Live In His Will

October 2020 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Live In His Will

We may often wonder, “What does the Lord want me to do?” Many times we only consider this while pondering some life changing decision, like where to go to college, whom to marry, or which job to take. Another time we may seek to understand the Lord’s will is when we have a problem of most serious consequence, such as dealing with family difficulties and disagreements. This can be expanded to include issues with other Christians. Some believers feel that we must be careful to listen for the Lord’s voice regarding even small matters. We sometimes get into a routine and do simple things without thinking to commit them to the Lord.

When I can, I try to take a walk with a special, local family member, who is faithful to the Lord. One day several years ago, when I wanted us to go a certain direction, she was quite insistent that we go a totally different way. This was very unusual, but I gave in. Looking back, I remain thankful, for I believe she understood the Lord’s will for us in even that seemingly small matter on that day. By not doing what I desired, we were kept safe in the Lord’s care and preserved from a very bad experience: a speeding truck crashed into two trees next to the sidewalk we would have been on. The accident was so bad that two people in the truck were killed.

The Lord desires to lead us in what we call “small things.” He may seek to use us for a simple conversation or word of encouragement to another person. Do we listen for His voice and then seek to follow it? Looking in the mirror of God’s standards, we would all have to say that we fall short. Only the Lord Jesus always did the will of God – it was His purpose in coming here. “Jesus said ... ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work’” (Jn. 4:34 nkjv). He also declared, “I do not seek My own will, but the will of the Father who sent Me” (5:30) and “I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (6:38).

“What does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes” (Dt. 10:12-13). May we all live in His will!

By Paul Alberts