Know God’s Will

 

Last Sunday a woman told me the situation in her family. Then she said, “I don’t know what to do.” While I felt her pain, I remembered a sermon from years ago. The pastor outlined the various places in the Bible that plainly state the will of God, mostly to do with faith and obedience, then said if those were true in our lives, we could do whatever we wanted. 

He explained with this verse: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4) noting that when our hearts are right with Him, God puts His will in our hearts. In other words, His will for me is godliness and that is so important to Him that He might use difficult circumstances to bring me to listen before He uses me or answers my prayers.

He has different ways to make His will known. As Piper points out, God sometimes designs circumstances so that I end up where He wants me — without me realizing it. His example is from Acts 16 where Paul and Silas found themselves in jail, and the result was the salvation of the jailer and his household. His plan went beyond their plans, but since “no plans of His can be thwarted” (Job 42:2), He will do this when necessary.

The necessity might include dealing with our sin. I’m reading Jeremiah and how God put His people in exile because they were not obedient. Their shepherds were lying to His sheep and leading them astray. He said: Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD. . . . “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds…” and this is what He did. His will was not what they wanted meaning comfort and their own way. God also said He would send a Redeemer, but after that promise He warned them:

Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’ ” For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened? Behold, the storm of the Lord! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it clearly. (Jeremiah 23:16–20)

Clearly God's priority is our holiness and obedience. If I listen to us and do what He says, other instructions become clear. None of this happens if I’m walking in the flesh. To hear Him, I need to be humble, filled with the Holy Spirit, and continually in His Word. 

God did not write His will about every detail in my life. Do I go to a seminar or stay home? Do I visit this person or that one? Do I purchase this needed item or not? For all this, I need godly discernment. I’ve learned that my decisions are not totally reliable. I’ve also learned that He will give me the right choice if I listen. He shapes my mind and inclines my heart to whatever will bring Him the most glory.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Sometimes He simply speaks to me. It may be a simple thing, like what turn to take when driving somewhere, or what book to take home when browsing in a store or the library, or how much to give when a needy person tells me their story. Very often my husband or I share a thought and the other one says, “I was just thinking the same thing.” While Piper says this is the least common way of God's leading in the NT, it is common in our household. 

I can rest in God's goodness whatever method He uses to reveal His will. Some will seem like a mystery, yet God is good — always. His will is always against the desires of my old nature. This is easier to discern because of that conflict. At times it will be a decision involving two things that both seem good. Yet the best way to know what He wants means keeping sins confessed, talking to Him with an open heart, and being willing to do whatever He says.

PRAY: I’m so thankful Lord that You desire my good along with Your glory and can make those two things work together. You continually put me in awe with Your love and great wisdom. Today is going to be another day of seeing Your will worked out to do both. I’m happy to let You go first.

Loving the Giver

I became a Christian as an adult, yet am beginning to see how God used pre-faith events as lessons for the Christian life. My mom read the Bible every morning. I copied her and that carried over after Jesus changed my heart. She also trusted that whatever happened we “must need it” and that laid a foundation for trust. She also did one thing that was annoying at the time; she bought clothes for me that I didn’t like at all. They were not my style, not the colors that looked well on me, but I see now how that mirrors a biblical command. I’m told to love the Giver rather than make idols of the gifts. I loved my mom, even when she gave me that bright orange silk thing!

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)

As today’s reading says, these are commands. While I am also told to “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2) it would be idolatry to call the gladness I get from them, my love for God. I could love my mom even if I didn’t care for the gifts. He showed me the distinction before He saved me.

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:25–26)

Because I have a heart problem from childhood, this passage speaks also. The Lord is indeed the strength of my heart. I do appreciate pacemakers and cardiac specialists, but they are not my strength — the Lord is, and He taught me that before I knew this verse existed.

The Word of God teaches me that His gifts of health, wealth, and prosperity do not satisfy. I learned that before learning that only God satisfies. While I thank Him for all He does, I cannot call those gifts or the feelings they bring with more delight than my love for Him. As David said, “In your presence is fullness of joy, in your right hand there are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:11), I know that nearness to God is the only totally satisfying experience in my life.

PRAY: A friend just had a heart-attack and another friend’s son just had a stroke. They need prayer. Our day is filled with family plans needing prayer. My to-do list is still too long and I yearn for a day that does not involve “settling in” to this new house, a day that is just ‘normal’ and without a host of interruptions. All are needing prayer. But You, Jesus make such a difference. I can chat with You through all of it and enjoy the strength of heart that You provide, and the joy of knowing that no matter what happens, You have reasons for it. Thank You for showing me that I can love You as Giver even when the gifts are not ideal or comfortable. You hear and answer, and You are my portion forever!

Delight in the Lord. . . .

 

Some years I’ve begun with a devotional guide that seemed promising but didn’t work for me. I have certain traits that are either addressed or encouraged by the author’s perspective. The one I picked for this year tends to encourage my tendency to be harsh about the sins of others instead of drawing me closer to Jesus. It required a lot of thought and rewriting to avoid that finger-pointing at others — instead of being convicted by the Holy Spirit and loving Jesus more and more. I don’t want to encourage any sinful attitudes.

So I switched today to “A Godward Life: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life” by John Piper. This book is not a calendar devotional but written in 120 chapters. This means reading parts of a chapter for 2-3 days and hopefully the Lord will use it to speak to my heart and deepen my relationship with Him.

Piper begins with saying, “God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him.” This is a wonderful spark of light, so true and such a great way to begin a day. I can read a good book, eat a sumptuous meal, make a prize-winning quilt, entertain a group of guests, enjoy a concert, and be satisfied in a great many other activities, but glorify God as much as being satisfied with Him.

For one thing, He always does His part. He listens, guides, answers prayer. My part is to talk to Him, listen and do what He says, and glorify Him in all things — for He is the one who makes it happen. I cannot boast when I pray and He surprises me with His responses. He does it all: prompts the prayer and then does the work — and gives the joy.

It is so easy to boast, but pride in my part does nothing to give Him glory nor satisfies me the same as the glory of who He is and what He is doing. He wants me to do my part, and even in the most ordinary things, I can glorify Him. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31) all for His glory, not mine.

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)

 The bread of life satisfies. No hunger. The water of life quenches thirst. No parched anything. He gives abundant life, even in trials that He uses for my good and His glory:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

Only the Lord can bring good out of what seems not good. Knowing that and remaining joyful in trials gives Him glory. Think of it: the most evil deed of putting the sinless Christ to death produced the greatest good offered to humanity! What could be a greater satisfaction than knowing the One who died that I might escape the penalty and power of sin? There is no greater glory for Jesus than being totally delighted in Him in a deep, love-filled relationship.

PRAY: Lord Jesus, I rejoice in You this day. Yes, there are black places, sorrows, and great challenges, but You are here with me, holding me close, and making me smile. You are my greatest joy!

Delight in God and He gives good desires…

These days are full. We just bought a house. We like the one we’ve lived in but at our age, we decided to move while we can, not when we have to. The house is one of 66 bungalows, all different, surrounding a 3-4 level retirement facility so when we cannot manage our lives, we just move across the street.

The new home needs a few changes, mostly flooring from carpet to no carpet, and better lighting. Yesterday we spent the day searching our options for other things and came home tired. Then we got a call from someone who challenged our way of doing things. He thought we were not doing enough research, but was not aware that our ‘research’ was done on our knees.

Earlier we put a deposit on another place and God made it clear: “Do not buy that house!” However, this one was given His direction from start to finish. Flooring, and other choices came easy after prayer and understanding His will on all matters. For that reason, the challenge to our ‘research’ was somewhat of a test. Will we trust God, or do we need to spend hundreds of hours on the Internet?

Today’s devotional led me to these verses and blesses my heart. If we are trusting God, does it matter what the surveys, reports, consumer comments, etc. say?

Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! (Psalm 112:1)
I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)
Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. (Psalm 119:24)
For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, (Romans 7:22)
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1–2)

While our ‘advisor’ might scoff or think we are being lazy, the Word of God is clear; He wants us to seek His will, not out of desperation, or any other reason than we trust Him and delight in discovering that His will is never the wrong thing. No matter where He leads us, His love is behind all that He does on our behalf.

Not only that, we can see His leading. The first sales person told us enough that we knew what not to buy. The second one revealed that a big sale was coming up and we could get better prices in a couple weeks. It was that way with the next ones we talked to until we found the best prices and choices for our needs. We could sense God’s leading in each case and know quite well that God’s name is not spelled Google.

I’ve not told our ‘advice giver’ how we do research, but hope for the opportunity. While stress in making decisions does happen, once the will of God is known, that stress is replaced with great delight and a sense of His love and safe-keeping.

PRAY: Jesus, my prayer today is the same as the psalmist who wrote: “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” (Psalm 25:4–5) I’m so thankful for You and truly do delight in Your will.

That second ‘master’ might not be money!

1 Chronicles 24–25; Micah 3; Luke 12; 1 Peter 5

I am pondering the future, comparing it to the past, to interests and opportunities, to choices that I could make. I’ve an art history that once put food on the table. I’ve written hundreds of articles with some published. Now I make quilts, mostly to give to those who need them. I’m still drawn to all three activities yet trying to focus rather than bounce all over.

Today’s devotional readings did not give me an answer to the question of focus, of what I do with what is left with my life. I want to obey God, but by doing what? The computer Bible program I use includes many devotional books. I checked them out. The one that startled me began with this truth:

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16:13)

“No one can serve two masters, Jesus says. And yet this is the very thing that everybody is trying to do.”

For the past three weeks, our Bible study group has discussed idolatry. The above verse reminds me that not all idols are related to money and wealth. They can be anything that keeps me from trusting God or becomes more important than Him in my daily life.

During our study time, I shared how I’d earned money from art and used it to support missions, but eventually it consumed me — becoming an idol. When God spoke to my heart about this, I dropped it and never went back. Yet each time I walk the aisles of stores that sell art supplies, my heart feels a strong tugging. I’ve even shed tears. I don’t know if this is an idol calling me back or God telling me to pick up my brushes again.

I’m not writing as much anymore, but not for the same reasons. The writing part is great, but the business part of writing is so filled with worldly attitudes that it puts me off. All I hear is that authors are supposed to ‘self-promote’ and do a host of other things to get their work out there and in demand. God tells me:

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

All that said, the devotional reading I found this morning comments on how people try to serve two masters. On one hand, they want a God who will “save them when the hour of need comes” which he calls a “minimum of religion which they seldom reveal to others, but which is the haven of refuge to which they always (go to) when the storms of life are let loose upon them or the earnest warnings of conscience threaten their poise of mind.”

He’s talking about unsaved folks, but Christians do it too. We might reserve God for all the things we cannot handle by ourselves but run to Him when trouble comes. Fallen humanity can have that temporary faith, yet I can be like that too. My selfish old nature can think of this world as “a great, varied place of amusement where we can go from one form of diversion to another as we become bored in turn of the various types of entertainment” and yet “at the same time want a return ticket.”

He goes on, hitting me where I am at an age where I sense I must choose what I should do with myself for the rest of my life. He writes: “For the day will come when we will have passed by all the amusement centers. And, worst of all, when the capacity to enjoy pleasure is gone, when body and soul are a burden to ourselves and other . . . this is when we want to have a God in reserve.”

APPLY: This is a warning to me. The will of God is not about what I want to do either to amuse myself, pass the time, or even be faithful to the skills He has given me. Don’t make an idol of anything. Instead, refuse the world’s ideas of how to live out my years. Let God renew my mind so I can discern what He desires for me and from me. And it might not be anything I think of doing. I’m to delight in Him and He will control my I-wants. As His Word says: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4)