Doing What He Asks

The psalmist said, “I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8). Like the psalmist, we can pray, “[Y]our will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10), but it gets much harder when God’s desires clash with ours.

How often do we know what God is calling us to do but want to do something else? Maybe we don’t want to give up something important to us. Maybe we are afraid we won’t succeed. Maybe we are too busy focusing on what we want that we lose sight of what God desires for us. Oswald Chambers reflected in My Utmost for His Highest, “When God draws me, the issue of my will comes in at once—will I react on the revelation which God gives; will I come to Him?”

As followers of Christ, we are called to a life of obedience to God’s Word. However, we often find that there are areas in our lives in which we struggle against His plan. The Christian walk is all about knowing Christ and becoming like Him through the surrender of our selfish ways and desires.

When we make God the priority of our lives, we will want to obey Him—not just because He tells us to but because we love Him. It is then that we gain a transcendent peace (see Philippians 4:7).

We should enjoy the journey of obedience. It is only when we make a commitment to follow the principles in God’s Word that we find true joy and contentment. Have you discovered the pleasure that comes from doing what God asks you to do?

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the journey of faith I am walking with You. Only in Your strength will I succeed. I pray that I will be able to do whatever You ask of me through the power of Christ. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.