Will and Willingness

I was fifteen years old, laying in a hospital bed with a broken second vertebra of my neck, when I first began to understand that God had a will for my life. According to the doctors, it was a miracle that I was alive. I reasoned that if God had spared my life, there must be a purpose, a divine will. It was later that I discovered that God has a will for every life. No one is created minus a purpose, or a divine will for their life. Paul summed up his understanding of God’s will for his life by stating, “For to me, to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). The specifics of God’s will for Paul included serving as missionary, preacher, teacher, writer, prisoner, etc. Still later, I discovered that not everyone is willing to do God’s will. Since God has a will, we must have a willingness, or the divine will is thwarted, de-railed, short-circuited. Do we ever reach an age, when God no longer has a will for our life? My answer, at my age and experience, is, “Not yet.” As long as Christ has a will for my life, I must have willingness for His life. I affirm with Paul, for me to live is Christ. Indeed, the Christ-like lifestyle is simply, my life, lived out in His style. Are you living your life in His style, willing to live according to His will?

Join me this week in praying for the following global concerns:
• Pray for Mary as she meets with people to discuss theological education programs in Russian in Israel, where she serves.
• Pray for Johnny and Nita as they await open doors to move to and minister in Vancouver, Canada.
• According to recent statistics, 98.5% of Europeans do not have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray for those who serve among these people.
• Continue to pray for Lori and Shari in Mali as they deal with unusual and trying circumstances.