Encouragement
To find the Will of God is Life's Greatest Discovery....
and
to DO the Will of God is Life's Greatest Achievement.
James 2:23 describes Abraham as 'the friend of God'.
As far as I know, he is the only one referred to as such.
Of course, there were many then and many now.
Genesis 12-23 points out that Abraham truly was a 'friend of God' as he faithfully did the Will of God.
Romans 4: 16-25 emphasizes that he was strong in faith and gave glory to God.
James 2: 23: "Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness....
and he was called 'The Friend of God'.
I know of nothing in life more important than knowing and doing the Will of God.
Of course, it can be 'over-used' and any and everything can be called 'the Will of God'.
Be careful here, for the main problem when seeking the Lord's Will is to do it more from human or physical means....and exclude Bible Study, Prayer and Promises.
It stands to reason that the only One Who can tell you God's Will....is God!
Use your concordance and look up the use of the words 'will' and 'way'.
As you study these Scriptures, yield yourself to God.
You may not know what you're going to do, but God knows what HE is doing!
It is enough to know:
God before us.....
God with us......and
God forever 'for us'.
HERE ARE SOME OF OUR CONVICTIONS ABOUT THE WILL OF GOD:
I. The Will of God is for everyone...it is 'being' before 'doing', but includes both.
a) Conversion: John 3:1-8 and Acts 20: 21-22
b) Christ-likeness: It is called 'sanctification' and 'holiness' in the New Testament
c) Called to His vocation for us:
d) Committed all the way for Jesus Who went all the way for us!
II. The Will of God is always best and 4 reasons why this is so:
a) Only God knows the future!
An old song says, "I Don't Know About Tomorrow, But I Know Who Holds My Hand"
b) Only God knows what is best for us!
c) Only God has a plan of blessings for you and me!
d) God commands that we do His Will because it is always best for us!
III. The Will of God is daily as well as long-range.
We must never be so busy looking for His Will 'to do'....
that we miss 'doing and being' His Will for TODAY!
Too often, we equate the Will of God only as 'vocation' when it is ALL of life!
IV. The Will of God never contradicts the Word of God!
Ephesians 6:17 and Psalms 119:11 and Psalms 119:105 emphasize:
'The Word is a light unto our feet and lamp unto our path.'
V. We may not understand the 'whys of life', but we can trust the 'Who of Life'.
In Matthew 26:36-46, Jesus did this and said, "Not my will, but thine be done".
Oh how God used Him....and He can use us also...even when we do not understand.
On the Cross, Jesus appeared to be a 'victim', but He became a 'Victor'!
We too, can become victorious by way of the Cross.
Calvary is the ultimate exposure of the 'permissive will of God'...
and the accomplishment of His Perfect Will.
What God 'allowed' in the anguish of Golgotha was for what He intended....
a new creation of people who would have as their passion, to 'know and do His Will'.
Whatever happens in your life, let God use it to bring about His ultimate Will.
Our Daily Bread devotional:
"You can take God at His word for Christ's Work makes us safe...
and God's Word makes us sure."
I always felt 'safe and sure' when I was growing up because of my parents' work and words!
Dad could go to the bank for a loan and the banker said that Dad's 'word' was all he needed....it was sufficient.
Likewise in seeking God's Will, God's work and Word are sufficient.
HOW TO DISCOVER THE WILL OF GOD:
1) Seek His forgiveness....and receive His salvation.
If not sure that you are saved, read I John 1-5
2) Surrender your life, wholly to Christ to be The Lord of your life.
3) Separate yourself from the world. In the world, but not 'of the world'.
As Christians, we should have a distinctiveness about us, which is love!
4) Sincerity in your motives.
II Corinthians 5:14 says "The main motive is your love for Jesus".
5) Search the Scriptures -
Bible Study, Prayer and Promises are the only way whereby we personally have experienced knowing the Will of God.
I call it 'the Prayer of Relinquishment'....and ....
'Father Knows Best'!
Like a good father, sometimes God says 'No'.
In my own life, not receiving a baseball scholarship to Oklahoma State University led me to come to the University of Oklahoma here in Norman. Having played ball for OU not only helped in my ministry to students when I was called to be the Campus Minister at OU, but also when I served as a pastor in Norman for 11 yrs.
CONCLUSION:
One of the greatest testimonies that I have ever read, came via an e-mail this week.
After reading it, ask yourself:
"Am I relating positively to what may come my way in life?"
and.....
"Am I letting God's Will be first in my life?"
My name is Nick Vujicic and I give God the Glory for how He has used my testimony to touch thousands of hearts around the world!
I was born without limbs and doctors have no medical explanation for this birth "defect".
As you can imagine, I was faced with many challenges and obstacles.
"Consider it pure joy, my Brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
Due to my emotional struggles I experienced with bullying, self esteem and loneliness, God implanted a passion of sharing my story and experiences:
To help others cope with whatever challenges they have in their life...and let God turn it into a blessing.
To encourage and inspire others to live to their fullest potential and....to not let anything get in the way of accomplishing their hopes and dreams.
One of the first lessons I learned was not to take things for granted.
"And we know that in all things God works for the best for those who love Him."
That verse spoke to my heart and convicted me to the point where that I know that there is no such thing as luck, chance or coincidence that these "bad" things happen in our life.
I had complete peace knowing that God won't let anything happen to us in our life unless He has a good purpose for it all.
I completely gave my life to Christ at the age of fifteen after reading John 9.
Jesus said that the reason the man was born blind was "so that the works of God may be revealed through Him."
I truly believed that God would heal me, so I could be a great testimony of His Awesome Power.
Later on I was given the wisdom to understand that if we pray for something....
if it's God's will...it'll happen in His time.
If it's not God's will for it to happen, then I know that He has something better.
I now see that Glory revealed....
as He is using me just the way I am and in ways that others can't be used.
I have many dreams and goals that I have set to achieve in my life.
I want to become the best witness I can be of God's Love and Hope...
to become an international inspirational speaker....
and be used as a vessel...in both Christian and non-Christian venues.
I want to:
become financially independent by the age of 25, through real estate investments....
modify a car for me to drive and.....
to be interviewed and share my story on the "Oprah Winfrey Show".
Writing several best-selling books has been one of my dreams...
and I hope to finish writing my first by the end of the year.
It will be called "No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!"
I believe that if you have the desire and passion to do something (and if it's God's will) you will achieve it in good time.
As humans, we continually put limits on ourselves for no reason at all!
What's worse is putting limits on God who can do all things.
We put God in a "box".
The awesome thing about the Power of God is:
that if we want to do something for God....
instead of focusing on our capability, concentrate on our availability!
For we know that it is God through us and we can't do anything without Him.
Once we make ourselves available for God's work, guess whose capabilities we rely on? God's!
May the Lord bless you!
In Christ,
Nick
***************************************
I hope that you believe that God's Will for you:
Can be the Greatest Discovery in your life....
and then to Do It, is the Greatest Achievement!
God Bless you for your Prayerful support of this website!
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