The Eclectic Web: Will of God
Our friend Joel Arnold published a series of articles concerning the will of God recently. We would like to highlight them today and also to call your attention to the best place to find Joel’s writings these days, a fairly new blog called Rooted Thinking. This is a cooperative effort by a cadre of (mostly) younger writers. I think you’ll find it a blessing.
On the topic of the Will of God, Joel opens with this:
Even the language we use is confusing—“how to find God’s will.” Why do you need to find it? Did it get lost? Is God hiding it somewhere? The phrase brings to mind images of people peeking under every rock, hoping that God will give them hints—“you’re getting cold; okay, getting warmer now; nope, now you’re cold again.”
Post 1: HATE MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS? HERE’S HELP
The main idea of this post comes down to two ideas we must hold in tension:
You’ll need to make specific decisions in life and they won’t always be clear. Don’t just follow your own desires and call it God’s will; but don’t live life paralyzed with fear either. Start with what you know. Recognize your own tendency and counter it with truths from God’s Word.
Post 2: WHAT IS GOD’S WILL FOR MY LIFE? SIX BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS
- Foundation #1—Some things are God’s will for everybody, everywhere. Start with what you know and work out from there.
- Foundation #2—God isn’t hiding His will. He wants you to follow Him and He will lead you.
- Foundation #3—When you aren’t sure, serve God wherever you can!
Post 3: SO WHICH TIME DID YOU MISS GOD’S WILL?
- Foundation #4—God’s will isn’t always a linear path
- Foundation #5—God’s will isn’t always what we thought we wanted.
- Foundation #6—Finding God’s will is an opportunity to exercise trust.
Post 4: GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU. NOW LIVE IT
In the concluding post, Joel offers us an eight point guideline for actually making important decisions:
- Pray and meditate on God’s Word.
- Learn as much as you can about the choices.
- Pray and meditate on God’s Word.
- Talk to your spiritual leaders.
- Pray and meditate on God’s Word.
- Make a decision.
- Pray and meditate on God’s Word.
- Rest in God’s care of you.
You’ll notice that Joel advises prayer and meditating on God’s Word no less than four times… that might make his list only a five point list, but he is serious about calling us to prayer and careful consideration in making major decisions.
That’s it! Now you know all you ever need to know about finding God’s will!
Well, you should at least read Joel’s articles. I think you’ll find them helpful.
Publication of links in The Eclectic Web feature does not imply endorsement of the viewpoint or contents of any of the websites linked. The links are provided as a matter of interest to Christians.
The Eclectic Web is compiled by Don Johnson. Don Johnson is the pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.