Why would we not... seek the guidance of the One who created us ...and inquire what His plans and purposes were for our lives? I mean...He ‘knew you before He formed you in the womb’ (Jer. 1:5) so it makes sense to believe that He actually had a purpose for bringing you into this world (Jer. 29:11-14). Wanting to know what God’s will is for your life is a pretty reasonable question to ponder and ask. And here’s some great news: He wants to make His will known to each and every one of us.

But here’s the great irony- Knowing God’s will was never the issue with His people throughout their history; it was ‘doing it’ that tripped them up constantly. Even early on- Gen. 2:17.

Take for example how the Israelites ended up in captivity as slaves to Egypt. God heard their groanings and was moved to raise up Moses and sent him to deliverer His people. This is what the whole book of Exodus relays to us. Most should know by now, the story how they were set free in dramatic fashion by the hand of God Almighty. After a miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, they find themselves out in the wilderness where God gives them the Ten Commandments, to which they all respond: “All that the Lord has said we will do and be obedient” (Ex. 24:3,7). The rest they say...is history.

Things did not go well for that first generation either, as they fell short in entering the promise land. They ended up wandering for 40 years in the desert before they died out. God often points to them in the NT as an example for us to learn from (1 Cor. 10:4-11; Heb. 3). And do you know what their biggest problem was? It was a ‘heart problem’, they ‘always went astray in their hearts’ (Heb. 3:10).

That’s why God makes such a big deal out of stressing the need to come to Him and to love Him with ‘ALL our heart’ (Luke 10:27-28; Matt. 22:36-40). How convicting is that statement Jesus makes about how ‘these people draw near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips...but their heart is far from Me’ (Matt. 15:8)? IF...we truly love Him...we’ll do what He says. (John 14:15). Would you repeat that last line one more time, please?

So when it comes to knowing what God’s personal will is for your life...we refer to this as His ‘revealed’ will. ( How do you think I ended up out here in California, of all places?) Are we not told in Proverbs 3:6: “acknowledge Him in all our ways and He shall direct our paths”? Did Jesus not assure us that “our heavenly Father knows we have need of all these things (food, clothing, etc.) and that if we would just “Seek Him first AND HIS Righteousness...all these things would be given to us” (Matt. 6:31-33)? But we have to come to Him first in total surrender. To only give him 50, 75, or even 90% of your heart will only lead to much frustration and discouragement. And He will test your heart; trust me on that one (1 Thess. 2:4; Deut. 8:2)

Allow me to pass on a piece of wisdom I heard many years ago that makes a lot of sense. Before pressing God on knowing what His ‘revealed’ will is for your life...why not focus on doing ...what’s in His ‘written’ will... that you probably have bound in nice leather?

This really is the ‘test’ to see if we will do what He has instructed us to do (Deut. 8:2; John 2:5).

For example...how many of you are guilty of ‘complaining/grumbling’? If it’s not the weather, it’s the politicians, or about the local fast-food place that messed up your order... again. Maybe it’s about someone who spoke bad about you and you caught wind of it so you aired it out on social media. Perhaps it’s your boss or the place you work at that gets under your skin and just ‘getting it off your chest’...seems to help, at times. Heaven forbid we ever complain about our spouse/kids/parents. And then we sheepishly hang our heads and admit ‘yep...I’m guilty’ ...while vowing to ‘do better’. But we don’t, and we keep on grumbling and complaining, even admitting at times they are just ‘first world problems’ ...yet nonetheless...

But what is written in God’s word on this subject (complaining)? Need a few verses to remind you? Take a look at Numbers 14:1-2; Ps. 106:25; 1 Cor. 10:8-10; Phil. 2:14-15; James 5:9 & Eph. 4:29. Seems to me His will is pretty clear there.

So if you continue to be a complainer, even after confessing to have ‘repented’ of it, have you really ‘repented’ or ‘turned’ from complaining? And what did Jesus warn would happen to us if we failed to repent? (Luke 13:3,5)

[Long dramatic pause]

Join me tomorrow?