Attempting to live our lives under God’s will isn’t a very popular choice or topic of discussion. This is because it contradicts everything they have made us think and believe about life. Being obedient to the Heavenly Father means relinquishing this world’s ideals and what man considers important. It means abandoning our own earthly desires, to conform our minds and lives to the Word and the will of God. Our obedience requires us daily nailing our flesh to the cross. This will allow our spirits to be attuned to God’s voice and His plans for our lives. What does our spirit have to do with it? John 4:24 reveals to us that,
“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Romans 8:13-14 warns that,
“If you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”
God’s Spirit desires to commune with our spirit regularly to impart His wisdom, love, direction and knowledge. However, the noisiness and desires of our flesh drown out what our spirit knows to be right. Galatians 5:19, 22 informs us that:
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, faction and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”
If we are to grow in our spiritual walk, we are to dedicate ourselves to living a life that is pleasing to God. According to Romans 8:5-8,
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.”
Romans 12:2 advises us to,
“Not be conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
We have to give up the need and the desire to control every aspect of our lives and essentially let God have His way.
Living Our Lives One Day at a Time
This change from being fleshly minded to spirit-minded doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, it is an ongoing process meant to align our desires, minds, thoughts and wants with God’s will. Many Christians, would say that submitting to the will of God is not a simple task or path to undertake. I asked my good friend, a pastor’s wife, Associate Minister and Youth Director, about her experience submitting to God’s will. She responded, “I had no hesitation or reluctance in submitting to God’s will for my life because I believed it was my Christian duty. As a babe in Christ, I heard other believers talk about running from their calling, but I had no such inclination. Whatever God had purposed for my life was something I was eager to discover.” 2 Timothy 2:15 says:
“We need to study to show ourselves approved unto God in order to be a workman able to rightly divide the word of truth.”
She added, “There were several scriptures which motivated me to search out my purpose. I wanted to please God and do what was right in His sight. Psalm 1:2 stated plainly what I needed to do.
“Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night.”
That being said, I was in hot pursuit to discover who I was in Christ”. She went on to say that, “Discovering God’s will for my life was a no-brainer but the demand it placed on my life expectations, gave me pause. Several of my lifelong dreams and desires came to question and I was not eager to let them go. I pushed back, really hard, until the Spirit made me understand that it would be very difficult to function in my purpose if I did not let go of “myself”. I learned much later that God’s specific calling on my life required total surrender and trust in Him. After letting go, I have been showered with overwhelming peace and I praise Him for His goodness, love and mercy towards me.”
Trusting God’s Will
Committing to God’s will and purpose for our lives involves “trusting in the Lord with all our hearts and leaning not on our own understanding and in all our ways submitting to Him and He will make our paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). When we operate within and not fight against God’s will, our lives, even our failures, won’t seem half as devastating. Yes, to fall short will indeed hurt and we may get scars and wallow a bit in our circumstances. However, in time, we understand the essence of life. That each obstacle, and there will be many, is an opportunity for spiritual growth and to strengthen our faith. Each failure is a test with a lesson to be learned, and each accomplishment is an opportunity to give all glory and thanks to the Father. In Romans 8:28 we are told that,
“For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”
Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 5:7 admonishes us to be,
“Led by faith and not by sight.”
With this attitude, we are able to accept that just because we think we have a want or need for something or someone, our Heavenly Father ultimately knows best.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
With that being said, God will often tell us “no”, withhold or delay that object of desire not to punish or hurt us, but to save and/or protect us because He loves us so much and wants to shield us not only from others, but from ourselves. Psalm 37:7 commands us to,
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”
We can sometimes be our own worst enemy imposing self-inflicted wounds that but for God’s grace, we would be lost. When we understand that “He” is in control and we surrender our lives to Him, He will work wonders. We will reach heights we never would have attained on our own, all to bring glory to His name. Ephesians 3:20 states that,
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine according to His power that is at work in us.”
All we need do is take the focus off of ourselves and do as Matthew 6:33 says,
“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
We must first allow God to guide us to our purpose and then His perfect will shall be done.
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