What is God's Will for my Life?
by Pastor Dan
It is interesting the conversations that arise in everyday life. Twice in different conversations over the last two weeks, I was asked the same question. The question was: How do I know what God’s will is for my life? Both times, my initial response was that you can’t. Part of that response comes from my years in pastoring when people want to either know what to do or want to be told what to do. Neither one is what a Pastor is there for. Pastors are there to help your journey of discovery in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
But I am not writing this article on that subject, so back to the question at hand. This is the first verse that comes to my mind: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 Joni Eareckson Tada, writing about her life in “An Unforgettable Story” says this: “Only God is capable of telling us what our rights and needs are. You have to surrender that right to Him.” While I cannot predict what is going to happen tomorrow, I can prepare my heart today for the proper response tomorrow.
Here at New Life, we do a short weekly video called “Wednesday’s Word of Encouragement” to help us grow in our grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Some of this article comes from the video that we posted on April 24th where I shared three things about God’s will in your life, but I will share a fourth with you in this article.
If you would have told me 10 years ago what I would be doing today, I would have thought it crazy, but I also realize that over the last 10 years, God has been preparing me for today. We read in Psalms 139: “Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and know my anxious thoughts, and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” So how do we answer the question: How do I know what God’s will is for my life?
First, in order to find the answer to that question, you need to know the person who gave you the question to ask. God longs for a one-on-one conversation with you moment by moment in your life. When I got married 45 years ago, I set out on a journey to discover who my wife really was. While I am still learning that today, that journey has a large part to do with conversation. Some are general and everyday logistics while others are humorous or romantic in nature. Some are questions to understand her better. All are important. Just like a marriage, you can get to know God better by reading the Bible and by having conversations with Him, for example, through prayer. Just remember that prayer isn’t always you unloading all your problems to God. You also have to listen to what He’s saying to you as well.
Second is serving. You need to start somewhere. Do something, even if there are things you don’t like to do or you think don’t fit you. Find ways to serve others in their time of need or simply help others. Now, be careful you don’t do these things for your own healing or to pat yourself on the back or be noticed. You do them to have a greater understanding of how God wants to develop you as a person in His likeness and image.
Third is to surround yourself with people who can help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ. I have had a life coach for years that has helped me a lot. Some people came into my life for a season of life, and some came into my life for defining and refining a certain part of me. Some I did not invite - God sent them. Some I went to myself with the purpose of asking them to help me.
And the fourth thing is that this is something you, as an individual, must pursue. While living out the first three areas that I have written, you will begin to realize your need to seek what God has for you in your life. As you do this, you can hone in on something that God has gifted you to do, and it will bring joy, peace, and contentment in your life, and the result is it will be a blessing to others.
If you need help or encouragement in this area, we here at New Life of Currituck are here to help you answer this question through discovery. We leave you with one final quote from Joni Eareckson Tada: “Deny your weakness, and you will never realize God's strength in you.”
Blessings,
Pastor Dan
It is interesting the conversations that arise in everyday life. Twice in different conversations over the last two weeks, I was asked the same question. The question was: How do I know what God’s will is for my life? Both times, my initial response was that you can’t. Part of that response comes from my years in pastoring when people want to either know what to do or want to be told what to do. Neither one is what a Pastor is there for. Pastors are there to help your journey of discovery in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
But I am not writing this article on that subject, so back to the question at hand. This is the first verse that comes to my mind: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 Joni Eareckson Tada, writing about her life in “An Unforgettable Story” says this: “Only God is capable of telling us what our rights and needs are. You have to surrender that right to Him.” While I cannot predict what is going to happen tomorrow, I can prepare my heart today for the proper response tomorrow.
Here at New Life, we do a short weekly video called “Wednesday’s Word of Encouragement” to help us grow in our grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Some of this article comes from the video that we posted on April 24th where I shared three things about God’s will in your life, but I will share a fourth with you in this article.
If you would have told me 10 years ago what I would be doing today, I would have thought it crazy, but I also realize that over the last 10 years, God has been preparing me for today. We read in Psalms 139: “Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and know my anxious thoughts, and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” So how do we answer the question: How do I know what God’s will is for my life?
First, in order to find the answer to that question, you need to know the person who gave you the question to ask. God longs for a one-on-one conversation with you moment by moment in your life. When I got married 45 years ago, I set out on a journey to discover who my wife really was. While I am still learning that today, that journey has a large part to do with conversation. Some are general and everyday logistics while others are humorous or romantic in nature. Some are questions to understand her better. All are important. Just like a marriage, you can get to know God better by reading the Bible and by having conversations with Him, for example, through prayer. Just remember that prayer isn’t always you unloading all your problems to God. You also have to listen to what He’s saying to you as well.
Second is serving. You need to start somewhere. Do something, even if there are things you don’t like to do or you think don’t fit you. Find ways to serve others in their time of need or simply help others. Now, be careful you don’t do these things for your own healing or to pat yourself on the back or be noticed. You do them to have a greater understanding of how God wants to develop you as a person in His likeness and image.
Third is to surround yourself with people who can help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ. I have had a life coach for years that has helped me a lot. Some people came into my life for a season of life, and some came into my life for defining and refining a certain part of me. Some I did not invite - God sent them. Some I went to myself with the purpose of asking them to help me.
And the fourth thing is that this is something you, as an individual, must pursue. While living out the first three areas that I have written, you will begin to realize your need to seek what God has for you in your life. As you do this, you can hone in on something that God has gifted you to do, and it will bring joy, peace, and contentment in your life, and the result is it will be a blessing to others.
If you need help or encouragement in this area, we here at New Life of Currituck are here to help you answer this question through discovery. We leave you with one final quote from Joni Eareckson Tada: “Deny your weakness, and you will never realize God's strength in you.”
Blessings,
Pastor Dan
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