God's Perfect Will

Sometimes we actually hate our life. Too many trials and disappointments rip at our heart and smother us with a blanket of insecurity, fear and trouble.

We attempt to control our circumstances, but that is not any easier than grasping for the wind (Ecclesiastes 2:17). It is impossible to do; and therefore, crazy to attempt.

Solomon, the richest and wisest man who ever lived on this earth, realized that he could not buy happiness. He tried to find it by amassing worldly goods, marrying a multitude of wives, and even by worshiping false gods.

Eventually, he applied the wisdom from above to his own life and realized that this world's riches are fleeting at best. Total surrender to God is our only hope of attaining unending joy in this life.

Before He even created the universe, God specifically chose each one of us to walk in holiness according to His will for our individual life and to live for His praise and glory (Ephesians 1:4; Isaiah 43:21).

God created us for a purpose (Ephesians 2:10), not just as a cruel joke or at some random selection. He designed each of us with His perfect will in mind and He attempts to lead us to walk in His ways (Hebrews 13:21).

Too often we take a sidetrack from His intended route and waste valuable time and resources on pursuing our own dreams and goals. We end up spinning our wheels and making our self miserable.

We can walk in lasting happiness only as we follow God's plan for our individual life. It takes time to seek His will for each moment of our day, but the results are totally worth any effort on our part.

Prayer:

Father God, help us to receive what You offer to us rather than trying to manipulate You into giving us what we want. Work in our life to draw us closer to Your heart each day. Create in us a clean heart and renew a Godly spirit within us (Psalm 51:10) until we can truly say with conviction and veracity, "Lord, You are all I need".

Show us the times that we attempt to manipulate You and use You for our own gains. Remind us that You have our best in mind (Jeremiah 29:11). You remove our defenses and affirm Your love for us by Your acceptance of us even while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). You build us up and meet all of our needs until You remove all doubt from our heart (Colossians 2:7).

Thought for the Day:

Once we decide to totally submit to God's will for us, regardless of where, with whom or how it plays out, we eventually find true contentment and fulfillment in this life.

Who's Your Boss?

Read: Joshua 24:14-15

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” - Joshua 24:15

Why are so many people rabidly incensed at even the mention of the name of Jesus, the word "Bible" or any quote from the Holy book? They may be nursing an offense perpetrated by a Christian – either deliberate or unintentional. This often turns people away from God. Also, running from conviction often causes a person to feel malice toward the Almighty. The closer they come to a face-to-face encounter with our Holy God, the louder they protest. The presence of God threatens their immoral behavior and sheds light into their darkness. God’s light causes sinners to resent and despise His presence in the universe.

There is such a violent hatred toward God in our secular society, that He would be crucified again today in the clutches of irate sinners. They did this in Jesus’ day as well. The crowds screamed for Jesus’ blood when Pilate offered them a choice. Christ willingly relinquished His humanity on the cross, but maintained His divine nature throughout His life and into eternity. Satan pierced the body and soul of God with the scourging and crucifixion, but not His Spirit. Jesus lives again and will eventually put Satan and sinners under His feet forever. God will then take every true Believer to live with Him for eternity (2 Corinthians 5:1).

Who is your Boss, Satan or Almighty God? Paul wrote His epistles to give us instruction on how to live the Christian faith. First, he reminds us that we cannot save our self, and he encourages us to put our total faith for salvation in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10). Then he exhorts us to live in unity with each other and to walk in holiness as we serve God unreservedly with undying love (Hebrews 13:1; Ephesians 6:24). Ultimately, Paul urges us to live a life worthy of God’s calling and even to offer our body as a living sacrifice if necessary (Ephesians 4:1; Romans 12:1).

Faced with these inspiring principles to rely on, it is astounding that so many Christians live a mediocre spiritual life. They exist with one foot in the world and one foot in religious activities. They wear their “church clothes” only on Sunday and then they live like the devil the rest of the week. This usually indicates a heart problem. They made a mental decision to follow Christ, but inwardly they are not changed at all. Their spirit is still dead in sin and they never fully trusted in the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ or completely surrendered their will to the will of God. Are you one of these people? If so, get off the fence and choose this day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15).

Prayer:
Father God, Elijah challenged the people of his day to stop wavering between two opinions. He stated that if You are God, then they should follow You; if Satan is god, then they should follow him (1 Kings 18:21). The people stood there in mute silence, because they could not make up their mind. Even if every person I know walks in the name of their false gods, I will walk in the name of the Lord my God for ever and ever. Amen (Micah 4:5).

Thought for the Day:

“Love the Lord our God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.” - Mark 12:30