“Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is –
what is good and pleasing and mature.”
Romans 12:2 (Common English Bible)
MEDITATE:
Recently, my friend Tom Tewell
shared with me a basic and helpful approach to seeking God’s will – an approach
he had learned years earlier from Lloyd J. Ogilvie. The place to begin is a
careful reading of the Bible and prayer. Seeking God’s will in a particular
circumstance, or more generally for one’s life, must always begin with some
grasp of who God is. What can we know of God and how God has worked through
human history from God’s Word in the Holy Scriptures? God’s desire for today
will not contradict God’s character as disclosed in the Bible. If God is
opposed to adultery in the Bible, for instance, God remains opposed to
adultery. Simply, we will never discern that God may be calling us to violate
our marriage vows.
The second movement to discerning
God’s will is by consulting with a few trusted people who have demonstrated, in
some way, that they listen carefully for God’s direction. These will be people
who have been widely noticed by others as “paying attention to God” as they
live each day. Share with them what you think God may be calling you to do.
Then invite them to place what you think you hear alongside what they know of
God and God’s activity. Is there consistency? Does what you believe God is
saying match up with the God your friends have come to know from years of
following Christ? Some Christian leaders refer to this practice as “discernment
in community.” Bring what you hear to a faithful community so they can say if
it makes sense to them from what they know of God.
Finally, pay attention to the
opportunities that present themselves – and those that don’t. What some may
simply call “circumstances” may be powerful indicators of what God is up to in
your life. If you believe God is calling you to missionary work overseas and no
doors seem to be opening for that to happen, it is well to rethink if God’s
will has been properly discerned. On the other hand, if you sense God is
calling you to partner with Habitat for Humanity for building homes for the
poor, and you have particular skills for building homes, and have discretionary
time available in your routine rhythm of life and then hear of a specific need
from that organization that you can meet, and feel a burden for those who can’t
afford a home – well, you see where I am going.
Many ask why finding God’s will
has to be such a struggle. My own take on that is that God planned it that way.
It is in the struggle that we go deeper and deeper in a relationship with God.
Think of it this way. A meaningful relationship with a spouse is built by
paying close attention to their likes and dislikes over a long period of time.
We listen carefully when they speak. We watch what makes them happy and what
discourages them. We take notice of their idiosyncrasies. This takes effort,
naturally. But it is the effort – over time – that results in a deep and
satisfying relationship with another. God wants no less from us.
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