Finding God’s Will for My Life
God’s will is not a tight rope where there is only one correct answer and we are all alone to figure it out. It’s more like a basketball court with a team and open space to move around and have fun. He already has in mind what is best for you and it’s possible for you to know it too. Since God’s best for you is in his mind already, it is not your job to create it, but it is your job to discover it. How we discover it is by seeking him and/or asking him. Through that process he tells you His will, but how do you do that?I borrowed an outline from former pastor Pete Briscoe that I believe is a very good structure to asking God what His will is for our life. Below I have outlined Pete’s four words and four questions to ask based on those words. The structure of all this comes from a single verse, Romans 12:2.
Romans 12:2 - 2 Do not conform 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. (NIV)
Seeking God’s Will - Four Words and Four Questions;
Mercy - Have I trusted Christ?
- Mercy - Mercy is how we get onto the basketball court and into the game. We can’t check in without mercy. It’s almost like wearing the required uniform and number of our team.
Romans 1-11 all leads up to what Paul shares in Romans 12. Here is a quick synopsis of the first 11 chapters which speak to God’s mercy: We are hopelessly lost, for all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Rom 3:23). We have separated ourselves from God by our sin, so something dramatic had to happen in order to fix this problem. Enters Jesus and his sacrifice which bridge the enormous gap between us and God.
Offer - Have I offered myself to Christ?
- Offer - Offering ourselves fully to Jesus is how to play the game.
Paul mentioned in Romans 12:1 that we are living sacrifices for Jesus. Another word for this would be submission. If we are offering ourselves and/or submitting ourselves, we are placing ourselves under Jesus’ mission with NO strings attached!
World - Is this decision out-of-bounds?
- World - (Rom 12:2) Don’t be formed by what the world says.
The great thing about viewing God’s will as a court is that there are boundaries. Anytime we step “out-of-bounds” we are sacrificing what ultimately could be your best life. You are settling for something that Satan has convinced you is better then what God has. I’m here to tell you that it’s not. Your best is “in-bounds” on the court.
Transformed - Will this help me grow?
- Transformed - (Rom 12:2) - BE transformed.
Once we receive transformation, Christ lives in us and the Christian life is all about our outward behavior matching our inward savior. We do this by renewing our mind through reading God’s word, listening to him, learning about Him.
In summary;
Mercy - Have I trusted Christ?Offer - Have I offered myself to Christ?World - Is this decision Out-of-bounds?Transformed - Will this help me grow?
Related Content: A Call to Action: Yesterday's Prayer is Today's Calling
Prayer
Lord, I thank you for the mercy you extended to me everyday and that I can call you the Lord of my life. Because you are a trusting and loving savior, I want to give this decision to you and submit myself to your will. If this decision is in anyway out-of-bounds of your playing field, please reveal that to me. Please give me a silent yes if this next step would help our relationship grow deeper and more intimate. However, if this is not your best for me please give me a silent no. I believe that you are interested in every detail of my life, not just the big ones. So, help me stay in perpetual surrender to you so I am always available for you to lead me and guide me. Teach me to hear your silent yes and silent no. I pray this all in your powerful and precious name, Amen.