Making Right Choices, Discerning God's Will Shembull

Foundational Level Three: I must have a surrendered attitude to God if I expect to discern His will.

Consider these four areas of my having a surrendered attitude:

SURRENDERED ATTITUDE #1

I must honestly desire to allow God to fulfill His will in my life, and prayerfully seek His will for me.

In my human understanding, I might say that something is either possible or impossible.  Someone said, “Don’t ask if something is possible, but rather ask, ‘Is it God’s will?’, because if it is God’s will, He will make it possible.” Jesus said in Mark 10:27, With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God. (ESV)

However, I can often make something happen in my own strength using my God-given abilities, but that doesn't make it God's will just because I can make it happen.

The Lord wants me to ask, “God, what do You want?” That should be on my lips all the time. 

Jesus prayed all night before choosing His 12 disciples. (Luke 6:12-13) If Jesus needed His Father’s guidance on His decisions, shouldn’t I also pray for His direction about my decisions?

SURRENDERED ATTITUDE #2

I need to choose to humble myself before God with a submissive attitude, allowing Him to teach me and change my priorities, as He deems best.

One way of honoring God and giving Him His rightful recognition in my heart is by actively seeking and accepting His priorities. This will necessitate forming the habit of not giving Him the leftovers of my time, energy and possessions, but rather offering Him the best of my resources.

As God continues to transform my thinking, my faith increases because I’m thinking more like Him, so that His priorities become my priorities, and I start to instinctively listen to His voice in everything I say and do. 

SURRENDERED ATTITUDE #3

The choices I make that have eternal rewards (that is, motivated by the Holy Spirit) always require a measure of faith, and include a perception of risk.

Since faith always carries with it a perception of risk, I may tend to trust only in my own conclusions, because I always intend to do what’s in my best interest, and none of us likes risk. However, I often operate on faith in other people. For example: every time I step on an airplane or take medicine, I am putting my faith and trust in people I don’t know. God is asking me to put my trust in Him who will NEVER let me down. 

Am I uncomfortable with not knowing the outcome of my decision-making, or trusting God with it? 

So, faith is critical in this process. But how do I bridge the gap between my understanding and God's will? Ask Him for the faith you need! He will give me enough information and evidence to trust Him but not enough to be 100% convinced. No one can please God without faith. 

SURRENDERED ATTITUDE #4

Choices based on faith may result in sacrifice and/or suffering. There is a price for obedience to His will. Trials ought not to be viewed as an enemy. 

Sometimes in the decision-making process I may be required to make some sort of sacrifice that includes personal risk or pain. In my own strength I may look for a solution that doesn’t alter my comfort level or risk. 

In Luke 21:1-4, Jesus and His disciples were observing the temple treasury when a poor widow dropped in two tiny coins – all she had to live on. What was the risk for the widow? She could starve to death because she wouldn’t have enough money to buy food. What do you think happened to her? Do you think God took care of her? Meditate on Matthew 6:25-34 where Jesus promises that God will take care of us if we seek Him first. 

Corrie Ten Boom said, “You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.”

Is my heart surrendered to the Lord, and am I seeking His guidance daily? Do I really trust Him?

PRAYER: Father, I want to have a heart and attitude surrendered to You, but I need your help to do that. Help me to trust you more, not only for my decisions, but also for the outcome of those decisions.