God's Will

The whole deal about the will of God is a little confusing.  And then when I intersect my will, it gets even cloudier, and the dust begins to fly. We were at church in Austin this week and Brian Wallace, the associate pastor was on board and his lesson was titled "What is God's Will for my Life? Questions are asked of God like, Who shall I marry, is he the one? What job is best suited for me and my family? Should I volunteer for this committee or that? Why can't I have children, is it not your will?  Why was one person struck with a disease and another not? And he explained it this way. Consider God's will to have three stages; there is a secret will of God, the mysteries that we will never know, the specific will, which we thrive to hear and know, and the general will which is his revealed will. 

This might not sync into the reformed theology that I have been taught but in thinking it through it makes sense.  God's will is God's will, no questioning that, but understanding God's will, at least for me, does fall into several levels.  I may not ever know why God does the things he does, and he has planned it that way, that is the mystery part.  I may seek specific answers for God's will, and rack my brain trying to figure out what God wants me to do or not do, what directions I am to take, and what path I am to travel, but even then, things are blurry and his will is not often clear.  Oh but the general will of God is clear; he has written it down for us to read, absorb, study, understand and live. And in His word he tells us to love HIm first, then be gracious, kind and concerned for others.  He warns us of dangers that allow us to be on a slippery slope; unforgivness, selfishness,  pride, self motivated agendas. 

Brian made a great  comparison of Saul and David, both annointed kings of God. Saul was the first God appointed king of Israel. David was annointed king and had to wait 14 years for his place on the throne.  Saul did not practice living in God's general will.  He overstepped his bounds, and disobeyed God on several occasions, raising himself up, and his lofty mandates over the authority of God. He was into the religious rituals not a heart driven obedience to God. Saul was known for his personal courage and generosity but he was finally rejected from being king, becasue he rejected God's commands.  Kill all the Amalakites, God said, Saul made his own decisions and only partly obeyed God and failed to carry out his commands.  This was the way of Saul, he chose to do things his way thus making himself the authority over God's word. 

 And then there was David, the youngest of Jesse's kids.  He had to wait for his reign, and David continually showed his love for God, by respecting his decrees, honoring his name, submitting in obedience to his commands and living by his stated word. David stayed the course in obedience, and as he was waiting for his rule, God grew him in stature and character and gave him strength and victories, one after another beginning with the battle of David and Goliath.Oh he made mistakes just like the rest of us, and suffered through the consequences, but he admitted his wrong and in great humility asked for forgiveness. It was through his repentance and humility and God's forgiviness that David was able to carry on to be a great leader. God knew his heart.   He was a man who God himself described as a man after God's own heart. David was on Saul's staff and Saul's jealousy for David swelled ending in a demand to have David killed, but God protected David and the tables turned and David even was given a chance to kill Saul and hijack the reigns of leadership, but he knew God's rules, do not murder, and retreated. 

The stories here reflect the posture of the heart of the leaders. One lived in obedience, the other did not. We are not ever going to be able to live in perfect submission, but God knows our hearts.   And when David crossed God's line of obedience, he admitted his sin, asked forgiveness and accepted the consequences that were before him. That is what we must do to find favor in the eyes of God.  

The Spirit of God is revealed to confirm the  presence of God. We all need confirmations and affirmations. And God has sent to us just that through our friends of character and wisdom, our pastors, and His word. David waited for confirmation for 14 years that he was really going to be king. When we ask God to answer us specifically, he will, but only according to his timing.  So as we wait for our answers, or a door to shut or a window to open, we are to live in the realms of what we know, the general will of God.  The ways God has made clear that he wants us to live.

Here are three things to consider while waiting for specific prayers to be answered:

1) Pray and ask God what His will is. 

What does your heart tell you, not emotions for they are fickle.  Pay attention to your heart, that is the place where the Spirit lives,  and it will help you to discern emotions. 

2) What do your Christian friends of character and wisdom and Godly mentors tell you?

and number three...and this was my favorite thing said in all the lesson:

3) The will of God lives in the light, if there is something that you are hiding, it is not the will of God.

Remember that specific will will never violate the principles of God's word. If you come to an answer that has to step over some of the valued lessons of honesty, respect and trust that God has designed for living with others and for others, and honoring him, then that specific answer is not God's will. My most recent hidden agenda was trying to cover up an expensive mistake that I made trying to defrost the freezer.  I didn't want my husband to know I had messed up so bad.  It was something that I did not allow to be in the light, and once I let in in the light it was not nearly the big deal that I had imagined it to be. Expensive repair yes, but I had let my emotions rule over my heart and mind. David lived through a cover up with Bathsheba, and the consequences just multiplied in the dark.  It is the cover ups, the inability to be transparent and honest and up front about mistakes that God must consider to be great pitfalls in our character and our society.  We cannot hide things from God, and when we try to hide things from others, is seems like the consequences just become greater.  

Romans 8:27
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Knowing the will of God begins by our living by the general will of God, the rest will assume its proper place, in God's timing. 

Dear Lord, It is hard to imagine the intricacy of your universal plan for each of us, and how we are all intertwined.  May we live by the rules that we have been taught by/throguh your word,  and when we have made specific requests, may we be patient as we wait for your response.  Amen   

Praise God wherever you are or whatever situation you may be in....for His glory will shine through.