Surrendering to God's Will

[catch22]

This is my biggest goal right now, to totally surrender my will to that of God. I'm getting closer day by day, and it feels absolutley great. Are any of you persuing this same goal, and if so what are you doing to get closer to it?

 

[danielle747]

hey catch22, great question. i too am seeking God's will and am quite new at this. its a one-day-at-a-time thing for me. Some things that are extremely helpful for me, though probably obvious:
lots of time in the Word
fellowship with strong, church-going Christians
Christian books
Music with Christian lyrics
Daily devotionals
weekly Bible studies
Church
PRAYER!
i'm sure you know all this and practice these as well but they are so helpful to me that i had to list them. Good luck in your quest and may God Bless you!

Oh and another thing is to constantly pray that the Holy Spirit abide in you. I believe that one is so important. I didn't learn until recently that even though we as Christians are to be baptized in water, we're also to be baptized in the Holy Spirit - this has helped me so much.

 

[smiling for God]

I to am trying to put God far ahead of everything else in my life, so that everything I do includes Him. The things that are helping me to do this are things that yes as Danielle747 already said may be obvious but they have become the mainstay of my life.
Prayer, Prayer and more Prayer
The Word
Friends
Books
Remembering that God truly does want a close relationship with me.
And Prayer
God bless everyone out there, and I will pray for all those who wish to grow closer to God.

 

[catch22]

This may sound a bit odd, but over the past few weeks or so, I've gotten rid of nearly half of all I owned. I've come to the conclusion that possessions are a big burden and distraction in everyday life, so I'm trying to only have those things which I could glorify God with. I mean I still have quite a bit, but even with the things gone that I did get rid of, i feel much more focused.

 

[smiling for God]

That dosn't sound odd at all in fact it sounds like a great idea. When I think of cleaning up my live and submitting my life completly to God I forget completly that the material things that could very well drag me back down.

 

[catch22]

It'll be interesting to see what else I can come up with starting tomorrow when I start classes again. Then I'll have tothink of even more to stay focused.

 

[shania]

I was working on surrendering to God's will, and it's a relief and a blessing to let God work in your life. But a problem came along when it looked like God was leading me somewhere and I liked his plan so much, and thought he would lead me there all the way. But his plan for me changed and I didn't expect it and things never happened as I thought God wanted. So now I have to wait again and see where God will lead me next. I'm not sure if he will lead me all the way or have me start a new path and change part way through. Perhaps God is strengthening my trust in him right now so that I will follow wherever I am led.

 

[catch22]

There's one thing in my life that I'm having a ton of trouble totally surrendering to God's will. I mean I've given it all over to him before, but there's a choice before me, and I'm not feeling any indication as to which path I should take. The thing is, both paths have positives and negatives to them and each poses a potential risk. I've been reading the bible and praying about it for a weeks now, and I still don't know what God wants me to do.

 

[Blessed2003]

There's one thing in my life that I'm having a ton of trouble totally surrendering to God's will. I mean I've given it all over to him before, but there's a choice before me, and I'm not feeling any indication as to which path I should take. The thing is, both paths have positives and negatives to them and each poses a potential risk. I've been reading the bible and praying about it for a weeks now, and I still don't know what God wants me to do.

What exactly is it, if you don't mind me asking, I struggle too, but my struggles are with me! It is a struggle for me to say no to me and not indulge myself in my fleshly lusts, (get your mind out the gutter) what ever they may be. I want so badly to say no to me and yes to God, but how do we ever truly know?
Family of God,
B

 

[smiling for God]

Something that I often forget to do is to listen to God. I will ramble on for hours, asking Him to show me what he wants me to do, but I never give him a chance to get a word in. I am in no way saying that is why God has not aswered you, but setting a time aside to have a true converstation with both listening and talking usually helps me understand what God wants. I will Pray for you.

 

[catch22]

Thanks SFG...I'm going to do exactly that after class tonight. I'm just going to pray until God gives me an answer. Or rather, I'm going to listen.

And B2003, it involves a girl and the rest of my life. Vague I know, but trust me, it's important that I make the right choices here. And of course right is whatever God tells me I ought to do.

 

[catch22]

As of two days ago I started listening exclusively to Christian music. It helps to keep me focused even when my mind wants to wander to other things. So now that many of you have started classes again, do you notice the same problem of the intellectual elite being among the most anti-religious people anywhere? I don't mean to rant, but this might turn into that. And also, with a lot of the students, just walking into a room and looking into their eyes, most of them seem only half alive. The way I was explaining it to my friend is that you can't fill yourself with your own glory because people are fallible. Only through a close relationship with God can we fill that emptiness, and thats the only way we can actually become alive. I lived nearly a decade of my life as one of those half alive people, so i can certainly tell the difference now. It's amazing. God's grace has made me free of the petty things of the world. His love is the greatest gift ever, and all I want to do is make him happy now. I know there's nothing I can do to add to the glory of God, but by trying to live my life as Jesus did, maybe I can help spread his glory to others. Gosh....this is such an awesome feeling. I feel so blessed today.

 

[Emmuel81]

Let us enter this new year by submitting all of our plans to the Lord and depending on Him to help us accomplish all that He wants us to do. Amen

 

[Loopy]

To Catch22: I've noticed the things you said. The intellectual elite, believe it or not, tend to think pretty badly of themselves a lot of the time, and they are acting elite so you don't realize 'what a bad person they are' or whatever... not that they are, but that's what they feel they are.

As far as people being half alive, someone once described it to me this way... I don't remembe who or when, but it made total sense... God built us with a part of each of our hearts that is meant to last eternally. We therefore try to fill that part of ourselves (often with the wrong things), but the only thing that will truly satisfy that part of us is something that is also eternal.

I don't mean to get off the topic of the thread. I have something I need to share, and this is the perfect place to do it.

I had been dating a nonbeliever for 4 years. I loved him dearly (and still do), literally the only thing wrong with our relationship was his lack of belief (he didnt understand why it would be a problem). We even planned on getting married. But God had been quietly telling me that it wasn't right to be attached to a nonbeliever (I started dating him when I had 'fallen away' somewhat so I didnt think about it at the time)... and I ignored it for a long time. But God, in his infinite mercy, recognized how much I loved Him and wanted to follow Him, so he brought the issue more and more in my face until I just couldn't ignore it anymore.
Last friday we broke up. I could either submit to God's will, or stay with my man and walk away from God. I am still working everything out in my head... it's been a dark time for me so far (especially considering it's been 4 days), but I thank God that he spoke loud enough that I at least can't doubt that it was His voice I heard, telling me in no uncertain terms what I needed to do.

I hope that made sense, if it helps please note that I've tried to make a distinction between he and He(capitalized = God)

As long as I'm at it, please pray for me, for my comfort as well as my guy's, and that I would get a clear view of the truth so that I wouldn't second guess my decision, as well as his understanding of my decision.

 

[michael112174]

I have surrendered to God's will...I do can all things through the Lord Christ Jesus. I cant do it through my will alone and I know that. God broke me Friday evening regarding lust. I have prayed for this for months. It is AWESOME! Its like being a Superman or something!

 

[Meg486]

Yep , trying for that same goal with you!
I am trying to get to that goal by taking my hands off the steering wheel of my life and letting GOD drive. He knows where he wants me to be.

 

[invisiblebabe]

So now that many of you have started classes again, do you notice the same problem of the intellectual elite being among the most anti-religious people anywhere?

As an ex-Northwestern student (transferring elsewhere in summer), I've definitely noticed this.

To Catch22: I've noticed the things you said. The intellectual elite, believe it or not, tend to think pretty badly of themselves a lot of the time, and they are acting elite so you don't realize 'what a bad person they are' or whatever... not that they are, but that's what they feel they are.

I don't know about that... as a fellow academic, I'd have to disagree. Pride is one of the largest battles for academic Christians... well, that's my humble opinion, at least

 

[MusicMelOU]

Hey I had to break up with a boyfriend in order to get closer to God. I don't suggest everyone go breaking up with their boyfriends/girlfriends as the answer to get closer, but for me, my relationship was not honoring God and so I decided to end it because it was holding the 2 of us back.

 

[Butterfly4Christ]

I too had to end a relationship that wasn't glorifying God. It wasn't easy but I am at the point now where nothing else matters but God. It is a constant battle. I pray daily for strength to do "the right thing" Anyone that will please pray for my strength in the Lord Jesus Christ.

God Bless

 

[markmayer23]

well, yes i'm also in that tract... I wanna walk also according to His will and purpose in my life... The way I do is that I spend more time in reading and studying His Word, have a regular prayer time and going with experienced people like pastors and elders... I've also read the Purpose Driven Life Book by Rick Warren. It also helped me to know the purposes of God in my life. I'm encouraging you to read on that book...