God’s Will for You
By Greg Johnson
May 9, 2007
http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org
Knowing God’s will for our life can sometimes be very challenging as we wait and pray for specific direction. Yet at the same time, as we read and study God’s Word, certain aspects of His will for our lives become very obvious. There are three aspects of God’s will for each of us that I feel God would have us consider today; joy, prayer and thanksgiving.
God’s Word says (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV) "Be joyful always; {17} pray continually; {18} give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
BE JOYFUL ALWAYS
There is joy associated with obeying God. Obedience to God does not bring joy to our flesh, but it does bring joy to our spirit. Jesus said (John 15:10-11 NIV) "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. {11} I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."
At the cross, the pain and suffering did not bring joy to Jesus’ flesh, but His unflinching obedience to His heavenly Father brought much joy to His spirit. (Hebrews 12:2 NIV) "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." There was also joy in knowing that when His obedience on earth was finished, He would be around the throne again.
There is joy that comes by the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, {23} gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Obedience to God and His Word brings a greater anointing of the Holy Spirit. With the greater anointing the fruit of the Spirit, which includes joy, becomes more and more abundant.
PRAY CONTINUALLY
There is designated prayer, corporate prayer and continual prayer. We have designated times that we enter into our prayer closet each day to spend time with Jesus. For some it’s in the morning hours as they start their day. For others, it may be during the day or at night prior to going to bed. But, one thing is sure; followers of Christ have designated times that they spend with Him in prayer.
We have corporate times of prayer that include prayer groups, prayer meetings, prayer in church services. Corporate times of prayer are powerful and God moves in powerful ways as faith is united and people of faith ask and agree together.
It is continual prayer that is God’s will for our life. We are to be people of continual prayer in constant communication with the One that we serve. Prayer becomes such a vital part of the follower of Christ that they commune with Jesus every waking hour. They not only have a designated time and place to pray, they not only participate in corporate prayer, but the pray continually. They talk to Jesus in the car. They talk to Jesus in the store. They talk to Jesus at work. They talk to Jesus at school. They talk to Jesus walking the dog. They talk to Jesus as they cook. They talk to Jesus as they mow the grass. The follower of Christ learns to continually talk to Jesus on their journey from earth to glory.
GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.
It’s easy to thank God in the good times. It’s not as easy in the bad times, but God’s will is for us to be thankful in all circumstances. Even in our most difficult times, it is possible to find something to be thankful for.
On July 16, 1969, I was an eight year old boy. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was in Florida with my family and we were there to see the launch of Apollo 11, the first moon launch. My papaw Morrison wanted to get me and my brother as close to the launch as possible. We walked and we walked along the beach. A man in a four wheel drive jeep came along and offered to drive us closer. We drove for a long way through stuff that would be impossible to get a car through to get as close as we could. We were by ourselves as we had gotten further in than anyone could get by foot.
We witnessed a spectacular space launch. On the way back out of that jungle environment, the jeep broke down. The man that gave us a ride said he would go get help. After a while, when help did not come, we began to walk out. It was very hot and we were very thirsty. I can remember looking to my right as we walked north and parallel to the ocean and seeing that vast body of salt water that could not quench our thirst. We got weaker and weaker as we walked and walked for miles with no water. My brother began to hallucinate. At one point, my papaw Morrison had my brother and I to rest under the shade of a palm. I can remember him saying “It sure is hot today, but thank God there is a little breeze.” We were weak, dehydrated and stranded with no help, but my papaw found something to thank God about. Hours later we were found and rescued, but those profound words of thanks to God in the face of near death impacted my life. My papaw was in God’s will. He was giving thanks in all circumstances and passing that legacy on to his two grandsons. He has long been around the throne, but his two grandsons are still on their journey. We are not perfect by any means, but we both are in love with Jesus, serving Him and striving to give thanks to God in all circumstances.
Beloved, (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV) "Be joyful always; {17} pray continually; {18} give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." Please know that it is only in Christ Jesus that we can be joyful always; pray continually; and give thanks in all circumstances. It’s only in Christ Jesus. May we decrease and may Jesus increase in each of us. May God’s Kingdom come and His will be done in each of our lives today!
