Walking in the Will of God
By Pastor Tim Klassen

As a Father of 3 amazing children, I remember watching each of them progress through discovering their toes to walking and talking in those first years of life. As adults, we take for granted the little things that we had to learn in order to accomplish all we do in a single day. We forget (until we see a much younger version of ourselves) how complex something as seemingly simple as walking once was.

How do we learn to walk? One step at a time. We just put one foot in front of the other. Sounds easy enough, right? You’ll likely never become overwhelmed or anxious about the thought of how many steps you will have to take in order to make it though your day. Yet, how do you walk in the will of God?

You ready for the answer? One step at a time!

The Apostle Paul wrote this to the church is Ephesus:
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Paul was reminding these early followers of Jesus what we still need to be reminded of today: the God who created us has also prepared good works for us to do. He didn’t just create us and then pat us on the back and say, “good luck!” No! He has prepared good works; valuable relationships and meaningful interactions for us to make that will be for our good and His glory! This is what we call, “the will of God!” Discovering what God has called us to do and what He has prepared for us to involve ourself in based on our personality, our interests and our God-given talents.

Our challenge is that we become overwhelmed when think about the will of God. We become the deer staring into the headlights of our seemingly mysterious future, leaving many of us stuck in analysis paralysis. I want to encourage you with this thought today: the will of God is found one step at a time. As Paul wrote to the church about the good things God has prepared for us to do, here were his marching orders: “walk in them!” In other words, just put one foot in front of the other! Like a toddler learning how take their very first steps, picture your Heavenly Father coaching you through whatever next step you need to take.

Is it concerning a decision that needs to be made at work?
Is it a change that needs to be made in your schedule?
Is it concerning a point of tension with someone at home?

Look at what is before you and do it. In the words of Elsa (who must have been inspired by the Apostle Paul himself), “Do the next right thing!” The next right thing may be as simple as picking up the phone and calling that friend you haven’t spoken to in a while, or forgiving that family member who hurt you, or even returning that item to the proper isle and placing it on the shelf you got it from rather than plunking it down wherever you are.

Pray and look for the next step you need to take. Do not push the will of God off into the future, thinking that God is only concerned about the so-called “big” things (whatever those are) in your life. Pray and look for clarity concerning the will of God in the everyday things. In the “whatever is next” thing. Then make a decision to take a step of faith, believing that Jesus will be there taking that step with you, leading you into His perfect will for your life.