I am so grateful for you and your prayers. I look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday.
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Knowing God’s will is sometimes a difficult thing for us as believers.
We all want to find God’s will for our life.
But often the motivation in seeking God’s will is self-centered.
It is God’s will for me, with the emphasis upon me.
Of course, God has a will and purpose for each of us, but many times we may have no idea that God’s will is for God!
It is not just His will for me.
It is His will for Himself.
Vision gives us the ability to prove what is not only the “good” but also the “well pleasing and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:2 indicates that in order to prove the perfect will of God, we need the transformation that comes from the renewing of our mind.
Transformation and mind-renewing are related to vision.
The vision of the major things on God’s heart automatically imparts the ability to prove the will of God.
Without vision, we will be trying to figure out what God’s will is.
Finding God’s will for our life becomes a major pursuit.
We look for some indication of His leading.
We look for impressions.
We are expecting that perhaps God will speak to us in a dream.
We often are eagerly waiting for an open door.
This is not to say that the Lord does not use various means to reveal His will to us, but many times we are seeking for something that has nothing to do with God’s own will for Himself.
We are without the overall vision of the mystery of His will, which is Christ and the church–the governing vision of the universe.
Let me illustrate.
When a young man joins the Army, he is under the direction of the big will of the Army.
His decisions and his little will about where he lives, how he spends his time, and when he goes on leave are all within the scope of the big will.
The big will is really the will that controls and directs his life.
His little will moves within the sphere of the big will.
We all must know that there is a big will for every believer.
That big will is Christ and the church!
That is God’s revealed will for you and for me.
My little will–who I am going to marry, where I am going to school, where I am going to live–is to be discerned within the sphere of God’s big revealed will.
And this revealed will of God is identical to the heavenly vision that Paul obeyed.
Thus, like Paul, we can prove and know the perfect will of God.
It is vision that gives us the ability to prove it!
Until Tomorrow
With A Shepherd’s Love,
Pastor Jackson
FRIDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Greg Paine
June Cronan
Lee Cronan
Darlene Thaxton
Darlene Wiggins
Amy Garner
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Ashely Burn’s Sisters
Brandon’s Dad
Charlene Palmer
Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Dan Haines
David Burnette
David Harrison
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Donnie Butler’s Dad
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Easton Fielder
Eric Ward
Erik Magnusson
Freddie May’s Mom
George & Linda Alexander
James Burnette
James Garner’s Friend
Jillian Gray
Jim Mabe
Jodi Bateman
John Austin
John McClain
June Cronan’s Sister
Karen Slane
Kim McClain’s Mother
Lamar Knight
Larry Barker
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Alexander
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Lonzo Christin
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Maureen Brown
Michael Stanley
Pastor & Mrs. Driskell
Ricky Gipson – Ashley’s Brother
Ricky Stubbs
Rose Fuller
Roseleigh Osborn
Sandra Graham
Scott Lanier
Terrell Loyd
Tom Witcher