The More You Know

The more you know His Word, the more you know His Will.   That phrase came to me recently as I was pondering some decisions about the future.

All of us who follow Christ have probably prayed for specific direction about a big decision we needed to make.  Maybe we have operated with the assumption that there is a perfect, detailed plan and place somewhere out there that God might reveal to us.  We want specifics, we want it written in the sky, but maybe He is just saying something like, “Go West.” 

As Eugene Peterson said, the Christian life is a “long obedience in the same direction.”  But we need to make sure we are headed in the right direction.  The more we know His Word, the closer we will move toward Him, and the less likely we will be to move toward things that would cause us to head in the wrong direction. 

2 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  Are you thankful?  Are you prayerful?  Are you joyful?  This is His will for you.  It doesn’t involve a detailed plan of action, but a plan for how we should “be.”

The more you know His Word, the richer your prayer life will be.  As you start to pray and worship, you speak God’s promises, His attributes, and His character back to Him.  You affirm the truth over and over, like the saints and angels around the throne who cry, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God almighty, who was and is and is to come.”  You are reminding yourself of His promises as you pray His words of Truth and Life back to Him.

The more you know His Word, the more love you show.  When you take Jesus at his word, your desire will be to live out the greatest commandment – to love the Lord your God with all your heart mind soul strength, and your neighbor as yourself. 

This is His Will for you.

Maybe it’s just that simple. 

The more you know His Word, the more you know His Will. 

Written by: Michelle Dowdy