!!!!! IN JESUS NAME AND AUTHORITY    AMEN!!!!!!!!                                      - Norm Bennett

Today is a wonderful day to give thanks a praise our Lord God Father of Jesus Christ. God's blessing are pooring over all of you. Let God take all of your worries and transform them to victories. May God take all of your illnesses and make you healthy. May God take all of your sadnesses and make you and all of those you love and love you JOYOUS!!            - Antonio Dipino

What is our everyday strategy? Give thanks unto the lord

In the silent times, seek God

In the painful times, praise God

In the terrible times, trust God

At all times, thank God!            - Ann Voskamp, Canada

 

Today's Creation Moment - Reversible Wings: Mystery or Creativity?

Isaiah 31:5 "As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver [it; and] passing over he will preserve it."

Sometimes incredible wonders pass right before our eyes, but we are not equipped to see them. Take the hummingbird, for an example.

Did you know that like the woodpecker, the hummingbird has a tongue that wraps all the way around its head just under the skin? This feature is not really evident when you look at the hummingbird. Nor is the wonderful way in which its wings move, so that it can hover, fly forwards or fly backwards.

High-speed photography has revealed some amazing secrets about the hummingbird's wings that cannot be noticed by the eye. All birds, except the hummingbird, move their wings at the shoulder, elbow and wrist. Only the hummingbird is capable of turning his wings upside down, so that when he hovers, both strokes of his wings beat the air in order to support him. This demonstrates that the hummingbird is not a modification of the general bird design – as evolutionists tell us. Rather, the hummingbird was created with unique features that enable it to make its living.

Likewise, when God tells us that He cares for those who are His through faith in Christ's saving work, we don't always see exactly how He is caring for us. But like the virtually invisible features of the hummingbird, His care is nevertheless there.

Prayer: Father in heaven, I thank You that You have made me Your own child through Jesus Christ. Help me to believe what You tell me in Your Word, even if I cannot see it all for myself. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Tale of the Hummingbird

A top highlight of summer is the hummingbirds - darting here and there, feeding and hiding. Forwards, backwards, upside down, vertically, and just plain hovering. I love the marvelous little flying miracles.

A righteous man regards the life of his animal…  Proverbs 12:10

One warm, sunny day, I spent all afternoon and into the evening helping a neighbor get his potatoes planted. I finally returned home as the sun was setting…it was getting dark and it was getting cool.
Inside, I was surprised to discover I had a visitor in the grand piano room – one of my hummingbirds! When i entered the room, he flew frantically all around the ceiling looking for an opening, and finally perched on the exposed wire that hangs from the high ceiling, running to a hanging lamp.

What did i do? I did the only thing I knew to do – I Immediately spoke with our loving heavenly Father - 'Father - what can i do to help this bird? i need wisdom; I need Your help.'

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally…  James 1:5

In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.   Job 12:10

Then I spoke softly to my visitor 'hello....i want to help you.'

At once, the hummingbird flew off his perch near the ceiling and landed on the grand piano, a step away from me. Astonished, I took a half step and calmly spoke to him again - 'I'm not gonna hurt you...but I am gonna reach out and put you in my hand so I can take you outside.'

A few seconds later, i reached out and softly closed my right hand around the bird. My visitor gave no resistance. I walked him outside and set him on the deck railing. A few seconds later, as if nothing much had happened, the hummingbird casually flew up to a branch in a tree about 15 feet above the ground…and for several moments looked back at me, as if in appreciation. Then he flew away to resume his usual life with the dozens and dozens of other hummingbirds.

Who among does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? Job 12:9

This wonderful incident lasted less than 60 seconds; the memory will last a lifetime.

Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.  Luke 12:6

Aren't these stories wonderful?

Once again, my friend ST Mann has enchanted and mesmerized us with his special words and phrases.

The Best Way to Know God

God asks that you let your body, mind and spirit relax in His Presence. He loves you. Can you imagine how much God loves you?

I bet you can't.

I know I can't fathom the depth of God's love.

Although He tells us how much.

First, let's find out why. He tells us in 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

How much does God love us? We have to search Ephesians 3:16-19 where the apostle Paul writes "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with the power through His Spirit in your inner being. So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Can you imagine now?

I still can't.

But I can feel. I can feel God's love.

Think of the deepest ocean, the highest mountain, the widest valley, the longest road and you still wouldn't come close to how much God really loves us.

Thank God for His love. Thank God for His blessings. Thank God for Him.

I thank Him for you.

When you sit quietly in God's presence, you are opening yourself to receive God's blessing.

Can you feel it enveloping you and making your heart swell?

God travels with you through all your journeys. The high road. The bumpy road. The rough times. The good times. Everything you do is because of Him. Can you understand that? Can you accept that you need God?

When you have learned to thank God for all the hard times and the good times. When you have learned to thank God for your difficult journeys then, and only then, have you realized that to need God is the key to knowing Him, intimately.

That is the gift of all gifts.

This is how God loves us. "He tends His flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:11

reference: Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

God Has a Blessing For You

Do you have a dream? Have you prayed to God for special gifts or a particular blessing?

We all have dreams and we all have desires. There is that one thing we really want and we pray to God to give it to us. 

It could be a child. A new job. A promotion. A man in our life. That pretty pair of shoes you saw at Macy's. Whatever it is. It's something special to you.

Do you remember the story of Sarah, Abraham's wife? When she reached her 90th birthday, she was still childless. I'm sure she prayed all the time for God to bless her with a child. Don't you think? Every day. Every night. Every week. Every month. All of those years, praying. Even so, do you think she got tired of praying for something she didn't think would ever happen?

When Abraham was 75 and Sarah was 65, God promised him a son. Even so, nothing happened. For years, nothing happened. No child ever came. So, Sarah tried to take matters into her own hands and make God's promise happen by having Abraham have a child with her maidservant, Hagar. They were trying to fulfill God's promise by human means, rather than spiritual means.

However, God rejected Hagar's son, and continued to promise Abraham that he'd have a son of his own through Sarah. 

Wasn't Sarah surprised when she found out she was with child! What a blessing from God. She praised God, worshipped him, and Abraham made great offerings to God. 

Think about this. Instead of asking God for the blessing you desire, give God the opportunity to bless you the way He wants to.

Your blessing may not be for a longed-for child, but if like Sarah, you look to the Lord, His blessing will come. And it will bless you in the unique way only the God of grace can imagine.

Be patient. Pray for your blessing from God. 

Let Him do the rest.

Image credit: Novic / 123RF Stock Photo