The Painful World

Did you know that there is a simple, two-step process by which you can know God's will for your life?

Think about it! According to Ephesians 2:10, the God who created you has prepared good works for you to accomplish:

Ephesians 2:10 NASB

(10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Now, here's the key to a fulfilled life:

• Find those good works that God has prepared for you, and do them!

Those good works are often referred to as God's will for your life.

Jesus said that the thing that nourished Him was to do the will of the Father who sent Him (John 4:34), how much more is this true of us?

I honestly believe that we are born with an innate sense of purpose. I believe God puts into the heart of every person the knowledge that He exists and intends to have a relationship with that individual. It's up to us to seek Him out.

So how do we go about discerning God's will for our lives? Look at Romans 12:2:

Romans 12:2 NASB

(2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Notice the two-fold method for proving God's will:

• Do not be conformed to this world

This world is that over-all life-attitude that is contrary to the Spirit of God and is best described in 1John 2:16:

1 John 2:16 NASB

(16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Paul admonishes us to not allow ourselves to get caught up in this worldly mindset. It's difficult to keep one's mind and attitude right when we are bombarded every day by sinful appeals to the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. It permeates nearly every song we listen to and every television show we watch.

So how does one keep his or her self from being conformed to the world?

• Be transformed by the renewing of your mind

You see, Christianity is so much more than avoiding the wrong things. It's about doing the right things. As you immerse yourself in the Word of God and delight in obeying His commands, your mind is renewed. You find that the sinful attractions of the world system have less and less affect on you because your mind is occupied by the things of God. In short, to change the way you live, change the way you think.

And so, in fulfillment of the promise in this verse:

• as you grow in your relationship with God . . .
• . . . and your mind is renewed . . .
• . . . and you resist the corrupting nature of the world . . .
• . . . you will have a greater understanding of His will for your life!