Last week at church they sang a song about saying 'yes' to the will of God. It was sung in an attitude of self-sacrifice...sort of 'even though Your will may be terrible and may not be what I want, I will do it.'
What rubbish! How about saying 'yes' to the will of God as revealed in the Word? How about saying 'yes' to His desire to give you the desires of your heart? Or saying 'yes' to 'by His stripes you were healed...' or 'He will give His angels charge over you to guard you in all your ways...?'
Instead of screwing up our courage to accept Him killing our children or burning our churches down or losing our homes, how about saying 'yes' to His revealed will of blessing and wealth and health and glory? To long life and honor? To seeing our children's children? To our sons being blessed within us...to their well-being being great? These are all scriptures!
The Dividing Line
If you struggle with this, remember John 10:10. It provides a very easy way to tell who's behind what..."The THIEF comes ONLY to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." [An interesting aside...the literal translation is '...and have abundance!' I wonder how that got changed into a less concrete meaning...]
If you struggle with this, remember John 10:10. It provides a very easy way to tell who's behind what..."The THIEF comes ONLY to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." [An interesting aside...the literal translation is '...and have abundance!' I wonder how that got changed into a less concrete meaning...]
If it's killing, stealing or destroying, the thief is behind it, NOT GOD!
This one scripture has helped me numerous times when dealing with New Testament scriptures that sound scary. Since I now know that it can't ever mean that God wants to steal or kill or destroy, especially from Himself [remember...we have died and are now we are one Spirit with the Lord] it helps me look at those passages differently. I ask for guidance, and voilà...I can start to see the real meaning! [Sometimes it takes awhile, but I stand firm knowing that the righteous understand all things]
It is very hard for me to sit through a memorial service for a young man and hear that 'we can't know why God chose to take him...' We are, in fact, calling evil good and blaming God for the enemy's work!
Don't Rationalize
And I'm not talking about rationalizing, either. You've heard it dozens of times...'Well, I don't understand why God took [killed] my child but it must be for the best.' 'What will be will be...God is in control, and we're just not meant to understand why [fill in the tragedy].' 'Well, it must have been God's will for [fill in the tragedy] and we'll find out why when we get to heaven.'
And I'm not talking about rationalizing, either. You've heard it dozens of times...'Well, I don't understand why God took [killed] my child but it must be for the best.' 'What will be will be...God is in control, and we're just not meant to understand why [fill in the tragedy].' 'Well, it must have been God's will for [fill in the tragedy] and we'll find out why when we get to heaven.'
Horse [manure]! Yes, God is in control, and what He chose to do with that control is for us to reign in life! To overwhelmingly conquer is our calling! [Romans 8:37]
For a more in-depth rant, read Stolen!, Why we Don't Trust God or God's Good Will. In fact, browse back through earlier posts...it's all pretty relevant.
The Moral of the Story
The moral of this rant? Start saying 'yes' to the real will of God in your life. In your understanding, see James 1:17 as being real...'Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.' Or Psalm 84: 11...'For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.' Or Psalm 34: 10...'The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.'
The moral of this rant? Start saying 'yes' to the real will of God in your life. In your understanding, see James 1:17 as being real...'Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.' Or Psalm 84: 11...'For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.' Or Psalm 34: 10...'The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.'
Hallelujah! How about saying 'yes' to that! Yes Lord, I believe I receive every blessing you have for me...
What about Africa?
"What if He wants me to go to Africa as a missionary? To be poor and struggling in another country? What if His will for me is something I don't want to do?"
"What if He wants me to go to Africa as a missionary? To be poor and struggling in another country? What if His will for me is something I don't want to do?"
Then it's not His will. People who are truly called to the missionary life love it! They want to go and should expect His fullest blessings while there! Psalms 34:4 tell us to 'Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.' I think that means first He gives you the desire, then He fulfills it!
Believe me, He doesn't want you to go anywhere kicking and screaming. He created you for a specific purpose, and you will find your truest happiness when you're doing it.
Disclaimer: you will need to check your desires against the truth of the Word...don't go half-cocked into some wacky behavior, like stealing something your really want because it's your desire. That's not God-inspired desire, that's lust run amuck. Pray about it, read the Word...you will know, deep down, if it's right or wrong.
To end on a positive note, read Psalm 112. If you still have questions whether God's will for you is good or not, this passage should settle it. Expect the best!
