His Plan is to Prosper Us
ICS Daily Devotions

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

The consecrated life is the real test of whether Jesus is truly the Lord of our lives, or whether we are merely happy that He has saved us from damnation. When we consecrate our lives to Christ, we live intentionally and purposefully for the Lord. We will never fully experience God unless we fully surrender our lives to Him.

It takes faith to believe that God has a good plan for our lives, because often, we would rather achieve success by our own strength. We refuse to let God lead us because we want to be in the driver’s seat of our lives. We dislike being told what to do or not do because we only want God to bless our plans!

Romans 12:2 (NKJV) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

‭‭As we seek God’s will in our lives, we need to build our faith on the foundation that God loves us and has a good, acceptable and perfect will for us. His plan is to prosper us and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11). Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17). ‬‬‬‬‬‬

Understanding that God loves us and has a will for each of us helps us to live by faith. We may have to make choices with nothing in front of us, acknowledging that we can’t see around the corner and don’t know how things will turn out. It might not be an easy journey, and our flesh may resist because we do not want to submit. That’s when we need to die to ourselves and fully surrender to God. Otherwise, we will reap what we sow in the decisions we make apart from God (Galatians 6:7-8).

Matthew‬ ‭26:39‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬ He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”‬‬‬‬‬‬

‭Jesus agonised in prayer about the will of God in the Garden of Gethsemane. Although it may seem like agony sometimes, if we purpose to accomplish God’s will, we will have to say, “Not as I will, but as You will.”‬‬‬
The prayer of consecration, as modelled by Jesus, is about surrendering our lives to God and allowing His will to be done in our lives. It can be prayed repeatedly over a period until we know God’s will for the decision we need to make.

Reflection: What is your usual heart posture when you come before God in prayer? What obstacles stand in the way of your full surrender to God?

Sermon Series： Surrendering Your Will to God