Listening for God's will in our lives 12/22/19
A mother tells her child not to touch the hot stove and repeatedly enforces this rule. She does so to prevent her child from knowing pain and experiencing pain. The child shows understanding, follows the instruction given for many days. However, one day feels compelled to touch what he knew not to. The cries of pain were instant. Tears were immediate and the lesson learned was swift in understanding. Yet, the child would still endure pain lasting for days. A lesson was learned, but through pain that could have been avoided by listening. Listening to instruction and heeding the warning. Our walk with God is similar in that he will guide us. He will keep us, but it is up to us to listen.
Years ago, on the cusp of marriage, I wanted help and guidance. Mistakes were plenty and to steer clear from them -I sought the Lord. Jeremiah 29:13 “And you will seek for Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart”. I prayed. I prayed for God to give me wisdom and show me his path. When the answer came, it was not the decision that I had hoped for. The answer came from the very source of my concern. My future husband announced boldly, “If your looking for someone to go to church with you, I am not that man.” The sense of sadness engulfed me. This was not the answer that I was searching for. This was not the way it was supposed to go. What I wanted compelled not the will of God, but of mine. With a naïve approach of “I can do great things”, I resisted the confirmation. Rather than heed the will of God, I prayed and told God that I could fix him. I would win him over to Christ and then with prejudice ignored the will of God. I married him several days later at our local courthouse. It is in this decision that brought about pain, and misery for many years. It was the hot stove if you will. It would only take months to realize that “I” could not do anything. Gambling, drugs, lies and adultery plagued my marriage of just five years. Tears and heartache were plenty and were the price to pay, and healing needed time. And I needed God’s unfailing Grace. I needed him to forgive me. I needed to feel whole again
. It seems like many including myself pray for God’s will, but when we come to realize the answer is not what we are looking for, we dismiss His guidance and often blame God when things don’t work out. I did not blame God for my poor decisions. But I did ask for forgiveness. My lesson was invaluable. It is not through “I” that “I” can do all things, but in Christ alone. How do you find God’s will?How do you hear?How do you know? By praying and seeking first his will and then above all else; listening. Listen with the intent to heed His direction. God wants you to be blessed beyond measure. Stepping out of God’s will, often brings hurt and pain. But heeding his voice will promote your faith, His grace, peace and prosperity.
Years later I listened to the still small voice of God’s plan and married a man that brought healing to so many broken pieces in my life. The blessings are beyond what I could have ever hoped for. There was healing for my children, healing for his children and the miracle of how great God’s will was and is evident. Healing and Peace engulfs my family beyond our own understanding and although hurts are still plenty, healing has never ceased. My faith is renewed. The desires of my heart have been rewarded. And as I move forward in my walk with God, I will listen for his voice. I will take heed, for in doing so, I not only do the will of God, but avoid the pain of disobedience. Start today to find God’s will in your life by simply asking him to take control and give guidance.
Today I am forgiven, redeemed, and restored through Christ.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and near fails to bear fruit.