Seek God's Best For You

GoSeek God¡¦s Best for You

Various Scriptures

ACHS Chapel, November 17, 2003

Introduction

One of the dangers of speaking right after lunch is that some of you may fall asleep. But to help with that, some of the chairs have been equipped with little shock devices.

But only the chairs with blue fabric have them.

Today I want to briefly visit with you about how to seek God¡¦s best for you.

I wish that someone had talked to me about this when I was in junior and senior high. Instead, I floundered around with not knowing for sure what I wanted to do, and I ended up changing my major a couple of times in college, and then never working in a job that required the degree I did get.

I want to give you three ways to find God¡¦s best for you, and my hope is that you will walk out of here with something you can use to help you find God¡¦s best for you.

Ready? Let¡¦s go. The first way to find God¡¦s best for you is to¡K

1. Seek to know and love God more.

Most, if not all of you, have heard someone quote Jeremiah 29:11 to you:

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

But you know what the next two verses say?

12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

What I think that¡¦s saying to us is that God¡¦s plans for us become clearer as we seek God as our first priority.

You know the best way to get to know God better and love Him more? Spend time reading the Bible and praying.

Pretty simple, but that¡¦s the best way. Ask anyone in here who has loved Jesus for very long, and they¡¦ll tell you ¡V it¡¦s time in the Word of God and praying.

Jesus said we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Well, how do you suppose we learn to do that?

Here it is ¡V the Bible and prayer. So do it.

The second way to find God¡¦s best for you is to¡K

2. Get counsel from others

Proverbs 15:22 says this:

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

Who do we get counsel or advice? At the age you¡¦re at now, there are three primary sources of God counsel:

„Ï Parents

Did you know that God gave you parents for more than just to give you a hard time? It¡¦s true!

They actually care what¡¦s best for you! Really! Okay, Danielle, stop rolling your eyes.

God put your parents here on earth for a number of reasons, and one of those reasons is to help you seek God¡¦s best for you.

„Ï Pastor

Pastors also care about you, and they¡¦re in the business of helping people develop a relationship with God that impacts every area of their life, including making decisions for school, career, and all that stuff.

Ask your pastors to help you find God¡¦s best for you. I guarantee that they¡¦ll be glad to do that.

„Ï Teachers

Aside from your parents, your teachers probably see you more than just about anybody besides your best friends.

They see you day in and day out, and they see how you respond to challenges in schoolwork and in life in general.

If you have a teacher that loves Jesus, chances are they would love to sit and listen to you, and help you find the answers you¡¦re looking for in finding God¡¦s best for you.

Under girding all this, of course, is the Bible. If your parents, pastor, and teachers love Jesus and love the Bible, chances are very good that the counsel they give you will be good.

3. Let God have his way.

Here¡¦s what I mean:

You can make all the decisions you want, but if you¡¦re not trying to find God¡¦s best plan for you, you run the risk of making wrong decisions, or the risk of having those decisions turn sour, and you¡¦re left wondering what happened.

A long time ago I learned that I need to tell God, ¡§Okay, God, You know what¡¦s best for me. Tell me what you want. I¡¦m finally listening.¡¨

And it was then that He called me to be a pastor. I could have saved myself a lot of headaches and heartaches if I would have taken the time earlier in life to listen to God.

Any adults here remember the television show, ¡§Emergency?¡¨

That was my ultra-favorite show. And at times I wish I had TV Land on my TV so I could watch it still.