We ask that the people of Ukraine may be safe, secure, and that they would know not only peace of earth but your true and unwavering peace.

He came as the promised Jewish Messiah, and as a true king to lead his people. This title of king holds significance to both Jews and Gentiles, and gives us insight into who Jesus is and why he came to earth to dwell among us.

Among the most beautiful moments in Scripture is when Jesus asks this question to Peter after the Resurrection. There is a distinct beauty in the question, as it addresses the shame Peter felt from his denial, foretells Peter’s future role in the Church, and restores his relationship to Jesus.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

Every Christian is interested in “discovering” God’s will for their life. But what is God’s will, and how can we go about “discovering” it? Is His will something hidden that we need to seek out, or is it something obvious? More importantly, can we “miss out” on God’s will, or can we somehow mess things up by making the wrong decisions?

These are tough questions that have serious repercussions, and the good news is that we can know and live out God’s will as it is revealed to us in prayer and Scripture through the Holy Spirit. God does not want us to spend our lives trying to figure Him out like some kind of cosmic puzzle, but instead He reveals Himself to us when we seek Him. We will never fully understand God’s will, as it is beyond our comprehension. Yet God doesn’t leave us wondering how to please Him, and he has given us ways to ensure that we are in His will.

What Does "God's Will" Mean?

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Jesus taught the disciples to pray for God’s will to be done, and by extension, He is teaching us the same thing. The will of God consists of things that are in line with God’s plan and purpose. Simply stated, God's will is the things that God wants, and God is unafraid to communicate these things to us. For example, the Bible tells us that it is God’s will that none would perish (2 Peter 3:9), and we understand this to mean that salvation for everyone is what God wants. Throughout history, we see that God reveals His will to all who truly seek Him.

Scripture gives us many clear examples of God revealing His will to people such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Gideon, and many others. Henry Blackaby has written that with all these examples, the pattern was the same. 1) He came to them; 2) He revealed His planned activity; 3) They believed Him and adjusted their lives to Him; 4) they obeyed Him; and 5) They experienced God doing His will through them. God still comes to us and speaks to us through prayer and through His Word, and enables us to adjust our lives to Him and see His will lived out in us.

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/phototechno

We will all make mistakes. We will say or do the wrong thing and feel horrible about it later. We are human, and even when we are seeking Christ fervently, that humanity will still show up. Yet the Bible teaches that when we are following Jesus and seeking to live for him, he is powerful enough to reach our children in spite of us.

Micah is known for bringing a message of judgement and restoration that would spur a revival in the land of Judah. Among the prophets of the Old Testament, he is perhaps the most vocal in his demands of justice for the poor and downtrodden. He lashes out at greedy judges, who make money from unjust bribes while ignoring true justice and mercy.

The Bible is very clear about the requirements for pastors and elders in a church, but there are no specific requirements for a “pastor’s wife.” I have become quite familiar with the ups-and-downs of being a pastor’s wife, because I happen to be married to one!

The history of Israel, and their unique relationship with God, is a rich and fascinating one that began in the Garden of Eden and continues to this very day. God is certainly not done with Israel!

Heaven really is forever, and we will spend that eternity in a place of perfect joy, peace, rest, and hope. It is a house unlike any we have seen before. We will never have to wait for something to happen to make us happy, or have to work in hopes that we will rest later.

When we become followers of Christ, we accept Jesus as our savior and as our king. 

Throughout Scripture we see God referred to as our king, and in our worship we proclaim him to be our king. There is no doubt that he himself is the perfect example of what a king should be: he is kind, compassionate, powerful, just, honest and always true. In the Sinai desert, after the exodus from Egypt, God made it clear to Israel that he would not only be their example for a king, he himself would be their king! 

Yet we know that the people rebelled against this idea, and there were many human kings over the Jewish people. The most famous of these Biblical kings was David, with his son Solomon following right behind him. Some kings honored God, bringing their people peace and security. Others turned away from God, bringing deep and horrible calamity on their people. There is a great deal we can learn from the lives and actions of these kings in the Bible, and these lessons can have a powerful impact on us and those around us. 

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/FTiare

The Bible is the world’s most fascinating book. It is the best-selling book of all time and is widely considered to be some of the finest literature ever written. It has been translated into numerous languages and is the foundation of modern laws and ethics. It guides us through difficult circumstances, gives us wisdom, and has been the foundation of faith for centuries of believers.

The Psalms are among the best-known and most-read sections of Scripture. In the Psalms, we are given testimonies of praise, lament, repentance, and worship. We are given a preview of who the Messiah will be, and how his salvation will reach throughout the world.

Photo credit: ©Unsplash/Iyan Kurnia