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Over the course of these last eight months I have been involved in a Bible Study with other pastors. The focus of this study has been the deepening of our relationship with Jesus Christ.
In the book that we have been using, Companions in Christ, there is a chapter titled "How Do I Know God�s Will for My Life?" As a pastor this question has been one that many have asked me. They want to know: "What does God want of me?", "How do I live the Christian life?", and "Have I chosen the path God intends for me?"
I'd like to share a quote from this particular chapter that gave me some further understanding into God�s will:
"If you think you can see God�s will laid out neatly before you for the next five,
ten, or twenty years as a clearly defined path, this is emphatically not the will of God.
But if you sense that the next hesitant step you are about to make into an uncertain
future directed by God, that is most probably God�s will for you."
In other words God�s will is not some rigid, predetermined scheme we are expected to figure out. It is more like God�s desires for our lives. And the only way that we can know His desires is to come to know Him and spend time with Him.
I'd like to share an exercise that you can put into practice in your daily life that will further your relationship with Christ and in turn help you discern what His desires for you are to be. This exercise is called
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"the examen" which is a structured and regular review of your daily life that emphasizes the assessment of your faithfulness or your awareness of God�s presence in your life. You will need a journal to record your findings.
First you identify ten to twelve major events of your past week. They can be prayers, conversations, work, and times with friends or family. Record these. Next you will reflect upon each occurrence that you have listed. Recall what happens within you, what you were feeling, and how you were responding. After this is done thank God for each part of your week, the lives of people who were a part of your week, and for God�s presence in your week. Thank God for the various gifts you received that enriched your week. Next you are to acknowledge your sins, in thought, word, and deed toward God, your neighbor and yourself. Name the times when you feel you may have ignored subtle promptings or warnings of the spirit. You conclude your time by reflecting on the underlying significance of each event. Ask yourself these questions; What is the theme of the week�s events, challenges, and gifts? Where did Jesus experience something similar and how did he respond? What is God saying to me or showing me? And what am I being called to do?
As your pastor it is my calling to help you grow up in the faith. This exercise is one of these ways you can grow in your relationship with Christ.
Your fellow follower,
Pastor Jeff
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