Tag Archives: God’s purpose

Setting limits for God

 

When you pray, do you set limits for God?

 

A youth pastor confided in me years ago that he needed to replace his old car. It was just costing him too much to keep running. So in attempt to be a good steward and ‘count the cost’ he researched available used cars. Narrowing his search to just two, he asked God, “should I buy the blue one or the red one?” He prayed this for several days seeking God’s discernment. After pursuing God further on the matter he concluded that he was asking the wrong question of God. It wasn’t “Which of these two cars” but “What is your will Lord?”

 

Sometimes we set limits for God. We pray for what we want or what we think will be the best solution to our problems. Then we add a condition on the prayer saying, if you will do this for me, then I will do that for you. We set limits on God when we say “If – Then” prayers:

IF you get me out of this mess THEN I will serve you.

IF I can live at a certain standard of living THEN I will give my life to missions.

IF you grant me my request THEN I will thank you.

IF you change my circumstance THEN I will be joyful.

IF you give me more (of whatever) THEN I will be content.

IF you heal me, keep my children safe, and give me a life of comfort, THEN I will trust you.

 

Instead of praying “If – Then”, try praying “YET STILL”:

I have nothing except your forgiveness, YET STILL I will praise you.

I don’t feel you are close God, YET STILL I will trust you.

I feel alone and abandoned, YET STILL I will seek you.

This person annoys me, YET STILL I will love them.

My world seems meaningless, YET still I will believe in your purpose.

I am anxious and afraid, YET STILL I will rest in your peace.

I am depressed, YET STILL I will find joy in the hope of your promise.

(What other ‘Yet Still’ prayers come to your mind?)

 

God’s power is not limited by our prayers. Often he grants us even what we don’t ask for. In fact, every moment he grants us a new breath and every day a new opportunity that we don’t even seek, even in our suffering. We don’t ask for cancer, or pain, or loneliness, or poverty. But even in these situations he offers us unexpected blessings and purpose that we didn’t ask. Why? Because his best for us exceeds what we think is best for us. Our plans and dreams are interrupted and sometimes shred to pieces…YET STILL his purpose and plan exceeds our ambitions. YET STILL he is ready to reveal unexpected blessings that grow our faith, our hope, and our love.

 

Practice praying “YET STILL” to God in the face of your trouble and experience a purpose and a path of his joy for you.

God’s purpose … Or yours?

 

It seems we all search for meaning. We have this desire to live meaningful lives. We want to understand the meaning of suffering in our lives. Victor Frankl, who endured the harsh reality of a Nazi concentration camp observed, “We can endure any ‘How’ of life if we have a ‘Why'”. (Man’s Search for Meaning) But so often, it seems the ‘Why’ eludes us, so we keep searching.

 

The Holy Spirit doesn’t convict us of our eternal condition and prompt us to turn to Jesus to be ‘saved’ only to live our lives much the same as before. Such a decision involves making a swap, the old self for a new one, the old desires and ambitions for new ones. We aren’t offered an eternal insurance policy so we can go on living dangerously as before. We were called to change and become “new creations.” We see that in the disciples who dropped everything in order to follow Jesus. They were called to a new and higher purpose.

 

Jesus tells us there is a cost to following him that involves denying ourselves, picking up our cross, and following him wherever he goes…even to the cross. Following him requires swapping our self-seeking purpose in life for his purpose. And it’s a good purpose for living life well, in peace and harmony. But it requires a change in our plans, our lifestyles, and our habits.

 

Following Jesus also challenges us to change our beliefs and purpose in life, even our purpose for this very day. Society tells us to check off our organized to-do list, get ahead, grab what we can, build ourselves up, accumulate possessions, enjoy pursue happiness at all costs, live in comfort, even luxury. Scripture teaches that God’s plan and purpose for us is to be humble and generous, putting other’s interests before our own, living sacrificially, God-centered not self-centered.

 

Seeking first the kingdom of God requires that we seek his purpose for our lives. God’s purpose for us isn’t fame or fortune. And I don’t know anyone who willingly chooses cancer, chronic pain, rejection, or loneliness as their purpose in life. But God has a purpose for us to live as fully his even in those conditions.

 

Abraham was ‘fully persuaded’ that God was able to do what he had promised, and lived according to God’s purpose. Following Jesus requires a purpose in living that also is fully persuaded that God’s plan is better than our own.

 

Being fully persuaded means that even our small choices demonstrate whether we are following him or going our own way. Choices like becoming frustrated at small things or practicing patience; criticizing others or encouraging them.  When God reveals his truth in our lives it illuminates his purpose for us. And this always requires making adjustments to how we think and act and how we see our purpose. Seek a great purpose in living today, one filled with meaning and eternal reward.

 

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”

Matthew 16:24-27

 

 

Knowing God’s will

 

 

The question came up in a recent conversation:

 

“How do you know God’s will?”

 

What a great question!  It seems we are all so busy surviving and making a living that it is easy to lose sight of our purpose in life – and God’s purpose too.

 

So often, we ask the wrong question. Instead of asking “What is God’s will for my life,” try asking, “What is God’s will?” Focus on the nature of God and the revelation of His consistent plan. God created perfect life. He created you. He saw what a mess we were in and sent His son Jesus so that whoever believed in Him would find ‘the way, the truth, and the (abundant) life.’ He sent us His very Spirit to indwell us so we would never have to be alone or confused, knowing He will always guide us – if we only draw near and listen.

 

God has plans for our major life decisions. But while you are pursuing big life goals, did you know that God’s will is about what you do today?

 

Part of God’s will is that we enjoy the peace and joy of remaining in His presence. He knows that you will become stressed over money, quarrels, work, and endless problems. He knows there will be days when your ‘get up and go’ just ‘got up and went’. He knows you will lose your joy and be oppressed by all sorts of circumstances. He knows there will be times when you come to the end of your rope. Have hope: He invites you to enter His presence, not just in your ‘quiet time’ but in the busyness of your day. Learn to take one minute breaks to seek His presence and ask Him to reveal His purpose for your next steps. It is His will that you remain dependent on Him, not on your own understanding.  “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your path.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

 

God’s will is not just for you; it’s for those around you. Evangelist John Lavender stated “To do God’s will is to minister to the person who is closest to you at the moment.” The person you just let go ahead of you in line at the store, the man at the intersection with the sign reading ‘Hungry.’ The person interrupting you. The janitor. You might say, “Wait a minute. I didn’t ask about God’s plan for others. I want to know God’s plan for me!”   God’s plan for you often involves the people in your vicinity. Jesus  said if you want to do God’s will you should “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” Then He added, “Love your neighbor (those in your vicinity) as yourself.”

 

Want to do God’s will? Come close to Him and bring others close to Him, in Jesus’ name.