Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

I gotta admit it.  This is a tough question.

Some will doubtlessly say, "Well, God wrote it down for you in the Bible."
It's nice God provided an "on site manual" to go with life.

Some will doubtlessly say, "You can learn all about God's will for your life
in church."

Some will lean on tradition, some on experience, some on reason, and
some will select a combination of the foregoing.

I'll share with you what I've found to be the most treacherous and rewarding
way to know God's will for my life.  I'm not saying it's for everybody, and
I'm not saying it's the "correct" way.

Here is what I do:

I become still and centered.  I listen.

It sounds so simple.  Yet, it's far from easy.

Peace,
Richard

    I am reminded of Elijah's experience in the wilderness (I Kings
    19), where there was first a storm, and then an earthquake, and
    then a fire.  And after all the turmoil was done, a "still small
    voice" which was where God was.
    
    Whenever I go "off-track", I feel all of that turmoil and raging
    going on inside of me.  And I know that it is time to once again
    still those voices, and listen for the "still, small voice" directing
    me which way to go.
    
    Alison

This is the Will of God - to believe in the one He has sent.

Collis

    Last Sunday, during Sunday worship at my local Friends meeting, I was
    contemplating the existence of that still, quiet voice within.  The
    Divine Lure that urges us forward and upward is there, speaking to us;
    the trick, of course, is in actually *listening* to it.  Although the
    voice is always speaking to us, the value I find in silence is that it
    facilitates the task of focusing on that Inner Voice.  As a Hindu once
    commented, "Out of the silence comes the vision and the voice", and for
    me this is indeed the case.

    I have begun listening to that Inner Voice more and more.  I find great
    comfort in the Voice, particularly when I heed its messages.  That is
    the struggle, and represents for me the process of spiritual
    growth--learning not just to listen, but to heed that Voice.  Yet there
    is another side to this struggle, which a speaker at meeting pointed
    out, and which spoke to my condition as well.  The speaker pointed out
    the importance of forgiveness, not just of others, but also of
    ourselves.  And that is an important message to consider as we continue
    our own inner struggles, because to *fail* to heed the voice is not a
    cause for despair; God forgives us when we fail, and we so should we.
    The Divine Lure is unceasing, and our failures and shortcomings are
    simply an additional incentive to get back on our feet, brush off the
    dust, and try again.
    
    -- Mike

    
    	ARe we really ALL in agreement here?
    
    	Listen, Listen, Listen
    	Pray, Pray, Pray
    
    	Balanced with reading the Word.

    Re: The Will of God
    
    IMO, the Will of God, is that we keep HIS Commandments, everything
    beyond that is up to us, or Self Will.  As it is written, "Man devised
    the way and God directeth his steps.
    
    In other words, God doesn't care what you do as long as you keep HIS
    Commandments...and it's not as hard to do as some imply, I believe it
    is summed up by Paul, "Love the Lord with all thy heart and Love thy
    neighbor as thyself", if you do these two things you'll do the rest.
    
    Self Will, is often confused with or for or as meaning that we can
    choose our own "destiny".  This is not true.  God has already
    "predestined" our lives.  Our Will (or Self Will) is merely that we are
    able to choose to follow or disobey, the "destiny" God has set for our
    lives.  In a way this is also what we know as "God's Will for my life".  
    
    In this case, in order to do "God's Will", is to just stay alive, don't
    be foolish, keep HIS Commandments, and get out there in the world, and
    God will cause His Will to manifest itself in life, in you.  As
    Children of God, protected by His loving arms, (though I walk in the
    valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil), and Paul exhorts us
    to go out all the more, if we are saved.  
    
    This is getting too deep...and I know I've lost most of you.
    
    Playtoe

    Actually, Playtoe, what you wrote makes a lot of sense to me.  Or
    course, it sounds like situation ethics, which I accept, and which you
    probably do not. (?)  Nevertheless, your summary sounds good.
    
    Nancy

    The question should really be, not what is God's will for each of us,
    but rather 'What is God's Will???.'  It is easy to view whatever we are
    doing as a part of God's will for us since we want to do it anyway.   
    Jesus showed that many who call themselves Christians would not make the
    grade, so to speak, because they refuse to find out just what God's
    will is and conform to it.  So when discussing what he considered true
    Christian behavior, Jesus stated "Not everyone saying to me, "Lord, Lord,'
    [thus claiming to be Christian] will enter into the Kingdom of the
    heavens, but the one doing the will of my father who is in the heavens
    will."  -- Matt. 7:21 (NW)
    
    Finding out what the Will of God is takes effort.  "If, moreover, you
    call out for understanding itself and you give forth your voice for
    discernment itself, if you keep seeking for it as for silver, and as
    for hid treasures you keep searching for it, in that case you will
    understand the fear of Jehovah, and you will find the very knowledge of
    God."  -- Prov. 2:3,4 (NW)
    
    So if we find out what the Will of God is and do it, then you will
    automatically be doing what God's Will is for you.  "Teach me to do
    your will, For you are my God."  --Ps 143:10 (NW)
    
    Larry