Live In the Confidence of God's Will!

When God bolts the door, don't try to get in through the window.  The will of God never will lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.   -Source Unknown 

Some decisions in our life are major: where should we go to school? What job should we take? What home should we buy? Which person should we marry? What commitments should we accept and which should we decline? How does one recognize God's will for our lives in these times?

The Bible is where we get our good start when it comes to finding God's will for our lives. In the Bible we find commands and principles. If you were driving on a road and a sign said "Speed Limit 65" that would be a command. If it said "Use Caution" that would be a principle. The Bible has both kinds of directions in the Bible. God gives us certain commands:

• 1 Thessalonians 4:3 "It is God's will that you should be sanctified and that you should avoid sexual immorality, that each of you should learn to control his own body."
• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
• 1 Peter 2:15 "It is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil, live as servants of God." 

He also tells us we shouldn't lie, we should respect our rulers, we should honor our parents, we should worship regularly, we should put God first.

It needs to be understood that these commands are clear and meant to be obeyed. There are other principles as well, such as: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength." We are told to be "kind, tenderhearted, forgiving, just as God in Christ has forgiven us." We are told that we are to" honor the Lord with our lives."

The commands and principles of Scripture will point us toward God's will:

• We find someone we are interested in but they are not believers and we fret over whether this could be the right person for us. But the Bible tells us that we should only get involved with believers. (1 Corinthians 7:39-40)
• We wonder whether we should declare all our income on our tax forms. The Bible is clear, "give to Caesar what is Caesar's"
• We question whether we should do what God says or whether we should obey our employer when we are asked to do something illegal or immoral. The Apostles answered that in the Book of Acts, "We must obey God rather than men."
• Our marriage is struggling and we meet someone that "seems to care for us" and we feel drawn to that person and don't know whether it is right. It's not! The Bible says "do not commit adultery". 

But even here we must be careful. There are lots of people who have justified every manner of crazy behavior because of the way they twist scripture. It is essential that we read the Bible in it's proper context; and not make it say what it does not say. When God's Word speaks, we must follow that guidance. But . . .what if the guidance we get is still not enough?

If we want God's guidance we have to seek God's guidance. James tells us if "anyone lacks wisdom he should ask of God who gives to all men liberally". But we must be asking sincerely.

Can I be brutally honest? Most of the time when we ask God to show us what to do, we are really saying "let me know that what I want to do is O.K." If we truly want to find God's will we have to keep all options open. Before we can find God's will we have to trust that God's will is the best. We must understand that what God chooses (even if it is not the choice we would have made) is always the right choice.

We must be willing for God to change our direction, or to say "no," or "not yet". We must trust that a closed door is not designed to defeat us or discourage us, it is meant to move us in a better direction. God will answer if we ask sincerely. It is certainly true that we will never be open to God's direction until we can pray with Jesus, "not my will, but yours be done."

When all is said and done we must walk by faith. God reveals things one step at a time. God generally guides one step at a time. Before we can see the second step we must take the first one. Let's not forget that God has given us His Spirit to guide us. He has given us minds to think and to weigh options. Sometimes we have to trust our "sanctified common sense". Sometimes we have to trust the brains and the Spirit God has given us and make the best decision possible. We must walk by faith that God will send his angels ahead of us.

For some of you, the first step may be to take that initial step of faith. Maybe the reason you feel outside of God's will is because you are outside of His grace. God guarantees guidance to all those who are His children. It is only when we are willing to bet our life on Him, and orient our life from Him, that we can truly be said to be a child of God.

One final thing about finding God's will for your life. God loves us so much, that even if we make a wrong choice . . . He can get us back on course. He may have to shut a door, or place obstacle in our path . . . but He will lead us in the way that we should go. He promises to lead us home and He will do so even if He has to go and get us after we make a wrong turn. So . . . live boldly and faithfully in the confidence that God will direct your paths . . . just as He promised.

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 2:6-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:14-15; 1 Corinthians 11:1-2; Ephesians 1:11; Isaiah 26:4; 1 Peter 3:15; Philippians 4:11; 1 Timothy 6:6

Prayer: Lord, what is Your will that I do? I am completely open to Your plan for me. I desire to live only in You and to be guided by You forever. Grant that Your holy will may be carried out perfectly in me.   -St. Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)  

-thank you Rev. Bruce Goettsche

May your life be blessed!

Tiffany