HIS WILL? MY WILL?

LET’S CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF!

By Patti Iverson

I want what I want when I want it! I don’t have a clue what I want! His will? My will? What’s a person to do? Especially a “flaky” person? Arrrrgh! Sometimes I do just wanna call the whole thing off and bag it! James 1:5 says: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God and He will generously give to you without reproach.” Well boy howdy! Isn’t that a wonderful way to DAILY get wisdom? Just ask God. Well duh…

I do believe God totally delights in me when I want to know, and to do, His will. The big problem comes when others have differing views of what God’s will is for me. Didja hear the Palin Poem making the rounds?

“A pipeline for natural gas is God’s will.

And ditto the war in Iraq says she.

And why’s she so certain of what God wants done?

‘Cause she and the diety always agree!” Calvin Trilfin

Yeah, right.

Stan Toler wrote in his book, “I love God’s sense of humor. I just wish He’d let me in on the joke.” Well, God HAS let us in! If we read His book we will know all about it, and know all those characters like us who struggled, lived, and overcame. The Bible is full of His will for all those dudes then, and all us dudes now. We know for a fact that “The will of God will not take us to where the grace of God will not protect us.” That’s security. We just need to make sure it’s HIS will, not just ours.

But what’s a person to do when a farmer prays for rain while the church picnickers are praying for sunshine ‘n blue skies? Huh? What then? Ephesians 1:11 says: God works all things according to His will.” God’s will be done, that’s what! We don’t always get our way when the God we love knows what’s best. Boy! I’m so glad those pithy matters are out of my hands and into His oh, so very capable hands!

His sovereign will doesn’t mean God CAUSES any and every thing to happen. He allows it to happen. Is it hidden? Some of God’s will is revealed in His Word, and in our conscience through the Holy Spirit. We KNOW what is right and wrong and choose to do His will or our own. Simple as that—a choice. Job knew it well. In Job 32:2, “I know that You can do everything and no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.”

God’s will is for our good because He loves us so. Jeremiah 29:11 “ For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.” Awww. Ahhhh. Awe.

What is the matter with us people, huh? The Bible is full of His will for us:

1. Romans 12:2 = Hooray! His will is good, pleasing, and perfect.

2. I Timothy 2:3,4 = Yippee! He wants me.

3. Luke 9:23 = I’ve got a job.

4. Isaiah 119:105 = Yaaay! He’ll show me how to do that job!

5. John 16:13 = Whoo Hoo! I’ve got a helper/teacher, depending on whatever I need!

6. Proverbs 12:15 & 15:22 = Whew! Wiser folks than me are everywhere to give good advice..

7. Proverbs 3:5,6 = Don’t be a dope and lean on my own understanding. (okay, “dope” is my own word…)

8. I Corinthians 10:31 = It’s not for me to glorify myself. Oh. Riiiiiight!

9. Then there’s those 10 Commandments in Exodus 20. Clear as can be. Simple and straightforward but we still goof ‘em up. Moses was the most flagrant lawbreaker of all as he broke all ten at one time. (sorry, old joke!) We debate those simple, practical ten rules of God’s because we want our will, not His will, and then call the whole thing off!

It’s a New Year~2009~ Let’s delight ourselves in the Lord and His will for our lives. Seek HIM while He can still be found, and let Jesus love us.

Patti Iverson writes from Medford, Oregon. randpi2@charter.net