For me, a great way to tell others about God is to share his Word. I love this community where I get to express and share, so it is natural that I share my morning Bible read with you. The great thing about God is He gave us the ability to choose to read (+ heed) it.
PSALM 40. For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
Theme: Doing God's will sometimes means waiting patiently. While we wait, we can love God, serve others, and tell others about him.
Author: David.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/40.html
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. 4 Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5 Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. 6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire— but my ears you have opened — burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. 7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll. 8 I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” 9 I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, LORD, as you know. 10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly. 11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, LORD; may your love and faithfulness always protect me. 12 For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. 13 Be pleased to save me, LORD; come quickly, LORD, to help me. 14 May all who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. 15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be appalled at their own shame. 16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The LORD is great!” 17 But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.
[I highlighted verse 8.]
Study Notes:
40:1-4 Waiting for God to help us is not easy, but David received four benefits from waiting. God (1) lifted him out of his despair, (2) set his feet on a rock, (3) gave him a firm place to stand, and (4) put a new song of praise in his mouth. Often blessings cannot be received unless we go through the trial of waiting.
40:6 "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire.". The religious ritual of David's day involved sacrificing animals in the tabernacle. David says these acts were meaningless unless done for the right reasons. Today we often make rituals of going to church, taking communion, or paying tithes. These activities are also empty if our reasons for doing them are selfish. God doesn't want these sacrifices and offerings without an attitude of devotion to him. The prophet Samuel told Saul, "To obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22). Make sure you give God the obedience and lifelong service he desires from you.
40:7, 8 "I desire to do your will, O my God.". Jesus portrayed this attitude of obeying and serving God (John 4:34; 5:30). He came as the prophets foretold, proclaiming the Good News of God's righteousness and forgiveness of sins. In Hebrews 10:5-10, verses 6-8 are applied to Jesus.
40:9, 10 David said he would speak of God's faithfulness and salvation to those around him. When we feel the impact of God's righteousness on our lives, we cannot keep it hidden. We want to tell other people what God has done for us. If God's faithfulness has changed your life, don't be timid. It is natural to share a good bargain with others or recommend a skillful doctor, so it should also feel natural to share what God has done for us.
40:10 When we think of faithfulness, a friend or a spouse may come to mind. People who are faithful to us accept and love us, even when we are unlovable. Faithful people keep their promises, whether promises of support or promises made in our marriage vows. God's faithfulness is like human faithfulness, only perfect. His love is absolute, and his promises are irrevocable. He loves us in spite of our constant bent toward sin, and he keeps all the promises he has made to us, even when we break our promises to him.
Lord, thank you for the calm that is in this early morning time with you. Help me recall this peace if this day should contain turmoil. Thank you for my everlasting attitude, revealed to me by you, that sustains me in tough times. I can remember that this day is just a dot, when I have my everlasting attitude on. And, I can be content in the knowledge you give me through your Word, your promise, that you will not give me more than I can handle. Thank you for the ability to share Your peace with my friends here. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
I like your answer, and the discussion, but it doesn't provide any specifics on what God's will actuall is. It has been my experience, that everyone uses the term "God's will" in retrospect, after the fact in describing something that has already happened. That appears more of an assignment of God's will to something that has already occured.
In stark contrast, if I wanted to apply God's will for navigation in charting my course to be in allignment with God's will... I really need a clear understanding of what that is.
Now, to be fair, it could be said that God's will is explained in the Bible and just follow the verses provided. But that can be said of the Quran and the Tora as well... in fact, any religion.
I have searched for an answer to this question for 40 years and stil don't have the answer. I have visited the Vatican and met with Cardinals, went to China and spoke with Priests, went to Malaysia and asked several highly respected Imans, multiple visits to Duke Divinity school with the same question...yet it remains unanswered.
All that to say this, it is disturbing to me that this remains a mystery. Here we are, directed to follow God's will but left in this vaccum where we still can't define what that is.
To be clear though, you don’t have to have conclusions to have convictions. I think it just requires grace and humility figure anything out.
Sounds like you’re a lot further along than your initial question suggested (to me anyway) if you’re doing all that work to find truth, you’re already aligned with God’s will. I will probably always give a loki-esque vague answer because to sound conclusive about any of this would feel psychotic on my end.