Is God’s Will My Will?

This is the will of God, your sanctification . . . — 1 Thessalonians 4:3


Sanctification is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me— is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ? Am I willing to let Jesus become sanctification to me, and to let His life be exhibited in my human flesh? (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). Beware of saying, "Oh, I am longing to be sanctified." No, you are not. Recognize your need, but stop longing and make it a matter of action. Receive Jesus Christ to become sanctification for you by absolute, unquestioning faith, and the great miracle of the atonement of Jesus will become real in you.

All that Jesus made possible becomes mine through the free and loving gift of God on the basis of what Christ accomplished on the cross. And my attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound, humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness). It is a holiness based on agonizing repentance, a sense of inexpressible shame and degradation, and also on the amazing realization that the love of God demonstrated itself to me while I cared nothing about Him (see Romans 5:8). He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification. No wonder Paul said that nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39).

Sanctification makes me one with Jesus Christ, and in Him one with God, and it is accomplished only through the magnificent atonement of Christ. Never confuse the effect with the cause. The effect in me is obedience, service, and prayer, and is the outcome of inexpressible thanks and adoration for the miraculous sanctification that has been brought about in me because of the atonement through the Cross of Christ.



From: RBC - Utmost For His Highest

Life-Changing Prayer

READ | Colossians 1:9-10


Philippians 4:6 says that it’s good to bring requests to the Lord, and we often ask Him for certain blessings, desired outcomes, and healing for loved ones. But there are times when, in God’s omniscience, He sees that a “no” would ultimately result in greater good.

So, what supplications can you be sure are in accordance with His will? The apostle Paul recorded specific petitions he made on behalf of the Colossians, and you can offer these life-changing prayers for the people in your life.

First, request that they “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Col. 1:9). In this way, you are asking God to give them direction and the ability to see life from His viewpoint.

Second, ask that they “will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (v. 10). The only way to succeed in this is through the control of the Holy Spirit—He fills hearts with a longing for God and creates the desire to please Him through obedience.

Third, pray that their lives would count (v. 10). There is a difference between being busy and being fruitful. Many Christians assume that to have an impact for God, they must volunteer in numerous ministries at church or become a missionary or pastor. But the truth is, effectiveness in God’s work depends on what He calls each person to do.

Too often, Christians pray for others only during hardships. But Paul continuously lifted up the Colossians to our Father (Col. 1:9). As you mention others by name to the Lord, consider the areas that the apostle addressed.


From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals

Fretting is Futile

“You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it.”
Matthew 6:27

No one has to remind you of the high cost of anxiety. (But I will anyway.) Worry divides the mind. The biblical word for worry (merimnao) is a compound of two Greek words, merizo (“to divide”) and nous (“the mind”). Anxiety splits our energy between today’s priorities and tomorrow’s problems. Part of our mind is on the now; the rest is on the not yet. The result is half-minded living.

That’s not the only result. Worrying is not a disease, but it causes diseases. It has been connected to high blood pressure, heart trouble, blindness, migraine headaches, thyroid malfunctions, and a host of stomach disorders.

Anxiety is an expensive habit. Of course, it might be worth the cost if it worked. But it doesn’t. Our frets are futile. Worry has never brightened a day, solved a problem, or cured a disease.


From: Max Lucado

Friends

Jesus said, "I do not call you servants ... I have called you friends."
-John 15:15 (NRSV)


DURING my lifetime I've had very few best friends. There have been some sad times when a friend moved far away and slack times when I had no best friend at all. Life can be lonely and boring without friends. However, friendship is not something that can be forced; friendship just seems to happen. On a given day I may meet someone; we will find that we have common interests, and over time we will interact and become friends.

Consider the paralytic in Luke 5 whose friends lowered him down through a roof. I picture that day starting out with jokes and laughter and everyone full of hope as they carried their friend to see a man they thought could heal him. When Jesus finally saw the man, he called him "friend." The man who was formerly paralyzed now was surrounded by his old friends and his new friend, Jesus. He walked home that day. He had a new friend, and he had God's forgiveness. That is what I call a great day!

I need to remember that I am Jesus' friend and he is mine. Even if I'm going through a season when I don't have an earthly friend in my life, I have a heavenly friend who can comfort me, encourage me, and forgive me when I fail.


Prayer
O God, thank you for the friends we meet along life's journey. Remind us that you are always our companion. Amen.



From: UpperRoom Devotionals - Richard Lewis

AN AMAZING DESIGN

"I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren." Genesis 24:27


Several years ago I had the privilege of making a business trip to India. We worked in New Delhi and a few remote villages nearby. I visited the Taj Mahal and was amazed at such a magnificent shrine. As we traveled, I was appalled at the extreme poverty that was everywhere.

We stopped at a small hand-made rug factory. It was fascinating to see beautiful rugs being made by hand with exquisite colors and intricate designs. Even more amazing was to see that much of the work was being done by children and young people. Their nimble fingers were needed to insert and pull the threads of yarn in and out of the designated pattern. Mixing colored yarn so often in a complexity of patterns and working from the bottom side, I wondered how anything of beauty could possibly emerge.

I then realized, there was a "master designer" who mapped out every thread, every color, every phase of the pattern, and every tedious movement. When the rug was complete, it was turned right side up, and was amazingly beautiful. It was interesting to notice the impression the dark threads made in the over-all design. They served as the background to magnify and enhance the beauty of the lighter colors. The design was a work of art and magnificently portrayed. I thought of all the work and planning that had gone into this extremely beautiful rug, and how these young people persevered to accomplish such a difficult task.

Could this be how God works in our lives? He has a plan and purpose for our lives, designed before the foundation of the world. There are cords of various colors, some dark and others bright and beautiful. Each day additional colors are added, and a different design suddenly takes place. We wonder at the wisdom and complexity of it all. But then, as we follow the will of the "Master Designer," the purpose of each intricate movement finds completion in the beauty of His design. God works from the "inside" to finalize a pattern of beauty on the outside.

It requires the culture of spiritual discipline to see God in every detail of our life. Never let your attitude be that the insignificant happenings in our lives are anything less than His hand weaving in the small details of His design. The dark colors are mixed with the brighter so they will enhance the beauty of our life. How exciting to see the "unexpected realities" of His doing. When we see God in the "simple things"...we will discover His designs everywhere. Someone has wisely said, "See God in everything, and God will color all that you see." Looking back, we can see an amazing design God has interwoven into our lives. So many things that have happened, that our conclusion is "Only God could have done that!" His ways are past finding out.

It is imperative for us to have a humble and submissive spirit, so He can weave the colors and design of His choosing that will glorify Him. Those who joyfully leave everything in God's hand, will eventually see God's hand in everything. God's ways may be unsearchable, but His grace is unfailing. May we be receptive to His plan and submissive to His leading. When the work is complete...done according to His divine pattern...it will be eternally glorifying to His name.

"An amazing design"...by the ONE who loved us and gave Himself for us. To Him be the glory!


From: Literature International Ministry - Ed Powell

Your Everyday Ministry

How do you define a ministry? Is it about supporting every church activity and gathering? Or joining the music team? Or is it about being active in church evangelism programs? etc...


As I analyze the term "Ministry", it seems that there will be 2 types:

1.) General Ministry - this is the type of ministry where most people get joined with. Just like what the term implies, this is intended for the general public who is interested. For example, music team, ushering team, pastor support team, evangalism team and many more.


2.) Personal Ministry - this is not about any other people, its all about you. We all have our own calling, own destiny to live in, own skill to use and develop, and own life to dedicate for God.

God has a very unique plan for all of us. Hard to imagine and think of but easy to know especially if we will truly seek God.


According to Romans 12:3-8, "(Rom 12:3) "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.(4)For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,(5)so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.(6)Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;(7)or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;(8)he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."

It clearly states that we all have our own spiritual gifts to nurture and use everyday. We may have different capabilities but what matters most is that we all use it to fulfill God's plan in our lives.


Always Remember:
God will judge us not based from all those things we did but on those things we obeyed. If you still don't know yet your spiritual gift, try seeking God because it will be the only solution.

You may start by sharing His marvelous Word. Believe me, we are all called to share the Gospel. It is a fact that you should consider.