“If it’s God’s will”, “God willing, and the Creek don’t rise”, “I believe it’s God’s will”. You have probably either heard or uttered one of those phrases, or heard the song. Sometimes God’s will may seem fuzzy. How can we be more in tune to what God would have us to do? How can we know when we see His will being carried out? He has left us some clues. You can find the clues.

In the Classroom

As I work with students in the classroom, part of what we do to increase understanding of literature is to analyze it and look for clues that unlock deeper meaning. When reading nonfiction we try to make connections with the author’s purpose, writing style and clues to the main idea. We look for key words, phrases or concepts that we can connect to our lives too.

Depending on the genre of the writing and the author’s purpose we may use different questions to trigger thoughts and understanding however, to unlock the full significance of the piece we look deeper. I could list your favorite writer and I am sure you could relate various nuances that others, not quite familiar may miss at first glance.

Writing is a powerful communication tool. When we generally think about great writers I wonder how often we put the God inspired word of the Bible at the top of the list. After all any writer we cite received their inherent talent from the creator. His ability to inspire, model and infuse writing eloquence is supreme.

To find out His thoughts, His will, His intentions involves communication with Him. He communicates to us through various modalities. The writings provided for us through His word, the Bible, is replete with vital communication indeed.

On the Journey

Would an all-knowing, loving God create us and not provide us with insight into what He would have us to do to create “good success”? The fallible humans that we are, would not knowingly allow our sons and daughters to roam about without a clue of how they could live a successful life, it would not be prudent. Likewise, our heavenly Father whose thoughts are on a higher level than ours does not do that either.

God’s will is for us to have good success.

Therefore we need to focus on the word of God day and night. That indicates that we are to become familiar with the word. To be able to meditate on something you must be more than acquainted with the topics it covers. It requires a deeper knowing. We acquire that deeper knowing by studying and analyzing the word.

God Willing

Knowing His will requires that we examine ourselves and analyze His word, looking for clues. Knowing of Him and knowing about His word is not enough to have good success.

In Romans 12:2 we find, “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.” (KJV)

I simply want to focus on two words in this passage. The word transformed that is used here was translated from a Greek word meaning metamorphosis. Although we are clearly not insects, it causes me to think about a caterpillar that is changed totally into a new creature when it emerges from its cocoon as a butterfly. It no longer behaves the same way.

Where it gets its food, its habitat and its daily goings and comings have changed. While parts of the inside remain the same it is unrecognizable as the creature it was before the transformation. Have you been transformed or do you, and your surroundings look the same? Have you conformed? Do you want to transform?

Another word that is a clue to us finding out God’s will refers to how we become transformed, by renewing our minds. That word in the Greek comes from the word renovation. If you have ever renovated your residence you know that it takes time, planning and vision. It is not done without a willingness to withstand the obstacles and change anyway.

As we seek to make adjustments in our moral and spiritual lives we must proceed with desire for the envisioned outcome. When our desires and will aligns with the word of God we are renewing our minds. When we transform ourselves by the renewing of our minds we come into agreement with God’s will.

We must die to our dead thoughts, then we are able to recognize His will. Therefore to know when God willing is not a question but rather the affirmative, we are to transform ourselves through the renewing of our minds.

Take Inventory and Take Action!

Love,

Deborah

“Lighting the path to loving your neighbor as yourself.”