Comments on: Discovering God’s Deep, Dark, Mysterious Will

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:20:40 +0000

I don’t agree I think sometimes we are in the Lord’s way and that is why we don’t hear Him. consider this;
The Following is from David Wilkerson’s daily devotional on the World Challenge website;

PRIDE AND THE VOICE OF THE SPIRIT

Let me distinguish clearly between pride and humility.

A humble person is not one who thinks little of himself, hangs his head and says, “I’m nothing.” Rather, he is one who depends wholly on the Lord for everything, in every circumstance. He knows the Lord has to direct him, empower him and quicken him—and that he’s dead without that!

A proud person, on the other hand, is one who may love God in a fashion, but he acts and thinks on his own. At its root, pride is simply independence from God, and the proud person makes decisions based on his own reasoning, skill and abilities. He says, “God gave me a good mind, and he expects me to use it. It’s silly to ask him for direction in every detail of life.”

This person is unteachable because he already “knows it all.” He might listen to someone who is higher in authority or better known than himself—but not to someone he thinks is inferior.

Not one word a proud person receives is of God! It is impossible for him to judge righteous judgment—impossible to speak God’s mind—because the Holy Spirit is not present in him to bear witness to truth. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

Pride is independence—humility is dependency. The humble Christian is one who makes no move, no decision, without counsel from the Lord. The Bible says the steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord, but he cannot order the steps of an independent spirit. This is all to say—God wants full control—give it to him.

“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6).

By: Mark Altrogge

Mark Altrogge — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:41:26 +0000

Hey Yeller,

Great quote! Live to the hilt! Sounds like “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” You’re so right – if we pursue God, he will direct our paths.

By: Mark Altrogge

Mark Altrogge — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:32:30 +0000

Hey Ron,

Great to hear that you got a new job! I’ve prayed that God would provide for you. You’re right – we don’t have to try to figure out God’s will. He’s more interested in us knowing it than we are.

By: YellerDaisies

YellerDaisies — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:14:26 +0000

On of my favorite quotes is: “Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt any situation you believe to be the will of God.”

I often have to remind my friends (an myself) that as long as you are faithfully following the Savior and pursuing Him in obedience, He will direct you if and when He wants to change course. Thank you for the reminder that Jesus will always show us His will (if we’re pursuing Him) and wherever I am right now is His will for me!

By: Ron Reffett

Ron Reffett — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:23:57 +0000

Hey Mark,
Great post today, as usual! You’re right God’s will is not some elusive thing that we have to figure out, it’s already been figured out for us, as you said it’s right there in the Word!
No matter where we are, we can trust that we are where God wants us to be. His will is not some dot that I have to be on. God is so much bigger than our finite minds can fathom and He will receive glory no matter where we are or what we are doing, He is in control!
I’m so thankful that God’s will is not for me to figure out, because He has already done all the figuring out, all I have to do is listen and follow Him!
Thanks for such an encouraging thought today, I needed this as I just started my first day on my new job today! Please pray that I’ll be a good witness and that I’ll be able to learn my job quickly!
Blessings
Ron Reffett

By: Mark Altrogge

Mark Altrogge — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:37:29 +0000

Hi Emily,

I’m so sorry to hear how sick you are today. I will pray for you. I do assure you, God is for you, and even through your suffering he is producing an eternal weight of glory for you. It brings God so much glory when his people continue to trust and praise him through affliction, like you are doing.

By: Mark Altrogge

Mark Altrogge — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:34:16 +0000

Thanks Gary,

Yes, Kevin DeYoung’s book is outstanding. I highly recommend it.

By: emily

emily — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:51:19 +0000

Thanks Mark! That was encouraging this morning as I’m in bed, too weak to move. I was struggling this morning with “why is this path of physical suffering God’s will for me.” Thanks for the reminder that He doesn’t throw things like this into our path to confuse or discourage us but that instead I can know even though there is so much right now that just doesn’t make sense that I can know God is for me. And because of that I can have the hope to rejoice. And to just keep trusting in Him to continue to faithfully guide me

By: Gary Boal

Gary Boal — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:38:57 +0000

Superbly put Mark!
A few of us have been reading Kevin DeYoung’s book ‘Just Do Something’ and discussing it online. This is pretty much the same message.

So liberating to the Christian life!