Hebrews 10:36 NIV

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Maraming Christians ang naging fascinated sa Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a better future.”

Yes, I agree that God has a plan for us. But that plan can only happen if we agree completely para mangyari ang gusto ng Diyos. He does not impose on what we must do. Binigyan niya tayo ng kapangyarihan na pumili.  Sinabi ng Deuteronomy 30:19, 20: Choose life..so that you may live. In essence, pwede nating piliin ang kamatayan, ang kahirapan ng buhay, because we have the right and the power of choice.

Maganda ang plano ng Diyos na parang tayong mga magulang sa ating mga anak. Maganda ang ating mga plans sa kanila kaya nga tayo nagsisikap ay para sa kanilang future. But for example, gusto natin maging doktor ang anak natin, pero ang gusto pala niya ay maging isang hairdresser, kahit pa papagaralin mo yan ng Medicine, ayon hindi pumapasok at bulakbol, walang kabuluhan ang mga plans natin. Ganoon din ang Lord, it only happens when we cooperate with what His will is. Yon ang God’s will, pero dahil meron tayong ‘free will’ hindi mangyari ang kalooban ng Diyos.

Proverbs 18:21

Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

When we exercise our free will, kelangan alam natin na kaakibat nito ay ang full obedience, hindi pwedeng half or partial obedience or total disobedience. God is very particular in us following instruction. If we do not, we suffer the consequences.

In Exodus 17:6 sinabi ng Diyos kay Moses: “strike the rock and water shall come out of it and the people will drink..” But later on, God tells Moses again: “speak to the rock…” Moses did not speak to the rock but instead, he struck the rock two times! God told Moses in verse 12, sinabi ng Diyos kay Moses dahil hindi ka nagtiwala sa Akin, at binalewala ako, you shall not bring my people to the Promised Land. Inalis ng Diyos kay Moses ang isang magandang pagkakataon to enter into the Promised Land because of disobedience.

How many of us have missed good opportunities simply because we failed to understand God’s will? Is our free will hinders God’s will? May mga bagay na pwede pero hindi dapat.

People fail because of disobedience and failure to know the will of God. Kelangan nagtitiwala tayo sa Diyos

Deuteronomy 28:1

if you diligently listen to and obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all of His commandments which I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. ² All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you pay attention to the voice of the Lord your God.

Proverbs 3:5-6

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Minsan alamin din natin ang ating puso in accordance to God’s will.

Psalms 37:4-5

4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. (NKJV)

Sinasabi din ng Bible in Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge” and this is confirmed in Isaiah 5:13 “Therefore My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge.” In Jeremiah 4:22 it says: “For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are silly …”

Jeremiah 33:3 Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.

For us to know the will of God, we have to ask Him through our devotions and prayers. Alamin mo ang mga plano ng Diyos. Listen and obey the voice of God…that is the will of God.