Jesus teaches us to pray in Matthew 6: 9-13. It is a short prayer but gives us the relevant ideas of how prayer should be presented in the life of a believer. In the third line, Jesus says, “God, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Most of us ask, “Lord, what’s your will for my life?” And if I like it, then I go forward with it but if it doesn’t align with what I want, well, I need to rethink it. Ultimately, God knows what’s best for us, even when we may not agree with it so we learn two words: trust and faith. Then ask the question, “What do I need to do to find God’s will in my life?”
First, for God’s will to be done, I have to obey his instruction. When my boys where in junior high, I showed them how to mow the yard correctly (at least in my estimation). I took my oldest out and introduced him to the mower and weed eater then showed him how to operate both. I also showed him how to mow straight lines and edge. Then, I turned it over to him. With a couple of turns doing it himself, he got it down.
But the truth is, if I don’t follow God, I’ll never know his will for my life. I’ve got to love God and follow Jesus if I want to be in tune with his will. Jesus was in tune. The night of his arrest, he was praying in the garden. He knew what was needed so that we could be saved. He ultimately asked if there was another way but ended with, “Father, not my will but yours.” Sometimes in our lives, God’s will is not going to be the easiest. But we trust him to take care of us.
Now, to obey God’s instruction, you have to hear his voice. There are so many ways to hear the voice of God. We do in community as we gather on a Sunday morning for Bible class and worship. We can hear his voice through our small group or the ministry group we volunteer in. We can hear his voice by reading the Bible and being in prayer, everyday.
To hear his voice, you have to listen. Samuel was listening in 1 Samuel 3 when he head someone say his name. He thought it was the high priest, Eli and kept going in to ask what Eli was wanting. On the third time, Eli realized Samuel was hearing the voice of God and instructed Samuel that the next time he heard his name to answer, “Speak Lord for your servant hears.” We too have to be attentive all the time as God uses different people and circumstances to get our attention.
So, to be able to listen to God, I must spend time with him. I believe God’s voice is much like a radio, it’s always on. We just need to tune his voice over the noise of our everyday life. To better do that, I must make time everyday, to sit with God and better understand how he’s called me to live.
Ultimately, in order for God’s will to be accomplished in my life, I have to be willing to let go of my will. Paul tells us something extraordinary in 1 Corinthians 2:9. Paul says, “No eye has seen. No ear has heard. What God has in store for those who love him.” Did you get that? God has things for you that you can’t even imagine but you’ll never experience them unless you say “yes” to the plan of God in your life and accepting his will over your own.
God’s will is for you to live with him for ever. That can only happen if you say “yes” to Jesus and follow him in your life. That’s our call…to follow Jesus. Blessings on the journey.