As we seek God’s will, we must remember that life is all about God—not all about us.
Women's Community Bible Study -
In the second of eight articles on knowing God’s will, teacher and Bible Commentator Nancy McGuirk explains that we must focus on God’s universal plan for all of our lives: simply to love Him. Then, as we walk in obedience to Him, He begins to reveal to us His individual plan for our lives. Nancy discusses the importance of communicating with God through prayer and Bible reading, in order to get to know Him more fully.
As women, we are called upon to make many decisions every day: Which school should my child attend? How do I handle my husband’s midlife crisis? What should I do about our dwindling finances? How will I care for my elderly mother? In Matthew 6:33 we find that when we give God’s kingdom first place in our lives, and when we seek His righteousness, He causes all the details of our lives to fall into proper place.
As we cultivate our relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, we begin to understand which way we should go each time we face a new challenge of life. We start by focusing on God’s universal plan for us—simply to love Him. Then God begins to reveal to us His individual plan for our lives day by day. Above all, we must acknowledge this truth as we seek to know His will: Life is all about God—not all about us.
The most important question we can ask is not, “What is God’s will for my life?” Instead, the question should be, “What is God’s will?” The late C.S. Lewis wrote, “The very real new self in Christ will not come when you’re looking for it. It only comes when you’re looking for Him.”
The closer we grow to God and the more we understand His ways, the more we gain His perspective on the everyday decisions of life. The next question, therefore, is, “How do we grow closer to God?” In order to answer that question, we must consider yet another question, “What is the key to any relationship?” The answer, of course, is communication.
Communication is the key to a successful marriage, to effective parenting and to a meaningful relationship with God. How do we communicate with God? We listen to Him through His Word and we talk to Him in prayer. We should do both of these things on a regular basis. In addition, we ought to remember that getting to know God is not about getting information. It is about transformation. As we walk in obedience to Him, He daily transforms us into the glorious image of His Son, Jesus Christ.
(See below for more articles related to this subject.)
Nancy McGuirk - Bible commentator, small group facilitator, and intercessor - is the founder and director of the Women's Community Bible Study International. Nancy ministers to thousands of people each week in person and through a video and audio tape ministry. The focus of her work is evangelism, discipleship and intercessory prayer. For more articles by Nancy McGuirk, go to her website at Women's Community Bible Study, a Christianity.com ministry partner.
