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What Does God Really Want From Me?

by Justin Smith on March 10, 2021

Scripture

Deuteronomy 13:4-Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. 

Observation

I don’t know about you but I feel like life in 2021 seems much more complicated than it ever was before. With the many political issues facing the US, with this pandemic and the subsequent protocols and vaccinations, with record-setting unemployment numbers, and with schools and sports slowly reopening, I feel like there are an overwhelming amount of polarizing opinions and difficult decisions before us making it very hard for us to know what we should be thinking, how we should be living, and what we should be doing. Truly now more than ever, Christians need to live for God, but how do we know what He wants us to do? This came to mind as I read Deuteronomy 13 today. The Israelites, like us, were surrounded with polarizing opinions, different beliefs, and difficult decisions as deceivers sought to lead them astray, and God delivered some specific directions on what they could do to ensure they lived the right way:

- Serve only the Lord your God

- Fear Him alone

- Obey His commands

- Listen to His voice

- Cling to Him

I like how these 5 things help me keep my focus and my priorities eternally set, spiritual, and simple. How does God want me to live? Serve only Him and nothing else; not your flesh or emotions, not society and its expectations, not a certain group or affiliation, but only God. Fear Him alone; don’t fear what others can do to you or what they think of you because He is the only Worthy One. What does God want me to do? Listen to His voice, obey His commands, and cling to Him. All of these things require relationship, closeness, and surrender.

Application

Yes, it’s important to know the news and the issues we’re facing, but I wonder if God would have us spend less time panicking over the headlines and more time pursuing His heart. It sounds so simple: 1. Listen to His voice. 2. Cling to Him. But I wonder if this simple process is the supernatural key and answer to the question, “What does God want me to do?” He wants me to know Him, spend time with Him, and follow Him.

Am I spending more time seeking and listening to Him than scrolling through news feeds and listening to the chatter of the world?

Am I hearing His voice? If not, do I know what His voice sounds like? P.Paul said, “God’s voice sounds a lot like His Word”, so am I making time to learn His Word and His voice.

What am I clinging to and finding my hope and comfort in?

Prayer

Jesus, in these complicated times I rejoice in the fact that You make things simple saying: “Follow Me!” Jesus, help me to do just that in these times. Help me not get caught up in the current of society or the many voices filling the airwaves, and please remind me to cling to You! You are the only Constant, You are our only Hope, You are the only Truth and Answer, and I will trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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