Discovering God's WillSample

A Practice, Not a Petition

Who doesn’t like a great meal? Men, we like to eat.

A few years ago, some friends and I visited a Brazilian steakhouse. It was like we had died and gone to meat heaven. We had steak, chicken, fish, pork, and lamb, and then we started all over again.

I didn’t know “meat sweats” were a thing. But they are. It was quite the feast but not something I could repeat every day…or year, for that matter. It was enjoyable but not what a healthy diet is made of. Healthy living requires consistent practices, including diet, exercise, and rest.

Healthy spirituality is the practice of consistently doing God’s will. In John 4:34, Jesus explained, “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing His work.”

He used something we all know (our need for food) to demonstrate something we all need (doing the will of God).

But Jesus practiced what He preached. He spent time in communion with His Father, often alone and early in the morning (Mark 1:35). He filled Himself up so He could pour Himself out.

If we’re honest, for many men, seeking God’s will can be merely a prayer for help or guidance when facing a significant life decision.

But doing God’s will is not a one-off petition. It’s the ongoing daily practice of abiding in God’s presence, little habits that produce great fruit in our lives, and clarity in hearing the voice of God.

In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear says: “All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves, and branches grow.”

It sounds like the Apostle Paul in Colossians 2:7: “Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him.”

Our daily habits and practices produce God’s character in us and a godly impact through us. God’s will is not separate from these spiritual disciplines. Knowing and doing God’s will is not a one-time wish but a daily walk over a lifetime.

Let’s not miss a meal.

Prayer: Lord, help me practice Your presence every day. Use my prayer habits and time in Your Word to conform me to Your image and prepare me to do Your will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection: What spiritual practices do you find challenging? What comes naturally? Commit today to starting a new spiritual habit for the next thirty days.