Some years ago a friend and I was talking and I remember her talking about all the things that were going wrong in her life. I remember telling her maybe you need to pray and ask God what is His will for your life. She said she hates when people tell her that! I asked her why? She said that’s like saying what you are praying for is not going to be answered the way you want it to be. Although I tried to explain to her the love the Father has for His children and how he withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11). Sadly my friend did not understand that. We must pray for one another because Satan plants seeds in our mind that strips us from the grace and glory God wants to give us. God’s children are distinct and He wants to give divine assistance to each of us, as a matter of fact, He takes pleasure in answering our prayers. 

When we have a relationship with the Father, He will reveal His will to us as we draw near to him. When we are connected to Jesus our desires will be in line with the word of God. We won’t have to worry about the future because we know the God we serve has gone before us and planned our future. Jeremiah 29:11-13 New International Version (NIV) says “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” 

Aren’t you glad our God listens to us. In order to surrender your will to God’s will, you must have a trusting relationship with Him. Saying thy will be done is saying God I trust you with my future. I believe you’re going to handle the situation. I know when I place my future in your hands I will have no regrets. You must have faith and believe that He will take care of you. God encourages you and me to call on Him and come and pray to Him, and He says’ that He will listen to you. If you really want to know the will of God for your life all you have to do is ask. We should not fear the will of God because we know that He loves us and has promised us a future.

Do not let Satan sow seeds of doubt in your mind when it comes to the will of God. If you are timid and insecure when it comes to doing the will of God ask God to remove that spirit from you and remember, “God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, and love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Has the power of truth grabbed hold of you? Do not let the conformity of this world cloud your mind and cause you not to discern the will of God for your life. It is God’s will that his children “give thanks in all circumstances” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:18). It is “God’s will that you should be sanctified and avoid sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). 

Hebrews 13:21 says God will, “equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” If you want to know God’s will for your life you must pray. God is our supplier and He will supply us with what we need to do His will. Will you let God work in you what is pleasing to him? Ask God to renew your mind so that you may know His will and what is good, acceptable, and perfect. When people gossip about you and ridicule you continue to do good and it will put to silence the attacks of the enemy. We are not to be foolish we must understand what the will of God is (Ephesians 5:17). We are to walk humbly with our God. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). It should be our desire to see people saved and to come into the knowledge of the truth. When we love Jesus our will lines up with His will for our lives. We must trust the Father’s will even when it doesn’t make sense to us, even when we are feeling rejected and ridiculed we must trust the will of the Father. 

1 John 2:17 says, “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” We live in a world filled with unsatisfied people. We have a house but we want a bigger house. We have a good reliable car but we want the latest car. We have a desire to want everything the world has to offer but our Greatest need is Jesus. We will never be satisfied with what this world has to offer and soon this world will be destroyed and everything in it. All the expensive homes, cars, yachts, jewelry, clothes, and shoes.

The first time Jesus came His mission was to “seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). In the Gospel of John chapter 14 verse 3, Jesus says when “I come again, I’m coming to receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” The debt has already been paid Jesus is coming to collect. The question is will you be ready? Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? 

Sometimes we have to suffer in this world but it is better to suffer for doing good if it’s God’s will than to suffer for doing evil. When you are uncertain of what the Lord’s will is for your life all you have to do is pray and ask God. Psalm 143:10 (ESV) says, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!” You want to know God’s will for your life, in order to be taught you must have the instructions and we know that 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) says, “ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” Everything you need to know when seeking the Father’s will is in the Holy word of God.

When you ask God to teach you His will you must do the groundwork and it starts with reading the bible by searching the scriptures not only will God reveal His will to you. He will also reveal Himself to you. Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” The instructions you need are in the word of God.

Sometimes God’s will is not easy to accept. Sometimes we don’t understand why God allow us to go through certain things but we must trust that He has a plan for us. We don’t understand why people we love plot against us. Sometimes we don’t understand why that friend betrayed us but God knows and He cares. Maybe you are in the Garden of Gethsemane right now you are sorrowful and troubled. Maybe you are overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death like Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and you have asked your friends and family members to keep watch for you. You know sometimes we ask our friends to watch our back because we have a very real enemy trying to destroy us but they become distracted.

Jesus told his disciples to keep watch for him in the Garden of Gethsemane while he went to pray to the Father in Matthew 26:39-41 (KJV) the word of God says, And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 

It seems when we need our friends consolation and sincere prayers the most that’s when we find them sleeping like the disciples. Instead of our friends watching and praying to God for us they are to tired and have fallen asleep. Jesus knew all the test and trials his disciples would have to face in ministry so he took them with him so they might be strength to him and what they were about to witness that night would forever be remembered so when they face trials their faith will not fail, but instead of watching with Christ they were burdened with sorrow, and fell asleep.

Matthew 26:42-46 (KJV) says, He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

Jesus submitted his will to the Father’s will, “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.” When we are faced with great trials do we say like Jesus said, “thy will be done?” Satan may use people to plot against you just like he used the Chief Priest and Elders to scheme against Jesus but they will not get the victory. God sees all and knows all and He will deliver. It doesn’t take much for people to sell you out this day and time. Everybody who is on this Christian journey with you is not always for you. 

Judas Iscariot a disciple of Jesus betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver to the Chief Priest and the bible says from then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over. That’s exactly how Satan invades our lives he watch for an opportunity to destroy you. Do not be surprised friends when the enemy send people your way to scheme against you, do not be discouraged when Satan uses people to hurt you. Do not be surprised when the person you break bread with has plotted against you. We must pray without ceasing because Satan is watching and waiting on a opportunity to destroy us.  Satan mission is to destroy you in any way he can!

It was no surprise to Jesus what the enemy had plotted. Jesus knew that Judas would betray him and many of the disciples would desert him. Right after Jesus had miraculously fed the five thousand with two small fish and five small barley loaves of bread, walked on water, and told the disciples “He is the bread of life” many disciples after hearing Jesus teaching in the Synagogue in Capernaum deserted him. 

John 6:53-58(KJV) “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.” “Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” (John 6:60). 

At first, the people were excited by the miracles Jesus had done but when it came to spiritual truth many turned away. Many of whom proclaim to be disciples of Jesus closed their ears to the truth! As long as they are being blessed physically they loved Jesus they were excited to follow the Master but when they were convicted by the truth many turned away from the Master. Many of the disciples deserted Jesus!  In John 6:61-64 King James (KJV) “When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it (His Teaching), he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.” It was no surprise to Jesus the wickedness in Judas heart. Judas could have turned back and no longer followed Jesus like the other disciples in the Gospel of John 6:66 but he decided to carry out the plans of the Devil.

When Jesus asked the twelve did they want to leave to Judas could have left. In John 6:70 “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?” Jesus who communed often with Father was not caught off guard by Judas’ actions. Judas had every opportunity to not give in to Satan and his tactics but he chose to follow through with the plans of the Devil. He could have repented for his thoughts of wickedness and his love for money and Jesus would have forgiven him but he chose to carry out the work of Satan. God has given all of his children the freedom of choice it is up to us the path we choose. 

In the Gospel according to Matthew chapter 26 verses 22-25 King James Version (KJV) we read about the Lord’s Supper Jesus reclining at the table with the twelve and Jesus tells them one of them will betray him the bible says, “And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.” Jesus knew exactly what Judas had planned and had the power to stop him but instead, he chose to carry out the will of the Father because he had you and me on his mind. 

Judas who had gained enough trust to be named the disciple’s treasurer allowed Satan to use him to betray the Savior of the world. Jesus loved Judas just like he loved all of his disciples so I cannot fathom the sorrow Jesus must have felt to be betrayed by Judas but Judas wasn’t the only one. The Gospel of Mark 14:50-52 King James Version (KJV) says, And they all forsook him, and fled. And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. This was a time the disciples should have been drawn closer to Jesus but overtaken by fear and insecurities they all forsook him.

When things get difficult do you cling to Jesus or do you run from the difficulties you face in life? The disciples who walked with Jesus, who witnessed Jesus healing power, who witnessed the feeding of the multitude, who sat under his authoritative teaching, and witnessed many miracles was not prepared for what was about to take place. If only they had spent time watching and praying in the Garden of Gethsemane instead of sleeping maybe they would have had the courage and strength to stand with Jesus but instead they all forsook him and fled. It is so easy for us like the disciples in Matthew 26:35 (NKJ) to say like Peter said to Jesus, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples. We say with our mouth one thing but our actions show something totally different. We need Jesus’ friends we cannot defeat the enemy if we are not watching and praying because the spirit is willing but the flesh is indeed weak. 

Apostle Paul says it like this in Romans 7:19-25 (NKJV), “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do,that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”

Friends we have to bring our body into subjection to the will of God. If you’re eyes are causing you to commit adultery in your heart you have to pray and ask God to help you. If what comes out of your mouth is defiling you and causing people to reject the word of God then you need to ask God for deliverance. Apostle Paul makes it clear only Jesus can deliver us from this body of death. We can’t defeat the enemy when we are trying to do it in our own strength and sometimes our real enemy is us.

Judas’ love for money and his willingness to do anything for it cost him greatly. Just like our love for materialistic things will cost us greatly if we don’t surrender to God. We see Apostle Paul is in a battle and the struggle is an inner struggle.  Paul says I do not understand what I do. What I want to do I do not. You see some of us have good intentions we want to do God’s will. I’m sure Judas didn’t start out planning to betray Jesus his love for money caused him to stray away from the King of King and Lord of Lord’s and he yielded to the master of deception which is Satan.

We are in a battle with a very real enemy who can disguise himself as an angel of light. There is a struggle going on and the only way we will be delivered is we have to put our trust in Jesus. There is this internal conflict happening and what I hate that I do. You may say, I hate sinning, but yet I find myself partying, drinking, fornicating, and gossiping all the time.  

Paul says I agree that the law is good and I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out; for what I do is not the good that I want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. It sounds to me like Paul is struggling because the flesh is at war with the Spirit and according to Galatians 5:17 New International Version (NIV) “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”

Every believer must rely solely on Jesus for deliverance! Jesus does not give up on us he never stops pursuing us! Although the disciples forsook Jesus and fled He still loved them and willingly used them as instruments to win souls to Him. Judas would have had that same opportunity but he chose to hang himself. The bible says in Matthew 27:3-5 (NKJV) the bible says, “Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. 

Satan led Judas down a path of regret, guilt and shame just like he has done or is doing many of us yet Jesus does not condemn us. “He knew that Judas did not repent; his confession was forced from his guilty soul by an awful sense of condemnation and a looking for of judgment, but he felt no deep, heartbreaking grief that he had betrayed the spotless Son of God, and denied the Holy One of Israel. Yet Jesus spoke no word of condemnation. He looked pityingly upon Judas, and said, For this hour came I into the world.” (The Desire of Ages, by Ellen G. White, Chapter 76). 

Jesus knew His purpose on this earth and He also knew Satan was going to use as many people as possible to hinder Him from fulfilling His purpose but it did not stop Jesus from doing the will of the Father. So how do we get the victory over this battle we are in? How do we become slaves to righteousness instead of slaves to sin? The answer is to surrender ourselves and every battle to God. When we love the things of this world more than God we are bound for destruction. We must surrender our will to God’s will. Jesus gives us a perfect example of trusting the will of the Father even if it means death. Dying to self is the only way we are going to live and abundant life for Christ. We must be born again or this flesh will take over. Will you surrender your will to the Father? The plans He has for you is far greater than the plans you have made for yourself. Trust His perfect plan for your life. Listen for the voice of God and take heed to the Holy Spirit guiding you. I pray that is your desire to be in the will of God and to live a life that pleases Him.

Cleo Ferguson-God’s Servant