#willofgod

[bibleversegarden]

[youngdisciples]

In Psalm 143, David laments his circumstances and feels that every step he takes is under attack from his enemies, who are persecuting his soul. He feels that his life is being pounded and pulverised into the ground. He complains that he is being forced to be entombed in dark places, like those that are already in the grave, and he cries out for the Lord to hear his supplication and to answer him, because God is faithful and righteous.

David pleads his own wretchedness and implores God's goodness to direct and govern his ways. "My spirit is overwhelmed within me," he cries, "My heart is appalled within me. But I remember the days of old. I meditate on all Your doings. I muse on the work of Your hands. I stretch out my hands to You - my soul longs for You, as a parched land longs for water."

As with so many of David's prayers and petitions, these verses feed the hungry soul, restore the fainting spirit, minister to those that feel overwhelmed by life's circumstances, and encourage a believer' heart. In his distress, David entreats the listening ear of his faithful Saviour, and we need to do the same. He cried out for mercy, as the enemy sought to crush his soul in death's deep darkness - and we should similarly cry to the Lord in our distresses.

David's spirit is faint, his heart dismayed. His soul is as dry as a thirsty desert where there is no water, and yet he starts to recall the days of old. He meditates on the past goodness of God and remembers the wonders of His handiwork, which encourages his fainting heart. David is a man of faith who knows that God is mindful of man and Who has promised to care for His people. However, like us, David often found himself crying out in desperation to the Lord, in times of deep distress and danger. 

David always found that his dark nights of distress and discouragement were displaced by mornings of joyous praises, which enlivened his heart to seek God's perfect will, and so David acknowledges his dependence upon God, and petitions the Lord for direction - entreating the Spirit of enlightenment to guide him onto level ground, where he may walk without fear or danger. "Teach me to do Your will," he prays, "for You are my God. Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground."

The distress that David is going through often translates into the deep darkness that floods into our heart, as the Accuser of our soul seeks to destroy our testimony, shipwreck our lives, drown us in sorrow, and batter us with bitter whirlwinds that whip up the tides of discontent.

But those that confess knowledge of God's will and are obedient to His Word, have the sufficient grace to weather the most raging storm and to water the most arid of dusty deserts. God's grace is sufficient and He is faithful. He has promised that He will not allow us to be tested more than we are able, but in the power of His Holy Spirit, will always hear our prayers and give us a way to overcome in all things.

Like David, we all need guidance from the Lord and we all need His Spirit to teach us His ways and guide us into all truth. We also need to stand on His faithful promises and be comforted that He is the righteous Judge of all. Like David, we should foster a teachable spirit and be ready to call out to Him in times of trouble, as well as rejoice in times of blessing. And as we read in Psalm 143 we should confess our faith in Him and ask for the Holy Spirit to lead us, "on a level land."

Like the Psalmist, we should call out to God for deliverance from our enemies, rely on His restoration when attacked, and depend on His sufficient grace to help in time of need. We should be ready and willing to admit our weaknesses and combine humility of heart with a soul that trusts in the Lord with our whole being, and does not rely on our own understanding. May we acknowledge Him in ALL things, knowing that He will teach us His will and lead us in His paths of perfect peace.

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[wayfordailylife]

[anastpaul]

Quote/s of the Day – 27 September – The Memorial of St Vincent de Paul C.M. (1581-1660)

“Perfection consists in one thing alone, which is doing the will of God. For, according to Our Lord’s words, it suffices for perfection to deny self, to take up the cross and to follow Him. Now who denies himself and takes up his cross and follows Christ better than he who seeks not to do his own will but always that of God? Behold, now, how little is needed to become as Saint? Nothing more than to acquire the habit of willing, on every occasion, what God wills.”

“…We have all been called by God to work on a masterpiece!”

“Extend your mercy towards others, so that there can be no one in need whom you meet without helping. For what hope is there for us if God should withdraw His Mercy from us?”

“With renewed devotion, then, we must serve the poor, especially outcasts and beggars. They have been given to us as our masters and patrons.”

“It is not enough to give soup and bread. This the rich can do. You are the servant of the poor, always smiling and good-humoured. They are your masters, terribly sensitive and exacting master you will see. And the uglier and the dirtier they will be, the more unjust and insulting, the more love you must give them. It is only for your love alone, that the poor will forgive you the bread you give to them.

“Go to the poor – you will find God!”

St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

(via Quote/s of the Day – 27 September – The Memorial of St Vincent de Paul C.M. (1581-1660))

[youngdisciples]

God will establish all our plans, commit and submit everything to Him.

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[youngdisciples]

We all know that after death is judgment. It is already impossible for us to pray for our dead family and relatives to go to heaven or for them to be saved once they’re dead because again after death is judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Now, first of all, prayer is indeed powerful. When we pray for our family, friends, and relatives to be saved, we cannot pray that they will go to heaven. We can pray for them that they will know Christ so they can be saved. After all, the only way to our salvation is in Christ alone. So, we can pray for them that God will set their ways to Him so that they will know Christ. 

Also, we can pray for their well-being. God will not encourage us to pray for one another if it’s not effective. So, it is true that as we pray for one another, we are also caring, loving, and looking out for them. Now, our verse today is such a very wonderful and loving verse. It’s a prayer of David for the people that may God give them the desires of their heart and make their plans succeed. This verse also is for us people in this present time. Most of the time we are all so occupied with focusing on making our plans succeed that we forget about God. 

This is actually a prayer, but also a reminder for us all. David carefully mentioned in his prayer that may HE give us the desires of our hearts and make our plans succeed. He mentioned that God will be the one to give the desires of our hearts, and He is the one who will make our plans successful. It is not us who will grant the desires of our hearts, but it is God. It’s God alone who will also make our plans succeed. Now, the crucial part of this is that for God to make our plans succeed, we must know that we must first align our plans to God. 

He is the God who loves us and even came into the world to save us from our sins. However, we must understand that as we desire to be saved, we have to have Jesus Christ in our hearts. Not just have Him, but really make Him the owner of our lives. In connection with this, as we let Christ dwell in us, our plans will be then aligned to God’s Will, and without doubt, He will make our plans succeed. Thus, this prayer does not just simply mean for us to have a good life but the bottom point of this prayer is to align us to the God of plans and success. The bottom point of this prayer is to pray for all the people that they will seek God’s Will and plans for them. 

Therefore, as people of God and as people who know that this prayer of David is for us Christians, we must understand that we are really dependent on God. Our desires, our plans will be fulfilled without a doubt if we are aligned with the Will of God. Let us let Christ dwell in us richly. We must not just make Him as a visitor who only comes and goes when we want. But let us give Him the keys to our life and body so that everything we desire and everything we plan is according to His beautiful design.

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[youngdisciples]

It is not hard for us to obey if we have something to follow. This is just like in our government right now, it is easy for us to abide by the law because we are under it. We are subject to its guidelines and we ought to follow them day by day. It is also common knowledge for us all that if we will defy one, we will face consequences. These consequences are all based on a written law or even just a verbal condition. 

This situation is also the same as our spiritual life. So, our verse today is taken from the book of James which talks about Christians who already know what they are doing is not right but still do it, sins. The verse was written because of the prior topic about the difference between heavenly wisdom and earthly wisdom. Now, if we have heavenly wisdom who only desires to love and obey God, we will know what is the right thing and what is something we should not do. 

However, we are still reminded by James that we, Christians, should know what is right and wrong. In that way, we should know not to do something wrong and instead, do what is right so that we will not sin. Again, it is easy for us to obey if we have something to follow. Now, we have the Word of God to follow. God has given us His Word so that we will have a basis, standards, and guidelines to follow. Thus, since we already have this, we can already follow and obey God, hypothetically. 

Yet, it is still a common problem that we cannot seem to obey God. We are able to follow the rules of our country but we have a hard time following the rules of God. Praise God that we are not saved through our good works but through the work of Jesus Christ. However, we still have to remember this reminder that James wrote. We are to show how the love of God changed us into people who know what is right and wrong and always choosing to do what is right so we won’t sin. 

It is indeed still hard to obey God but we have now the strength and power that comes from God to obey Him. We must understand the importance of abiding in Christ at all times so that we will always be directed to the path that God has set us. Let us always remember that whatever we do, we are to always follow the will of God, instead of ours. Therefore, as people who are saved by the grace of God, may we always desire to obey God. May we always desire to follow His Will and to stop sinning. Let us become people who only desire what can glorify God, not ourselves.

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[youngdisciples]

May we always know and do things with the permission of God or according to the Word of God.

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