How to Live According To God's Will

Living by God's plan is not just a suggestion; it’s a big call to something more than us. It's a journey of giving up our own wishes, trusting, and having purpose. In a world where our wants, dreams, and goals often take over our thinking, the biblical call to align with God’s plan asks us to live differently. It is a call to take on the unknown, trust in the wise spirit, and give our lives to the Maker who knows the way that leads to true happiness and calmness.

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Scripture: Romans 12:1-2 & Ephesians 5:17

The Apostle Paul’s letters are filled with deep encouragements on how to live in peace with God's plan. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul asks believers to offer their body as a living gift, pure and pleasing to God, which is their true praise. He continues saying, "Do not copy the way of this world, but be changed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will can test and approve what God’s plan is—his good, pleasing, and perfect plan."

The main thing in this is clear: change is needed for us to see God’s plan. We must be ready to drop the worldly ways that control our wishes and thoughts, and allow God to work on us from inside.

Also, Ephesians 5:17 reminds us of this call for careful living: "So do not be silly, but understand what the Lord's plan is." In a world that often has many distractions and roads that look nice, this verse reminds us that smartness lies in knowing and following God’s plan instead of chasing the short-term wants of the body or the quick joys of this world.

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Biblical Example: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39)

There is maybe no bigger example of submitting to God’s plan than Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. In Matthew 26:39, Jesus is at a hard spot of big feelings and spirit struggle, knowing the painful way of hurting ahead. He prays hard, "My Father, if it is okay, may this cup get away from me. Yet not as I wish, but as you wish."

This time in the Garden shows the deep pains of Jesus' humanity, as He deals with the weight of the gift He is to make. Yet, in the same breath, He gives up His wishes to the Father, accepting the divine plan that leads to the saving of people. In this prayer, Jesus shows perfect giving up to God's plan, even if it costs Him much. His words, "Not as I want, but as you want," are the ultimate sign of trust and following.

Jesus' example teaches us that living by God’s plan often needs a hard giving up of our personal wants. It may take us through hard places, but it is through following that we find the purpose and happiness that only God's plan can offer.

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Application: Seek God’s Plan Over Your Own Wishes

In our day-to-day life, the call to find God’s plan can feel scary. We live in a culture that likes personal choice, freedom, and chasing our own joy. Yet, the Bible always calls us to a different way of living—one that includes giving our own wishes, plans, and choices to God. Romans 12:2 talks of the change that happens when we connect ourselves with God’s plan. This change is not only outside behavior, but also a total renewal of the heart and mind, where our wants are turned toward God’s better plan.

But why is this so key? Why must we go after God’s plan over our own? The answer is that God’s plan is always good, nice, and perfect. We may not always see it, and it may not fit our quick wishes, but in the long run, it brings meaning and purpose that is bigger than anything we can make for ourselves. Jesus knew that the way to the cross, though hard, would lead to eternal life and fame.

Trusting God’s plan is then, a step of faith. It’s a choice to think that God’s wisdom is beyond our understanding, and that His plan is much better than anything we can dream. It’s a decision to welcome the unknown with surety that He is with us every time we move.

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Photo by lucas Favre on Unsplash

The Path of Giving Up

Living by God’s plan is not a one-time choice, but a daily promise to give up. It’s a trip that asks us to always choose God's plan over ours, to trust His time, and to believe that each moment is part of a big dream that only He can completely see. It takes courage to let go of our control and trust that God’s plan will lead to real calmness and happiness.

There will be times when our wants will clash with God's plan, just as Jesus faced that time in the Garden. But in those moments, we can feel heartened, knowing that God’s plan is always for our best. His plan, though sometimes unclear, leads to life, joy, and purpose. And just as Jesus came out of the Garden filled with strength and purpose, so too will we when we choose to give in and walk God’s path.

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Conclusion: A Life of Trust and Purpose

To live by God’s plan is to live a life of purpose, meaning, and forever importance. It is a life based in trust—trust that God's plan for us is good, even when the way looks unclear. As we seek to line up our wishes with His, we become more fully who we were made to be, stepping into the purpose for which we were created.

So let us follow Jesus’ example and seek God's plan over all else. It may be a walk of surrender, but it is also a walk of finding—finding the deep calmness and happiness that only comes when we walk in line with the Maker of all things.

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5-Step Action Plan:

1. Pray for Guidance

   • Begin each day in prayer, asking God to show you His will and to help you surrender your own desires to His plan.

2. Renew Your Mind

   • Spend time in Scripture daily, especially Romans 12:1-2, and allow God's Word to transform your thinking and align it with His purposes.

3. Trust the Process

   • When faced with choices, trust that God's plan is always for your good, even if you don’t understand the outcome at the moment.

4. Practice Surrender

   • Like Jesus in the Garden, practice saying, "Not as I will, but as you will," whenever you face decisions that challenge your desires.

5. Embrace Purpose

   • Live each day with purpose, seeking to glorify God in all that you do, knowing that His plan will lead you to a life of true fulfillment and meaning.Want to take a deeper study ?

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