God’s Will is Better Than Yours
The Smartest Thing We Can Do is Embrace His Plans and Purposes
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” — John 7:38
For almost thirty years of her life, my wife wanted nothing to do with pasta dishes. They never tasted good, so whenever pasta was offered, she looked for another option.
But then, while living in Germany, an Italian friend offered to come over and fix us a real Italian meal. He wanted us to taste what real Italian food was like. I’ve always liked Italian food, so for me, it was an immediate YES! Janet said yes, out of politeness, but not excitement.
Our friend came over and cooked the pasta. We were surprised when he tasted it and then threw it all in the trash because, in his experienced opinion, it had been slightly overcooked. He said overcooked pasta was not worth eating. So we waited, having pleasant conversation as he prepared the meal again.
This time, it passed his test, and he brought out the pasta dish for us to hopefully enjoy together. Janet had a pasta conversion experience right then. She discovered it wasn’t pasta and the sauces that went with it she didn’t like. It was the version of pasta she had experienced up to that point that was so unappealing.
Once she tasted the real thing, it changed her view of Italian food forever.
Many People Have Been Served a Poor, Limp, Watered-Down Gospel
Many people have been served a poor, limp, watered-down, non-tasty, ineffective Gospel of Jesus and so they have rejected it.
But Jesus said His plans for us are that rivers, not little trickles, of living water would flow from Him through us and out to the world. He’s not holding us back, He wants to release us into the abundance God desires for us.
Jesus’ Mission is About Abundant, Eternal Life FOR US!
Over and over, Jesus said things like…
“The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they might have life and have it abundantly (overflowing).” (John 10:10)
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me; because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor, He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18–19)
“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” (John 15:12)
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Those are not bland, limp, restrictive words; those are words about living life at the highest possible level:
Abundant Life
Healing
Freedom
Hope
Joy
Peace
And this is only a handful of what God has offered us. There are thousands of life-giving, joy-producing, powerful promises woven through the entire Bible, and every single promise is God’s will for every single one of us.
God’s Will Is Far Better Than Anything We Could Come Up With on Our Own
If you keep reading God’s promises and taking them to heart, it will become soooo obvious that God’s will, His plans and purposes for us are far better than anything we could ever come up with on our own.
Experiencing God’s will, His plans, purposes, and promises is an on-going process. But it begins by recognizing and then responding to the fact that He is love and He is brilliant, and the plans He has made for us are worth prioritizing.
Once we’re convinced His will is the best, we’ll start the journey of taking those promises and bringing them from the spiritual, already done realm, into our lives here and now.
My goal is to help busy believers experience God more deeply, grow consistently—both spiritually and personally—and confidently live out their unique purpose.
