What does God really want from me?Have you ever asked yourself that question? Chances are some of you are asking that question right now. Let me tell you, it’s a legitimate question and there’s a lot to say about it. People have been asking that question for centuries. They have been trying to figure out the secret magical equation to unlock the code God has put as a sentinel on their lives.
“If I could just figure out what God wants from me then I could focus my life on that.” That’s a very common thought. But it’s all wrong. Not only is the reasoning for wanting to know what God wants from you wrong, the formation of the question is wrong. Instead of asking the question as if God is a dictator wanting specific tasks done by His army of ants, how about we approach the issue from the perspective of the loving Father that He is. So instead the question should be: What does God really want for me?
So here’s the deal, there is no secret equation or magical code involved in this question. Although people want to make themselves feel really smart and important, there is only practical biblical insight, and one of the toughest things of all, obedience that is required for you to understand what God wants for you. So let’s look at one very simple and practical biblical insight that can have the greatest impact on understanding what God wants foryou.
This biblical insight is the truth about blessings. God wants to bless His children. From the creation of the world to future eternity, God’s plan is to bless His children. Now the ultimate way in which this happens is by Him revealing Himself so that we can have relationship with Him. But just because He wants to bless His children, and just because He has relationship with His children, doesn’t mean that His children have no responsibility in the receiving of blessings. God’s children are not to act like entitled spoiled brats.
What do I mean? What I mean is that there is a required participation of the child to receive the blessings from the Father. The requirement is not complex, yet it is one of the most common hindrances that stands between the individual and what God wants for them. This simple objective is found throughout Scripture, but we will look at it in the book of James.
In James 1:22, Jesus’ little brother, who by the way thought Jesus was crazy until after the resurrection, writes by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” He then says a few verses later, “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (James 1:25).
James clearly states that as followers of Christ we must not merely hear/read the Word of God (the Bible), we must also do what it says. If we do not do what it says, we will not be able to enjoy what God wants for us. So if you’re looking for an equation or special formula here it is, “Don’t just listen to what God says, do what God says.” The outcome is of eternal value.
Now don’t be the one to overcomplicate this truth by saying that you don’t know enough Bible knowledge. How about this, start with some of the most common and clear commands of Christ so that you can be a doer and not only a hearer. The greatest of these Jesus says in Mark 12:30-31 “‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
If you faithfully pursue these two clear commands of Christ, “being doers and not hearers only”, I am convinced that the Father will reveal His blessings to you. And who doesn’t want what God wants for them?
