God's will, and God's power on earth is often wilfully restricted by man's insistence on being in control of his own destiny, and to live his own way.
God's will is for our good. I believe His desire is that one day we are welcomed by Him in Heaven. He loves us and has given us a set of rules by which to live if we are to fulfil His desired wish to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.
The rules, whether as set out in the Ten Commandments, or whether we follow Christ's teaching are simple.
Love your God and love one another.
Yet more often than not we decide to go our own way. We aim to control our life and do things our way rather than let God take the lead in our lives.
Our self-will stands in His way and for a moment obscures any trust we may have had in Him. And that's when the devil moves in. He uses our momentary lapse in our trust, in our faith even, to build in us the false confidence of being in control. Of being masters of our destiny.
Gone is "thy will be done" and it is replaced by "my will is being done right now. My life. My way".
And God, being the gentleman that He is, steps back and let's us have our own way.
So much time and effort is wasted when we take control and wander away from His path, from His teaching, and from His love even.
Never rely on what you think you know.
God has brought you to where you are right now, and He will see you through it. He has seen the future and will guide you to safety.
That is, unless you want to do it your way!
i think one of the major problems common in today's "christian" world is the idea that I can do my own thing. I don't need God's approval or to do His will. that is asking for trouble. God has promised He will never leave us. I cling to that.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, Bill. People these days, including some Christians, believe they can do their own thing their own way with no comebacks!
DeleteGod bless you.
This is what Hebrews ch. 6 vs. 4-6 says about living according to our own will after we become born again of God's Spirit in Jesus 'For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.'
ReplyDeleteIt is good to keep this scripture in mind to encourage us to say to our Lord 'NOT MY WILL, BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE.
God bless you Victor.
NOT MY WILL, BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE.
DeleteAmen, Brenda. God bless.
"God's will is for our good."
ReplyDeleteAmen amen.
Amen.
DeleteGod bless, Sandi.
This is something that we NEED to remember all the time. I admit sometimes I do go my way but when things don't work out, I realize I need some guidance and that is when I have a talk with God.
ReplyDeleteSame here, Bill. Same here. My problem is that it is difficult to understand what is His way of wanting me to do things.
DeleteGod bless.
My self-will tends to get me in a lot of trouble.
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone, Kathy. Not alone.
DeleteGod bless.
Powerful reminder! How often, while reciting the Lord's Prayer I've rushed through those four little words.
ReplyDeleteNever, ever rely on what I THINK I know.
That's the problem with life, Mevely. We learn prayers by heart and we repeat them without thinking. Jesus meant it when He taught, "Thy Will Be Done". He lived it when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest and Crucifixion. He said, "Thy Will Be Done" and agreed to what is to come. However horrible and cruel.
DeleteHow about us? I don't think I find today's post comforting. Frightening more like.
God bless.
May we all submit to God's will and choose to obey Him. Beautifully said, Victor!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
I hear your sentiments, Martha. And they frighten me. See what I replied to Mevely above.
DeleteGod bless.
I've regretted doing things my own way a time or two!
ReplyDeletebut never regretted it when put in God's hands.
You have great faith, Happyone.
DeleteGod bless.
Oh such great words of wisdom. Living by them daily is the harder part...we are all called to preserve...the older I get, the longer I've know my Lord and Savior I see His control with wiser eyes, and want to preserve to the end till I see my Jesus face to face. Just watched Pilgrim's Progress last night...a reminder of the journey of perserverance in the daily walk.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Wanda. As best we can we need to hand over control to God.
DeleteGod bless you and yours always.
I just try and be nice to others, not hurt anyone, be productive and raise my children to do the same. I hope that is Gods will. I fail at some of those things from time to time...I hope that God forgives me.
ReplyDeleteYes, God does forgive when we fail through our weakness. He knows that as humans we have a propensity to fail. Yet some people, rebel out of self-will and sheer stubbornness.
DeleteGod bless you and your family JoeH.
I have chosen to do stuff my way toooo many times. It never ends well. But, God lets me do it, and then helps me get through the mess.
ReplyDeleteMany of us have done the same Susan. Thank God that He forgives us and helps us in our difficulties.
DeleteGod bless.
Our church pastor gave a sermon on this topic and said when his younger daughter was very young, she would push away an assisting grown-up hand with the words "My byself!" Of course, whatever it was she was trying to do was always a bit too much for her, and she would end up having to accept the grown-up hand.
ReplyDeleteLord, protect me from the "My byself!" attitude!
Lord, protect me from the "My byself!" attitude!
DeleteWhat a wonderful prayer, Mimi. Thanx.
God bless.
Good words for Sunday, in fact good words for any day.
ReplyDeleteThank you Victor.
All the best Jan
Thank you so much, Jan.
DeleteGod bless you, my friend.