Need teaching/thoughts on "God's Will"

[MaryD7]

I am interested in hearing about thoughts on God’s will. We have heard about God’s will; we pray for God’s will (in the Lord’s prayer); but what actually is God’s will?

For example, I have five children. Was I predestined to have 5 children because that was God’s will or was it because my husband and I got busy at exactly the right time?

And if I am to pray for “God’s will” how am I supposed to know that I have done God’s will?

I know this sounds like a very basic question but it is very important to my spiritual life. I have been so afraid that I won’t do God’s will that I have almost become paralyzed. I need to break free of the fear that I will not make the right choices.

 

[svoboda]

MaryD7:

I am interested in hearing about thoughts on God’s will. We have heard about God’s will; we pray for God’s will (in the Lord’s prayer); but what actually is God’s will?

For example, I have five children. Was I predestined to have 5 children because that was God’s will or was it because my husband and I got busy at exactly the right time?

And if I am to pray for “God’s will” how am I supposed to know that I have done God’s will?

I know this sounds like a very basic question but it is very important to my spiritual life. I have been so afraid that I won’t do God’s will that I have almost become paralyzed. I need to break free of the fear that I will not make the right choices.

peterkreeft.com/topics/discernment.htm

This is a perfect article for you.

 

[Toni]

Good question.

When praying for God’s will quite often things work out the way that God wants them to not the way we want them.

Because only God can give life your five children yes that would be God’s will. I prayed for many but only had three. But God’s will for me was to teach and have many students instead I believe.

Sometimes we confuse God’s will with our own because we may want something so bad that we force our will upon God. God being the loving and merciful Father may or may not help these things to work out.But often we may have stumbling blocks to show us that maybe this is not really God’s will for us.

Before jumping into something pray to the Holy Spirit but don’t paralyze yourself over the fear of not doing God’s will.

I believe when you truly want to do what is God’s will somehow he shows you his will. Even when it is what we do not want his will to be. Like I said there are a lot of pitfalls in our will.
But in God’s will there may be what appears to be pitfalls but they are not holes just God’s way of saying that I want you to do these things as well.

I hope I have not confused you more than helped you.

Ask yourself is this my will or what God really wants for me then pray for the answer.

 

[MaryD7]

This is a perfect article for you.

Thank you so much! The article gave me so much food for thought.

And so begins my Lenten journey …

 

[swnunley]

MaryD7:

I am interested in hearing about thoughts on God’s will. We have heard about God’s will; we pray for God’s will (in the Lord’s prayer); but what actually is God’s will?

For example, I have five children. Was I predestined to have 5 children because that was God’s will or was it because my husband and I got busy at exactly the right time?

And if I am to pray for “God’s will” how am I supposed to know that I have done God’s will?

I know this sounds like a very basic question but it is very important to my spiritual life. I have been so afraid that I won’t do God’s will that I have almost become paralyzed. I need to break free of the fear that I will not make the right choices.

You already have the answer. Yes, go back to the basics. The youngest of Catholic schoolchildren know God’s will.

“Why did God make me?”
“God made me to love and serve Him in this world, and to be happy with hime in the next.”

That’s “all” there is to it. We do God’s will everyday when we are obediant to His Word and His Church. God told us to “be fruitfull and multiply”; you did that. God commands us to worship Him on the Sabbath; you do that as faithful Catholics. If you reach out in love and charity to your neighbor, you do God’s will; “whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me.”. Serving God in our own way is doing God’s will.

So many of us are overly concerned with God’s “big plans” for our lives. Maybe there is one for you, maybe there isn’t; but the one thing we are all called to do is the little things with great love, as Mother Theresa said. That is truly God’s will.

From your post, it looks to me like you’re on the right track. Don’t worry about the BIG things (like religious life, etc.), God will let you know about those. Just concentrate on the little things.

 

[MaryD7]

Toni:

I hope I have not confused you more than helped you.

Ask yourself is this my will or what God really wants for me then pray for the answer.

No, you didn’t confuse me. I could tell by your answer that you understood my question.

I often laugh that I have to remind myself that the Lord’s pray is “Thy will be done” not “My will be done”.

 

[MaryD7]

swnunley:

You already have the answer. Yes, go back to the basics. The youngest of Catholic schoolchildren know God’s will.

“Why did God make me?”
“God made me to love and serve Him in this world, and to be happy with hime in the next.”

That’s “all” there is to it. We do God’s will everyday when we are obediant to His Word and His Church. God told us to “be fruitfull and multiply”; you did that. God commands us to worship Him on the Sabbath; you do that as faithful Catholics. If you reach out in love and charity to your neighbor, you do God’s will; “whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me.”. Serving God in our own way is doing God’s will.

So many of us are overly concerned with God’s “big plans” for our lives. Maybe there is one for you, maybe there isn’t; but the one thing we are all called to do is the little things with great love, as Mother Theresa said. That is truly God’s will.

From your post, it looks to me like you’re on the right track. Don’t worry about the BIG things (like religious life, etc.), God will let you know about those. Just concentrate on the little things.

You know, you hit on something in the very first paragraph in your response: “The youngest of Catholic schoolchildren know God’s will.”

I wasn’t raised Catholic but was raised Fundamentalist. I was taught that when we don’t do God’s will only trouble will lay before us. Now, mind you, in a child’s eyes that’s a pretty big threat.

Now that I have grown I see that trouble lays before us, whether we have been good Christians or not. It’s called life. But I still can’t seem to get around the fear of not making the right decisions. Maybe where “God’s will” comes in is how we respond to the trouble (and troublemakers).

Hmmm…much to contemplate on.

 

[Anonymous_1]

Micah 6:8
No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

We have free will, I believe when we seek to surrender our will and ambition to God and really desire to do His will, He will lead us into it. Also when we do even the littlest things freely and willfully out of a desire to please God i believe this pleases God greatly. If we are seeking His will in prayer, faithfully adhering to the obligations of the faithful, following His precepts and commands, and striving to grow in holiness(as Matthew Kelly would say, becomming the best version of ourself) I don’t see how we can go wrong.

I don’t know that Gods will is necesarily set in stone for our lives. Even when we fail to do Gods will, He lets us know, He disciplines us and teaches us. Really awesome stuff! Praise be to God!

These are just my thoughts, by no means inerrant,any other thoughts?