God's will, moment by moment

[Bob8102]

I know lots of Christians have confusion and questions about God's will. I am one of them. I am unsure about, am confused about, the line .... or the area, or the wall, or the chasm, or whatever....between God's will and my will. Often, during prayer time in the online Bible study that I attend, someone prays, "Your will be done, not mine." I have a hard time praying that in sincerity and keeping up the doing of that choice. As I try over and over again, I may be increasing the sincerity of a prayer like that; I don't know. I'd like to ask at least one of these people, "Last time, you prayed, at the end of Bible study, 'Your will be done, not mine.' What did you do in the next moment after the end of the study? What did you do in the next few minutes? How do you know what you did was God's or your will?"

I heard one time on the Christian radio, a preacher/teacher say some story something like this: 'My daughter had been bad and I had sent her up to her room. As dinner time approached, she called down and asked "Dad, may I come down for dinner?" I said, "Yes." That was appropriate for her to ask that. But, if during dinner, she had asked things like, "Dad, may I take my next bite of food?" and "Dad, may I chew the bite of food I just took?" and "Dad, may I swallow that bite of food now?" that would have been unnecessary and aggravating and *I* would have run away from home!' That story sounds very reasonable, yet it brings up the question about the line between a believer's will and God's will. Actually, it looks like there is a slippery slope between God's will and the individual believer's will. There is a slippery slope somewhere between, "Dad, may I come down for dinner?" and, "Dad, may I take my next bite of food?" I've heard some Christian advice that you don't have to ask God's will when deciding what shirt to wear for a day or what to eat for breakfast, indicating that a lot of things are up to us. But there is a slippery slope between deciding what shirt to wear and deciding on a career or who to marry. In fact, there is a slippery slope when it comes to, "What does God want me to do in the very next moment?"

 

[SabbathBlessings]

I know lots of Christians have confusion and questions about God's will. I am one of them. I am unsure about, am confused about, the line .... or the area, or the wall, or the chasm, or whatever....between God's will and my will. Often, during prayer time in the online Bible study that I attend, someone prays, "Your will be done, not mine." I have a hard time praying that in sincerity and keeping up the doing of that choice. As I try over and over again, I may be increasing the sincerity of a prayer like that; I don't know. I'd like to ask at least one of these people, "Last time, you prayed, at the end of Bible study, 'Your will be done, not mine.' What did you do in the next moment after the end of the study? What did you do in the next few minutes? How do you know what you did was God's or your will?"

I heard one time on the Christian radio, a preacher/teacher say some story something like this: 'My daughter had been bad and I had sent her up to her room. As dinner time approached, she called down and asked "Dad, may I come down for dinner?" I said, "Yes." That was appropriate for her to ask that. But, if during dinner, she had asked things like, "Dad, may I take my next bite of food?" and "Dad, may I chew the bite of food I just took?" and "Dad, may I swallow that bite of food now?" that would have been unnecessary and aggravating and *I* would have run away from home!' That story sounds very reasonable, yet it brings up the question about the line between a believer's will and God's will. Actually, it looks like there is a slippery slope between God's will and the individual believer's will. There is a slippery slope somewhere between, "Dad, may I come down for dinner?" and, "Dad, may I take my next bite of food?" I've heard some Christian advice that you don't have to ask God's will when deciding what shirt to wear for a day or what to eat for breakfast, indicating that a lot of things are up to us. But there is a slippery slope between deciding what shirt to wear and deciding on a career or who to marry. In fact, there is a slippery slope when it comes to, "What does God want me to do in the very next moment?"

I believe God personally wrote His will and Testimony with His own finger, the Ten Commandments. Exo 31:18 Deut 4:13Exo 34:28 Exo 20:1-17

And they were always meant to be kept by a changed heart

Psa 40:8 I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And Your law is within my heart.”

Which is what the NC is all about Heb 8:10

Gods will for mankind is that we don't sin 1 John 2:1 (break His law 1 John 3:4) and we love God and love man with all our hearts, which is what God's law is all about- which shows us how we love God, how we love man, His version, not mans 1 John 5:3 John 15:10 John 14:15 Exo 20:6

Jesus showed us keeping God's law starts from the heart, which is what Jesus can do when we keep our eyes on Him, seeking Him diligently first in our lives, thoughts of anger and contempt for our neighbors turns into love and compassion and thou shalt not murder would automatically be kept, thoughts of lust no longer control us and thou shalt not commit adultery is automatically kept, Mat 5:19-30. This is God's will that we give our heart to Jesus and He changes us from the inside out. John 14:15-18

As far as how to pray, start your prayer with Jesus please teach me to pray in your will and allow your mind to listen to that small voice speaking to you. The more you study the bible, the more you will understand His will, which will never go away from His Word Isa 8:20

 

[Strong in Him]

I know lots of Christians have confusion and questions about God's will. I am one of them. I am unsure about, am confused about, the line .... or the area, or the wall, or the chasm, or whatever....between God's will and my will. Often, during prayer time in the online Bible study that I attend, someone prays, "Your will be done, not mine." I have a hard time praying that in sincerity and keeping up the doing of that choice. As I try over and over again, I may be increasing the sincerity of a prayer like that; I don't know. I'd like to ask at least one of these people, "Last time, you prayed, at the end of Bible study, 'Your will be done, not mine.' What did you do in the next moment after the end of the study? What did you do in the next few minutes? How do you know what you did was God's or your will?"

I heard one time on the Christian radio, a preacher/teacher say some story something like this: 'My daughter had been bad and I had sent her up to her room. As dinner time approached, she called down and asked "Dad, may I come down for dinner?" I said, "Yes." That was appropriate for her to ask that. But, if during dinner, she had asked things like, "Dad, may I take my next bite of food?" and "Dad, may I chew the bite of food I just took?" and "Dad, may I swallow that bite of food now?" that would have been unnecessary and aggravating and *I* would have run away from home!' That story sounds very reasonable, yet it brings up the question about the line between a believer's will and God's will. Actually, it looks like there is a slippery slope between God's will and the individual believer's will. There is a slippery slope somewhere between, "Dad, may I come down for dinner?" and, "Dad, may I take my next bite of food?" I've heard some Christian advice that you don't have to ask God's will when deciding what shirt to wear for a day or what to eat for breakfast, indicating that a lot of things are up to us. But there is a slippery slope between deciding what shirt to wear and deciding on a career or who to marry. In fact, there is a slippery slope when it comes to, "What does God want me to do in the very next moment?"

After years of being told, "God has a plan for you" and worrying about whether I am in it, I have come to believe that God's will for us is far broader, and more flexible, than we think it is.

What does the Bible say about God's will?
John 6:40 - it is God's will that we believe in Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 - it is God's will that we should be sanctified
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - it is God's will that we rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances.
In addition, Jesus told us to remain in him, the Vine, John 15:4, to listen to his words, Matthew 7:24 and to love as he loved us, John 13:34.

Personally, I have come to believe that God doesn't really mind too much about the rest of it.
What job should a Christian have? What skills and interests has he given them? If they are doing something they enjoy, something that they can do to the best of their ability and are seeking to glorify him, as well as help others, I think that is all that matters. Will God really get upset if you become a teacher instead of a nurse? Yes, if you are only teaching because others want you to and are doing it half-heartedly or reluctantly. No, if you become a teacher because you have a passion for it, for educating and helping children. Could you have also done that as a nurse? Maybe - but God also gives us minds, reason and the ability to choose.

I don't think God cares two hoots what shirt you wear, and as for "the next moment" it's possible to spend so much time agonising over whether an action is God's will that either you never do anything or you spend your life in perpetual anxiety in case you have chosen the "wrong" thing.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I know lots of Christians have confusion and questions about God's will. I am one of them. I am unsure about, am confused about, the line .... or the area, or the wall, or the chasm, or whatever....between God's will and my will. Often, during prayer time in the online Bible study that I attend, someone prays, "Your will be done, not mine." I have a hard time praying that in sincerity and keeping up the doing of that choice. As I try over and over again, I may be increasing the sincerity of a prayer like that; I don't know. I'd like to ask at least one of these people, "Last time, you prayed, at the end of Bible study, 'Your will be done, not mine.' What did you do in the next moment after the end of the study? What did you do in the next few minutes? How do you know what you did was God's or your will?"

I heard one time on the Christian radio, a preacher/teacher say some story something like this: 'My daughter had been bad and I had sent her up to her room. As dinner time approached, she called down and asked "Dad, may I come down for dinner?" I said, "Yes." That was appropriate for her to ask that. But, if during dinner, she had asked things like, "Dad, may I take my next bite of food?" and "Dad, may I chew the bite of food I just took?" and "Dad, may I swallow that bite of food now?" that would have been unnecessary and aggravating and *I* would have run away from home!' That story sounds very reasonable, yet it brings up the question about the line between a believer's will and God's will. Actually, it looks like there is a slippery slope between God's will and the individual believer's will. There is a slippery slope somewhere between, "Dad, may I come down for dinner?" and, "Dad, may I take my next bite of food?" I've heard some Christian advice that you don't have to ask God's will when deciding what shirt to wear for a day or what to eat for breakfast, indicating that a lot of things are up to us. But there is a slippery slope between deciding what shirt to wear and deciding on a career or who to marry. In fact, there is a slippery slope when it comes to, "What does God want me to do in the very next moment?"

It is God's will that you are a righteous person. You are not His puppet you are one of His children. Just as we guide our children into good behavior , so does our Father through His Holy Spirit. No need to concern yourself with every move you make. This is in error at best and torturous at worst. Let us reason. God wants us to love Him and one another. With these two commands all your actions will naturally fall in line with His will. Hope this helps.
Be blessed.

 

[B Griffin]

I know lots of Christians have confusion and questions about God's will. I am one of them. I am unsure about, am confused about, the line .... or the area, or the wall, or the chasm, or whatever....between God's will and my will. Often, during prayer time in the online Bible study that I attend, someone prays, "Your will be done, not mine." I have a hard time praying that in sincerity and keeping up the doing of that choice. As I try over and over again, I may be increasing the sincerity of a prayer like that; I don't know. I'd like to ask at least one of these people, "Last time, you prayed, at the end of Bible study, 'Your will be done, not mine.' What did you do in the next moment after the end of the study? What did you do in the next few minutes? How do you know what you did was God's or your will?"

I heard one time on the Christian radio, a preacher/teacher say some story something like this: 'My daughter had been bad and I had sent her up to her room. As dinner time approached, she called down and asked "Dad, may I come down for dinner?" I said, "Yes." That was appropriate for her to ask that. But, if during dinner, she had asked things like, "Dad, may I take my next bite of food?" and "Dad, may I chew the bite of food I just took?" and "Dad, may I swallow that bite of food now?" that would have been unnecessary and aggravating and *I* would have run away from home!' That story sounds very reasonable, yet it brings up the question about the line between a believer's will and God's will. Actually, it looks like there is a slippery slope between God's will and the individual believer's will. There is a slippery slope somewhere between, "Dad, may I come down for dinner?" and, "Dad, may I take my next bite of food?" I've heard some Christian advice that you don't have to ask God's will when deciding what shirt to wear for a day or what to eat for breakfast, indicating that a lot of things are up to us. But there is a slippery slope between deciding what shirt to wear and deciding on a career or who to marry. In fact, there is a slippery slope when it comes to, "What does God want me to do in the very next moment?"

Hi Bob. Hebrews 12:5-11 is a good place to start answering your questions. The passage tells us clearly that God corrects His children when they go astray. It leaves no room for ambiguity in the source of the correction or in the outcome He desires. And it is presumes that God continues His corrective measures until the child has been corrected.

With years of practice, one comes to know that God's correction begins before one of His children makes a false step. He interjects Himself into the child's thought processes that might lead to a mistep and makes His will known in order to keep him out of trouble. This interraction that a person experiences prior to the decisions he makes is in every way the same as the interraction he has with God's correction after he makes the wrong choice. His interractions are not always reactive (as in, "Don't do that"), but are often proactive (as in, "I want you to do this"). Doing as He directs is the essence of "walking in the Spirit", and it is the only way to avoid fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.

Additionally, when we are uncertain about which future courses of action are most appropriate, we can go to God for wisdom. And we can be assured that He will provide an abundant supply of wisdom to satisfy our needs (James 5:2-8). But we are cautioned to not doubt what God tells us when we ask for wisdom, otherwise we will be tossed to and fro like a ship in the wind. Experience teaches us that the wisdom He provides is free of any corrective actions on His part and gives us peace as we contemplate walking as He directs.

 

[Bob8102]

I thank you all for your responses. B Griffin mentioned: "...tossed to and fro like a ship in the wind."Now THAT has been my experience! I not only have religious OCD, but I have wavering faith. The Bible calls that "double-mindedness." My wavering, my double-mindedness, is apparently very severe. My faith wavers on a moment-by-moment basis. I will turn to Christ one moment, then away the next. I have to remind myself that though my faith wavers, Jesus does not waver. Feeling that His hold on me wavers like my hold on Him leads to severe doubt of salvation. Grantley Morris once said that OCD Christians should be committed to believing in spite of incessantly raging doubts. One of my ways of following his advice is to remember certain verses, like Ephesians 1:13-14. Also, in Romans it says "...you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were committed." Because it says "obeyed," past tense, that has comforted me. But another version of that verse, used in the responses above, says "...you became obedient..." That implies present tense, after having started to obey in the past. That bothers me more, because my present obedience so wavers.

 

[Bob8102]

Ephesian 1:13-14 says "...you were sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise."

 

[Bob8102]

Probably the thing that most bothers me about Christianity is the necessity of the death of self. My self-preservation instinct does not want me to die. But without the death of self, one cannot be saved.

 

[Strong in Him]

Probably the thing that most bothers me about Christianity is the necessity of the death of self. My self-preservation instinct does not want me to die. But without the death of self, one cannot be saved.

It doesn't mean literal death. It means not putting yourself first, pleasing only yourself, focusing on "MY rights ... MY feelings .. "or whatever.
These are still important - we have to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. But we are no longer in sole control of our lives, attitudes etc.

 

[Bob8102]

It doesn't mean literal death. It means not putting yourself first, pleasing only yourself, focusing on "MY rights ... MY feelings .. "or whatever.
These are still important - we have to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. But we are no longer in sole control of our lives, attitudes etc.

I know it doesn't mean physical death. But the death that it DOES mean, I am as much against as I am against my physical death. After the rich young ruler walked away from Jesus, and Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for...[a person who lives for riches]...to enter the kingdom of heaven," and His disciples asked, "Who then can be saved?", Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible." It is as impossible for me to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Jesus as it was impossible for that rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. The way I have seen it, God is telling me that unless I do the impossible thing...let's say, change myself into a monkey....I am going to hell. So, I guess I am going to hell because I cannot change myself into a monkey.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

I know it doesn't mean physical death. But the death that it DOES mean, I am as much against as I am against my physical death. After the rich young ruler walked away from Jesus, and Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for...[a person who lives for riches]...to enter the kingdom of heaven," and His disciples asked, "Who then can be saved?", Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible." It is as impossible for me to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Jesus as it was impossible for that rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. The way I have seen it, God is telling me that unless I do the impossible thing...let's say, change myself into a monkey....I am going to hell. So, I guess I am going to hell because I cannot change myself into a monkey.

I think you need to look at it from another perspective, we cannot change ourselves, only God can change us and yes, He can move mountains (our sins) or whatever stumbling block preventing us from change. The way to do this is focus on Jesus daily, put Him first daily, communion with Him daily and when we focus on Christ, He will make the changes necessary in our lives. Any time you have the urge to sin, get on your knees and pray. God's promises there is always a way to escape through Him. 1 Corinthians 10:13 When we focus on self i.e. I can't do this or that, we will fail every time, we can only do so through His power and our love for Him for everything He has done for us, which is giving up His life because He loves us so much.

The rich young ruler failed because he focused on self over God- his great riches over being a follower of Christ, he may have obeyed the commandments to love thy neighbor but broke the greatest commandment to love God with all our heart, soul and mind and breaking the first commandment to not have any gods before Me, by choosing his great wealth over Jesus.

 

[Bob8102]

I think you need to look at it from another perspective, we cannot change ourselves, only God can change us and yes, He can move mountains (our sins) or whatever stumbling block preventing us from change. The way to do this is focus on Jesus daily, put Him first daily, communion with Him daily and when we focus on Christ, He will make the changes necessary in our lives. Any time you have the urge to sin, get on your knees and pray. God's promises there is always a way to escape through Him. 1 Corinthians 10:13 When we focus on self i.e. I can't do this or that, we will fail every time, we can only do so through His power and our love for Him for everything He has done for us, which is giving up His life because He loves us so much.

The rich young ruler failed because he focused on self over God- his great riches over being a follower of Christ, he may have obeyed the commandments to love thy neighbor but broke the greatest commandment to love God with all our heart, soul and mind and breaking the first commandment to not have any gods before Me, by choosing his great wealth over Jesus.

Focusing on self over God: that is the key issue. I TRY to focus on Jesus, over and over again. But the effort only lasts one to a few moments at a time. Then I lose focus on Him and go back to self. This wavering faith is doubtful; it may not be saving faith. Theoretically, since I waver back and forth, if I waver even ONCE to Him, I am saved, because Jesus saves in a moment. But I doubt that I am saved because focusing on Jesus for only a moment seems insufficient.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

Focusing on self over God: that is the key issue. I TRY to focus on Jesus, over and over again. But the effort only lasts one to a few moments at a time. Then I lose focus on Him and go back to self. This wavering faith is doubtful; it may not be saving faith. Theoretically, since I waver back and forth, if I waver even ONCE to Him, I am saved, because Jesus saves in a moment. But I doubt that I am saved because focusing on Jesus for only a moment seems insufficient.

I would try to focus on your relationship with Christ and try not to let your thoughts of being lost or saved consume you. Start your day off by praying and asking for His help and guidance to have a better relationship with Him. Start your day with scripture and a small bible study- if you start having doubts throughout the day, try saying a little prayer to ask His help in overcoming these thoughts. Jesus loves you and wants to answer your prayers because it is His will that you have a relationship with Him. Try it little by little each day. If you fall, get right back up and ask for His forgiveness and His help in overcoming. Pretty soon, it will come naturally for you. Its like a relationship with anyone, it starts off little by little and grows from there.

 

[Strong in Him]

I know it doesn't mean physical death. But the death that it DOES mean, I am as much against as I am against my physical death.

So what does it mean, for you, to declare Jesus is Lord?
What does it mean to you to say the Lord's Prayer - your will be done?

The fact that you have written a thread asking about God's will suggests that you want what he wants and you want to put him first.
That's what accepting Christ means; we are no longer the most important person in our lives. Unlike Sinatra we should not aim to say "I did it my way."

After the rich young ruler walked away from Jesus, and Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for...[a person who lives for riches]...to enter the kingdom of heaven,"

The rich young ruler walked away from Jesus because he had been challenged to give his money away.
He had talked about keeping the commandments, but clearly didn't keep the first one, which was to have no other god besides God. His money and wealth were his god; he put them first.
I imagine having a lot of money could lead to feelings of assurance and self-reliance - I have all I need. It might lead to greed, or status, in some people. So yes, I should think it could be very difficult.
But that doesn't mean it's wrong to have money. Charities, churches, Christian missions and overseas charities need money - someone needs to support/finance them. It's also not wrong to want money to take care of your family. It's our attitude towards it and the place it has in our lives that we need to watch out for.

It is as impossible for me to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Jesus as it was impossible for that rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Why?

The way I have seen it, God is telling me that unless I do the impossible thing...let's say, change myself into a monkey....I am going to hell. So, I guess I am going to hell because I cannot change myself into a monkey.

God hasn't demanded you change yourself into a monkey.
Any change will come from him - even so, he still gives us a choice about obeying and following.

 

[Bob8102]

I would try to focus on your relationship with Christ and try not to let your thoughts of being lost or saved consume you. Start your day off by praying and asking for His help and guidance to have a better relationship with Him. Start your day with scripture and a small bible study- if you start having doubts throughout the day, try saying a little prayer to ask His help in overcoming these thoughts. Jesus loves you and wants to answer your prayers because it is His will that you have a relationship with Him. Try it little by little each day. If you fall, get right back up and ask for His forgiveness and His help in overcoming. Pretty soon, it will come naturally for you. Its like a relationship with anyone, it starts off little by little and grows from there.

I am kind of attempting to take your advice about not letting the matter of my salvation consume me; I do start off the day with prayer and Bible reading. Some OCD experts would agree with you about not letting the issue of salvation consume one; others would disagree. JD Greear, in his book, Stop Asking Jesus Into You Heart: How To Know For Sure You Are Saved, says that until one is assured of salvation, their spiritual life cannot really take off. He is not an OCD expert, but acknowledges that he has OCD tendencies. He wrote that he asked Jesus into his heart 5,000 times. But other people who are OCD experts say that an OCD person needs to learn to manage their OCD because it is physiological and is not going away. I have now come to the conclusion that I need to seek the help of a Christian psychologist who specializes in religious OCD.

 

[Bob8102]

So what does it mean, for you, to declare Jesus is Lord?
What does it mean to you to say the Lord's Prayer - your will be done?

The fact that you have written a thread asking about God's will suggests that you want what he wants and you want to put him first.
That's what accepting Christ means; we are no longer the most important person in our lives. Unlike Sinatra we should not aim to say "I did it my way."

The rich young ruler walked away from Jesus because he had been challenged to give his money away.
He had talked about keeping the commandments, but clearly didn't keep the first one, which was to have no other god besides God. His money and wealth were his god; he put them first.
I imagine having a lot of money could lead to feelings of assurance and self-reliance - I have all I need. It might lead to greed, or status, in some people. So yes, I should think it could be very difficult.
But that doesn't mean it's wrong to have money. Charities, churches, Christian missions and overseas charities need money - someone needs to support/finance them. It's also not wrong to want money to take care of your family. It's our attitude towards it and the place it has in our lives that we need to watch out for.

Why?

God hasn't demanded you change yourself into a monkey.
Any change will come from him - even so, he still gives us a choice about obeying and following.

Saying "Your will be done" can be a rote part of a memorized prayer, or the person praying can mean it to varying degrees of sincerity. I have been trying to, at times, pray it with sincerity. That is hard to do and does not come naturally.

You ask "Why?" when I say it is impossible for me to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Jesus. In his book, Mere Christianity, CS Lewis says something to the effect of, 'the difficult thing, the almost impossible thing, is turn everything over to Christ.' Jesus Himself said, "With men this is impossible, but with God, everything is possible." CS Lewis said he was the most reluctant convert in all of England. I feel that if I am converted I am/will be the most reluctant convert in all the world.

 

[Strong in Him]

Saying "Your will be done" can be a rote part of a memorized prayer, or the person praying can mean it to varying degrees of sincerity.

Yes, it can.
But rote, or liturgical, prayers are not a bad thing and God is loving and gracious; he hears us even when we don't have the best motives.

I have been trying to, at times, pray it with sincerity. That is hard to do and does not come naturally.

I think that's true for many Christians.

You ask "Why?" when I say it is impossible for me to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Jesus. In his book, Mere Christianity, CS Lewis says something to the effect of, 'the difficult thing, the almost impossible thing, is turn everything over to Christ.'

Yes - it also depends on what you mean when you say "turn everything over to Christ".
You've been asking about God's will. Following Jesus does not necessarily mean giving up everything you were doing before you followed him. If you have a good job as a teacher and are enjoying it, that does not necessarily mean that job was your will, and God wants you to give it up to go into the church/be a missionary/become a monk. I used to think it did mean that - then I realised that if all the Christians were doing "religious stuff" they'd be no one to witness to non-Christians.
Yes, God CAN call you into another area of work/role if he wants to. But equally he could be very happy for you to stay where you are, living for, and witnessing to, him. When Cliff Richard became a Christian he thought he should become a vicar. But God told him to stay where he was and be a witness there; in the world of showbiz. Can you imagine the difficulty of living for Christ, living a holy life, not doing sex/drugs, not having multiple partners/lovers, not being ruled by the love of money?
I would think that has been a lot harder than giving it all up and going to live in a nice, Christian environment (even though churches aren't always easy places!)
Sometimes we need to be willing to be willing to go where/do what God wants, and sometimes it takes a while for us to surrender. But if he wants us to be somewhere, he will keep calling. And sometimes he may just be saying "stay where you are and let your light shine in your situation."

I feel that if I am converted I am/will be the most reluctant convert in all the world.

That depends.
I would say that, for me, everything changed when I really began to grasp and understand how much God loves me.
He doesn't love me because I do things for him, he doesn't love me reluctantly because I am part of the world, John 3:16, so he has no choice. He loves me because he IS love; because he made me and gave me life. He wanted me to be his child so much that he sent his Son who laid down his life to reconcile me to God. He forgives my sins, he gives me his love, his peace, his Spirit, his reassurance. He gives me hope and joy, as well as gifts and talents that I can use to benefit others, serve him, build up the church - or just enjoy.

Knowing that I am loved makes a big difference.
If you were in love with someone, would it be an effort for you to want to please them, to do what they wanted to do, to consider their thoughts and feelings - or would you want to do it because you wanted to show that you loved them? If you said you loved them, would you expect them to say, "right, that means I can do what I want and treat you how I like; I have your love"? If they said they loved you, would you expect them to demand that you do things that you don't want to do?

You said, "if I were to convert", but your faith icon says that you are a Christian. Could you explain what you meant by that?

 

[Bob8102]

Yes, it can.
But rote, or liturgical, prayers are not a bad thing and God is loving and gracious; he hears us even when we don't have the best motives.

I think that's true for many Christians.

Yes - it also depends on what you mean when you say "turn everything over to Christ".
You've been asking about God's will. Following Jesus does not necessarily mean giving up everything you were doing before you followed him. If you have a good job as a teacher and are enjoying it, that does not necessarily mean that job was your will, and God wants you to give it up to go into the church/be a missionary/become a monk. I used to think it did mean that - then I realised that if all the Christians were doing "religious stuff" they'd be no one to witness to non-Christians.
Yes, God CAN call you into another area of work/role if he wants to. But equally he could be very happy for you to stay where you are, living for, and witnessing to, him. When Cliff Richard became a Christian he thought he should become a vicar. But God told him to stay where he was and be a witness there; in the world of showbiz. Can you imagine the difficulty of living for Christ, living a holy life, not doing sex/drugs, not having multiple partners/lovers, not being ruled by the love of money?
I would think that has been a lot harder than giving it all up and going to live in a nice, Christian environment (even though churches aren't always easy places!)
Sometimes we need to be willing to be willing to go where/do what God wants, and sometimes it takes a while for us to surrender. But if he wants us to be somewhere, he will keep calling. And sometimes he may just be saying "stay where you are and let your light shine in your situation."


That depends.
I would say that, for me, everything changed when I really began to grasp and understand how much God loves me.
He doesn't love me because I do things for him, he doesn't love me reluctantly because I am part of the world, John 3:16, so he has no choice. He loves me because he IS love; because he made me and gave me life. He wanted me to be his child so much that he sent his Son who laid down his life to reconcile me to God. He forgives my sins, he gives me his love, his peace, his Spirit, his reassurance. He gives me hope and joy, as well as gifts and talents that I can use to benefit others, serve him, build up the church - or just enjoy.

Knowing that I am loved makes a big difference.
If you were in love with someone, would it be an effort for you to want to please them, to do what they wanted to do, to consider their thoughts and feelings - or would you want to do it because you wanted to show that you loved them? If you said you loved them, would you expect them to say, "right, that means I can do what I want and treat you how I like; I have your love"? If they said they loved you, would you expect them to demand that you do things that you don't want to do?

You said, "if I were to convert", but your faith icon says that you are a Christian. Could you explain what you meant by that?

Thanks for your thought-provoking response. You're asking about me claiming to be a Christian. That depends on the minute you ask me! If you were to look at all my previous posts, you would see lots of stuff about my problems with assurance. If you ask, what do I mean by "Christian," I would say they are one who has realized they are a doomed sinner without becoming born-again by repenting of their sins and placing all their faith in Christ alone to be their Savior and Lord. The fundamentalist view. I first asked Jesus into my heart in sixth grade, more then fifty years ago. For most of the past fifty years, I have basically understood myself NOT to be REAL Christian, headed for heaven. After my mother died in 2011, I began seeking salvation full-time. That has not stopped. Every time I think I've finally been saved, shortly later, the doubt returns. Part of my problem is religious OCD; I see a psychiatrist for my OCD and take meds. But no counseling or medications are going to save my soul. Yet I have just decided to officially seek Christian counseling for OCD because my OCD does not change, not for 14 years. Part of my problem is wavering faith, which the Bible calls "double-mindedness." My wavering, my double-mindedness is severe. It changes on a moment-by-moment basis. Typically, I "give my life to Christ" several times per day. Sometimes, the impression that I am saved lasts up to a week. On the other extreme, it can disappear after only seconds or minutes. So am I a Christian? That depends on the moment you ask me!

 

[Bob8102]

Today, I understand myself to be a Christian. Next week, when my religious OCD attempts to yank that assurance from me, I'll have to remember Grantley Morris' advice: "Be committed to believing in spite of incessantly raging doubts." Also, I think I am going to be alone in my dealings with OCD. Yesterday, I searched online for Christian therapists specializing in religious OCD in my area. None were readily findable. Oh well; possibly just as well. Therapy might have been expensive and ineffective, any way.

 

[trophy33]

The way I have seen it, God is telling me that unless I do the impossible thing...let's say, change myself into a monkey

This is a wrong way to see it. The impossibility in the text is not about technical, absolute impossibility like that you can not fly.

It is rather rhetorical - about our will. The change as such is technically possible - for example rich people can give up their riches or be saved.