One of the hardest aspects of the Christian life is to learn to submit to God in all things. His yoke is easy and His burden is light, yes, but remembering to actually take His yoke upon us is difficult. We worship Him, we thank Him for His love and goodness, we ask for wisdom and direction, but all the while we stumble profusely at following and listening to that small, still voice. When it comes to making decisions, we still like our independence.
What is it about our independence that so intrigues us? Why are we so obsessed with making our own decisions? It’s exactly what Satan wants us to do. It’s the very root cause of our sin.
That’s what the fall of man was all about, mistrusting God and seeking our own interests and that is still what sin is all about. When we choose our own will over God’s, we’re not trusting Him, but trusting ourselves. When you think about it, it is just absurd! It’s the basics behind all Biblical teaching. God’s will! God’s will be done – we pray it all the time.
Are you and I totally convinced that “…thy will be done…”? We have to know deep down in our hearts that His will and commands are for our best interests. Instead of seeking our own self-centered interests, we need to be totally God-centered, or as Jesus said in Luke 17:33, “Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it.” When we forsake our own wills and submit to His, that’s when fulfillment comes. When we serve Him, we serve ourselves.
Believe it and apply it and see what happens. His word is true and we can trust it when it says, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.”
In His Service,
Chaplain Steve Malek