Several years ago (perhaps decades!), I read a book entitled THE MYSTERY OF GOD’S WILL by Charles Swindoll. The book made an incredible impression on me and I took a ton of notes. Since that time, I’ve carried those notes with me wherever I’ve gone to remind me of how I can always improve my walk with God. I’ve copied them here and divided into six sections: God’s Way, God’s Leading, God’s Sovereignty, God’s Plans, God’s Faithfulness, and God’s Surprises. I hope and pray that these brief notes will help your walk with God, will drive you to further study of God’s will, and prompt all of us to continually deepen our relationship with God.
God’s Surprises
God’s preferred method is surprise – expect it. His surprises require flexibility and adaptability; the process of internal development. Surprises have purposes. Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Pray, “What can I learn from this?” When surprised, we are supplied grace from God. He supplies what we need to endure. Surprises from God teach you to think theologically. Most of life is learning and growing, falling and getting back up, forgiving and forgetting, and accepting and moving on.
God opens and shuts doors. You may feel His leading, and invest resources, and then bang the door shuts. It’s often difficult to know why. God reveals His will only in the pages of His word. With prayer, the word, the Spirit’s dwelling within us, and wise counsel, we need nothing more than willing hearts. Once you feel God starting to lead you, immediately pray. Doors are closed, doors are opened, and lives are changed.
Spend less time analyzing God and more time obeying Him. Practice, “I don’t know”, “I don’t understand”, “this is beyond me”, “it doesn’t make sense to me” “…but that’s okay. God knows!”
Human understanding is very limited. Quit trying to make everything humanly logical. The will of God is that we ultimately become more like Christ. Think theologically. And be ready for the surprises of God.