His Will

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“So, since Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God], so that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living by [his] human appetites and desires, but [he lives] for what God wills.” 1 Peter 4v1-2 (AMP)

Giving our lives to Christ goes beyond trusting in and relying on Him, but extends to suffering for Him as well (Philippians 1v29-30). One might ask, how then do we suffer for Christ? You might even think you have never suffered for Him at all. True – you might not have suffered persecution or been thrown in jail because of your faith in Christ, but when you make a decisive action to please Him rather than indulge in the desires of your flesh, that could be counted as suffering for Him. When you turn your back away from what others are doing, and because of your fear of the Lord, you turn from sin and not indulge in the temptation that beckons, perhaps that is suffering for Him. When you choose to wait on Him, for His will, for His promises to be fulfilled in your life, and for His coming, and suffer ridicule because of that, that could be suffering for Christ. And when you tell others about Him and they scorn your faith, that could be suffering for Him. But God is so faithful. Nothing compares to the promise we have in Him. He says too: “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.” (Psalm 37v4, AMP)

Supplementary Text

“I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].” Romans 12v1-2 (AMP)

Prayer

Heavenly Father I thank You so much for the privilege of knowing You and serving You. I yield to You and ask that You be glorified in my life in every way, in Jesus name, amen.