Am I after my Heavenly Father’s agenda or my own? Harry S. Truman once joked, “I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.”
Jesus declared, “I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” (John 5:30b NIV ) God’s will is supreme in the universe, but this did not rule out the freedom of Jesus’ action in doing that will. Jesus prayed for the Father’s will (Matt 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42). “Abba, Father,” He said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36 NIV)
Those who belong to Jesus have freedom to do God’s will without necessity or compulsion. God’s will is not automatic, not forced, not coerced, and includes voluntary action. We must choose to cooperate.
How do we clearly discern God’s will?
- We need honest desire to follow His Will. (We must seek just as Jesus prayed.)
- We need to tap into Scripture. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
- We often need the help of other believers.
- We need to PRAY much. (Luke 6:12-13 Jesus prayed ALL NIGHT!)
- We need to have a personal ongoing mind renewal.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 NIV
