Knowing God's Will (Full Version)

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evryknee -> Knowing God's Will (4/29/2008 3:10:24 PM)

Hey all!

Here's my question: I know that I have been called into ministry - and I have been in ministry - I am a Director of a Christian Counseling Center. Our church has a p/t Assoc. Pastor position available and the Pastor and a few elders have encouraged me to apply. I am humbled by their encouragement and what they have seen as spiritual leadership and other good stuff (God's doing). I continue to go back & forth as to whether it is the pastoral role/position that I may be being called to or whether I am doing exactly what I should be doing. I am in ministry and am content with where I am. But my question is more about "Where does God want me? Is there something more or am I where He wants me?" I know you cannot answer these questions, but any thoughts, guidance, or testimonies would be a great encouragement. Thanks!



MrsOliver -> RE: Knowing God's Will (4/29/2008 3:14:26 PM)

Follow Peace!!! God gives you the desires of your heart. Do you desire to be a pastor? And he will give you peace if it is HIS calling on your life.



PastorPatricia -> RE: Knowing God's Will (4/29/2008 4:07:28 PM)

I agree, follow peace, my prayer has always been "if You open the door I will go through it" and I know if I feel peace and joy then I'm making the right decision.



CherishedbyGod -> RE: Knowing God's Will (4/29/2008 4:15:36 PM)

What is your desire? Have you had a longing in your heart to be in pastoral ministry?

~For it is God who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure~



evryknee -> RE: Knowing God's Will (4/29/2008 7:30:23 PM)

Thanks for your responses! The fact that I've been going back & forth may show that I am not quite at peace yet. In determining God's will, I have the support of other Godly people (which is one check). My heart has been as a shepherd - thus the counseling - so, a shepherd can also be a pastor. So, that has been my question to God - am I in the Shepherding role, or is there another shepherding role You would have me do. Oh look, here is an opportunity - Is this an opportunity (an open door) for me?

quote:

What is your desire? Have you had a longing in your heart to be in pastoral ministry?
I love teaching, speaking, counseling, and discipling. All pastoral duties (of which I am currently doing). And I love what I am doing - but want to be obedient if he calls me to do more.



timf -> RE: Knowing God's Will (4/30/2008 9:06:50 AM)

Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.



BibleL7 -> RE: Knowing God's Will (5/1/2008 12:37:19 AM)

Do you believe your pastor and elders are men of God? If so then perhaps you should follow Godly council. Remember that sometimes the Lord uses other Christians to guide us in His will. Yes pray about it. Also know that the Lord will in many times take us out of our comfort zones to stretch us and grow us.

Just the opinion of a small town preacher



evryknee -> RE: Knowing God's Will (5/1/2008 4:25:33 PM)

quote:

Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Thank you for the verse, but am having struggles with the "transformed by the renewing of your mind" part in knowing God's will in this situation. I have counseled many using this verse, but am not sure how renewing the mind would help in this way - So, any insight into that would be appreciated.
quote:

Do you believe your pastor and elders are men of God? If so then perhaps you should follow Godly council. Remember that sometimes the Lord uses other Christians to guide us in His will. Yes pray about it. Also know that the Lord will in many times take us out of our comfort zones to stretch us and grow us.
Thank you BibleL7 - That's one of the arguments in my head about applying for the position.

UPDATE: I've been praying about it some more and feel at peace that the Lord is calling me to leadership within the church. This being said, I accepted the nomination to be an elder for the time being. If the door remains open later, and after more prayer & direction, then I may apply. I believe that I am an encourager and will be encouraging our pastor from that position for now.

If there are any other comments, feel free to add them (esp. with the question above). Thanks!



CherishedbyGod -> RE: Knowing God's Will (5/1/2008 4:49:44 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: YZGUY


UPDATE: I've been praying about it some more and feel at peace that the Lord is calling me to leadership within the church. This being said, I accepted the nomination to be an elder for the time being. If the door remains open later, and after more prayer & direction, then I may apply. I believe that I am an encourager and will be encouraging our pastor from that position for now.

If there are any other comments, feel free to add them (esp. with the question above). Thanks!


I think that is great! One of my "key" verses is "let the peace of God rule in your heart" - so if I don't have settled peace about an issue then I do not move foward.

But it seems as if you have done the perfect thing to keep praying until you received His peace!

Will you continue to be at the counseling center?

I have found that after I take a step of faith into ministry, God also follows behind, confirming to me that I have, indeed, made the correct decision.

It sounds as if you are letting Him lead you step by step which is usually the way He works in my life, at least.



evryknee -> RE: Knowing God's Will (5/2/2008 7:55:48 AM)

quote:

Will you continue to be at the counseling center?
Yes - I enjoy counselling and have always felt at Peace about it. It's very tempting, though, to make the decision to Pastor P/T by dropping 10 -15 hours at the Counseling center and using those hours at the church (& getting paid a lot more for doing it!). But, that has been one of my wrestling battles...the $. I didn't and don't want to make the decision solely based on that issue (though it is a consideration).



Prairiehiker -> RE: Knowing God's Will (5/2/2008 8:04:39 AM)

Get the book "decision making and the will of God". Very good book. It talks about the way of wisdom.

I would tend to argue with "peace" as our sole guide in decision making. Subjective experience doesn't always translate to godly wisdom.



timf -> RE: Knowing God's Will (5/2/2008 8:51:23 AM)

Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

So, any insight into that would be appreciated.

One difficulty in trying to apply the Romans verses might be that if we put an emphasis on transformation of the mind we might be trying to cause something that is in itself an effect.

There is a picture given of two worlds. The first is Satan's. He establishes the course of this world (in so far as God allows him). The second is a world where we know the will of God. We are able to leave the first world and enter the second to the degree we have been changed by a renewed mind. However, this renewal may not be the result of work we do, but work we allow the Holy Spirit to do.

James 4:6-10
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

We might find greater success in the Romans verses if we look toward the "living sacrifice" portion for our role to play rather than the "renewing mind" portion. James describes more grace given in humility and surrender (submission). We have a role to play, but it is less a role of director and more a role of janitor.

An organizational position of ministry can often lead a person to decrease his self-reflection and unwittingly lead to the pride that cuts off grace. The person who directs others often starts to drift further from his Lord. Sometimes the first indicators of this are a decrease in knowing God's will, other times a person can drift further so that almost continual frustration or even failing in struggles with sin do not alert the person to his growing distance from God.

John 5:19
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Jesus is our example in all things. If we cannot tell the will of God, we may wish to "draw nearer" through His word, in humbleness, and surrender.



evryknee -> RE: Knowing God's Will (5/3/2008 7:56:53 AM)

Timf - Thank you. Sounds like your saying the transformation is more one of a humbled heart - then you'll know His will. I haven't quite looked at that verse in that manner, but it makes sense that humility can be the essence of the verse in not being conformed, but transformed (esp. as presenting your bodies as a living sacrifice - can't do that w/o humility).

You've given me some food for thought and an area to search my heart some more. Thanks!



woodwind228 -> RE: Knowing God's Will (5/8/2008 10:11:09 PM)

I've always looked at the transforming of the mind as being in the Word and studying the Bible, which would naturally lead to a transforming of the mind. Interesting what was mentioned above.

The only advice I can really give would be to continue praying. Ask God to show you His will and to guide you with wisdom and discernment - He will give it to you.

James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

The other thing would be confirmation. Have you gotten any kind of confirmation (Bible, or people feeling led to tell you something about this decision)? Have you seen the movie, "Facing the Giants"? In that movie, Grant (head coach) overheard a conversation with an assistant coach and some fathers of the athletes where they wanted to replace him. Shortly after that, a man came to him to tell him that God will open doors that no one can shut and close doors that no one can open. The guy said that he just felt led to tell him that, which could not have been better timing (God's timing is perfect). He implements a new team philosophy and they end up winning the state championship. I say all this to show how important confirmation can be in addition to prayer and Bible study, since God likes to use other people, His word, prayer, strange situation/circumstances to speak to His children.

Being comfortable and content in your current position is probably not something to be considered when making this decision. God likes to stretch us because then we HAVE to depend on Him to do what He wants us to do. He wants us to rely on Him. My pastor was perfectly content with where he was prior to pastoring the church I attend. He didn't want to move. But God made it known to him that it was His will for him to do so.

Good luck.



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