Sometimes we feel that it would be really nice if God automatically reveals His will at every step of our life. Often we feel as if God has hidden His will somewhere and it is our big challenge to find it. But the truth is, the more we know Him, His Word and His Ways, the easier it would be for us to know His Will or what He wants us to do. Billy Graham says,
“The greatest barrier to knowing God’s will is simply that we want to run our own lives. Our problem is that a battle is going on in our hearts—a battle between our wills and God’s will.”
The thought for our reflection this morning is, “Our God Reveals His Will to Those Who Seek for it and Patiently Wait to Confirm it”.
Then he prayed, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water”
(Genesis 24:12-13)
Abraham’s servant in Genesis 24, was desperately seeking to find the woman whom God had chosen to become Isaac’s wife. In spite of receiving many practical instructions from Abraham, his servant, was still seeking perfect guidance from God as he knew that if not, he would go wrong in finding the right wife for his master’s son. How did Abraham’s servant succeed in his attempt to know God’s will with regard to Isaac’s future wife?
1.By PRAYING to know God’s will.
The servant believed that God could influence events and give him success. He had deep personal faith in his master’s God and asked Him to bring the chosen girl to him and then to confirm to him that she was the chosen one. The servant’s prayer indicates that he believed that God had already made a decision and that He had chosen a particular girl for his masters’ son. The Bible says,
“Before he had finished praying Rebekah came with her jar on her shoulder”
(Genesis 24:15).
Has not God promised in His Word that he would hear our prayers?
“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear”
(Isaiah 65:24)
Are we desperately praying to know God’s will with regard to our current situation or we have given up thinking that there is no hope?
2. By PRACTICING “WAITING” to confirm God’s will.
Though the servant was confident that God was totally in control, he did not rush to arrive at any conclusion when Rebekah appeared. The Bible says,
“Without saying a word, the man (servant) watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful”
(Genesis 24:21)
God does speak through circumstances. But taking time to wait to confirm God’s will is a very important principle in seeking a sign for guidance or knowing God’s will. Have we been hasty in making decisions or patiently waiting for every detail to fit in properly to confirm God’s perfect will?
Robert Law says,
“Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man’s will done in Heaven, but for getting God’s will done on earth”.
Thus when we desperately seek Him through prayer, His guidance and direction will follow. Let’s begin this day with this prayer:
“O Lord we believe that you are totally in control and have already planned the next steps for our lives. Forgive our failures in the past to pursue you wholeheartedly through prayer. We have missed your will at times by failing to wait to confirm your will. But hereafter we will not take the any step in our life without you revealing your will. Hold our hands and lead us forward to fulfill only your perfect will.
In Jesus’ name... Amen!