Are we as committed to doing God’s will no matter what happens as our Lord Jesus was? He was committed to doing God’s will even when it meant leaving aside His throne & glory (and His Father’s bosom) and dying helpless and alone on the cross?Do we abide (remain) in Hill will? It simply takes a decision on our part; a commitment to make God's will our only purpose for living on this earth. Once we make that decision, we’ll be very happy. Nothing is greater than being in the will of God. It is actually wonderful and glorious. The most blessed thing that God ever led me to see and understand from His Word was that I could know His perfect will for my life. I did not have to go in and out of His will; I could know it and abide in it all the time.

Romans 12:1,2 says: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (KJV).This means that we have to voluntarily, willingly and consciously surrender ourselves wholly to God.

1. Present/Offer your bodies to God . Our bodies hold our soul & spirit. In effect this passage tells us to offer our whole beings to God. Hold nothing back from Him. He did not hold back. In His only begotten Son, He left aside His glory and offered Himself. We have to learn to hold nothing back from God. Unless and until we learn this truth, we won’t fully know His will. In our own selves and of our own will we strive in vain to abide in the will of God. We fail to turn ourselves completely over to God. Then complain of spiritual barrenness! The key to spiritual fulfillment is to offer ourselves (body, soul, spirit & will) to God. Why? God has been merciful to us and has first claim on us. We are not our own, we belong to God (1 Cor. 6:19,20). When we offer ourselves wholly to God, we are conforming to His will. We become living sacrifices for His use according to His purpose. Each day, our subjection to God is a free-will offering of mind and body; in it, we exchange weakness for strength and doubt for faith. This pleases Him.
2. Do Not conform to the pattern of this world . What is the pattern of this world? Self-service, self-projection, self-motivation, self-advancement, self-glory (vain glory), independence (dependence on self) and the like. When we continue in this pattern of the world, we will not know God’s will. ‘Self’ will be on the throne; self will be the god to be admired, adored and worshipped by all. We will make every effort to bring attention to ourselves by the things we think, say and do. Even God will be called upon to serve us! As Christians, we are not to be like the world in our thoughts, words and deeds.
3. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind . A mental shake-up is essential if we are to abide in the will of God! Our perspectives and attitudes need to change! As Christians we now “have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16). Our thoughts, words and deeds and indeed our whole lives become God-centered. We devote ourselves to God-service, God-projection, God-motivation, God-advancement, God-glory, God-dependence. We let go of self (deny self of its fancies & vain glories). We allow God to remove self from the throne and take His rightful place in us in such a way that we (a) think God’s thoughts, (b) see the world as God sees it, (c) view life the way God views our lives, and (d) have the same attitude as that of Jesus about everything.

If we are really honest with ourselves, we will find that we are living two lives – half self-centered and half (maybe a quarter or less) God-centered! Don’t we all, according to the flesh, seek self-service, self-projection, self-motivation, self-advancement, self-glory (vain glory), independence (from God, dependence on self)? How sincerely or deeply do we seek to project and advance God? All of us (if we are honest will concede that we) sadly, fall well short of the mark/standard set by God.

What is God’s good, pleasing, & perfect will? Let us examine God’s will in some key areas :

• Personal life: Matt.22:37,
• Church life: 2 Cor. 8:1-5
• Family life: Eph.5:22-6:4
• Societal life: Matt.22:39
• Work life: Eph.6:5-8
• Citizen Life: Rom.13:1-7

Further, the following passages tell us more:

• Romans 12:9-21; 13:8-14 teach about doing God’s will.
• Mk.3:35: Those who do (remain in) God’s will belong to Christ!
• John 7:17: God’s will is contained in the teaching of Christ!
• Heb. 10:36: Endurance needed to remain in God’s will!
• 1 Pet. 4:1,2, 19: Christians live their lives on earth for God’s will!
• 1 Jn.2:17: One who does God’s will remains for ever!
• 1 Thessa. 4:3; 5:18: Becoming holy & giving thanks is God’s will!
• Obeying all of Christ's teaching is remaining in the God’s will. "We will come unto him and make our abode with him" (John 14:23). If indeed God lives in us, we will remain in His will.

We will consciously and deliberately turn off all worldly, sinful thoughts, words, and deeds and prevent them from invading our lives! Not by ourselves but by the power of God living in us! As long as we are totally surrendered to God, and He is on the throne of our lives, we continue to remain in His will and seek to do that which is well-pleasing to Him!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes and is baptized shall be saved and have eternal life" (merger of John 3:16, Mark 16:16 is mine, TRD)! This is God’s will.

Where are we today – In God’s will or outside it? Is God on the throne or self? Who do we seek to project in our lives – self or God? Has our minds been transformed, renewed? Do we have the mind (attitude) of Christ? Let us examine ourselves and see what changes and adjustments we need to make in order to abide in the will of God. Remember, the Bible is God’s Will and Testament. It portrays God’s dealings with man through covenants and promises. As long as we abide by the terms of the will/testament/covenant, we are blessed according to God’s promises. When we fail to abide by the terms/conditions of the will/testament/covenant, we miss the blessings promised by God. The New Testament is in force today. Choose to abide by the terms of God’s will (the New Will for man, the covenant of grace) and walk in it in order to inherit the promises of Almighty God! As His children, you will inherit all the eternal blessings & abide with Him for always!

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