Discerning the Will of God

The will of the Lord is for you to do right —

To honor His Word and to walk in the light,

There’s no need to fret about finding His will;

He’s spelled it out plainly for you to fulfil.

What town you should live in; your house and your car —

And whether to move or just stay where you are,

The job you should get and what projects to start

Are rarely the issues most dear to His heart.

Your sanctification’s His primary goal;

Your spiritual health and the state of your soul,

So flee fornication and lusts of the eyes —

Away with all anger and malice and lies!

Be filled with the Spirit, not drunken with wine,

For this is our loving Creator’s design.

And work with your hands all the while it is day

To bless other folks and to earn your own way.

The will of the Lord doesn’t change over time,

Or blow with the wind and adjust to the clime.

The counsel of God remains steady and true —

What stood long ago He means also for you.

To author confusion is not His intent.

He means what He says, and He said what He meant,

So open the book He has placed in your hands.

Then read and believe — and obey its commands.

It’s never God’s will when a verse twists or bends

To justify sin or your own selfish ends,

But when at face value the Bible you take,

It still gives you freedom some choices to make.

The path that you choose must allow you to do

The things that are written — and strengthen you too,

To add to your faith every virtue and grace

That helps you to run and to finish the race.

If you are not able to keep the Lord’s Word,

Your view of His will is undoubtedly blurred.

How much you have prayed doesn’t matter a scratch,

If what the Word says and your actions don’t match.

Acknowledge the Lord by obeying His voice

And making the Bible the base of your choice.

Trust Him, not yourself, and He’ll guide and protect;

Your choices He’ll honor; your steps He’ll direct.

~ Nita Brainard