Today’s 333 Devotional: “Understanding God’s Will”

Paul tells us in his second admonition about knowing that the hour is closer than what we expect that we need to understand what is the will of God.

“Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:17)

The word “understand” carries the idea of assembling facts. It is taking bits and pieces of information and making sense out of them. It is looking at life’s circumstances and seeing God’s work through them. It is seeing the big picture of God’s purposes and putting our circumstances into that context.

There is a saying that says, “We can’t see the forest for the trees?” Well, that’s how most people live their lives. They only focus on the event, the tree so to speak, and don’t see the larger picture, the forest, or God’s bigger purpose.

The New Living Bible translates what Paul said in Ephesians saying, “Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what God wants you to do.” (Ephesians 5:17)

In other words, look beyond the tree and see the forest. Look beyond the event and see God’s bigger purpose. We need to understand that God’s working in all of our situations and circumstances, whether they are good or bad.

“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

And so, if we want to know and do God’s will, then let’s see what He is already doing and join with Him.

To help in this process let me make the following suggestion, Establish Godly Priorities.

When we make God and His word number one, then everything else will begin to fall into place. That is when we’ll start making a difference for Christ within our spheres of influence.

Someone said, “Life is what happens to us while we’re making plans to do something else.”

God’s will isn’t somewhere in the future, it’s right here and right now.