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Missing the perfect will of God

Maddog

Member
Male
For years I was and still am a little bit concerned about doing the will of God and as well BEING in the center of God's will. Every decision became a matter of intense prayer because I didn't want to stray from the center line. As a result I rarely made decisions quickly and often regretted the ones I actually made. How about you?
 
We are bought with a price, servants of the Most High. We are obligated to living our lives according to His will.
My continual prayer is for understanding to live the life that He envisions is possible. I want to live out His dreams rather than my own.
 
Yah gave us consciences to assist in this process, and I am mighty grateful that He did, because rarely is a decision opportunity presented to us in a 1-dimensional fashion. Almost always, in fact, decisions involve conundrums that have 3, 4, 5, perhaps infinite numbers of variables, all of which are not correlated. More often than not, our decisions include having to maximize the Glory of Yah in one respect while compromising His Glory in another. Seeking perfection in all matters can lead to paralysis, which translates into doing nothing to implement surrender to His Will. Our consciences, if nurtured and listened to closely, will give us great predictive insight into what paths to take, because just the contemplation of what will follow any given choice -- if our mind is open to His Will -- will paint the picture for us of what is most edifying. Deliberating on a choice interminably leads to paralysis, as does attempting to take too many factors into consideration; these orientations (brooding or overdeliberation) also increase the likelihood of inspiring two different snares: brain fog produced by attempting to juggle too much for too long; or cognitive dissonance, which our minds react to by forcing our thoughts into a mold that is already comfortable for us, and this outcome occurs through partial self-delusion.

When someone who has wisdom and experience says, "Listen to your heart," s/he doesn't mean, "Just go with your feelings." She's talking instead about being present to your conscience; it is that part of a human being that is made in the image of our Creator. Neither think too long nor too impulsively, but listen to your 'heart,' to the part of you that knows the difference between right and wrong -- and then make a decision.

What is often lost in that process is that we are equipped by our Creator with something else of relevance: the ability to make course corrections. Make the decision, take the action, then be rigorous about paying attention to how it's playing out; if your prognostications weren't entirely correct, make a change. Be willing to be wrong in the short term in order to maximize your ability to be right in the long term.

There is also this: in a sense, everything we do is His Will. We are imperfect beings being made perfect by Him over time. Everything in our lives is either a joy or a lesson; we are truly blessed when we experience things such that they are both. We are meant to be learning what we will ultimately need to know, and much of that process will involve trial and error. Listen to your heart, take action, keep listening, and make changes, being willing to repent if the path led too far astray. And then make some more changes.
 
And this as well: don't make the perfect the enemy of the good.
 
When dealing with the trials and challenges of life, we are instructed in the epistle of James; My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

My first response is prayer for wisdom and second to seek divine wisdom from the source of all wisdom. You won't miss God's will walking in divine wisdom. Shalom
 
I think God's plans are more complex than our own. As a human, with a fallible human mind, we make linear plans (do X then Y then Z), and if we step off the path then we're outside the plan. I believe God is bigger than that, and has a plan for us following every conceivable decision.

Should you live where you are, or move? Likely, one of those two options is the preferable one, God may have plans for you to achieve more there than the other location. However, He is wise enough that He can use you in either. So, seek wisdom, and seek his will. But if no clear answer is forthcoming, rest assured that whichever one you choose, God will go with you and can use that decision to His glory.

That obviously doesn't mean we should go so far off the path as to sin - nevertheless even when we do sin He will have a plan for us from that point onwards. It won't be as good a plan as He would have had for us had we not committed that sin - but it will still be the best possible plan for us as a person who has committed that sin.

So the "centre of His will" for you is ALWAYS where you are today - His will for you will not be "you should have been over there, but you aren't, and that was my only plan for you so you've blown it". His plan starts from where you are at today. Even if you're in a sinful hole, His plan will be for you to get out of there - but the plan will still start from where you are right now.

So I don't think we need to worry too much about every decision. Seek wisdom, and act with the measure of wisdom God has given you. You'll still make mistakes, but whatever mistakes you make He'll find a way to use even them.

So the place you are in this moment is the very centre of His will for you right now (even if He'd have preferred you hadn't gone there).
 
Years ago I fell into the perfect will kind of thinking. Yes I got paralysed
I talked with a wise man who explained it like this.
the perfect will of god if viewed like a type rope you can accidentally fall off and then you’re in trouble.
but if viewed like a playground, you can enjoy the swing or slide no problems it’s all good. When you fall over you get back up dust yourself off, no problems. The problem is when you choose to climb the fence and choose to go off the ranch. It not that crucial. Do your best to enjoy the playground
;)
 
Years ago I fell into the perfect will kind of thinking. Yes I got paralysed
I talked with a wise man who explained it like this.
the perfect will of god if viewed like a type rope you can accidentally fall off and then you’re in trouble.
but if viewed like a playground, you can enjoy the swing or slide no problems it’s all good. When you fall over you get back up dust yourself off, no problems. The problem is when you choose to climb the fence and choose to go off the ranch. It not that crucial. Do your best to enjoy the playground
;)
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes to the yessity yes!
 
there have been times i just figuratively throw up my hands and say God, you know i can't figure this out, if it's not your will, take it away! and he has.
i usually throw something fearful and human in, at the end, like please! don't let it hurt too bad! and he gets me through what might have nearly killed me years ago
 
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