One of the worst ways to know God’s will is to pray for it. 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. Unfortunately, this is exactly how many Christians believe you’re supposed to know God’s 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.
Our flesh is the first enemy of the believer. And it causes us to either ignore God’s Word or misinterpret it.
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 obey the Bible. 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 apply the correct passage of scripture and apply it with wisdom so that I might be able to apply it correctly. Amen.”
If you’re stuck on what verse to apply just go with Love God and love others from Matt 22:36-40 since all Scripture is summed up in those two commands.
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. Pray to know the right passage, pray to have the right heart, and pray to apply God’s Word in wisdom to the situation. 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. 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.