INTRO: It’s the summer holiday session in Australia when most church community activities stop from early December till the end of January when the students go back to school, college or university and the new year gets into full swing again.
Like me, you probably make plans and set goals for the new year for family, work, leisure activities, health, and our personal relationships. Do you even set goals, or do you live reactive to what happens to you at any given moment? There is certainly a place for spontaneity in our daily life, but without a plan, we will live our lives ‘reactive and not proactive’ in life.
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But do we set goals for our spiritual life? Which books of the Bible will I read/listen to this year? What passages will I study in-depth? What Christian books will I read? What volunteer work will I do? Do we write out a spiritual plan with the same enthusiasm as we write up our general life plan? Are we as serious about our spiritual plan as we are about our business, career plan?
The Bible is a treasure chest of knowledge and, unlike other books, when we read and study it, we enrich our relationship with Jesus and God Himself. We spend personal time with God. Just as we spend personal time with our immediate family, spouse, and close friends, how much time each day do we spend chatting and listening to God? Are we proactive or reactive with our spiritual life?
Many years ago, I read the book titled God’s Will: Finding Guidance for Everyday Decisions by J.I.Packer and Carolyn Nystrom. This wonderful book answered my questions and satisfied my curiosity about knowing what God’s Will is for my life. After I read a book, I type review notes on it. I decided this would be a good time of the year to write this poem from my book review notes. Beverley Joy
PODCAST – What is God’s Will For You?
God’s Will is found in God’s Word
Where we learn of His character
His dealings with man through history
His purpose for humanity.
God’s Spirit will open our eyes
To understand its wise insights
It’s active and living, its God’s voice speaking.
God’s Word is good for teaching,
For reproving and correcting
For good works, it will train us and equip
To be adequate and right to do God’s Will.
God’s Word gives wisdom and guidance
It warns us, so our hearts can rejoice
It is clean and true, sweet, and pure
To be treasured more precious than gold.
The Bible teaches us to follow God’s direction
Through stories, examples, and explanation
Receive answers direct from God’s wisdom
In the right course of conduct and action.
God’s Word alerts to deception and distractions
That tempt us away from God’s plan
We must learn to trust Him to guide our way
Each moment, in what we do and say.
God’s Will is, most importantly,
To love God with all our strength
From the depth of our heart, mind, and soul
And love others just as we love ourselves.
God’s Will is to live every day of our lives
Telling the truth and being honest and kind
Share with those in need, show compassion and love
Speak encouraging words to one another.
God’s Will is that our plans honour and glorify Him
To be wise to see and seize opportunities
When a decision is made, and a course of action claimed
To the best of your ability, use those opportunities.
God’s Will is to desire to be like Christ
In our attitude and actions that are energised
By the Spirit who moves us to fulfil our part
And God is poised to be gracious toward us.
God’s Will is to live in joy and gratitude
Not frustrated or bored, but content and cheerful
Embracing life’s everyday simplicities
Food, work, leisure, and relationships.
God’s Will is that praise, thanks, and honour
Be our constant aim in our every labour
To extend love, goodwill and caring
To all whom we meet and in all our relating.
God’s Will is to share with others the Good News
With a clear conscience based on biblical truth
To humbly accept our fallen state
A heart that is willing to obey and please Him.
God’s Will is living out the fruit of the Spirit
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and goodness
Faithfulness, self-control, and meekness.
God’s Will is to work honestly
To the best of your ability
Work with energetic enthusiasm
Imitating the humble love of Jesus himself.
Beverley Joy © 2022 Simply Story Poetry. All rights Reserved
You may also enjoy my poem Knowing God’s Will Is One Thing, Accepting It Is Another
You can listen to all my poems on several podcast platforms here
References: God’s Will: Finding Guidance for Everyday Decisions by J.I. Packer, Carolyn Nystrom 2011
Bible verses that stood out to me from the book: John 14.26, Heb 4.12, 2Tm 3.16-17, Ps 119.18, Psalm 19.7-10, Mat 22.37-40, Eph 5.16-17, Eccles 9:10
Image by charlotte_202003 from Pixabay
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