Listening to What God Wants (James 4:15)- Part 2 of 2

But we shouldn't stop at just knowing some of God's will. God wants us to be "full of the knowledge of His will and all wisdom and spiritual understanding" (Col. 1:9). It's wrong to want to know God's will selectively. God cares about everything in our lives and has a plan for each part.

God wants us to know what He wants us to do (Eph. 5:17). This is where spiritual knowledge comes into play. A child can know what his father wants, but he might not understand it. The child understands the "what" but not the "why." Being Jesus Christ's "friends" gives us the opportunity to understand why God does what He does (John 15:15). "He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel" (Ps. 103:7). The Israelites knew what God was doing, but Moses knew why He was doing it.

We must also demonstrate God's will (Rom. 12:2). The English word "prove" in Romans 12:2 is the Greek verb that means "to show by experience." We learn how to find out what God wants us to do by working at it. It is easier to find out what God wants us to do the more we obey. It's like learning to swim or play an instrument. Eventually, you develop a sense of familiarity and ease with your actions.

If you keep asking, "How do I know what God wants me to do?" you may be saying you haven't tried to do what God wants. You should take the first action that comes to mind, which you know is the right thing to do. After that, God makes it possible for the next step to happen. You show what God's will is through what you do. We learn from both our successes and our failures. "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me" (Matt. 11:29). The yoke means working together and putting into practice what God has taught you.

Lastly, we must do what God wants us to do from the heart (Eph. 6:6). Jonah knew what God wanted him to do, and he did it (after getting a spanking), but he didn't do it from the heart. Jonah 4 shows that the bitter prophet didn't love God or the people of Nineveh. He only did what God wanted him to do so he wouldn't get spanked again.

Paul's words about giving can also be used to talk about living: "not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). "Grudgingly" means "with pain and reluctance." They don't enjoy doing God's will at all. "Of necessity" means "under compulsion." People do what they're told because they have to, not because they want to. Unfortunately, many people don't really want to do God's will.

The key to living a fulfilled life is to enjoy your responsibilities. When duty turns into pleasure, burdens turn into gifts. "Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage." (Ps. 119:54). When we love God, His laws become songs, and we like serving Him. We may do God's work out of obligation, but we won't be blessed. It will be work, not ministry. But when we do God's will from the heart, we are better off, no matter how difficult it was.

We should always think that knowing and doing God's will helps our relationship with Him. We can tell Him about our sins and ask for His forgiveness (1 John 1:9). We can learn from what went wrong. What's important is a heart that loves God and really wants to do what He wants, which brings glory to His name.

What are the good things that happen when you do what God wants? You have a closer relationship with Jesus Christ (Mark 3:35). You are privileged to know God's truth (John 7:17) and to have your prayers answered (1 John 5:14–15). The life and works of the one who does God's will have an everlasting quality (1 John 2:15–17). There is definitely an expectation of reward when Jesus Christ comes back (Matt. 25:34).

What do you think about the will of God? Do you consider God's desires when making your daily plans and decisions? Do you know what God wants but choose not to follow it? If so, this attitude is incorrect and can lead to grief and devastation for the individual who possesses it.

However, God will bless a Christian who understands, loves, and adheres to God's will. His life may not be easier, but it will be more holy and happy. His food will be God's will (John 4:34), and it will bring him joy and happiness (Ps. 40:8).