What is God’s Will?
God’s will.
What is it? How do we know? It seems like such a loaded question, but is it?
The topic of God’s will came up on Wednesday night during dinner with a friend and again at my Moms in the Making group. My advice? You don’t need to tack on the “if-then” statement of “God, if it’s your will, then…” to every prayer.
Well why not?
Let’s get things straight. God’s will is LIFE. It is HEALTH. It is ABUNDANCE. It is PROSPERITY. It is HEALING. It is GOODNESS. It is all of these things. It’s not debt. It’s not anxiety. It’s not depression. It’s not divorce.
It’s none of these things.
Remember we live in an imperfect world, so yes, these things happen. But these things are not God’s heart. Because of his death and resurrection and the way Jesus modeled that we pray, we can pursue a life of “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). In heaven, there is life, and we should pursue things that bring life here on earth, like health, or babies, or healing, to name just a few.
While your heart should always be aligned and in tune to God’s will, know that his will is what his Word says. Know that you don’t have to ask if healing is God’s will, because it is. Know that you don’t have to ask if a baby is God’s will, because it is. Know that you don’t have to ask if a healthy relationship is God’s will, because it is.
Instead of asking if it’s God’s will to heal you from anxiety, know that yes, it is! Call forth that healing. Believe that he will heal you. Instead of asking if it’s God’s will for you and your husband to have a baby, know that yes, it is! Speak life over your body. Read scriptures like Psalm 113:9 which says, “He gives the childless woman a family, making her a happy mother.” Trust that he will bring life to your womb. Instead of asking if it’s God’s will to live debt-free, know that yes, it is! Seek counseling with your finances, ask for help, and ask the Lord to give you wisdom to takes steps to get out of debt.
Do you see where I am going with this? If you are facing a situation that scripture doesn’t address and you aren’t sure if it’s his will, then yes, ask! But know that God wants the very best for you and always wants what is positive and good. His Word is filled with promise after promise after promise, so read it and before you know it, you too will believe that all the things mentioned above are his will.
My encouragement to you today? If you are facing a situation that you know is a promise from him, then stop praying out of fear and doubt, but instead command, “Lord, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Call forth those promises and expect God to answer every single one. Stand in agreement with what God’s Word says. Whether you have been asking in prayer for 5 minutes or 5 years, don’t stop praying and commanding what you already know to be his will until you see his will fulfilled.
PS. Purchase my book, #induetimedevotional today!
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Bill Krafft
Posted at 11:18h, 09 DecemberCaroline,
Thank you for this insight. I struggled with this when I was diagnosed with cancer. I was encouraged to pray for full healing. My response was that I did not want to put my will into the prayer. This is the first time that I have heard this explained in a way that will satisfy me.
God granted me a full healing. For that I am thankful. I try to encourage people to put an action to their prayers. If they want health, take an action of kindness to himself. If they want to learn, ask for someone to teach. If they want comfort, ask for someone to console.
Thank you for your insight Now, I can this to my encouragements.
Bill
Rebecca Jo
Posted at 11:37h, 09 December“Instead of asking if it’s God’s will to heal you from anxiety, know that yes, it is! Call forth that healing. Believe that he will heal you.”
… you wrote this just for me today in case you didnt know!
Andrea
Posted at 18:15h, 09 Decemberand sometimes we are not too thrilled with things….
Kristy
Posted at 21:18h, 09 DecemberI can’t even begin to express how much I needed this at this time. ♡
Terri
Posted at 22:06h, 09 DecemberThank you for this beautiful insight. I want to always be in his will so that i dont get in his way
Patricia
Posted at 23:19h, 10 DecemberIt’s so important to know the promises of God!!
Ida Pahus
Posted at 11:08h, 11 DecemberOh yes, this is so good! Makes me want to pray a lot more.
Margaret
Posted at 11:56h, 14 DecemberI get the sentiment behind this, but I don’t think this is exclusively God’s will–it might be God’s will not to heal you, not give you a baby, not to give you a spouse, not to rescue you from the fire. Right? His ultimate will is to make you more like Christ and that can mean (as it has in my life) both good and bad, joy and suffering.
When my sister passed away from cancer a few years ago there were many well meaning Christians who said to her that she needed to “pray more” for healing and believe more deeply and ask more fervently and then God would hear her and finally heal her. What I saw happen with these requests from people was a huge burden form on my sister–to do more, pray more, believe more–it was a works based approach to God, not one that said whatever happens Lord–I trust you. My sister did pass away and I am so thankful she is now with Jesus, but I worry that people who insist on what you write about are actually building a works driven concept of faith that is hurtful and burdening and now actually helpful and liberating.