Ephesians 2:10 | For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Matthew 7:7-11 |  “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

God’s Sovereignty & Our Free Will

When considering God’s will, some of the questions I frequently get asked have to do with inevitability. Will the Lord’s plan always be accomplished? Can we mess it up? Do we have a choice in what our lives can be? How much of God’s plan will He actively impose upon us, and how much will we be able to choose for ourselves?

These are some of the questions we all face when seeking God’s will—especially in terms of the decisions that are important to us. In order to better understand the Lord’s sovereignty and our free will, we need to take a look at two major aspects of the Lord’s plan: that which He has determined will happen and that which He desires to happen.

God’s determined (sovereign) will is what will absolutely be done … His inevitable, unchangeable, purposeful, and comprehensive plans which will bring Him great praise and glory. We must understand that God doesn’t make these types of plans exclusively for world events or nations. He also makes such plans for you and me (Ps. 139:16). In Ephesians 2:10, the Bible reveals that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” The Lord actively prepares each of us for certain assignments and gives us unique gifts with which to make an impact on this world for Him (1 Cor. 12:7).

God’s desired (permissive) will is where you and I live each day. God gives us choices so that we can exercise our free will in obeying Him. He also does so in order to test our hearts, to see whether we truly acknowledge Him as our God. His desired will is His personal involvement in our daily lives and His direction in our decisions. Therefore, whereas the Lord’s determined will is inevitable and unpredictable apart from what He’s revealed in His Word, the Father’s desired will for your life is knowable in the circumstances you experience. And it requires you to make a decision about who He is to you.

The most important thing for you to remember is that God is fully invested in His whole plan. If you’re seeking God and have a heart to do His will, you’re promised He will show you what to do. Jesus Himself said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matt. 7:7–8). As your heavenly Father, God wants you to ask, seek, and knock so that He can give, reveal, open, and provide what’s good for you (Matt. 7:11).

So even when you’re not clear which choice to make—if for whatever reason He keeps His will concealed—you can take comfort in the fact that, “It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). The Lord takes responsibility for directing you through the fog. He will move heaven and earth to show you His will in His timing … and in the days to follow, we’ll take a closer look at just what that means and the many ways He does so.

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App
Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics.
We would like to thank In Touch Ministries for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: http://intouch.cc/yv-will2

Proverbs 19:21 | Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

God’s will for you doesn’t have to remain a mystery. Whether facing a major life decision or simply trying to walk with the Lord each day, your heavenly Father wants to reveal the plans He has for you. Join Dr. Charles Stanley as he teaches you about the will of God, how to discern it, and steps to take when walking in His will for your life.

The will of God.

We hear repeatedly that the Lord has a plan for us—and it’s good. We’re instructed to seek it, embrace it, and live it. We’re even told it’s the key to our future. But what is it? Even though God’s will sounds like something we need to know, the whole idea of it often stirs up more questions than answers.

Whatever your view of the will of God, it can seem grand and unreachable, can’t it? After my many years in ministry, I’ve heard enough people talk about how frustrated they are in their Christian lives that I’m fully persuaded there’s one ultimate reason: They don’t understand the nature of the will of God, nor do they know how to find it. And if you don’t understand these two things, you may feel insecure and directionless in your walk with God.

Maybe that’s what stirred your interest in this reading plan. Perhaps you want to honor your Savior and stay on track with what He envisions for your life. But that’s not usually what drives people to seek God’s will. More often than not, it’s questions about the future, decisions that must be made, and/or challenges that arise with no foreseeable solution that drive us to our knees before the Father.

As we move forward in seeking to understand the nature of God’s will and how to find it, we must remember one important truth—our God is a planner. He’s not a reactor. He didn’t set this world in motion to be ruled by chance or wild, unchecked forces. And He didn’t create you to live without hope and purpose. From before the beginning of time, God has been making plans for you and for me. He created this world with a variety of landscapes, colors, animals, plants, foods, smells, and textures … and He thought of everything to satisfy our needs, stir our imaginations, fascinate our minds, and give joy to our souls.

God’s also attentive to the great and impactful circumstances of your life. And He’s observant of details so small they escape your notice. He cares about the decisions, directions, problems, burdens, and conflicts that concern you.

Though the journey of seeking and living out God’s will may not be easy at times, it’s always worthwhile. When we listen to the Father and follow His will for our lives, we get His very best. It’s that simple. And we’ll experience the greatest joy and fulfillment imaginable because we’ll be living out the very reasons for which we were created.

So, are you ready to learn more about God’s will and pursue His ultimate plan for your life? Let’s get started.

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App
Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics.
We would like to thank In Touch Ministries for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: http://intouch.cc/yv-will2

Ephesians 6:11-18 | Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Though at times—especially in our present age—it seems we’re in the midst of a horrendous physical battle, the real war is against the powers of spiritual darkness. The enemy’s goal has not changed through the years. Satan knows his ultimate destiny, yet he’ll never give up his evil intent until Christ banishes him to the eternal lake of fire (Rev. 20:10). The only way he can do damage to the kingdom of God now is by enticing God’s beloved children to yield to sin, thus damaging their fellowship with the Lord.

The enemy will try to discourage you by filling your mind with an array of doubt and confusion, but you don’t have to believe him. The message of the gospel of Christ is given to you as a sure authority. God’s Word provides all the details you need to know about Satan.

Paul laid out the battle plan in the sixth chapter of Ephesians. First, we must identify the enemy (vv. 11-12); second, we’re to dress in the full armor of God and stand firm (vv. 13-17). The next verse reveals the key to withstanding the enemy’s onslaughts—we must appropriate the strength of the living God. How do we get His power into our lives, to be unleashed in any and every circumstance? There’s only one way: with prayer (v. 18).

Make a habit of claiming the armor of God each morning before you leave your house—this is a conscious act of submitting your life to the Lord as your final authority. Acknowledging your need for Him is a sign not of weakness, but of unshakable trust. When you place your faith in Jesus Christ, all of heaven is on your side.

Whatever transpires in your life, the wisest decision you’ll ever make is the decision to take the “war to the floor”—spending time in prayer with the Lord on a regular basis. This teaches you to recognize the enemy’s movement and prepares you for battle when Satan approaches. Paul told the Ephesians they were in a war … but clothed in the armor of God, they were assured the victory.

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App
Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics.
We would like to thank In Touch Ministries, Dr. Charles Stanley, for providing today’s devotional.
For more information, please visit: https://intouch.cc/lp-journal2

Psalm 27:14 | 14Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

When the Lord tells us to wait on His will, He always has a very clear reason, and that reason is without exception for our benefit. Waiting is essential in living the Christian life, walking in obedience to God, and receiving the best of His blessings.

Being patient is surely difficult, but failing to wait upon the Lord can bring about disastrous consequences. First, when we do not wait, we get out of God’s will. Second, we delay God’s planned blessing for us. Because we move ahead of His steps, we get out of cycle and miss God’s blessings in His time. Third, we bring pain and suffering upon ourselves and others. Throughout Scripture, we can see the resulting pain people endured from getting outside of God’s will and doing things their own way. Fourth, we’re prone to making snap judgments that quite often turn out to cost us dearly in terms of finances, emotional energy, and relationships.

Many people aren’t willing to wait on God for His timing, particularly when it involves the possibility of letting go of something they desire desperately. But when we take our eyes off of God and try to manipulate our situation to conform to our will, we usually make a colossal mess of things. Whenever we reach for something that’s not of God, it turns to ashes. He’ll never prosper what we manipulate. No matter how hard we try, it just doesn’t work. Either we can repent, back off, and wait for the Lord—in which case, more than likely, He’ll give us what we ask for—or we can step out ahead of Him and lose it.

Some things may very well be the will of God for you, but if you step out ahead of His timing, you could ruin His greatest blessings for your life. Remember: We all live much happier lives when we learn to wait upon the Lord, obeying Him with courage, faith and trust (Ps. 27:14).

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App
Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics.
We would like to thank In Touch Ministries, Dr. Charles Stanley, for providing today’s devotional.
For more information, please visit: https://intouch.cc/lp-journal2

John 21:3-4 | “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

Do you trust God with your life? He created you and knows you completely. He understands your weaknesses and your desire to love Him. Even when you feel as though you’ve failed Him, He’s quick to receive you and prove His love to you.

After the crucifixion, the disciples returned to their former ways of life. Instead of living by faith and doing what God had called them to do, they went right back out on the Sea of Galilee to fish (John 21:3-4). Have you ever wondered how God views our lack of faith? It is certain He will never condemn us (Rom. 8:1). Christ’s presence on the shore of Galilee was enough to let Peter and the others know that it was time to stop being distracted by the voices of the world. Before the crucifixion, He’d told the disciples He would return to them, and He fulfilled His promise. God has kept every promise He has ever made. This is why we can trust Him with every aspect of our lives.

Although Peter denied knowing Christ, Jesus did not deny knowing him. We may falter and fail, but God doesn’t want us to focus on our shortcomings. Instead, He wants us to set our focus on Him. The Father evaluates our lives not according to our ability to remain faithful, but according to His faithfulness and the work that was accomplished at Calvary. While He doesn’t want us to yield to temptation, He knows there will be times when we fall. But always we remain the beneficiaries of His endless grace and eternal love. After the resurrection, one of the first things Jesus did was to go to Peter and reassure him of His eternal love. God’s plan for Peter’s life had not changed. Therefore, Jesus encouraged His disciple not to give up. We, too, can trust in our faithful God—the God who is trustworthy and will never let us down.

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App
Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics.
We would like to thank In Touch Ministries, Dr. Charles Stanley, for providing today’s devotional.
For more information, please visit: https://intouch.cc/lp-journal2