Knowing God's Will
Change is hard. Even good change brings its challenges! Some would affirm that all change is traumatic in a sense because it forces us to feel a loss, find closure, search for healing, and look for hope in an unknown future.
Here's our reality: all of us are currently experiencing a life change. Maybe one (or more) of these is yours:
*graduation
*recent surgery
*loss of a relationship
*empty nesting
*loss of health
*loss of a lifestyle
*loss of a job
*new job
*new house
*new relationship
*new family member
As we process these changes, we may find ourselves asking, "Where do I go from here?"
When we stop struggling against the change and begin to embrace it, we find that God is with us, walking our path alongside us. (See Matt. 28:20, Deut. 31:6, Ps. 23:4) As we look to an unknown future, we can know God's will precisely. As we pray, we can be certain we're praying His will, which guarantees an affirmative answer from our Heavenly Father. Here's what I mean: when we want what God wants, we will see His will come to pass. When we pray in cooperation with God's interests, He is certain to fulfill His promises. Consider these thoughts:
We can do nothing in our own strength--God must grant His grace through the power of the Holy Spirit for us to accomplish anything good in our lives. God's will for us is pretty simple: "Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8) and "visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27). In a nutshell, this is God's specific direction for our lives. If that's where we aim, God will do the steering.
God wants us to know the expanse and eternal nature of Christ's love for us (Eph. 3:17-19). Chances are, we won't see it unless we're looking for it, and we won't find it unless God opens our eyes. A wise person will pray that God will show him or her, and the ones we pray for, Christ's love in the midst of change and life circumstances.
God sincerely desires to grant us His wisdom for our life choices. He made mankind with a will, creating each of us for special purposes and creative talents. How we steward these choices requires wisdom from above, and all we have to do is ask! (James 1:5)
If your life change involves deep struggle, Christ's strength is needed to endure. Have you ever felt that you literally can't make it through a day on your own? If so, you're not alone. That feeling drives me to my knees as I cry out to God to come through on His promise: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13)
You still may be at a crossroads, wondering, "How does this help me today? What do I do? Where do I go?" Graduates, in particular, struggle with these questions as they face an overwhelming plethora of choices. We all know how one decision can change the entire course of our lives.
Because God is sovereign, there's no way you will miss His will! He has already declared the end from the beginning (Is. 46:10). He will take every decision that you think YOU are making and work it according to His will and plan for your life. You will experience peace as you work in cooperation with God (knowing and doing what He's already told us in His Word) and praying in concert with His desires, and you can be assured of His blessing (which comes in many forms, but that's another topic for another day).
Walk the path, step by step, day by day, acknowledging His presence with you and asking for His help. He will open doors ("I am He that opens, and no man shuts") and close doors ("I am He that shuts, and no man opens" Rev. 3:7) and redeem whatever you face for your (our) good and His glory (Phil. 4:13).
"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." (Prov. 3:6)
You're good to GO!
Subscribe to free weekly articles in your inbox HERE; your information will never be shared. :-)
©2020 Julianne Knapp. First published 6.5.20
Here's our reality: all of us are currently experiencing a life change. Maybe one (or more) of these is yours:
*graduation
*recent surgery
*loss of a relationship
*empty nesting
*loss of health
*loss of a lifestyle
*loss of a job
*new job
*new house
*new relationship
*new family member
As we process these changes, we may find ourselves asking, "Where do I go from here?"
When we stop struggling against the change and begin to embrace it, we find that God is with us, walking our path alongside us. (See Matt. 28:20, Deut. 31:6, Ps. 23:4) As we look to an unknown future, we can know God's will precisely. As we pray, we can be certain we're praying His will, which guarantees an affirmative answer from our Heavenly Father. Here's what I mean: when we want what God wants, we will see His will come to pass. When we pray in cooperation with God's interests, He is certain to fulfill His promises. Consider these thoughts:
We can do nothing in our own strength--God must grant His grace through the power of the Holy Spirit for us to accomplish anything good in our lives. God's will for us is pretty simple: "Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8) and "visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27). In a nutshell, this is God's specific direction for our lives. If that's where we aim, God will do the steering.
God wants us to know the expanse and eternal nature of Christ's love for us (Eph. 3:17-19). Chances are, we won't see it unless we're looking for it, and we won't find it unless God opens our eyes. A wise person will pray that God will show him or her, and the ones we pray for, Christ's love in the midst of change and life circumstances.
God sincerely desires to grant us His wisdom for our life choices. He made mankind with a will, creating each of us for special purposes and creative talents. How we steward these choices requires wisdom from above, and all we have to do is ask! (James 1:5)
If your life change involves deep struggle, Christ's strength is needed to endure. Have you ever felt that you literally can't make it through a day on your own? If so, you're not alone. That feeling drives me to my knees as I cry out to God to come through on His promise: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13)
You still may be at a crossroads, wondering, "How does this help me today? What do I do? Where do I go?" Graduates, in particular, struggle with these questions as they face an overwhelming plethora of choices. We all know how one decision can change the entire course of our lives.
Because God is sovereign, there's no way you will miss His will! He has already declared the end from the beginning (Is. 46:10). He will take every decision that you think YOU are making and work it according to His will and plan for your life. You will experience peace as you work in cooperation with God (knowing and doing what He's already told us in His Word) and praying in concert with His desires, and you can be assured of His blessing (which comes in many forms, but that's another topic for another day).
Walk the path, step by step, day by day, acknowledging His presence with you and asking for His help. He will open doors ("I am He that opens, and no man shuts") and close doors ("I am He that shuts, and no man opens" Rev. 3:7) and redeem whatever you face for your (our) good and His glory (Phil. 4:13).
"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." (Prov. 3:6)
You're good to GO!
Subscribe to free weekly articles in your inbox HERE; your information will never be shared. :-)
©2020 Julianne Knapp. First published 6.5.20