Knowing God’s Will
July 5, 2008 by Mark
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Interesting…
How many of us have the audacity to think that we might know God’s will? Think about it… to approach making the statement that I know what God’s will is for me, or you, imho (lol), I believe that I would have a level of arrogance higher than that I’d had before.
Place my thought plane on a plane equal to God’s? Am I kidding?
Linda said it this morning (nothing original but – thanks my friend) “True humility is the desire to seek and do God’s will.”
This is for me… I have only one way of knowing that I am doing God’s will. Hindsight. What is more important to me is the desire to seek and do God’s will.
Even as I live a moment that is severely uncomfortable or fearful to me I can only step back, take a look (hindsight) and then decide to accept that everything is as it is supposed to be. Then I can find peace.
My challenge is to stop, take a breath, clear my head and then take a look. That is where I get lost. I react on impulse. I know better but it still happens on occasion. Which is where I now have to accept my imperfection as a human being. AND – that that imperfection is okay.
Then, lastly, attempt to wrap my brain cells around allowing myself to be vulnerable to a member of the opposite sex who is much younger, with help, because that person showed some personal interest and excited me, only to be rejected by silence – one more unavailable person who appeared available and wasn’t. Add to it that I had nothing to do with the first meeting and talk and… there you have it in a nutshell – I believed it was a God thing. Another one… and – it wasn’t.
How do you know it wasn’t a God thing?
You might not like the way it turned out… but it was exactly how it was meant to be. Nothing in God’s world happens by accident, especially the apparent setbacks and reverses. Maybe there is something that you’re supposed to get from this encounter?
I see this God’s will thing differently – it’s not seek and do God’s will, but try to practice perfect acceptance of what happens to me in my life. I don’t know what God’s will is, but I can demonstrate my willingness to God through acceptance – otherwise I’m saying I know what’s best for me.
Outstanding! Thanks Oliver… seriously, you’re 100% right. I don’t like the way it turned out because its exactly like the past. Yet, it surely did happen exactly the way it was supposed to, didn’t it?
AND – I’m also saying I think I know what’s best for me… really – thanks, I needed that!
I was just going to say the same thing Oliver did. Sometimes some of our most humiliating or painful experiences serve a grand purpose…. as Bill said, “there is no waste in God’s economy.”
Truly very interesting stuff, even if it just wasn’t meant to be, it’s god will …
Raj! That isn’t what any of that says! Read it again… it WAS meant to be! Problem is I/You didn’t like the outcome!
Got a sponsor yet?
Thanks Mark- I trust that small still voice of God, when I hear it… and sometimes ‘test’ to be confident it is God and not myself (check intentions, etc.), but yes, i don’t know for sure until afterwards- As time passes and I find success in these tests, I surely build confidence… Thanks for the share!
My book suggests that I pause when agitated, ask for the selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, fear be removed from me, discuss with another, (pray, meditate, pray; ongoing discourse with God. turn my thoughts to another and try to help.
It further suggests that this is the way God disciplines me. All of the sources of agitation in my life today are the face of God, teaching me!
It is not arrogant to say I know god’s will for me, it is to be unselfish, honest, forgiving, and unafraid! Don’t complicate the simple please.
I’ll say it again – my imperfection is ok.
And I disagree.
To separate myself from others, place myself on any plane above my fellow man, is arrogance.
That is simple enough…
Really!! What are your comments to Raj then? We have to believe that we can make a difference. The growth is compassion for all parties, not sitting passively by and allowing the injustice.
Using this post as the reference, I don’t see what you’re referring to – I think my comment to Raj here is right on point.
Elsewise, suggesting he engage a sponsor, go to a meeting and/or the road to hell is paved with good intentions? Or the others? How any of that placing myself above anyone is beyond me…
Fine line between sharing E,S & H and egotistical? You’ve moved somewhere I can’t comprehend.