Finding and Living God's Plan - Part 2

Last week we talked about God has a plan for your life regardless of who you are or your qualifications. We covered that to even get started finding God's plan you need to be convinced that a) He has one and b) and that He has one especially for you. We also covered that to find out the plan we need to want it more than we want anything else and to search for it with all our hearts because God can only use a fully committed heart, so giving up our personal desires is essential to living for God (although God will bless us with so much more when we're living for Him). Read last week’s blog here

This week we are looking at the practical steps we need to take to get closer to finding out God's plan and living it.

Do Step One and Step Two Will Be Easy

You may be surprised to learn that finding out God's plan is actually the easy part. If you have made the decisions mentioned in last week's blog, like dying to yourself and your way of doing things and fully committing to God, then the next stage in easy. By doing the former, you have already placed yourself in a position to hear God because you are fully surrendered to God you want more than anything to find out what His will is and to do it. Your heart will be more open to receive His instruction and revelation. There will be more of a willingness to do what He says. In fact, if you live to find out what God wants for your life (everything from a spouse, to work, to ministry, to which church to go to and where to live), then it will be very difficult to miss it. Remember, God wants to tell you His will more than you want to hear it. He is not holding back. We are usually the ones who limit Him.

However, if you live your life your own way and ask God to bless your decisions, you might find yourself in God's permissive will rather than His perfect will.

You won't be100% Perfect

One thing to remember here before we panic, is that no one gets it perfect 100% of the time. Life is not a straight line but more like a zigzag. To get to your perfect destination there will be twists and turns in the road but as long as you step out in faith and willingness, God will guide you and provide for you.

I like a saying that goes: 'I may not have arrived but I've left!' As you long as you've left you are in a better position than 95% of Christians!

If you haven't left yet it's not too late. You can commit your life to God right now. Just repent for living independent of Him and for not seeking Him and ask Him to begin guiding you to His perfect plan. If you feel afraid then tell Him so. Be honest and ask for help. God is a loving Father. He will not force you into anything. He wants you to be willing and to want to.

The Desires of your Heart

So how do we find out God's plan? In Psalm 37:4 it says that God gives us the desires of our heart. This scripture has been hugely misrepresented to mean that God gives you what you desire. In actual fact it means that God gives you the desires you should be desiring, which are His desires!

Rather than God giving us what we want (which often may not be part of His plan for us or even in His Word), He makes us desire the things we should desire. By giving us His desires we start to desire what He desires and when we start acting on those desires, we get to fulfil His plans because His plans become our plans. That way we are in perfect alignment or agreement with Him.

Agreement is good because the Bible says 'where two or more agree it shall be done for them by our Father in heaven' (Matthew 18:19 paraphrased). It also says that one can put 1,000 to flight but two can out 10,000 to flight (Deuteronomy 32:30 )! It also says that if two or more agree whatever they bind or loose on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven (Matthew 18:18). Imagine that!!! And you are not only agreeing with 'someone', you are agreeing with God Himself! How powerful is that?

At this point it's worth adding a little disclaimer here to say that God will only ever give you a desire based on His Word and you can only ever trust your desires if you are spending time with Him and in His Word and if your desires line up with His Word. If you are truly delighting in Him and putting Him first then the desires will more likely be from Him. But if you are spending more time watching the T.V. and involved in general worldly things, be careful that you don't confuse your desires with His desires.

True Satisfaction

There is a lot of talk of sacrifice here but it is worth mentioning that when you are in God's perfect will, you are the most satisfied you will ever be. Don't think for a minute that when God gives you His desires that they will be arduous for you. No! They will excite you and energise you! They will strengthen your relationship with Him because what He gives you to do will be absolutely what you want to do. It will be what you're made for! You will have so much joy and peace that you'll wonder why you ever took so long to get started.

So, how does God give you His desires? Well it says how in the scripture:

'DELIGHT YOURSELF IN HIM and He will give you the desires of your heart.' (Psalm 37:4)

What does delight in Him mean? To delight in something means to 'take pleasure in'. Take pleasure in God. Worship Him. Adore Him. Love on Him. Let your communication be that of worship not only petition. Just 'be' with God. Don't always make it about doing something for Him. We are human beings not human doings. God would rather you focus your attention on Him because out of that will come more revelation by accident than you could ever get on purpose. By delighting in Him you will suddenly find that there are certain things you want to do more than others. It just becomes an innate desire. It's not a loud, audible word or a dream or vision but a desire, an inkling, an unction.

If you have surrendered your life to God according to Romans 12:2 (see last week's blog) and then you start delighting yourself in Him, it won't be long before you are guided to His will.

Pray this prayer:

‘What are your dreams Lord? Make them mine. What are you desires Lord? Make them mine. Let me only want what you want. Let me listen and obey, let me live for you today and every day. I commit my life to you. My whole will, soul and emotions. In Jesus Name. Amen’

If you prayed that prayer from your heart then you have begun the process of finding out God's will.

Tune in next week for Part 3 of Finding and Living God's Will for Your Life where we discuss the next steps to finding God's will.

May the peace of God, which passes knowledge, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

See you on Sunday!

Blessings,

Oceans