“I want to be in the center of God’s will.” Have you heard people say that or something like it? Have you ever said that yourself? We all want to be in God’s perfect will. How can we know if we are? I can’t begin to address all the nuances of that question in this blog, but I can help us with a beginning point. The first is this: Is the question sincere? Do you really want to be at the center of God’s will? Do you trust Him completely and are you willing to do whatever He asks you do? Most Christians are not. We would like to believe we are, but in reality we don’t want to give up control over our life, as though we had any to begin with! Our life is not our own. We were bought with a price – the blood of Jesus – and we belong to the Father, not ourselves.  So, once you’re truly committed to doing God’s will, “How can we know the will of God?”

Russ Johnson from The Navigators Ministry gives us three simple steps to discerning God’s will:  Pray – Peace – Press.

1. Pray  -  about every thing! “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  Ask God to show you His will.

2. Peace - Do I have peace about my decision? “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” (Cols. 3:15). Once you have prayed about something and have peace, then act – launch out. If you don’t have peace, then you’d better pray some more.

3. Press -  ahead! “One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me.” (Phil. 3:13-14). In the words of Nike, “Just do it!”

When you launch out, one of two things will happen. A door of opportunity will open or one will be slammed shut. Either action indicates God’s will at work, if you sincerely followed the steps above. Many people hesitate at the point of action because they have an ungrounded fear that they will get out of the will of God. No worry. Making a mistake is not sin. When you have committed to doing God’s will, and you have prayed and have peace, then press ahead!

Where is God calling you to “press ahead” in 2008? One place for me, is to read through the Bible this year. It’s amazing the "new” things God is showing me already! We discover His Will in His Word. Whatever He’s shown you... press ahead!

Yours in Christ’s Love,
Mark