Members of my congregation and visitors to the church often ask me, “How can I know that I am in the will of God?” That’s a good question, and I am happy to reply that the most important aspects of God’s will are clearly outlined in the Scriptures. The more we marinate in and meditate on the Bible, the better we will understand God’s will for our lives. To be sure, God’s Word will not tell you what car to buy, what clothes to wear, or which person to marry. But the Scriptures do give us a framework for making the best possible decisions in life that will bring the greatest glory to God.
Jesus modeled this truth throughout His entire earthly existence. Perhaps the best place to see this in action is in His wilderness confrontation with Satan and our Lord’s thrice times repeated, “It is written!” For every attack the devil threw His way, Jesus countered with the Word of God, and every counter conquered His adversary. What was true for Jesus then is true for us today. But we cannot counter with the Word of God unless we know the Word of God, and we cannot know the Word of God unless we are reading the Word of God.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
God’s inspired, inerrant, infallible Word is telling us that being a disciple of Jesus Christ goes beyond behavior modification. It is simply not enough to keep from doing what those in the world are doing. The mind must be renewed in order for the heart to be reoriented, which results in the will being realigned to the will of God. This is the work of God’s Holy Spirit, but we are called by God to take part in this process. We must discipline ourselves to read the Word of God. We must discipline ourselves to pray and go to church. We must submit to the leading of the Spirit and not yield to the desires of our own mind.
Think about it this way: God has given us the great privilege of participating in the process of growing to maturity in our faith. It is all of grace, but God empowers us to play our role. And the more we play our role, the better we are able to discern the will of God for our lives. As the Spirit of God is transforming us from the inside out, our will begins to align with the will of the Almighty. We make decisions that are both pleasing to God and beneficial to others.
How are you doing at living out God’s will for your life? Could you use a little tune-up in the area of the renewing of your mind? If yes, follow the prescription given in our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount:
Ask . . . Seek . . . Knock
“Everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:8)
Ask God to transform your mind. Seek to know His will better by reading His Word. And keep on knocking at His door of grace! Don’t give up. Our loving heavenly Father loves to give good gifts to His children!
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 