“I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God”
p.41
Share to the group a statement or scripture that resonates with you from today’s reading and a responding prayer…
“I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God”
p.41
Share to the group a statement or scripture that resonates with you from today’s reading and a responding prayer…
I love that there is repetition of “God centered vs Self Centered”. In order for us to see what God is doing in our lives, we have to have open our hearts and minds to fully submit to Him. The more I go through this devotion and hangout with my community, I feel my own heart and mind accepting God’s will.
Lord God, you are initiating a relationship with me and I fully open myself to you. God I pray that I can continue to be on this journey with you. Grant me the knowledge to steer towards the right direction and let me not rely on myself.
I think Muller’s approach to understanding the Lord’s will was great. I like how he only trusted the Spirit and the word of God. I like how he pointed out pit falls you’d possibly fall into as well.
I struggle with discernment, and right now I’m actually rushing to finish this cause its late. However, I want to eventually slow down and listen. I pray that I’ll have the discipline that George Muller had.
I think God is giving me the answers to what I should do, but now I need to be disciplined.
From Bao:
I think Muller’s approach to understanding the Lord’s will was great. I like how he only trusted the Spirit and the word of God. I like how he pointed out pit falls you’d possibly fall into as well.
I struggle with discernment, and right now I’m actually rushing to finish this cause its late. However, I want to eventually slow down and listen. I pray that I’ll have the discipline that George Muller had.
I think God is giving me the answers to what I should do, but now I need to be disciplined.
George Muller’s testimony shows the faithfulness of God in midst of confusion. God takes initiative to approach us, so that we are never left alone. I found how amazing that each time I was reminded that I should do my devotion or I find my need to spend time with God is all because he wanted to come to me first. God is seeking and we are responding. God invited us to participate in his work. Even though we are not perfect human beings, his calling never just stops there.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing me to be in part of your great work. I asked that you would gives me ears to hear? , eyes ? to see, wisdom to discern your voice. Please humble me with your spirit and use me as your instrument to live out your love to the world
Today’s reading was eye opening. The statement that stood out to me was “A self-centered life tends to confuse its selfish desire with God’s will.” goes to show how we need to be careful in discerning circumstances that arise. An example of Muller is great in showing an in-depth way of discerning these circumstances and in walking with God. How he doesn’t just act based of emotions instead through the Holy Spirt supported with Scripture. In addition, these actions are repeated to make sure it is the direction that God wants us to act in order for us to work where He is working.
Lord I pray for my life to not be self-centered through following my own schedule but to follow Your will. To not discern things based of what I “feel” You are saying instead to allow the Holy Spirit and Your Word to guide me in the direction that ultimately glorifies You and grows my relationship with You.
From Charlie:
From today lesson, two things seem important to me. The first is what Muller said as the initial state to start listening to God, to “seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter.” It seems to me that this is very vague. How do we reach a state where we have no will of our own so that we can be receptive to God’s will? I went back and read Phil 2 in full and I noticed in Phil 2:3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others”. This reminds me of what Brian often says, where we should “keep it simple” and just love one another and to serve each others. If we leave our own ambition and vanity behind and be humble and serve others then perhaps that is the way to reach a state where our will is also behind so that we can humbly receive His will. Also in Phil 2:7, speaking of Jesus, “he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant” and in Phil 2:8, “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death”. Jesus humbled himself to the will of the Father by taking on the nature of a servant. If we follow Jesus example, then we need to make ourselves a servant to remove our own will and submit to the will of the Father.
The second point that I reflected on is how do we discern the will of God so we know we are doing his bidding and we are not falling for the “great delusion”? This reminds me of what Don was saying yesterday that the Spirit let us know God’s intent and will but the Word give us guidance. So from this I get that the Spirit give us a feeling to let us know that we are on the right track but we need to reflect on the Word to give us the steps we must take. So as we reflect on the Words, the Spirit will give us the feeling that help us focus on what matters. Also taking from Don’s reflection yesterday the quote – “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps,” (Proverbs 16:9) – our steps are guided by God through his Word and the feeling of peace and rightness from the Spirit.
Finally, Muller never rushed into anything for fear of falling into a delusion of his own will. He reflected and only acted when after three or more times the Spirit and the Words match and he has a feeling of peace. This is also what Nehemiah did where he prayed and reflected for a long time before he finally acted.
Father, I hope that my understanding of this lesson is what you intended for me to learn. I tried to open up my mind and clear my own bias for Your words to be clear to me. I think this will take great practice to be able to do this. I am willing to learn. Thank you Father for helping me to be closer to You.