Thy Will

Saturday, I started a 6 week Bible Study using the book “Good or God” by John Bevere. Part of the instructions for the first week, are to pray and ask the Holy Spirit if you are holding on to any memory or mindset that might cause you to distrust or disobey God. It was a prayer I didn’t have to pray because I could immediately identify the thing in my life that causes me to doubt God.

I don’t live a daily life of doubt, but when certain circumstances arise, it triggers doubt about His goodness toward me. Anyone else out there feel this way? I am sure there were some “Yeses!” Because I know for a fact I am never alone in whatever it is I struggle with (That’s a lie our enemy has used one too many times.), since we are part of a Body, we are never alone.

Today is Tuesday, and I will start the discussion questions, but I’ve spent the past couple of days looking at why I can’t seem to move forward consistently (no matter what may arise), without entertaining thoughts of God’s lack of goodness towards me?

I love when I ask God about something spiritually that will change my life and the answer comes quickly? Well, actually I love that He answers quickly, but not necessarily the answer He gives.

During a phone conversation with my mentor yesterday, she talked about working on the discipline to have the mindset (especially when things don’t work out as planned or hoped for), that no matter what comes up—God’s will is being done in her life.

Then this morning, my youngest daughter sent me a YouTube video of the song, “Thy Will” by Hillary Scott and the Scott family. (She’s the female vocalist from Lady Antebellum.) And the chorus is…“Thy will be done!”

This was God's way of letting me know this is my problem…I am not so accepting of His will for my life, when it messes with my plans, hopes and dreams.

Let’s take a look at Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, (Matthew 26:36-39 NIV), as you see, though He did not hesitate to ask God to change things around so he wouldn’t have to endure the night of torture, abuse and crucifixion. But, He ended with, "Your will be done, not mine"—and accepted God’s decision.

When was the last time you prayed, “Thy will be done Lord,” and meant it?

There are things in my life lately, which have not turned out the way I’d hoped. And I found myself struggling to dream again or have hope for change. It seemed too many obstacles lie before me and nothing was working out. Well, this type of thinking leads to only one thing…hopelessness. And hopelessness, leads to discouragement, and discouragement leads to self-pity and depression.

I had to go back to Romans 8:28 (NKJ), “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

If I truly believe God is working the things in my life all together for His good, then I must accept the hard times and disappointments as Him knowing what is best. And that He's getting me to where He desires me to be.

But you know sisters—it's much more easily said than done.

If you are new to reading my blog, the one thing I am adamant about and will never change, is my concern that you read and study the bible. And the reason being, it is written to instruct us, teach us, encourage and correct us. It is impossible to obey Jesus when He says, “Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength,” if you do not know the God to which He is referring. I’m not talking about knowing of Him, but know who the bible shows us He is. Also, Jesus says, “If you love me you will obey my commands.” How can we obey Him, if we don’t know what it is He wants us to do? Impossible!

It's not enough to listen to others without reading for yourself. And the reason being, there is a huge difference between “revealed” or “communicated” knowledge. Revealed knowledge comes directly from God, via the Holy Spirit, prayer, reading of the Word…and you know in your knower it’s real. Communicated knowledge is what our pastor, Sunday school teacher, radio or TV evangelist tells us—even our friends. They could be a little off or we only hear a portion of what they said? Either way—we miss it.

Here are a couple of examples I grew up hearing, “Godliness is next to cleanliness!” Wow, what a shock to find out the bible says no such thing. What about, “God helps those who help themselves.” Another, untruth! But let’s take a familiar scripture that I’ve heard repeated incorrectly so many times, I can’t count. And I’m talking pastors too.

“Money is the root to all evil,” but the bible says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” I Timothy 6:10a (NIV) This is why we must study and show ourselves approved unto God. Money itself is not evil, it is a love for it that leads to folks doing all kinds of evil to obtain it.

For anyone who is struggling with the way things have turned out, or becoming weary as you wait on God to move and make change. I would like you to take a fresh approach and start praying at the end of your prayer requests, “Not my will, but your Will be done Lord!”

No, you may not be feeling it, and that’s okay. We are to live by faith, not emotions and our feelings. And yes, this is another one that is much more easily said than done—but not impossible to achieve.

I’m glad the Lord has “revealed” to me what I need to work on, because now I can begin the process of studying it out and applying it to my daily life expecting change.

Though we receive a revelation, it still takes time to walk it through and change to come. But already I’m back to dreaming again…but sealing it with, “Thy will be done!” Which (once in my heart), should take a lot of the sting out of disappointment when things don’t go my way. It should give me the grace to accept—it just wasn’t God’s will for me, versus feeling He doesn’t love me as much as someone else.

My dear sisters, whatever your struggle or problem might be—the solution is in the Bible!

If you are one who struggles to sit down and focus when it comes to reading, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you focus for 15 minutes a day. No more, no less. Cut off your phone, tablet and television. Set a timer if you must. Just make the 15 minutes available—daily.

We often want change, but we are not willing to put in the time and stand fast until it comes.

I have found over the years, that if we would just do what the bible tells us to do in all situations, we wouldn’t have half the problems or drama in our lives we encounter. But it takes work to get to that place.

What memory or mindset are you holding on to that might cause you to distrust or disobey God? Because if we don’t trust God, it’s really hard to obey Him and allow, “His will be done.”

Until next week...

Blessings and Hugs,

Ponnie