As Christians wanting to honor God, we continually strive to live our lives according to His will. Most decisions are obvious as the Bible gives us all the guidance we need for Christian living. And if Christ resides in your heart as the Lord of your life, you then have everything you need to carry it out.
But what about the not-so-obvious decisions? Do I sell my house? Quit my job? Home school my kids? Go into full-time ministry? In Paul’s letter to the believers in Colosse, he prays for them, asking God to give them complete knowledge of His will, spiritual wisdom and understanding. “Then the way you live will honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit.” (Colossians 1:9-10)
That seems easy enough. So, if I want to know God’s will, all I have to do is pray and He’ll give it to me. Cool! I can do that. But then I began reading a little further down and sensed God’s saying, “Excuse me, child, there’s more here you need to know…” Verse 11 continues with Paul praying for the believers to be strengthened by God’s power in order to “have all the endurance and patience you need.” Wait a minute. Patience? Endurance? You mean I have to do something? Or worse, wait and do nothing? I’m not sure I like the sound of that. Therefore, I had to ask myself a question: If I really want to live a life pleasing to the Lord, one that produces fruit and has lasting value, am I willing to put in the effort, perhaps take the longer, less traveled road, and wait patiently for the outcome?
Sobering question. We know it’s God’s desire for us to follow His will; therefore, we can be sure He hears our prayers whenever we ask for wisdom and discernment. However, knowing God’s will is not a magic wand or instant formula for successful living. Knowing God’s will and carrying it out are two very different things. It takes effort on our part. Often, His will is not what we would have chosen or expected. If we turn and walk the other direction, unsatisfied with the answer or convinced we didn’t hear one at all, can we honestly say we desired to know God’s will in the first place? Or were we really seeking confirmation of our own? Praise God He knows our weaknesses!
This is precisely the reason why God’s word encourages us to pray for both the knowledge of His will and to be strengthened with the endurance and patience required to carry it out. But His word still doesn’t stop there. Where does this strength come from? Ourselves? Thankfully, the answer is no. He even provides us with the strength! Verse 11 says we should pray “to be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.”
So the next time you ask God to reveal His will to you, don’t forget the second part: “Lord, please strengthen me with all of your glorious power so that I will have all the patience and endurance I need to wait upon your voice and follow your will.”
His Word promises that your life will then “honor and please the Lord and produce every kind of good fruit.” Now that’s a promise I can live with.
Shadia Hrichi
Excellent post and that being said by one who has been enduring the journey of which you spoke. I needed to hear this – this week – I have been tired and discouraged and recently wrote…”I know this road is hard and I fear what I am asking will bring more pain, but I know You are the One able to sustain me.” Thank you for being a refreshing vessel.