Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORDwatches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. -Psalm 127:1-2
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. -1 COr. 2:1-5
Francis Chan in his book, Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit, tell us to “Forget about His will for your life.” Rather, worry about keeping in step with the Spirit at this moment. He continues to explain that part of the desire to “know God’s will for my life” is “birthed in fear and results in paralysis.” We are all afraid of making mistakes, but we could rely on prevenient grace. Chances are we never know what future holds. We give our best shot in making a decision, and lift the rest up to God. I can’t reconcile God’s providence and our god-given free will any better than to say that they work hand in hand. We engage our free will, use our intellect, and listen to the Spirit as it leads in decision making, with the confidence that even though we don’t make perfect choices, the God who loves us will have grace upon us and establish His will. It is of the Lord to grow or build, but we get the joy to know Him and work with Him along the way.
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. -1 COr. 2:1-5
Francis Chan in his book, Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit, tell us to “Forget about His will for your life.” Rather, worry about keeping in step with the Spirit at this moment. He continues to explain that part of the desire to “know God’s will for my life” is “birthed in fear and results in paralysis.” We are all afraid of making mistakes, but we could rely on prevenient grace. Chances are we never know what future holds. We give our best shot in making a decision, and lift the rest up to God. I can’t reconcile God’s providence and our god-given free will any better than to say that they work hand in hand. We engage our free will, use our intellect, and listen to the Spirit as it leads in decision making, with the confidence that even though we don’t make perfect choices, the God who loves us will have grace upon us and establish His will. It is of the Lord to grow or build, but we get the joy to know Him and work with Him along the way.
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