
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…
But what is His will? Technically speaking, I know His will is that we love Him with all our hearts, minds, and souls. That we walk after the spirit and not after the flesh. That we love others as ourselves.
But I’m talking about specifics. Detailed questions such as: Is it God’s will that I start that business? That I marry this person? That I accept that position? That I move to this city or neighborhood? I’m talking about God’s definite plan for your individual life. How do we know if we are living it according to His will?
Before I continue, I’d like to reassure you that there’s nothing unordinary about being unsure about God's specific plan for you. The Bible clarified this for me through three different people: Moses, John the Baptist, and Jesus Christ.
I don’t know if you recall but Moses was aware that he was chosen to free the Israelites 40 years before it was time for him to address Pharaoh. Acts 7:23-25 reads, “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not.”
Moses thought his people would realize that God sent him to free them 40 years before he was set to do it. But when God called him from the burning bush when he was 80 years old, Moses seemed to have forgotten the will of God for his life. He asked, “Who am I that I should go to pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11)
How is it that Moses forgot the will of God for his life? Maybe it was because 40 years had passed before it was fulfilled. But what about John the Baptist? When he first laid eyes on Jesus, he knew Jesus was the one that he preached about. John even recognized Jesus as the Christ when he was in the womb (Luke 1:41).
But while John was in prison, he seemed uncertain of God’s will. John asked in Matthew 11:3, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”. Why was he unsure? Maybe it was due to the hardships of imprisonment. But what about Jesus?
We all know what He said right? Before His crucifixion, He prayed to God asking that if it be God’s will, to take this cup away. He followed with, “not my will, but your will be done.” But how could Jesus not have known what the Father’s will was? Wasn’t He there from the foundations of the earth? He knew the redemption plan all along. Why the uncertainty of God’s will?
So, if there’s any consolation, we aren’t alone if we are sometimes confused or hesitant at knowing if we are aligned with God’s will. In all three scenarios, they knew the will of God, they just needed reassurance… much like we do today.
And how were they reassured? Moses was reassured by God re-confirming that he would lead the Israelites. John the Baptist was reassured by Jesus sending a word to him to confirm what he already knew. Jesus was reassured by an angel strengthening Him.
God is the only one that can confirm the specifics for His will over your life. And I can tell you from personal experience, that if you ask Him in prayer, He will confirm it for you. So, if you find yourself saying to yourself, “I don’t know, God” about His will over your life, please know that Christ understands. He's been there, done that. Just remember what Psalms 32:8 states.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
When you don't know, God will teach you the way you should go. It's as simple as that. Listen for His instructions, and by faith, walk in the way He guides. It'll be a shame to leave this world without living it the way God ordained for you. The only way we'll ever discover what God has for us is if we listen and obey.
Reader, I am doing all that I can to go as He instructs... even when I don't like His instructions. Why? Because I'm excited to see where it'll lead. A life lived in the way a perfect God guides is as perfect of a life as I can receive. I see no other way to go... do you?
That's all I have for you guys this week. Take care, be blessed, and Lord's will, I'll see you next week.
Quin Arrington's debut book "And Then You Shall Have Good Success: Attaining Good Success God's Way" is available on Amazon in paperback and eBook format. Links listed below:
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