Knowing Your God

Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do.  Ephesians 5:17 (NLT)

Have you ever asked yourself the question, "What is God's will for my life?" Have you figured it out yet, or are you still wondering? Perhaps you have thought in terms of specific things you are meant to do, such as having a particular career, a calling in ministry, or impacting those around you. Or perhaps you think in more philosophical terms: 'God's will for me is to glorify Him, serve Him, and love Him; God's will for me is to live a good, productive life and make the most of the blessings He gives.'

When I read the above words in Ephesians 5:17, I initially interpreted Paul's words to say, 'Don't live thoughtlessly, but know God's will for your life. Anything else is a waste of time, so figure it out!' I felt burdened by the words because most of the time I feel clueless. I often do what I feel God leads me to do, but I often don't see the results I'm hoping for, and it makes me wonder, 'Am I hearing Him right, or am I off in left field somewhere?' I often pray, "God, show me what you want me to do, tell me, lead me, and I'll do it. Teach me your will, and I'll live by it." But just when I think He has me on a certain path, a roadblock or detour comes along and I think, 'Where did I go wrong? Now I'm really lost!'

But I read Paul's words again, and Jesus made me think of them in another way. And after doing a little research on the word understand, I knew I was hearing it correctly this time. It's not only about knowing what God wants me to do, but knowing why He wants me to do it. What is His motive? Why does He command me to do certain things and not do others? Why does He lead me on certain paths and gift me in specific ways? What is He trying to teach me or show me? How is He trying to guide me or protect me? What is His heart behind the instructions, commands, and tasks He gives?

I believe God's will for my life is to know Him. But knowing Him is a process. It takes time and experience. In difficult times I can see how mighty He is and who He can empower me to be. In joyful times I can see His goodness. In obeying His commands I see His protection and truth. In taking the path He lays before me I see His faithfulness and who He has made me to be. In trusting Him I find Him trustworthy. In seeking Him I find Him accessible. In following Him I find Him worth following. In knowing Him I find His love. It's often not about what He wants me to do, but what He wants to do for me.

Whatever you currently feel God leading you to do, that is His will for you today. Whether it's to obey a particular command, do a specific task, make a certain decision, or to simply listen and wait for His instructions. But ask yourself this question before you obey: 'Why does He want me to do that?' Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what he wants you to do.

If you don't know why, ask Him. Listen, study His Word for the answer, or ask someone who has been through something similar what they learned through the process of obedience, trust, or waiting. Or perhaps you just need to do it and see what happens. How are you blessed? How are others impacted? What does God teach you about Himself? God doesn't want us to be in the dark about where He is leading us and why. He is light. He is truth. "Everything hidden will be brought into the light," Jesus said.  Allow Him to enlighten you today.

I pray for you constantly, asking God to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. Ephesians 1:16-18 (NLT)

Solid Ground of Faith

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith. (Hebrews 10:22)

Somewhere between worry and the land of promised peace lies a great chasm of fear and unbelief. We want to cross to the other side, but the distance between where we are and where God calls us to be seems too great. It's impossible to lay aside our thoughts of doom for ourselves or others, so we spend our days trying to control our circumstances and our nights worrying about what we will face tomorrow. It's an endless cycle of stress, busyness, and frustration when things don't go according to our carefully laid plans.

The gap between worry and peace need not be a leap of faith, however, nor like walking a tightrope where we close our eyes and hope for the best, trembling with fear in every step.  We don't even need wings to fly, where a strong headwind might blow us back or circling air currents carry us into a tailspin of despair and hopelessness.

What we simply need is the truth of God's words to enter our mind and settle our hearts. We need to be reminded of His promise to be with us and bring mercy. "I will be with you...I will not fail you or abandon you...Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you." (Joshua 1) "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest...Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." (Mark 6) "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God...those who oppose you will be as nothing...for I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand...for I myself will help you." (Isaiah 41)

These are merely a few examples of promises He spoke to those who had chosen to follow Him. Search His Word for yourself and you will find more; God will speak words of promise to you, and the great chasm of fear and unbelief will disappear. You won't have to take a scary leap of faith or walk a tightrope of terror to the other side. It will simply become solid ground to walk firmly upon into His presence, into His peace, and fully immersed in His love.

"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go...I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised." (Genesis 28:15)

What has He promised you? (Leave a comment if you wish to remind yourself of the truth and to encourage others :)

Living In The Light

"Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body will be filled with light." 

Matthew 6:22

Matthew Six is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible.  Jesus is speaking the whole time, and He has so many great things to say.  He talks about prayer.  He talks about how to receive God's blessings.  He reminds us we don't need to worry because God will always take care of us.  He takes a complicated religious system the people were burdened by and simplifies it to one rule: 'Trust God; He is your loving Father who will never overlook your needs or your deeds.'

The majority of the chapter is straightforward.  He gives practical, take-home advice.  Anyone listening to Him speak would not have to question what He meant, but He does get in one metaphor that takes some thought to consider.  "Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body."  He makes a connection between our perspective and our actions.  The "why" behind the choices we make.  It involves more than following instructions.  It involves understanding why He gives those instructions.

He says not to do things to please people or be noticed by them.  Why?  People are difficult to impress, they don't pay much attention, and their praise is short-lived.  If that's what you're living for, you will be horribly disappointed.

He says to trust God.  Why?  Because God is trustworthy.  He always provides, always rewards, and always sees.  He sees you in your desperate hour.  He sees you in your effort to love, give, and forgive.  If you are trusting Him, He doesn't miss that, and He can't let you down.  If you are living to walk in His ways, the reward is guaranteed, not as a payment for dutiful service but as an inherent blessing.  He only asks us to do what is best for us anyway!

"Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body."  How do you view God?  How do you view His ways?  How do you view yourself?  If your perspective is correct, you will be filled with light.  If your perspective is false, you will live in darkness.  Your actions reflect what you believe.

I don't need to tell you what you struggle with.  You know.  But do you know why you struggle?  What is it that keeps you from doing what you know is best?  What are you not believing about God?  What are you not believing about yourself and who He has made you to be?  Step out of the darkness and into the light.  Out of the lies and into the truth: God is love; His ways are best; And you are His treasured possession...valuable, worth dying for, and worth raising to new life.

You are holy and blameless as you stand before him. 

Colossians 1:22

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.