Nov
20
Knowing God’s Will - III
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Never assume that with all God’s got on His plate in running the world that He’s got bigger fish to fry or more important things to do than leading you along the path of His will. If even the hairs on our heads are numbered, know this - God cares about us and the details of our lives. But how do we discern God’s will for our lives?
Paul E Little, the author of “Affirming God’s Will” mentions four “principles of guidance” which are worthy of mention.
I. The Word of God
Little tells of the girl who signed a contract to teach school in the Fall, but later in the summer received an offer closer to home which was more to her liking. She broke the original contract in favor of the more desirable offer claiming she had “a peace about it.” The department head left holding the bag said, “She’s got a peace, but I’ve got the pieces.” Psalm 15:4 and it’s immediate context says that a person who “keeps his oath (honors a contract), even when it hurts,” will be one who enjoys God’s presence. The implication is that this young lady in this instance missed God’s will for her life by going back on her word. God doesn’t throw us on the scrap heap when we mess up in this way, but He does graciously call us to repentance and new beginnings.
Nov
17
Knowing God’s Will - II
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I promised you more on the subject of knowing God’s will so here goes…. There’s God’s will as revealed in scripture, given in a clear but more general kind of way, such as His command to honor those in authority, or to pay our taxes. And then there are those areas where God grants some latitude to use our “sanctified preferences,” such as what color shirt to wear or where to go for lunch. But what about those situations where we need special guidance, God’s specific direction for my life where it really matters most?
Paul E. Little, in his pamphlet, “Affirming the Will of God,” speaks about “prerequisites for special guidance.” Little says, one prerequisite is to be a child of God, which makes all the sense in the world. If God is not our Father, why would it matter what His will is for our lives? Next Little asks, “Are you obeying God in the areas where you already know God’s will?” Again, that’s a no-brainer. A child needs to learn to crawl before he walks and to walk before he runs. But Little goes on to speak of an important issue for all of us as Christians - “Are we willing to accept the will of God in the unspecified areas of our lives BEFORE knowing what it is?” How many of us approach the matter like this - “Lord, show me what your will is so I can decide whether it fits in with what I have in mind.”
Nov
16
Knowing God’s Will
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What is God’s will for my life? What path should I take? These were burning questions for me at an earlier period in my life as I faced career choices and the question of whom to marry. It could be that you are struggling with these issues in your life even now. It’s comforting to know that God has a plan for our lives. Paul writes, “For we are his (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Not only does God have a plan, but He promises to reveal it to us, as we read in Proverbs 3:5-6- “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Read more
