50. What are the Three Enemies of the Believer that Cause us to Misunderstand God’s Will? (Part 1)

Posted by Conrad on 06.14.12 in Devotionals.

I’ve heard over and over from Christians, “I’m praying for God to show me His will.”  Uh.  And?  And what else are you doing?  “Well, I’ve been praying really hard for a long time.”  And?  “And what? Isn’t that it?”  It is if you like being confused all the time.

Now you’re telling yourself, “Conrad is saying God isn’t enough.”

No… I’m saying we’re not enough.

If all I did was pray for God to show me His will, I would therefore interpret whatever feeling I have as His will.

It would go like this…

“Dear God, Billy over there is being really mean to me.  What should I do?  Amen.”

(Wait for God to speak through my mind or feelings)… which would result in…

“All right!  I can punch him in the face?  A bunch of times?  And then take his money?  And steal his girlfriend?  Thanks God.”

Obviously, that’s not the correct way, because when we are asking for God’s will, we often forget that own own feelings get in the way – which can get jumbled up with God’s will.

The first area where we get the message wrong is – our flesh.  Or own feelings, our own sin.

We also forget about the most obvious element of God’s Will…

“Man, I wish God would just tell me His will, but instead of just telling it to me once, I wish He could write it down so I could read his will whenever I want.  Maybe these words for me could be compiled in a book.  A ”God’s Word” if you will.”

Well, you’re in luck, because God did just that.  It’s called the Bible.

So what do we do now?

We make our prayers more active, by adding… action.  We actually have to do our part.

So our original prayer from above of, ”God, Billy over there is being really mean to me.  What should I do?”

…is now upgraded to…

“Help me to find the right scripture and the wisdom so that I might be able to apply it correctly.  Amen.”

If you do not use God’s Word as God’s Will, then you’re just doing your own will, but calling it God’s will.

You are making God into your own image.

So let your prayer be an active prayer.  Pray for help AS you are in God’s Word.  That’s probably why he gave it to us in the first place.

Then maybe we won’t always be punching other people in the face.  No matter how fun it might be.  Or how much they deserve it.

PS 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure?

By living according to your word.

PS 119:10 I seek you with all my heart;

do not let me stray from your commands.

PS 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you.

PS 119:12 Praise be to you, O LORD;

teach me your decrees.

PS 119:13 With my lips I recount

all the laws that come from your mouth.

PS 119:14 I rejoice in following your statutes

as one rejoices in great riches.

PS 119:15 I meditate on your precepts

and consider your ways.

PS 119:16 I delight in your decrees;

I will not neglect your word.

Today’s Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness

Take Time to Pray: Ask God to help you be more devoted to His Word so that you can in turn apply it correctly.