KNOWING GOD’S WILL
WRITTEN BY JACO VAN AS
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Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God present yourselves a living sacrifice to God, holy and acceptable, which is your spiritual act of worship. And do not be conformed any longer to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2
A few weeks ago a friend of our family came to visit and we got involved in a discussion around my life. As I explained to her why I am working full time for the Lord, she looked at me and asked me how I am doing finding a new job, a real job. I tried to explain to her I have been searching for a job for a long time, making every effort to apply for any kind of job every single week, but all without success. I went on telling her that I believe that it is God’s plan for me to be in the position I am in and that He has a bigger plan for me, may it be working for Him on a full time basis or may it be only for a while until He feels I am ready to take on something new.
‘There is also a part which I forgot to tell her, the one where I got a clear message from my Father in Heaven, one that clearly showed that I need to work for Him and complete various projects. This message became clear after He who is in Heaven pulled be back to reality and away from the web of sin I found myself in. These messages I got were real and very clear so I decided to start Jesus to my Rescue.’ The friend then told me that she does not believe in God’s will and that God left us to choose what we want to do. I was rather shocked when I heard her saying this and told her that our paths in life have been decided upon by God long before we were born. I went on by telling her that she is right to think that God made it possible for us to choose and that I choose to believe and live according to God’s will.
“Seek first the kingdom of God…” Matthew 6:33-34
Since I decided to walk with Jesus, many things that happened in my past became clear to me, why they happened and how it had a role to play on me being in my current situation. I now for the first time REALLY understand God’s will, how it works and how to live according to it. Jesus showed me how many times he tried to warn me about my future, how He tried to stop me from doing things that were not just wrong but which were going to have a big impact on my future. He tried to show me that I am not living according to His will! I wasn’t blind my friends, I did see those warnings, I did hear those calls, but I ignored them as I only wanted to do what I wanted and not what He wanted me to do. It was also not only about ignoring Him, I wasn’t living with Him in my heart!
There is a reason why He wants me to be in the position I am in now and doing what I am doing for a living. I will never again fight against His will and will show patience and understanding because I know that He has a plan, one which I cannot see, and one that I know is best for me. Nobody can see into his or her future but if you living according God’s will then He will guide you to where you need to be and trust me, the end result will be what is best for you. It is not always about trying to understand His will but to rather accept it and trust Him so that His plans can be fulfilled. Once those plans are fulfilled He WILL show you why; you will get your answers! You just have to trust Him!
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declared the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” Jeremiah 29:11. The Bible says that God’s will is “good, pleasing and perfect” Romans 12:2
I want to ask you a few questions and please be honest to yourself when you answer them. Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? Do you believe in God’s will? Do you think you are living according to God’s will? Now study the following while keeping your answers in mind!
1. Have a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
“This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” 1 Timothy 2:3-4
2. God wants us to be Christ’s disciples.
This means that we must be committed to following God’s will daily, no matter what. “If anyone would come to me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” Luke 9:23
3. The Bible will help us to know God’s will.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” Psalm 119:105
4. God promises to give us wisdom to understand His will.
Sometimes we need to just ask God to give us wisdom to discern His will. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given
to him” James 1:5
5. God has given us the Holy Spirit for guidance.
“…when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…” John 16:13
6. Listen to the advice of people God has placed in our lives.
Advice of a parent, pastor, or Sunday School teacher can sometimes form part of the way God brings a message to us. “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice” Proverbs 12:15
7. The Bible speaks of a “peace” which will come over us when we trust God.
When deciding between two alternatives that you have been praying about, sometimes one of the options will give you a greater peace. That option is probably God’s will. “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever” Isaiah 32:17
8. Trust God to accomplish His will in our lives.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5-6 “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in your will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” Philippians 1:6
In summary!
1. Accept Jesus in your life today! (If you haven’t done this yet)
2. Believe in God’s will!
3. Trust God to lead you! Trust God’s will!
4. Listen to God’s voice! He does talk to us, he does give us signs!
5. Remember that God can see into our future and we cant, so TRUST Him, even in bad times! He knows what is best for us!
I am conscious that a man’s way is not in himself: man has no power of guiding his steps. Jer 10:23 I am the Lord your God, who is teaching you for your profit, guiding you by the way in which you are to go. Isaiah 48:17