Knowing God’s will for you

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

I really need to start ….! Do you ever hear yourself think or say those words. Some say exercising. Others say, eating better, Others say reading my Bible and praying. The list is endless. You wouldn’t call those fleshly desires or they’d be easy to do!

God does create desires within our heart. And of course the desires He gives us are godly and given by Him for the purpose of leading us to His path of blessing, contentment, and peace. Psalms 37:4 (NIV) says, “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Sometimes we have things stirring in us that have to do with changes we think are needed. Thinking about them and actually executing them are two different things. Thinking about them can be so easy and can continue for days, months and years. Executing those changes can be so frustrating—too often resulting in a track-record of aborted attempts. Has God been stirring up desires in your life about something He wants you to do? Have you been struggling to get started? Is there something you need so that you can do what it is you feel God wants you to do? Is it motivation? Is it courage? Is it resources of some kind? Is it all these things?

God has made His grace (His supernatural help) available to you. If He is creating the desire within you, then He wants to help you fulfill that desire. So know this! Make this one of the most important spiritual truths you know! What God calls you to do, He equips you to do! Hebrews 13:20-21 (NLT) says, “Now may the God of peace…equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to him forever and ever!”

Hebrews 4:16 NKJV says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Romans 5:2 NIV says, “through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Whatever it is, let God know and stand in faith for it.

I’ll never forget one of these moments in Renee and my life. We were too busy to go to the gym yet knew we needed to workout more. The stress that comes from ministry can be overwhelming but exercise helps reduce and manage that stress. We needed to manage our better! We put it to the Lord in prayer and wrote it on a list we kept in our kitchen, of things we were standing in faith for. The Lord had taught us over the years to be persistent but patient trusting Him. One day I get a call from a friend in the industry who had just created a beautiful piece of equipment—a strength-training home gym that was compact but amazing! He needed a few people he trusted to test it so he gave us one. It was worth thousands of dollars. We could see God honoring our prayers and we were so glad we prayed and waited on God! This all started with something stirring in our hearts and deciding that this was God’s will and the time was now.

Once you’re sure it’s God’s desire stirring in your heart, it’s then time to take a bold step in faith believing it will be empowered by God’s grace. In the story of Joshua taking the people of God into the Promised Land, they came to the Jordan River. God told them to take a step into the river. As soon as they took that first step and touched the water, it parted and let them walk through as we see in Joshua 3:14-16. “When the people set out to cross the Jordan, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. Now it was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water began backing up and piling up at a town upstream… Then all the people crossed over near the city of Jericho.”

Procrastination is a curse. Doing what God is leading you to do is a blessing. But don’t fear. You are not on your own! If God is leading you, He will equip you! Your faith is the bridge to that equipping. By His grace He’ll equip you with the motivation, with the courage, and with the resources you need. First, know what it is God wants you to do. Second, ask Him for help praying and expecting God to lead you and guide you. Be patient and stand and pray until you see God’s hand and help. Third, take action steps He leads you to take. You have a part to play and that is to obey! Thank Him every step of the way as His grace empowers you with everything you need to do His will! He will lead you and help you as you take the first steps of faith. His grace will help you keep moving forward until His desire is completed in you! So don’t be afraid! Determine God’s will, and begin to pray and do as He leads!

Hebrews 13:21 “May God equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.”

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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