“…test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will”, Romans 12:2 (NIV).
If you were to choose between the two: having your wish or doing God’s will, what would you choose?
Before you answer this question, you need to understand the meaning of the two words: wish and will and the difference between God’s will and man’s will. Failure to understand the difference will mean incorrect choice. And incorrect choice can result into a conflict, compounded with very severe immediate, subsequent or future consequences. Many people are victims of painful circumstances, frustrations, defeat, depression, confusion, worry, disappointment, failure, and losses, physical and emotional sicknesses etc. because of making incorrect and ungodly choices or decisions for their lives.
What is God’s recommendation? Note the word “recommendation”. God does not impose His will on anyone. He gives us His view, insight to His plans and His word to guide us in making choices. He also expects us to correctly, intelligently, and adequately use our mind to think and reason with Him about every choice or decision we are about to make regarding all areas of our life (Isaiah 1:18). Listen, for example, to what he says in the Bible, regarding making choices and reasoning:
“This day I call heaven and earth as a witness against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curses, now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life and He will give you many years in the land…”, Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV)
“Come now, let us (you and God) reason together,” says the Lord…If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken”, Isaiah 1:18-19 (NIV)
These and several verses in the Bible clearly indicate and confirm that knowledge, reasoning and obedience to his voice, are paramount for making decisions and choices that conform to his will and ensures our blessings.
How then can we avoid confusing our wishes with His will? How can we avoid conflict between our wish and His will? How can we escape the temptation of conforming to the world’s standards instead of being transformed by the renewing of our mind by the word of God so we can meet God’s standards?
In life, whenever we are making any choices, we are either choosing God’s will or our wish. That is how life is set to operate. It is unfortunate that many people, including Christians, because of their ignorance due to lack of proper teaching and understanding the meaning of the will of God, do miss God’s best. In addition, confusion and error in judgment are major contributors to missing God’s will.
We operate on wishes most of the time. God operates on His will at all times. We keep a wish list. God keeps a will list. Often, we express our wishes and in some cases insist on them when trusting God to provide for our need. But God insist on His will; it is His will that He approves and appropriates in the lives of His children. Nothing less!
“ Insisting on getting your wishes is a sure guarantee of missing God’s will, for God may grant or permit a wish, without approving of it, for He approves and affirms His will only”.
Why then do we often insist on our wishes? Why is it that often we let our wishes override the will of God? Why is it that when God’s will conflicts with ours, we choose and insist on our wishes? Why do we find it hard to say “Thy will be done” when God cannot give us our wishes? Why is it that we sometimes insist on having our preference and not God’s provision? If God is all knowing and is the supplier of all our needs, why is it that we refuse, arrogantly, at times, to listen to God’s truth and be convinced so we can accept God’s will? How, then, can one know His will? Why do we often insist on our wishes so we can please ourselves and others instead of accepting God’s will so we can please him, first, and then ourselves? Pray that God will help you know and walk in His will. God bless you. Brother Boaz Olang
He Has Magnified His Word 