It occurs because we deceive ourselves into thinking that our will really is God’s will. The Plan: We can do many things without God (acquire wealth…start a business…get an education…etc. Solomon, a man clearly familiar with the results of self-will warned, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). I know you'll tell me to seek God's will, but how will I know it? But is what’s beneath our skin any better looking? We must recognize how very important it is to live our lives according to God’s will. Referring to himself, and admitting his own spiritual weakness, he observed, “If we would be willing to put our carnal human will aside as we study the Bible, God could teach us so much more....” What an incredible insight into human nature! If we want to have a solid relationship with God and walk boldly as believers, we have to know what voice is speaking to us. Christ, by contrast, gave us a powerful example of putting God’s will ahead of our own—a practice essential for all true Christians. Blessings to you in your journey of faith. Was she interviewed by an elder or church staff member prior to her joining and/or being baptized? If a minister’s counsel goes against God’s word, we must remain true to God’s will. Do you know what God’s voice sounds like in your heart? Believe in God. God gave us a tremendous key through His servant Jeremiah. And, of course, when we pray for His will to be made known in our lives, He will tell us. OK, now let’s assume that my last several paragraphs were totally unnecessary. “It is the will of God.” How easily these words fall from the lips or flow from the pen. Well, directions for every twist and turn of your life may not be written out on paper, but God does tell us in His Word how we can test and approve what His will is. Verse 17. Most of us want to do God’s will, and yet, as I view Scripture, God seems to give us a tremendous amount of freedom to choose the paths in our life. As we work to apply this command in our lives, we must pray to God to remove our self-will and our inherent desire to avoid His will. One of the most necessary skills to have in the spiritual life is the ability to discern who is speaking to us in the depths of our soul. Below are a few quick and practical tips that will help you learn how to distinguish God’s will for any situation. The Apostle John taught that we receive whatever we ask of God because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight (1 John 3:22). What if the guy I like is dating someone else? Obviously, we as finite humans cannot ever see perfectly into another person’s heart, so how can you assess where your potential spouse is spiritually? I’m praying for you! God’s Will is the Best Possible Plan. Recall how Christ taught His disciples (and all of us) to pray: “Our Father in heaven… Your kingdom come. Is the Way We Think About Male Spiritual Leadership a Myth. As for everyone else, don't be afraid of their words. Have you sought counsel from others whom you trust in the church regarding your potential relationship? Ephesians 1:1-20; Colossians 2:2-10: A. Reply. God’s will in our lives is at the heart and core of what it means to be a true Christian! There are two powerful actions we must take in order to help ensure that God’s will, not our own, rules our lives. One problem we face is rooted in the multifaceted way in which the term will functions in biblical expressions. In this self-absorbed society, it is all too easy to make decisions according to “our own will.” Even some in God’s Church today rarely consider whether their will, desires and perspectives fail to reflect God’s will. But then the question came up: How can you tell if God is the one opening the door? We will choose the option that brings glory and honor to God, knowing His plans will succeed. This is where faith fills the gap. Say Grace. Above all things, we must do God’s will, always! Is it okay to miss work because I stayed up too late the night before? We must “become as little children,” and have absolute trust that our Father in heaven is never wrong and will never lead us astray. We have to know what voice is speaking to us so that we can have a solid relationship with God. She started coming to church because she has a broken family, and she wanted God to intervene in her life and help her. Here are two ways to help you remember His faithfulness. Thanks for helping me to distinguish and understand this. As I mentioned in my post, some people distinguish right from wrong by what society considers right and wrong. If the point of the Gospels is to show us the heart of the Son of God, maybe it’s time to take a closer look. Ask yourself, “Do I truly hate going against God’s will? How difficult it is to penetrate exactly what they mean. How to. In seven out of ten cases God's will is nothing more than God's permission to make our own choices. As we make decisions according to God’s will individually, we will automatically become of the same mind collectively! Serve God. How difficult it is to penetrate exactly what they mean. We need to distinguish between the directive and the permissive will of God. As Psalm 143:10 says, "Teach me to do your will, for you are my … Perhaps Christ’s most powerful example in this regard was His garden prayer the night before He was crucified. How many hours a day should my kids spend on screens? The theory of evolution is broadcast far-and-wide by the media, the education establishment, and scientists alike. We must also temper our growth by “holding fast to the traditions” taught through Scripture and God’s true Church (2 Thessalonians 2:15). 23 They are to teach My people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to discern between the clean and the unclean. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9–10). Second, since you have spoken with her and been with her at church extensively both before and after she professed Christ, what have you observed? Can you please give me a piece of advice which would be helpful in making a decision? This powerful principle of allowing God’s will to rule our lives was taught and lived by the Son of God Himself. There are two ways of life—God’s way and Satan’s way. By His directive will we mean that which is His highest and most gracious purpose; by His permissive will we mean that which He may allow and yet not really approve. Only through our conscious choice, strengthened by God’s Holy Spirit, can we succeed in conforming our will to God’s will instead of Satan’s. How to. Later, in the same letter to brethren in Rome, Paul admonished them to “prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1–2). Interestingly — and sadly — many (though not all) of the believing spouses I’ve spoken to told me in retrospect that had they not been blinded by their feelings, and had they sought counsel from others and thought through the situation clearly, the signs of their spouse’s true spiritual state were there at the beginning. Calling on Christ’s name without obeying the Father’s will is nothing more than paying “lip service” to Him. As noted earlier, Jesus Christ taught us to pray for God’s will (Matthew 6:10). his intellectual faculty will be quickened into high activity by this moral and practical effort. Advertisement. Of course, if our study has led us to an accurate and truthful insight, we should humbly share it with God’s ministry, and then remain confident that God will bring about any necessary change in His own time and through His leadership. God’s will is a little more complex. In the midst of hard decisions, how can we be sure that we really see God’s will? My parents are pressuring me to go to college, but I can't get excited about it. We must also pray for God to help us recognize the source of our desire to do our own will. Secondly, how do we distinguish God’s will from our self-will? Click To Tweet I have even practiced putting on the armor of God in my imagination, one piece at a time. - The moral test is then applied to the great dictum which he had just uttered. Also ever-present throughout society is the powerful lie that the Bible and Christianity are obsolete. Many Christians speak of knowing or doing God's will, but what is it? Living in Satan’s world, it can be difficult to conduct our lives according to God’s will. Angelic guidance would not have done this; for even heathen nations had their protecting angels ( Daniel 10:13, 20 ; Daniel 11:1 ). Sometimes it may be difficult to distinguish between ourselves and the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit will translate it to our thinking/ into our thoughts, so what we think are our ‘thoughts’ on the matter- it is actually the Holy Spirit revealing it to us. Moreover, we need to cure ourselves of manipulating each other. How often do we pray to God in this manner? Become a Monk. Be a Hermit. It is amazing to consider that Christ, the One who spoke and earth existed (Colossians 1:16; John 1:3), taught powerfully and clearly that we must all work to make God’s will our own. In this warm little book, he explains to you what God’s will is and how He reveals it yes, even to you, and even in the seemingly random events of your life. If God’s timing differs from yours, are you willing to abandon your desires and follow His lead instead? We live in a time when Satan, through society, pressures us to “do our own thing!” Satan worships himself, and esteems his will above all else. Am I hearing God? Half-hearted attempts to seek or follow God’s will often result in misunderstanding it, or deceiving ourselves into thinking that our will really is God’s will. This might seen like an odd question, but how do you discern between God's will and your own selfish desires? Satan is as rebellious and deceitful as he is crafty and brilliant. Christ shared His desires with the Father, but prayed that the Father’s will be done. The soul who waits on God will be similarly alert for hints and harbingers of God at work. Without this skill we run the risk of following a voice that leads us away from God to a place of eternal loneliness and despair. 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