God’s Will, Not Ours

“Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” – Matthew 6:10

Venga Tu reino. Hágase Tu voluntad, Así en la tierra como en el cielo. – Mateo 6:10

Another source of tension is trying to force our will to be done instead of the Lord’s (Mat 6:10). If you are anything like me, you get up first thing in the morning, ready to get started on the day you have planned. I usually have a list of things that I want to get done, and when things don’t go my way, I can get stressed and maybe even anxious.

While we serve the Lord out of love, with a glad heart and thanksgiving, we also equally recognize the authority of Christ as our “Lord” and “King” (Mat 12:8; 22:44; Joh 1:49; 18:37; Luk 6:46; Act 2:34–35; 10:36; 15:11; 17:24; Rom 10:12; 1Ti 1:17; 6:15; Rev 17:14; 19:16; cf. Eph 1:20–21; Heb 2:8; Rom 14:11; Php 2:9–11; Rev 20:11–15)—for He created us and “redeemed” us[1] from slavery to sin, Satan, and death.[2] When we come to Christ, we give (surrender) our life to Him to do with as He pleases—and we have a duty to God. Therefore, we willingly place ourselves under His command, and we choose to be obedient to Christ. We are actually offering (and living) our lives now as a sacrifice to God (1Th 4:1), just as Jesus did for us (Eph 5:2), and we are to give Him our very best (Exo 34:26; Deu 18:4; Neh 10:34).

We further read in Scripture that a Christian is described as a “bond-servant” (Rom 1:1; Gal 1:10; Col 1:7; 4:7; 2Ti 2:24; Tit 1:1; Jas 1:1; 2Pe 1:1; Jud 1; Rev 15:3; cf. Act 4:29; 16:17; 2Co 4:5; Php 1:1; Rev 1:1; 2:20; 7:3; 11:18; 19:2, 5; 22:3, 6), “slave” (see Rom 6:22; 1Pe 2:16; Gal 4:1–7), and “servant” (see Mat 20:26; 23:11; Mar 9:35; Luk 16:13; 2Co 6:4; Col 1:7; 4:7; 1Ti 4:6; Rev 19:10; 22:9; cf. Mat 4:10; 6:24; Luk 1:74; 4:8; 16:13; Act 7:7; 24:14; 27:23; Rom 1:9; 7:6; Col 3:23–24; 1Th 1:9; Heb 9:14; Rev 7:15; 22:3) of God and Christ. We are to be like Christ, emulating Him in all things and following His example (Mat 5:48). Following Christ takes committed, selfless action in obedience,[3] not just idle words of profession.

Following Christ means one must daily “deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (see Mat 16:24; Mar 8:34; Luk 9:23), seeking God’s will instead of one’s own will (Mat 6:10; Eph 1:11; Col 1:9; Heb 13:21; 1Jn 5:14; Act 21:14; cf. Jas 4:15; 1Co 4:19; Mat 26:42). The apostle Paul describes this as “[putting] on the new self” (i.e., “put on the Lord Jesus Christ”; see Col 3:1–17; Eph 4:17–32; Rom 13:12–14).

Now, I admit this chapter is one of the harder areas to get right because sometimes we just don’t know what the will of the Lord is in a particular situation. It’s very hard to know the right balance between doing everything we can (Pro 6:6–9; 26:13–16; 30:25) while also “waiting on the Lord” (see Psa 27:14; 39:7, 34; 130:5; Pro 20:22; Isa 8:17; 40:31) without trying to force our will (and our timing[4]) to be done. It’s best to take things before the Lord in prayer when uncertain.

However, there are some steps we can take to help ensure we are in God’s will:

Don’t focus (and worry) about building bigger barns here on earth, but store up our treasure in heaven (Luk 12:13–21; Mat 6:19–24).[5]
Live in full expectation of Jesus returning today (Act 1:11; 22:6, 11; 26:13; Mat 16:27; 25:31–46; 1Th 3:13; 4:13–18; 5:1–17; 2Th 1:6–10; 2:1, 8; Jud 14–15, 24–25; Joh 14:3, 23; Heb 9:28; 1Jn 3:2; 1Ti 6:16; Tit 2:13; Rev 1:7; 8:1; 15:8; 22:12, 20). Doing this helps to keep our priorities straight.
Be a kingdom builder for the Lord instead of ourselves. One of the main “fruits”[6] of a Christian is leading others to truth in Christ, either by example or by teaching via sharing the “good news” of the Gospel (Luk 2:10; Act 8:12; 13:32; Rom 10:15–16; Heb 4:2, 6) and winning souls for the Lord (Mat 7:16, 20; 9:37), by “[going] into all the world and [preaching] the gospel to all creation [everyone]” (Mar 16:15; Mat 4:23; 9:35; 28:19–20; Luk 8:1, 39; Act 4:2; 8:5; 16:17; 17:3, 19; 20:27; 21:13; Rom 10:14–17; 1Co 2:1; Eph 6:19–20), and by proclaiming the “good news” of salvation through Christ to anyone who will listen. In fact, the greatest honor one can have in this world is to be called an “ambassador” for Almighty God and His Christ Jesus (see 2Co 5:20; Eph 6:20). As it is written: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom 1:16).
Seek to glorify God’s name, not ours (Joh 3:30).
Seek to love and serve others more (Php 2:4; Jas 2:15–16).
Make sure we are obedient to the commandments of Christ (and the instructions of His apostles; Joh 14:15).[7]
Seek godly wisdom via prayer on how to proceed with our plans (Jas 1:5–6).
Express any questions or doubts about all this to God in prayer (Act 1:14; Eph 6:18; Php 4:6–7; Col 4:2; 1Pe 3:12; 4:7; Jas 5:16; 1Ti 2:1, 8; 1Th 5:17; Jud 20; Rev 8:4), fully knowing that He hears you (1Jn 5:14–15; 1Pe 3:12; 2Ch 16:9; Psa 34:15).
Read about and study the selfless life and obedience of Jesus (Php 2:8; Mat 26:42).

When one is in and doing God’s will, anxiety should be greatly reduced.

CHAPTER PRAYER

Father in heaven, thank You for all that You have provided and for Your amazing patience with me, especially when I did not know You but also now as I try to walk in obedience to Your commandments. Father, I admit I don’t always know Your will in certain situations. As You are fully aware, life can be complicated and confusing down here on earth. Father, help me know what Your will is at all times and guide me to find the right balance between being an active worker in Your kingdom who loves and serves others while also waiting on You when that is called for.

Help me to make sure I’m not overly focusing on storing up the treasures of this world while also being prudent in planning and providing for my family and loved ones, as I’m instructed to by Your Word. I admit that this is a difficult area in which to find the right balance, so I pray for guidance.

Father, please further help me to be an obedient child of Yours, as Jesus was in all things and at all times. Grant me the necessary strength by Your Spirit to do that. Remind me to read, study, and meditate on Your Word each day so I can fully understand Jesus’ commandments, as I know that following them is for my good and will also help ensure that I’m in Your will.

Father, grant me the necessary wisdom to do all these things for Your glory. May this prayer find favor in Your sight. It is through Christ as mediator that I approach the throne and offer this prayer. Amen.

[1] Also “purchased” (Act 20:28; Rev 5:9; 14:3–4); Jesus bought and paid for us.

[2] See the chapter “The Gospel of the Grace of God” for verse references.

[3] See our book The Commandments of Christ, for if you do not even know what His commandments are, how can you be obedient to them?

[4] This chapter is very closely tied with the next, “God’s Timing, Not Ours.”

[5] This is not saying that we don’t prudently plan for and take care of things here on earth, but it’s the priority, balance, and focus that are in question. Are we relentlessly lusting after worldly treasures or heavenly treasures? Are we focusing on our own salvation and the salvation of others as well? See also the chapter “Seek the Things Above.”

[6] See the chapter “The Role of Works” in our book The Gospel of the Grace of God.

[7] See our book The Commandments of Christ.

R. John Anderson

Photographer and author R. John Anderson has journeyed the world over to capture the natural beauty of God’s creation. Having traveled to many countries and continents in a span of over thirty years, he has seen the amazing artistry that can be found in all types of locations, from the glacial fjords of polar Greenland to the wild Serengeti plains in Tanzania to the rich rain forests of Costa Rica. Nature’s greatest natural beauty often lies in the harshest deserts, remotest wilderness, and sub-zero ice-covered regions.