Tag Archives: God’s will

Yes, I will go.

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I was reading in Genesis (chapters 21-24) this morning and was struck by the examples of faith lived out in the lives of some of the people. We know Abraham displayed faith in a number of ways, not the least of which was being willing to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice if that’s what God wanted him to do. Those of us who know that story know God stopped Abraham before he brought down the knife on his son there on the altar. But Abraham learned that day that he really did have the ultimate faith in God and God is faithful.

I read about Abraham’s servant who displayed his own faith when he went to find a wife for Isaac. The servant prayed believing God would make his way plain and God answered that prayer.

Rebekah was willing to go to Isaac, away from her family and to a man she had never seen because she had faith that what the servant said was of God.

As I read this portion of Scripture today I found myself questioning how my faith translates into my own life? When God nudges me toward doing something, talking to someone about the Lord, going somewhere, do I obey without worrying about what it might cost me?

How do you even know if what you are hearing is of God? For me the most important question is: is what I think God is asking me to do consistent with Scripture? Are there examples of similar requests of God in his Word? I don’t believe God is going to ask me to do something that contradicts what is already recorded in the Bible.

Secondly, does the idea of doing this thing pop up when I’m reading the Bible and when I pray? I think God speaks clearest when we are quiet before him.

And lastly, will doing this thing bring glory to God regardless of what the outcome is for me? If my motivation for obeying has even a hint of self-centeredness I can pretty much discount it as from God.

There are things God wants us to do, people God wants us to befriend and share the gospel with. I don’t think it’s as much, does God want me to change jobs or move into a different house as much as does God want to use me in a new setting to lead someone to his saving grace? 

My prayer is that if God lays something or someone on my heart I will have faith like that of Rebekah and answer, “Yes, I will go.”

September 14

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Esther 5:1-9:19

Haman was pretty sure of himself. The King asked for his advice. The Queen invited him to lunch. His wife and his friends told him how great he was. And Haman made plans. He would destroy his enemy and life would be perfect.

Those were Haman’s plans. They weren’t God’s. Haman set in motion the very thing that would destroy him. The gallows he built to hang Mordecai were the gallows that ended his own life.

The lesson here today just might be a warning. The plans we have for ourselves, the future we envision just might result in the destruction of our souls if carried out.

Have you had doors close in your face only to try to crawl through a window to get what you want? Does it seem like for every step you take to get closer to your goal you wind up taking two steps back? Maybe you should rethink your goal.

I have shared that my dad died last year. One year ago today, to be exact. My sisters and I have the job of selling our childhood home. It looked like it had sold last spring but after three months of one roadblock after another, we decided to put it back on the market. Our prayer has always been that God would bring a Christian family to that home, to love it and make memories like the ones we have of living there. God did bring that family and we are scheduled to close next week. Parents with two daughters (we love the idea of another family of girls living there after we five) will live and grow inside those precious walls. We weren’t necessarily thankful for the roadblocks last spring but we can see God’s hand at work for this young family today.

How do we respond to roadblocks? We need to ask ourselves if the roadblocks are put there by Satan to try and stop God’s work, or are they put there by the loving hand of God to prevent us from disaster.

Pray. Stay in the Word because it is God’s roadmap. In these precious pages are all you need to know about finding God’s plan for your life. Let him guide you so that people can recognize him and want him in their lives, too.  That’s God’s ultimate plan for each of us.

Remember… God certainly does not want you to be hanging from gallows built by your choices.

July 29

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Psalm 81; Jeremiah 47:1-8:47; 2 Kings 23:29-30; 2 Chronicles 35:20-36:1

Don’t go, Josiah. This is not your battle. Stop opposing God or he will destroy you.

God sent that message to Josiah through Neco king of Egypt.  But Josiah went into battle anyway. And he didn’t survive. This young man who had done so much good for the kingdom died like anyone else.

Was it God’s will? Did God take Josiah because his time was up?

No! If that were the case I doubt God would have bothered to warn him not to go to battle.

Once again I am reminded that God did not create robots when he created man. He knew Josiah would not heed his warning but that’s not the same as making it happen. Had Josiah listened to God I wonder what other amazing accomplishments we would be reading about today instead of reading about Josiah’s death.

God speaks to each one of us when we read his Word. He may use the voice of a Christian friend. But as sure as I am sitting at this computer today, God is trying to get my attention. He’s trying to get yours. And when he does we have a choice. We can obey. 

Or not.

Of course he knows what we’ll decide but rest assured his will is that we obey. 

Heavenly Father, I want to hear what you have to say to me today. As I read your Word, as I talk with people who love you, may I have my ears and heart on alert. I don’t want to miss what you want me to know. And I want to obey whatever it is you reveal to me. May your people be quick to listen and quick to obey.

May 15

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I Chronicles 23:1-23, 6:16-30, 23:24-24:31

Once again we see how excited David is about the building of the temple. Like what we read yesterday, he is still making plans and assigning duties. But in today’s Scripture he goes one step further. He makes Solomon King of Israel.

That was unheard of. A king was a king until he died. Then and only then did the son take the throne.

But David knew the temple could not be built as long as he was king. And he was so anxious for God’s work to be done, nothing was more important. David was single-minded, totally focused on the building of the temple. Not even his own kingship was as important. He gave up the throne, he stepped aside so God’s work could be done.

God is asking me today what I am willing to give up in order for his work to be accomplished. Am I holding on to something or someone that is preventing me from being an effective witness? Am I as focused on God’s work as David was?

God would have me be an instrument through which he can draw unsaved people to himself. Do I really want to be that instrument? Is God asking me to submit a habit, a dream, an attitude so that his work can be accomplished through me? May he find me as faithful as David was and as eager to see God’s will be done.