A Lesson
Finding God's Will In Our Lives

  Latley, I have been coming across a series of messages - from things I 
have read and things that God is directly giving to me - on the subject 
of finding His will for our lives.  I hope you find these interesting 
and uplifting.  The following (first paragraph) is something that He 
gave me personally, while I was on a ski trip, and the rest is from a 
series of "In Touch Ministries" Bible studies which I have read. (Feel 
free to pass them on and share them with whoever you want to.)
 
  "Why do we consider "Finding God's Will For Our Lives" to be this life 
long search or hunt for this mystically alluding thing like He has 
hidden it from us, requiring us to do this long hard search to find it?  
I think we would be better served to ask this question;  Why would a God 
who loves us so much - hide His will from us at all???  I think the 
answer is simple --- He wouldn't!  He hasn't hidden it, and He wants us 
to know it!  Its right in front of us and the reason that we sometimes 
can't find it is because we either don't ask (James 1:2-8, and James 
4:2b) or because we have un-repented sin in our life that keeps us from 
seeing it.  Now I don't think He would reveal our whole life's will to 
us all at once, because we (being inperfect and fallible in our human 
intellect) probably couldn't handle it or even relate to it (He didn't 
even do this to His prophets and leaders in the Bible, although it seems 
He tried to with Abraham who still messed it up).  But as for today, 
right now, if we want to know His will it seems to me that we should 
just ask Him for it and begin to live obediently - for Him - in all ways 
- right now - (Psalms 119: 9-11) Kowing that He will work His will, in 
our lives, according to His purposes, which will ALWAYS be toward our 
betterment and growth toward Him.

Here is the series of studies that I was telling you about on 
this same subject.
Hope that you get as much out of them as I did.
 ---Jimmy---

LESSON #1:

  "Discerning God's will for your life involves being sensitive to His    
continual leading."

(Read Ephesians 5: 15-17)
  If you have been through a time when you felt God was silent, you 
remember the disquiet you expereienced in your inner being.  Sometimes 
God chooses to withhold specific information for a while.  He wants you 
to wait on Him with a spirit of obedience and expectancy.  However, it's 
always important to examine your heart, because there may be something 
there blocking your ability to hear Him.
  The influence of others might be getting in the way.  If people close 
to you give you counsel, the temptation is strong to listen.
  They may be right; God may use them to help direct you.  But if their 
wrong, then your ties of affection may actually be binding you. It's so 
natural to want to please others, that you may be interpreting that urge 
as trying to please the Lord.
  A SIN IN YOUR LIFE MAY BE PREVENTING GOOD COMMUNICATION
WITH THE LORD!  
If you ask Him to reveal any problem areas, He certainly will. 
More than you can imagine, God wants you to be free of sin habits and 
THE GUILT THAT GOES WITH THEM!  He has already forgiven you in Christ, 
but you still need to confess and repent.
  Finally, be sure to ask yourself the question:  Do I really believe 
God wants to guide me?  If you feel confused right now, maybe it's time 
for you to take these "hearing tests." ---In Touch Ministries---


LESSON #2:

"You do not have because you do not ask." (James 4:2b)

(Read: John 16:22-27)
  Are you secretly afraid to ask the Lord for guidence?  Maybe you 
harbor the belief that what you need is not important enough to talk to 
God about, that somehow your request is to small.  Catherine Marshall 
addresses this issue in her book "Adventures in Prayer"
  "A little child who has no shyness or hesitation about asking his 
parents for what he needs is unselfconsciously revealing his 
helplessness - along with a normal, right relationship with his father 
and mother.
  "In the same way, asking immediatly puts us into a right relationship 
with God.  It is acting out the fact that He is the Creator with the 
riches and resouces we need; we are the creatures who need help.  It's a 
cap-in-hand stance which we resist because it diminishes us - a certain 
amount of pride and self has to go for us to ask for help - whether of 
God or of another human being.
  "Simple happenings uncover our pride and stubborness about asking - 
like the motorist who loses his way.  Often we will go miles off our 
route, waste time trying one road after another, rather than stop and 
ask for the help that we need.  God insists that we ask, not because He 
needs to know our situation, but because we need the spiritual 
discipline of asking.  Similarly, making our requests specific forces us 
to take a step forward in faith." ---In Touch Ministries---


LESSON #3:

  "God's training is for now...His purpose is for this minute, not for    
something in the future." ---Oswald Chambers---

(Read Proverbs 3: 1-12)

  As we listen for God's still small voice to direct and guide us, we 
find Solomon's words in Proverbs 3, to be especially meaningful.  He 
writes:  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your 
own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make 
your paths straight" (vs. 5-6)
  When we place our trust in the Lord, we essentially lay down our right 
to attempt what only God can do - determine the destiny of our lives.  
One of the reasons we struggle greatly at times is because we resist His 
intervention.
  We brush aside His plans for our lives but not without consequence. In 
doing so, we often settle for second best.  For many, it is easy to 
accept His love, protection, and salvation but difficult to submit to 
the conditions surrounding His eternal care.
  Is there a war raging within you?  Do you fight feelings of jealousy, 
anger, unforgiveness, and pride?  These are the signatures of the flesh 
which are at constant war with God's principles and standards.  They 
have nothing to do with the moving of His Spirit and all to do with what 
keeps you from becoming all He desires.
  The principles of God are timeless, and you never outgrow your need 
for them.  Ask the Lord to open the eyes and ears of your heart so you 
may know His perfect will.
---In Touch Ministries---

"The way in which you endure that which you must endure is more 
important than the crises itself." ---S. Rutigliano---

Your brother in Christ,

--Jimmy--

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