Doing God's will not ours.

Acts 5 - just after the apostles were freed from prison by an angel of the Lord and continued preaching about Christ. They were ordered too stop which resulted in the following reply:

29Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!

33When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 

...If it is from God, you won't be able to stop them. Or as Romans 8:31 states, if God is for us, who can be against us! You can't argue with that! If the maker of the entire universe is on your side because you are doing His will, well there is no stopping you. That is very empowering, don't you think so?

That doesn't mean there won't be any hardship. These apostles were beaten before they were released in order for the Sanhedrin to save face! Yet they rejoiced after their beatings, because they knew they were doing what God, the master of the universe, wanted them to do. They were beaten for telling people about Christ, and they were fine with that. They didn't ask to be beaten. They didn't want to be beaten for the fun of it (really?). They rejoiced in being beaten because it was in response to their telling everyone about the saving grace of Jesus.

If God is for us...don't forget it has to be for God's will not ours. The apostles were rejoicing after being beaten because the KNEW they were beaten for doing what Jesus told them to do.  How will you know if it God's will and not yours? While doing something, you will be thinking about God/Jesus/Holy Spirit rather than yourself! If it is about how you will look, how you will feel, how you will help someone, then it is about YOU! If you are thinking about how you don't want someone to be condemned to hell and you instead want them to be in heaven someday and during their time on earth to have joy and peace and love, then that is God's will! You are thinking about them and their eternal destiny!

Jesus, please keep me attuned to the Holy Spirit's leading. Don't let me listen to my pride or want of self importance. Keep me focused on you and your plan. In your name I pray. Amen.