You’ve given the Lord your life, but have you given Him your day? Seeking God’s direction and provision for each day should be a priority in our thoughts, prayers, and decisions. While we can’t know what the future holds, He has complete understanding and wisdom to direct our paths, not only in the crucial decisions, but in our daily concerns. In this message, Dr. Stanley addresses the importance of looking to God for everyday guidance. No part of our lives is to be lived independently of our wise and loving Creator. When we learn to seek Him for every need and concern, we give Him rightful place as Lord of our lives.
where does the will of God fit in your
life that is do you ask for his
direction his guidance his provision or
you just wake up in the morning and
decide how you gonna live for the day or
you don’t give it a lot of thought you
just saw one of those persons who sort
of walks in the same tracks every day
and as long as you have what you want
what you think you need you don’t really
give God a whole lot of thought when I
think about that and I think about how
people operate without God in their life
I’m brought back to when I first came
day First Baptist I came as an associate
pastor and there were 60 deacons and
there were seven men who ran everything
and so since I had no authority I was no
danger to anybody and they would let me
sit in on their meetings and so I was
sitting in on this meeting I’ll never
forget and they get a little bit of an
argument and discussion they could make
up their mind they couldn’t make a
decision about something this is my own
probably for 45 minutes or longer and I
thought we’re not yet anywhere and so
when I said why don’t we ask what’s the
will of God about this I’ll never forget
the reaction the man who said to my
right was an attorney and he spoke up he
said leave God out of this this is
business
well when he said that my response was
how can you leave God out of God’s
business because it’s the will of God
that we live a certain way it’s the will
of God that affects every single thing
that we do it’s a
the will of God is our guide the will of
God is the principle above which all of
us should live every single day doesn’t
make any difference who you are but if
you never ask God for direction in your
life what you are saying by your conduct
your attitude is I can do without him I
don’t need his direction I don’t need
his help I can make it without it when
you live day after day without
consulting with God asking Lord what you
will what pleases you what honors you if
I lived day after day without asking
that what I’m saying is I don’t need him
oh you say I wouldn’t I would never say
I don’t need God well what about your
conduct what about your habits do you
act like you don’t need it mother you
act like you need him if you believe
that God has a sovereign will for your
life which he does if you believe what
the Bible says about God and our
relationship to him then how do you go
day after day without asking Lord what
would you have me to do about this what
would you have you do about this
purchase about this relationship about
my attitude about my expense about how I
handle money how I handle people in
other words if you go day after day and
you don’t ask for God’s guidance and
direction
what you’re saying is I can handle it
how foolish how foolish to think that
you can handle life without God in the
society in which you live or any society
and one of the interesting things I want
to read in this scripture here is Jesus
on his way to the cross in the 22nd
chapter of Luke if you’d like to turn
that for a moment his ministry is coming
to a close physically and he knows the
father’s will he’s been praying about
that
he’s been knowing it a long time
thirty years as a carpenter somewhere
there abouts and now he’s been an
evangelist teaching the Word of God and
verse 39 of the 22nd chapter says and he
came out and proceeded as was his custom
to the Mount of Olives and the disciples
followed them that’s right he used to go
that was his place of prayer now what is
he doing because the cross is right next
door it’s coming the next day when he
arrived at the place he said to them
pray that you may not enter into
temptation and he withdrew from them
about a stone’s throw and he nailed down
and began to pray listen to what the son
of God is praying father if you are
willing remove this cup from me that is
is there any other way for us the
purchase Redemption for all mankind and
escape the cross yet not my will but
yours be done
Jesus who is the son of God was asking
the father is there any other way but
the way of the cross and of course there
was not now what do we mean by the will
of God if somebody said to you are you
living in the will of God how would you
answer that when you couldn’t answer
unless you know what it is so listen to
this the will of God is that which God
approves and determines the ring about
it concerns God’s choices of what to do
and what not to do think about that that
which God approves us determines the
ring about it concerns God’s choices of
what to do and what not to do when is
the last time you said God what do you
want me to do about this
God what about my relationship to her
are damned yada what about my job
Lord of what what do you want my kids to
go to college
Lord what about my relationship to this
man not so this woman Lord Oh what what
about where you want me to live
Lord what about changing jobs when it’s
the last time you opened yourself up to
holy God who knows everything and has
your best interests at heart
when is the last time you opened your
heart to him and said Lord show me you
will what would you have me to do there
are many people who don’t think they
need the will of God they’re living
their lives they call it the way they
want to live it but they’re miserable
and many people are miserable and will
not turn to God because they think
they’re smart enough to figure it out
why don’t we have so much alcoholism and
so much dope drugs sex and all the rest
people are looking for something that’s
satisfied that inner feeling that they
have looking for something to make them
happy
looking for something of somebody who’ll
bring them completeness when only God
can do it God didn’t make us equip us to
live happily and peacefully and eternal
it without him you’re not made that way
we are made to depend upon Almighty God
and here’s the Lord Jesus Christ himself
is there any other way acknowledging his
dependence upon the father and in your
own personal life how often do you ask
him about decisions that you have to me
there are always going to be decisions
we now ask him we don’t ask him looking
a second Peter 3 for just a moment 2nd
Peter chapter 3 this is a very
interesting verse of scripture 2nd Peter
3:17 listen to what he says you
therefore beloved knowing this
beforehand be on your guard so that you
are not carried away by the era of
unprincipled men and fall from your own
steadfastness that is any of us can
stumble at all God wants us looking to
him
depending upon him trusting him so that
every day when you’re now wake up we
should be asking the Lord
to give us direction for our life that
day you don’t know who you’re gonna meet
you don’t know whether you’re gonna get
to your job or not you don’t know
whether your husband or wife will be
home when you get there not a whit kind
of mess your kids are in college in
other words are you living your life in
relationship to God are you seeking his
will his purpose his plan for your life
are you just living it out and you call
upon him when you feel like you really
need him when something has reached
beyond your capacity to handle God has
the best will for every single one of us
he has the best plan for us he doesn’t
keep it a secret you don’t have to do
this that in order to find out what God
wants you to do you need to ask him and
be willing to do what he says and yet
most people never stop to consider
should I buy that should I marry him or
her and make decisions on their own
without God when Jesus the Son of God in
those critical moments in his life took
a moment longer the same I want to be
sure is there any other way and of
course the father said the way of the
Cross is it so would you say you live
but the will of God in your life or have
you decided that you can handle it on
your own they remember this because he’s
omniscient God has a plan and a will for
your life he has the best plan and has a
will that fits you perfectly your
talents your abilities your skills
everything about you fits what God wants
to do in your life you say well but I’m
not as skilled as other people well I
understand that for example if somebody
put me on that ball team they probably
lose or if I was in a mechanic shop I
probably would know what to do there are
lot of things I’m not fit for a lot of
things I’m not equipped for and but but
you are equipped for something that is
God did not leave you out you may feel
like oh sometimes
what does my life count your life counts
because remember this when Jesus died he
had you in mind he had ever seen you’re
one of us in mine had the world in mine
you say well that happened 2,000 years
ago what does he say we’re to pray to
him and talk to him now
talk to him daily listen to him asking
for guidance because God in heaven is
listening he wants to hear from us
there’s not a single aspect of your life
which you should just erase from your
relationship to God
we need him about everything you need
him in your marriage with your children
with your job with all the mechanical
things that happen in your life all of
us need him and to go day after day and
not read his word day after day and not
asking for direction and guidance in
your life is to say I don’t need him oh
yes I need him oh when did you get on
your knees and talk to him when did you
plead for God to give you wisdom in
there actually when did you have to make
a big time to the decision and you said
well Lord I’m not gonna make this
decision till you show me what to do or
did you just go ahead and do it without
him holy God wants the best for you
there’s nowhere in the scriptures that
you can find that God doesn’t want the
best for you but are you asking him are
you seeking his direction that is his
will or are you asking for something
else
they God does and judges by comparing us
to other people he has a plan for your
life it’s not the same plans as other
people’s lives it’s different and
usually may say well if I have another
chance I would do this and so God
doesn’t make any mistakes you won’t be
like someone else you ought to be like
what God intended for you because the
only real genuine peace and joy and
satisfaction and the feeling of being a
complete and satisfied is a personal
relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ
the will of God that is what does he
want for you what has he provided to you
he’s provided the best
you that some of you were say very early
in life some a little bit lady said well
when does God’s will begin it began in
the beginning and God doesn’t plan the
same for all of us but whoever we are
wherever we are in life seeking the will
of God the mind of God the purpose of
God the plan of God what does he want in
the next step in your life you have
children you have grandchildren when’s
the last time you ever brought up the
subject listen to me carefully
very early in that child’s life
you should be introducing them to this
truth that God has a will in the plan
for your life and I can remember as soon
as my two children were born I’d get out
of the bed every night that I was home
and I’d pray this prayer show and didn’t
she’ll break it your will for their life
and I’d say that to them over and over
and over again you ask God to show you
his will for your life ask God to show
you his will for your life they grew up
believing that and you just like look
what’s happening in the colleges and
look what’s happening all the
drunkenness and sex and all the myths
you know what they’re looking for
looking for something to satisfy them
Gramps
grandmother granddad mom and dad you
have a responsibility to introduce your
children to Jesus Christ and not only
that you need to be a part of their life
interfering in their life interject in
your opinion in their life reminding
them that they cannot be a success and
what God’s called them to do apart from
Jesus Christ they may make a lot of
money they may do a lot of things the
world may think they’re absolutely
fantastic now thinking about all these
people who can’t even count their money
but you can count on this they’re
unhappy without God you can’t make
enough money you can’t listen when
you’re living in sin you can’t do
anything until you deal the sin problem
and this is why there’s so much of all
the other stuff that we’re talking about
God loves you he has a will and a plan
for your life you say well I’m 50 years
old I just got saved what’s God’s will
he takes you where you are
listen he knows how to overcome your
past erase all the mistakes no but what
he’ll do is enabled you to overcome the
mistakes able you to get a different
view on life to enable you to have a
relationship with Jesus Christ that will
amaze you everybody makes mistakes
everybody’s sin everybody has fallen
that times about some things God wants
the best for us listen through the last
day of her life
isn’t it interesting what God has to do
sometimes to get us to think and to
think wisely and to think soberly and to
ask the right questions God’s what’s
your will for my life Alvin do you pray
for your children grandchildren and pray
God show him your will for his life show
her your will for that light don’t let
them make the wrong person god help her
to marry the right fella
and sometimes grandparents and parents
need to get right in the middle of their
life you say well you know what their
own look to make up their own mind they
may be old enough but not mature enough
but listen without God you are not
maternal carriage are you not mature
enough to make wise decisions about
marriage and money and sex and all the
rest without God evident look around you
look what’s happening we ever decided
it’s in chaos because we think we can do
without God and sometimes when you
mention God what happens well don’t give
me that church stuff not giving you
church stuff I’m giving you the stuff
about what you need to start thinking
because you’re gonna meet him one day
and the Bible says it’s appointed on the
man who wants to die and after this the
judgment
life is serious business and God wants
to be in the center of your life he
wants to be at the hub of your life he’s
willing to give you guys he’s willing to
show you the truth but you’ve gotta
surrender your life to him
I’m just simply saying that life is
serious it’s serious about your children
serious about your grandchildren’s
serious about that future who they marry
how they live their lives
life is serious business
and Jesus intends for you and I to live
our lives in submission to his will
because that’s what’s best do you think
that God would have a plan for your life
that would just be horrible no he
wouldn’t there’s a menu plan his plan is
always easy no there are many people who
go through very difficult things in life
it doesn’t mean that God doesn’t care it
doesn’t mean they’re out of God’s will
but it means that God has trusted them
in a situation in a circumstance that
they have to depend upon him in ways
that maybe some of us don’t and so when
I think about what’s the will of God
that’s the question every single one of
us should ask so I’m ask you this
question when’s the last time you said
to him Lord of what’s your will for my
life at this point you say well I’ve
made mistakes so there’s no hope for me
yes let’s hope for you
it begins with confession repentance and
the surrender of your life to God listen
to me carefully even listening say Amen
you can’t get in a mess God can’t get
you out of it may be painful but it gets
you through it
God loves you he knows why we make
mistakes and I’m saying to you friend
you’re gonna make a mess of your life if
you don’t trust God to give you God in
some direction of your life no one can
guide you like God can he knows
everything about you
he knows the handicaps in your life he
knows the things that you’ve missed
he knows the desires of your heart he
knows that you don’t have what some
other people have but he knows while he
created you and he wants you to have a
sense of fulfillment in life he does not
what you miserable he wants you to have
a sense of fulfillment in life you
reflect him if you trust in him as your
Savior God wants the best for you and
he’s willing to make the best for you if
he will surrender your life to him yield
to him and ask the question– God what
would you have me to do in this
situation
he’ll answer that question God is not
going to turn a deaf ear to you it
making difference what you’ve done where
you’ve been who you’ve done it with and
the mess you’ve made of it will he
listen if you will cry out to him he
will but it begins with this whole issue
of surrendering to the will of God do
you know what people don’t surrender to
the will of God because they don’t
believe God has a will for him that’s a
reason why should God heaven look at all
the billions of people why did God have
a will for my life because you’re a
person he hasn’t over look to you he
loves you doesn’t make a difference
where you’ve been what you’ve done
what’s happened the message sure and he
loves you just the same listen you
cannot alter the love of God for
yourself you may think you drunk so much
then there’s so many situations and
circumstances that God won’t forgive you
God will forgive you period
it makes some difference what he’s
willing to forgive you he’s willing to
take the mess you’ve made and turn it
into something awesome if you are
willing and sometimes you say well I
don’t deserve it
who of us deserves anything that’s not
the issue this is this if you wonder
what he’ll do for you watch this
carefully first of all look at the cross
that’s how much he loves you
that’s what he’s done for you first of
all he died in order that you may have
life and have it more abundantly
he died in order to be able to forgive
you for the message you’ve made in your
life he died in order to make it
possible to take you out of it to give
you a new beginning and a new hope I’ll
never forget a lady who sitting on a
second row one Sunday I put one of my
photographs up on the screen it was of a
sail ship and had it been wrecked and so
think I was working on I walked around
his lawn twice and I came back I said
how about a photograph that for some
reason take a picture of it well he was
sitting on the second row
two weeks later she said I want to tell
you something I can hardly tell you this
she said I’d made such a mess of my life
I was ready to give up
she said when you said about that boat
that old boat was sail again she said
God said to me and you will too you’ll
sail again tear and I can say to you
this morning you’ve just heard the truth
that’s all it may have been comforting
or very discomforting but I plead with
you in Jesus name
do not ignore what you’ve heard because
you have an opportunity for God to
change your life starting today tell you
one more story I purchased the car in
another state and so they had to bring
it to me
it’s not because I couldn’t have all two
here just happen to see what I wanted
there and so they brought it to me on
this truck and he was all covered up and
still uncovered it and I can hardly tell
you this when he got my car in the
garage he said I understand I won’t tell
you something I was in prison I’d really
messed up my life and we can listen to
tapes and sometimes radio he he says the
reason I’m so happy to bring you this
car is I was listening and God changed
my life and I can as an honor just to
bring you this car to say thank you for
preaching the truth that got to me he
got me saved
and God will save you if you let him
he’ll change your life if you let him
and that’s my prayer father we love you
in prision thank you that your goal is
not the judges but to love us forgive us
for our sins
give us that awesome second chance you
didn’t say we had to deserve it
you just said surrender and I pray that
every person who hears this message will
not be able to escape not be able to
escape the truth and be wise enough to
surrender their life to you afraid you
know one seated here unsaved we confess
their sins to you Lord surrender their
life give them a new beginning and
anyone watching and listening wherever
they are in the world will realize that
you are there to you’ll do for them what
we said no matter what no matter where
they’ve been
no matter the mess they’ve made of life
you’re the god of a second third fourth
fifth tenth of chance I pray that you’ll
bless every person who turns see you
Lord in Jesus name Amen
you