Untold amounts of pain and suffering have been caused by the incorrect teaching that we must “find” God’s will for our lives.
We are exhorted to “fast and pray” and God will surely “reveal” His will for our lives. We cannot take responsibility for such important decisions as where to go to school, whom to marry and where to live and work. God must tell us what to do.
This thinking leads to such extremes that some even expect God to tell them what clothes to wear, and what to eat for lunch. And if our decisions lead to suffering, we have no one to blame but God. After all, He told us what to do. “Don’t blame me for not knowing how to run my business. It was God who told me to open a bookstore, and He is now telling me to close shop!”
This type of Unbiblical thinking is the cause of discontent and wasted resources and lives.
The fact is that God’s will for you is not a secret.
His will is that you are:
SAVED
This is good, and pleases God our savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1Tim. 2:3-4
SPIRIT FILLED
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.
Eph. 5:17,18
SANCTIFIED
It is God’s will that YOU SHOULD BE SANCTIFIED: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable.
1Thess. 4:3
SUBMISSIVE
SUBMIT YOURSELVES for the Lord’s sake to every authority . . . who are sent by Him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will . . .
1Pet. 2:13-15
SUFFERING
It is better, if it is God’s will, to SUFFER FOR DOING GOOD than for doing evil.
1Pet. 3:17
SAYING THANKS
GIVE THANKS in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1Thess. 5:18
Then you may pursue
ANYTHING YOU DESIRE.
Delight yourself in the Lord and
He will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4
Conclusion:
Don’t wait for God to tell you how to run the details of your life. If you are in His will as given above, then you are free to make any decisions about your life that you want, and also to take responsibility for them.
Adapted from a message by Dr. John Macarthur.
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