— “But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”-Matthew 6:33 (NRSV).

We humans are a selfish bunch. We want everything our way. We want God’s blessings but we don’t want to surrender anything, including our time, talent and treasure.

We want to know God’s will for our lives-at least some of us do-but we don’t want to take the time to discover what His will is. That would mean sacrifice on our part.

Recently, our pastor’s sermon series was titled, “How to Know the Will of God for your Life.” Although I’d read articles and books on this topic, I needed a reminder. We easily become distracted by busyness and the chatter of life. Pastor Ray’s five-part series included the following:

1. First, we have to seek God’s kingdom, remembering we are coming on His terms, not ours. Matthew 6:33 says, “But strive first for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

2. Second, we need a plan that offers better reception, meaning if we can’t hear that still, small voice we need to examine our Christian practices like prayer, meditation and worship. These three are like phone plans designed to help us stay connected and communicate more clearly with God. Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”

3. Third, we have to invest ourselves in God’s kingdom. This takes a commitment. Pastor Charles Swindoll reminds us that “More than once Jesus deliberately addressed certain issues that quickly diminished the number of onlookers. It was commitment that thinned the ranks.”

4. Don’t run ahead of God. This is where my patience is tested. Remember Abraham and Sarah who didn’t want to wait for God’s promise of a son? The couple took things into their own hands and what a mess they created. While waiting, we need to seek Godly counsel, meditate, pray and read the Bible. Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

5. Don’t lag behind. Although we are urged to wait on God, we must not lag behind either. When God told Abraham to go, he did. Moses argued with God about returning to Egypt, but he obeyed. It requires taking that first step and trusting God even when what He is calling us to do might be scary. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

Another Swindoll quote says, “Your call will become clear as your mind is transformed by the reading of Scripture and the internal work of God’s Spirit. The Lord never hides His will from us. In time, as you obey the call first to follow, your destiny will unfold before you. The difficulty will lie in keeping other concerns from diverting your attention.”

What is God calling you to do?

Shared with You by Carol Round