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.
[Music]
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’re going to live for the day
or you don’t give it a lot of thought
you’re just 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 to
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
of 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 got a little bit of an argument
and discussion they couldn’t make up
their mind they couldn’t make a decision
about something
and this just went on probably for 45
minutes or longer
and i thought we’re not getting 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 sat to my right was an attorney
and he spoke up and 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 and say
the will of god
is our guide the will of god
is the principle by 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’s your will what
what what pleases you what honors you
if if i live day after day without
asking that what i’m saying is i don’t
need him
oh you said 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 him or do
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 in 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 me 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 there 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
30 years as a carpenter somewhere
thereabouts 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 where 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 knelt 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 to 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 well 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 to bring about
it concerns god’s choices of what to do
and what not to do think about that
that which god approves of
determines to bring 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 or to
him
what about my job lord
where do you want my kids to go to
college
lord what about my relationship to this
man not to this woman
lord what about where you want me to
live
lord what about changing jobs when is
the last time
you opened yourself up to holy god who
knows
everything and has your best interest at
heart when is the last time you opened
your heart to him and said lord
show me your will what 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 according to
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 to
satisfy 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 eternally without him
he you not made that away 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 make there are always
going to be decisions
we either ask him or we don’t ask him
look in
our second peter uh three for just a
moment
second peter chapter three this is a
very interesting verse of scripture
ii 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 error
of unprincipled men and
fall from your own steadfastness that is
any of us can stumble and fall
god wants us looking to him depending
upon him trusting him so that
every day when you and i wake up
we should be asking the lord to give us
direction for our life that day
you don’t know who you’re going to meet
you don’t know whether you’re going to
get to your job or not
you don’t know whether your husband or
wife would be home when you get there or
not or what 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 to say
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 by the will of
god in your life
or have you decided that you can handle
it on your own
so in thinking about that most people
don’t even believe god has a plan for
their life
and i’ve asked many people are you
living in the will of god for your life
well what does that mean and i think
about living your life and not
considering him
unless you get in trouble unless you’re
bleeding unless you’re dying
what about the will of god for every day
if you want god’s best
every day you don’t leave god out
you make him the priority of your life
for that day
and yet most people are not going to do
that and think about this
god has a plan to your life you say
what’s what’s god’s plan for my life i
don’t know the answer to that
he calls us all to do different things
he gives
us all different capacities and
abilities and talents and skills in life
willing to show you who to marry he’s
willing to show you
where to send your kids to college he’s
willing to show you what to buy what not
to buy
he’s willing to show you how to dress
not to dress
and so god involves himself in our life
every single day it’s the will of the
father
it is one of the most important
questions so we ask god
what’s your will for my life what would
you have me to do
now remember this because he’s
omniscient
god has a plan and a will for your life
he has the best plan and he has a will
that fits
you perfectly your talents your 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
their ball team they’d probably
lose or if i was in a mechanic shop
i probably wouldn’t know what to do
there a 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
sometimes
what does my life count your life counts
because remember this
when jesus died he had you and mine
he had every single one of us in mind
had the world in mind you say well that
happened two thousand years ago
well what does he say we have 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 or when did you get on your knees
and talk to him
when did you plead for god to give you
wisdom and direction when did you have
to make a big-time
decision and you said well lord i’m not
going to make this decision until you
show me what to do or did you just go
ahead and do it without him
people are living without god that’s why
we’re in the mess we’re in
people are living without god and what
are substitutes
substitutes for sex alcohol
drugs and all the rest if
you listen when you turn to god you
don’t need anything else
to give you direction for your life and
people are using anything and everything
they can
to fill up what that empty void in their
life
and so they try this they try that they
tried the other
they come up empty because there’s only
one person
who can satisfy the deep longing
yearning in your heart
and that’s jesus and god loves you
enough
the place within you whatever is
necessary for you to accomplish
his purpose and his plan for your life
now god
calls upon some people to do more than
others naturally
and sometimes a homemaker may feel like
well all i do is
keep house and this that and the other
and so well there’s no such thing as an
unimportant person
you can’t name one single person who’s
unimportant eyes of god
when jesus died for whom did he die he
died for all mankind
every single one of us but most people
will never turn to him
and most people will try to live their
life with no
restrictions and they don’t want god
anybody else telling them how to live
well you can live your life that way but
look what you’re going to miss you’re
going to miss
life at its very best because
god has provided the best for us we get
ourselves in message and what does he do
he forgives us of our sins we move on
but most people i’m afraid
will never surrender their will to god
when he has a will and a plan and a
purpose and his plan and purpose is
always the best
holy god wants the best for you
there’s nowhere in the scripture 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
now god doesn’t judge us by comparing us
to other people
he has a plan for your life it’s not the
same plan as other people’s lives
it’s different and user may say well if
i had another chance i would do this and
so god doesn’t make any mistakes
you won’t be like someone else you want
to be like
what god intended for you because the
only real
genuine peace 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
for you
that some of you would say very early in
life some a little bit later you say
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 and a 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 andy show becky 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
look
look what’s happening in the colleges
and look at look what’s happening all
the drunkenness and sex and all the mess
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 interjecting
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 i think 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 and i just
got saved what’s god’s will
he takes you where you are and listen
he knows how to overcome your past erase
all the mistakes no
but what he’ll do is enable you to
overcome the mistakes enable 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
sinned everybody has fallen at times
about some things
god wants the best for us listen through
the last day of our 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
how often do you pray for your children
and grandchildren and pray
god show him your will for his life show
her your will for their life
don’t let them marry the wrong person
god help her to marry the right fellow
and sometimes grandparents and parents
need to
get right in the middle of their life
you say well you know what they’re old
enough to make up their own mind
they may be old enough but not mature
enough
listen without god you’re not material
cattle jar
you’re 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 have a society that’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 i’m
not giving you church stuff i’m giving
you
the stuff about what you need to start
thinking because you’re going to meet
him one day
and the bible says it’s appointed under
man 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 guidance he’s willing to show you
the truth but you’ve got to 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 their 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 does it mean your 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 may ask you this question when’s
the last time you said to him
lord what’s your will for my life at
this point
i’ve lived this long what’s your will
for my life this point
i’ve outlived most all of you that’s my
for my that’s part of my prayer every
morning lord show me your will for today
don’t let me miss anything that you have
in mind
we never get too old to ask god lord
what’s your will for my life about this
what would you have me to do that’s the
best way to live
it’s the only way to live and certainly
it’s the safest way to live in the
society which you and i live
no place for jealousy envy all the
things that people have to put up with
god has the best for you so i was simply
asking you
is that what is that what you’re doing
you’re living in god’s will for your
life
so when is the last time you said lord
at this point in my life
am i in your will lord what do you want
to change in my life
when you ask god what he wants you to
change in your life
remember this he does not turn a deaf
ear
he wants the best for you part of the
problem is we don’t think god wants the
best for us
what we do is we want to say well if i
had grown up with him if
i had grown up with her if i had grown
up rich if i’d have grown up this if i
if i’d have had this
if either if i if father if i and if i
doesn’t get you anywhere
what gets you somewhere is god what’s
your will for my life now
you say well i’ve made mistakes so
there’s no hope for me yes there’s hope
for you
it begins with confession repentance and
the surrender of your life to god listen
to me carefully
listen and say amen you can’t get in the
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
going to make a mess of your life
if you don’t trust god to give you
guidance and 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
why he created you and he wants you to
have a sense of fulfillment in life he
does not want 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 you 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 doesn’t make any 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’ll cry out to him
he will
so let me ask you the first question
are you living in the will of god for
your life
it’s the most important question you
have to answer
am i in the will of god does god have
something much better for me
than i’ve settled for because many
people
settle for a settle for life not god’s
not god’s plan just settle for whatever
they can do and
however they want it but it begins
with this whole issue of surrendering to
the will of god
do you know why people don’t surrender
to the will of god
because they don’t believe god has a
will for them
that’s the reason why should god have a
will look at all the billions of people
why should god have a will for my life
because you’re a person
he hasn’t overlooked you
he loves you doesn’t make any difference
where you’ve been
what you’ve done what’s happened the
message and he loves you just the same
listen you cannot alter the love of god
for yourself
you may think you’ve drunk so much
you’ve
been in so many situations and
circumstances that god won’t forgive you
god will forgive you period
it makes no difference for you he’s
willing to forgive you
he’s willing to take the mess you’ve
made and turn it into something awesome
if you’re willing and sometimes you
think
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 it had been
wrecked
and so the guy was working on and i
walked around this line twice and i came
back i said
i better photograph that for some reason
take a picture of it
well she 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’ve 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 too
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 bought it
here just happened to
see what i wanted there and
so they brought it to me on this truck
and it was all covered up and fell
uncovered it
and i can hardly tell you this
when he got my car in the garage he said
dr stanley i want to tell you something
i was in prison i’ve been messed up my
life
and we could 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 counted an honor just to bring you
this card 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 and praise you and
thank you that your
goal is not to judge us 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
i pray anyone seated here
unsaved would confess their sins to you
lord
surrender their life give them a new
beginning
and anyone watching or listening
wherever they are
in the world will realize that you are
there too
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 chance i pray that you’ll
bless
every person who turns to you lord in
jesus name
[Applause]
amen