Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Listen to “Thoughts in Worship 07.19.2017” on Spreaker.
This is devotional thought number 27 in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is: I Will to be Consecrated.
Here’s the question for consideration: What is God’s will for my life?
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11–13).
He Went Left. We Went Right.
As in times of old, our God is happy to hear and answer the needs, prayers, and concerns of His people.
God’s Old Testament people often chose the roughest paths in life. If God said to go left, they sometimes went right. He said to move forward, but they sometimes stopped cold. If He said to listen, they sometimes stopped their ears. They allowed their humanity to supersede their submission to God. And since He loved them so much, He had to chastise them with the goal of bringing them back into alignment with His will. He used whatever measured means He deemed necessary to accomplish His ends. And when the correction was enough, God lavished assuring promises and loving words on them so they would know He still loved them.
Things have not changed much. God’s people still need correction from time to time. We don’t see ourselves as a singular, theocratic or civil nation with enemies whom God would eventually vanquish on our behalf anymore. However, God’s people everywhere experience enemies of doubt, self-loathing, addictions, pride, and unfaithfulness among other things. After we have struggled and lost countless battles against these wily foes, many of our own devising, the Captain of the heavenly hosts manifests the same compassion He did in the past. He throws open the windows of heaven to His repentant people, and lavishes love, power, and assurance on them.
Peace, Joy and Beauty God Wants to Bring
His ears are attent to the prayers of His people. He makes Himself available to hear their cries, joys, and concerns. Moreover, He manifests His delight to bring peace, joy, and harmony to their lives despite their trials, and His intentions to bring salvation to their souls.
What is God’s will for my life? His will is to bring peace, and not of evil, to give me hope and a future in heaven and the new earth where sin, sickness, tears, pain, and death will no longer have sway.
