‘Teach me to do your will.’ Psalm 143:10
As you look back on your life, the thing that will bring you the greatest joy is knowing you’ve done the will of God. But in order for that to happen, you must really want to do God’s will. Jesus said, ‘If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself’ (John 7:17 NASB). Note the words ‘willing to do His will’. More than completing your education, or getting married, or getting your house paid off, or anything else in life, you must want to do God’s will.
Chuck Swindoll writes: ‘There have been times when I said I wanted to do His will but I really didn’t. That’s a tough thing to confess, but looking back with 20/20 hindsight, I realise that at times I resisted His will. And I’ve learned that serious consequences follow selfish resistance.’ Paul writes: ‘Doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does’ (Ephesians 6:6-8 NIV 1984 Edition).
Note the phrase ‘doing the will of God from your heart’. That’s about as deep as it gets. More than pleasing people, more than acquiring creature comforts and status, more than staying safe, your greatest desire should be to please God. The psalmist prayed, ‘I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart’ (Psalm 40:8 NIV 2011 Edition). Your prayer should be: ‘In all I do this day, Lord, my desire is to please You and do Your will.’
Luke 16:1-15, Ps 87-88
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