God's Will
“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
– Ephesians 5:15-20 NLT
Off and on over the past few years, I’ve been doing some thinking (which is always a scary thing)… thinking about “God’s Will” for my life.
I know, I know… that’s some deep thinking. Yet, I have been doing it anyway.
As I started searching God’s Word, I found numerous things that should be construed as God’s Will for our lives. So, I narrowed them down to 10.
Now, there is no formula for knowing God’s Will. It is not a feeling. In fact I don’t believe that God can be confined to a formula or to a feeling any more than He can be confined to a box or a pocket.
In my mind it’s more relational than anything. It’s about a relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s about striving to know Him more… striving to become more and more like Him. The more I seek after Him and become like Him – the more I will know how He thinks… know His desires… know His will.
God’s Will for Our Lives
To love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength
To love your neighbor as yourself
To flee evil
To be joyful and give thanks in all circumstances
To praise Him and worship Him
To dwell on all that is good and pure and true
To go therefore and make disciples
To daily put on the full armor of God
To daily take up your cross and follow Him
To pray continually
Now these 10 things may not specifically answer the “What does God want me to be when I grow up?” questions of life.
However, they will lead us to the throne… they will lead us to Him… they will guide us in our daily and life choice decision making… and will lead us to these next questions:
Am I walking with God on a daily basis?
Am I striving to be more like Christ?
Am I pursuing the things of God?
Am I in a place where I can be becoming… becoming who He has made me and called me to be?
Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem
“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.”
– Galatians 5:16-17 NLT
