Lesson 188 - LEARNING TO DISCERN THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOUR LIFE (PART 1)
By Frank Eiklor and the Shalom Team
Christian lives, marriages and homes are collapsing in huge numbers. Christians are making foolish and even sinful decisions and regretting the terrible consequences. The problem? They don’t know how to find God’s will before they act. Of course, some did know God’s will, disobeyed and are now paying, or will pay, the sad consequences. To many, God’s will is not the critical desire of their hearts because they are determined to do what they want. “Don’t bother me with biblical facts—my mind is made up,” has been the tragic attitude of great numbers of Christians.
SERIOUS CHRISTIANS ONLY
This lesson is not for dishonest Christians. It’s also not for Christians who, though honest enough to admit they are living in sin, still rebel against asking God for grace and new desires pleasing to Him. This teaching is for the Christian who is serious with God and who desires practical help in how to know God’s will in small and great decisions that will bring either happiness or heartache—victory or defeat—peace or turmoil—God’s will or Satan’s trap.
It is not so easy to know God’s will in the many decisions we have to make which are not covered by a specific scripture verse. Of course, many decisions we must make are covered clearly in the Bible—if we only know where to find it. I know enough about walking with God to realize that hearing Him is not always as easy as some of us try to pretend. After all, He does not generally speak out loud, write words across the sky or send an angel with an envelope containing the orders of each day. God gives His Holy Spirit the tremendous task of teaching human beings (who have always lived by our senses) the ways of the fourth dimension—the world of the spirit. Such lessons are not learned in a day.
WHAT IS THE RIGHT DECISION?
I’m going to share nine simple points for you to grasp if you want to know how to truly seek God’s will—before you act. Perhaps you’re contemplating changing jobs. Or the situation is even more serious—you are thinking about getting married? Is this the right person? Or perhaps you wonder if it’s time to buy that new car. Or your schedule is already so busy but you are being asked to do something else. Should you say yes or no? Perhaps your marriage is failing. Some people tell you it’s too far gone and you should give up. Others say you should endure at any cost. What to do? Or maybe it’s witnessing to your loved ones. Should you try to approach those hard cases again—or wait a while? Perhaps you’re wondering if the Lord wants you to serve Him full time as a missionary or minister. Is it God’s call? Or only your desire?
Difficult decisions—all of them. See how easy one can experience a tragedy if a wrong decision is made? We have enough of the foundation. Let’s get started.
TO BE CONTINUED
"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1)
The ST. PAUL SCHOOL, with Frank Eiklor, Eileen Young and Cecilia Contreras