Introduction
Before confirming God’s will, which is the focus of this post, it is helpful to recall that post 1 of 4 covers the nature of God’s will. From post 1, God associates suffering as the measure of doing His will.
The nature of God’s will spans between perfect on one end and acceptable on the other end, with the good will of God in between them. Christ’s suffering and death on the cross are God’s measure of His perfect will. The acceptable will of God would have the least suffering.
While most will not need, God willing, to answer the call of Abba Yahuah’s perfect will of martyrdom, the experience of suffering is unavoidable. But why is suffering inevitable in this relationship with God?
Heb12 offers clues to this question.
Heb12:6 – “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
Abba Yahuah shows His paternal love by chastening and scourging. Blue Letter Bible Greek Lexicon describes chastening and scouring as a form of child training with afflictions thru life circumstances. This theme of life circumstances will be elaborated on later in this post.
Abba Yahuah does not chasten for His gratification. Heb12:10-11 reveals the reason for the chastening –
“For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He (Yahuah) for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
Yahuah knows chastening is painful and brings sorrow to life. He deems this temporal suffering on earth as payment for doing His will, so He is just to embrace His children being one with His holiness and nature.
Abba Yahuah wants His children to be like Him by emulating His Son by suffering as they do His will on earth, even as His Son, the Lord Yahusha, has suffered. Imitating Christ is a strong theme that the apostles, Peter, Paul, and John, impressed upon their brethren in 1Peter2:21,4:1, Phil2:3-8, 1Co11:1, and 1Jhn2:6.
Concerning emulating the Lord Yahusa, the Lord Himself has this to say in Jhn13:34 –
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
This 3rd post explores the process of confirming God’s will and builds on the foundations of the previous 2 posts.
God is perfect, but man and their life circumstances are imperfect. How would man know whether or not their choices abide by God’s will? This post seeks to answer this question.
This post assumes the person seeking to do God’s will is sincere and a mature son of God is paying attention to how God communicates His will.
Confirming God’s Will?
The Holy Spirit is indispensable to communicating God’s will but is invisible. Naturally, there are issues of clarity and doubt in this communication.
Rom12:2 offers these instructions.
-“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Rom12:2 is a verse rich with many truths. This post draws attention to the words “may prove.” These words mean to examine closely with scrutiny when testing to confirm the genuine will of God as revealed in His Word, in the life circumstances, and in the Spirit-led choices made.
The scrutiny will involve the following.
- Carefully observing the life circumstances.
Look for patterns and evidence of carnally motivated behavior in oneself and others. Seek forgiveness of 1Jhn1:9 and the restoration of Heb10:22 to increase the mind’s and heart’s clarity.
- Seek God in prayer and wise counsel.
After prayer, read the Word. Sometimes certain scriptures come to mind, or a particular understanding pops up. By reading them, God has the opportunity to speak to life circumstances.
Sometimes, wise counsel (solicited or unsolicited) will appear. Filter this counsel thru prayer and scriptures.
- Patience and Perseverance.
These two mindsets are crucial to producing favorable outcomes of the “may prove” experience to confirm God’s will.
They are patient and perseverant. For a detailed exposition of these two subjects, Derek Prince has a 5 part podcast. See link – https://youtu.be/EGFuq_G3_eA.
In a nutshell, perseverance is the active part of “may prove.” It is doing good works according to God’s will to serve Him.
Patience is the passive part of “may prove,” for matters outside control and the scope of doing. This waiting is waiting with the faith-hope of Lord Yahusha’s return and our resurrection.
With patience and perseverance, one pursues to prove, by trial and error, the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.
The sense of the decision being right, which the Word confirms, a sense of peace that comes from deep within the soul despite the outward circumstances, and a sense of joy unspeakable of the soul. All of these will emerge in varying intensities and clarity to confirm how close one is to doing the will of God. These elements of righteousness, peace, and joy confirm that one is walking in the will of God’s kingdom. Rom14:17 says this –
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
Conclusion
Confirming God’s will is an iterative process. It will likely be a bumpy ride. This post presented one perspective of this process. Other views may also produce a similar outcome. Nevertheless, focusing on prayer, His Word, and awareness of one’s life circumstances would likely be critical elements.
The proper mindset and familiarity with the process are necessary to confirm God’s will by trial and error.