“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3 NIV
“The direction of spiritual defilement is from the inside outward, not from outside in!”
My thoughts today are about “living in God’s will.”
When you consider the primary objective of God’s will, what do you think of first? Most often you might think of God’s will as mainly involving what you should do. Is that what comes to your mind first? It would be simpler if that were the case. I would suggest that God’s will is most concerned with what you should be, before it matters what you do.
God’s will soon affects what you do, but begins first to shape your heart – where the real you is found, who you are deep inside. That’s where your actions come from. Your actions do not control you heart; you can do all the right things and still miss living in God’s will. But when your heart is committed to God’s will and steadfastly centered there, your heart will rightly direct your every word, thought, action, and attitude.
Consider Paul’s direction to the Christ-followers at Rome, “Therefore, I urge you in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good and pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2 NIV.
The will of God resides not in right deeds, but rather in a righteous heart and mind. Know this about God’s will: the Bible says God’s will is good, not bad – pleasing, not unpleasant – perfect, not flawed. Welcome God’s will in your life; your life will be happier than you ever imagined.
The “patterns of this world” to which Paul refers do not worm their way into your behavior until they have first found fascination and lodging in your heart. The direction of spiritual defilement is not from the outside inward, but from the inside outward! God’s will is for your heart to be only and altogether His! “Let (My words) penetrate deep within your heart, for they bring life and radiant health to anyone who discovers their meaning. Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” Proverbs 4:21-24 NLT.
My thoughts about living in God’s will can all be summed up this simply and easily, Live everyday “as the servant of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” Eph 6:6 KJV. You will never regret doing so, but I assure you there will be regrets if you do not.
“Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world, and this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.” 1 John 2:15-17 NLT. Living in God’s will means living well now, and forever.
My prayer for you today is that you prize God’s will above all else.