God's will vs. Free will

Raise your hand if you were one of those people who always seemed to have a fresh pot of drama brewing in your life kitchen.

Yup. Me too.

It never failed. Somebody was always pissing me off, being unfair, attacking me or somebody I love. I was always fighting something. Always.

I am close to people who have this same phenomenon. It's like the storm of negativity just rages on and on like the hurricanes on Jupiter. Hundreds of years of storms. Or what one woman said to me, "I feel like I've been walking a desert for years." Or another, "God is obviously out to lunch again."

Where is God during these times?

Last night I was talking to a very close friend about this. My heart hurts for my friends who seem to find nothing but adversity. Even during my darkest moments I could feel the Lord's presence and knew he was there, which is probably what saved my life honestly. But I know that I have friends who try and can't feel him. Why is that? It bothered me a great deal, and I needed to discuss it.

What my friend said to me was a reminder to me that there are two wills in our lives - God's will and our own. He gives us free will to choose what we want to do. All He can do is guide us, but we have to listen and trust that He knows what He is doing. My next questions was, "Then how can I pray for my friends? If I can't pray that God will help them do X, Y, or Z - what do I say?"

After some discussion, we concluded that God hears our prayers - not matter what they are, but that He can't help somebody who doesn't want help to move toward what His will is for that person. Our job as Prayer Warriors is to tell God we've got his back and that we would LOVE it if He would speak to our friends and family about His will for them. Some don't want to hear it. Some can't hear it because they're too distracted by their own will (this was me for months this year). Ask God to show you how you can help your friends and family see what His will is for them. You know you're open to hearing from Him, and maybe they can't hear Him but can hear you. What can you do to be a warrior?

So this morning I opened my devotion book that led me to James 4:13-15. God speaks so clearly to me sometimes . . .

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

He clearly has a message He wanted delivered to me, and when those messages get delivered - He knows I share them. Somebody out there needs this today.

I say this, friends - you know what YOU want. How is wanting whatever it is making you feel? I know, in my case, wanting to attend counseling with my husband made me miserable because my want was met with a wall of a big fat NO. The funny thing is that when I submitted to what God wanted for me, the change was uncomfortable (ok, it was excruciatingly painful) - BUT what emerges in His will will not only be blessed by Him but will make us undeniably happy. I'm seeing this more and more every day.

Am I saying that God wanted me to get divorced. NO! But he also gives humans free will. I made some choices that ultimately caused the demise of my marriage. After I submitted to God, I asked him to take my mess and make it beautiful, and that is EXACTLY what He is doing. Every. Day. His will in my life. Whoa. Deep, huh?

You may need this message today more than ever or know somebody who needs it. The Lord is speaking through me today, so please pass it on. Remember, His will will ultimately make you happy. Toss your will to the curb and follow what He has in store for you because I can guarantee you - anything that He creates is FAR more beautiful than anything you can.

Namaste.