Are we there yet?

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. (James 1:5-8)

We are reminded in Proverbs 3:5-7 to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." As we all have varying backgrounds, we likely approach life's challenges in various ways. We might just find ourselves turning to this world's wisdom first, then when it doesn't do what we hoped it would do, we turn to God. As long as we rely upon the wisdom the world offers, we will be limited in our perception of the issue. The limitation? We see things through our natural eyes - emotions being played upon, we respond based upon emotion, not godly wisdom. Godly wisdom is always available to us, but we might just have to stop long enough to ask for it, ruminate on it a bit, and then allow its application in our lives.

There are probably more times we lack wisdom than we might first admit. We come headlong into a situation and then we stumble around a bit until we realize what we possess in the way of earthly knowledge isn't cutting it. Pride sometimes gets in the way of us asking for God's help - making it almost impossible to avoid the hiccups that come from facing things we cannot control, much less fully understand all in our own wisdom. Once we put aside our pride and turn to God for his help, we find new wisdom for the circumstances at hand. Although we delayed in seeking his wisdom, he never criticizes us or judges us when we take so long to ask! It is far better to ask sooner than later, but some of us just take a bit of time to put our pride in the backseat and allow God to take over. Remember, God always welcomes our requests for help - we might not think so, but we find repeated examples of his intervening grace recorded for us in scripture whenever someone humbles themselves before him.

Sometimes we don't ask for God's help because we think the answer we receive will be a little different or 'worse' than what we imagined the answer to be. It may not be the answer we anticipated, but God's answers are always the best ones - we must rely upon his wisdom to keep us protected, and within the safety of his caring arms. God hears the first word we utter and he isn't afraid to answer, but sometimes he allows us to get things out of our system in prayer before he begins the work of answering. He isn't afraid to show us his will, but sometimes we need to get to the place we will accept it and walk in it! Just sayin!

Steer us right

For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. (Romans 2:13-15)

"Through pride we are ever deceiving ourselves. But deep down below the surface of the average conscience a still, small voice says to us, something is out of tune." (Carl Jung) That is the power of the conscience - it warns us something is out of 'tune'. When we begin to 'tune into' God's Word and his still small voice, our conscience will begin to alert when we are about to do or say something that is not in keeping with his will. It is learning to listen to that 'alert' and 'heed' its warning that gives us all that frustration!

Listening isn't heeding. Heeding is the condition in which one actually gives careful attention to what is being said or warned. It is more than a casual observation that something is not right. It is actually putting into application what one is warned about. When that 'niggling' comes deep within our conscience, it is like God is saying, "Listen up!". He is asking for us to exert some 'carefulness' with each step we are about to take. It isn't a moment for deliberation - it is a moment for determination.

So much of what we encounter in the way of compromise or sin in our lives is because we knew what was right to do, then deliberated way too long on 'if' the choice was good or bad. We let the appeal of the temptation overtake our reason. It is possible we argue a bit too much about what is right or wrong for us rather than just listening to our conscience confirm that it is wrong. The more we begin to ask God for his will, the more he will show us that will. The longer we dwell on the 'is this your will' question, the harder it can actually become to know it because we allow all kinds of confusing thoughts into our minds that cloud the clarity proclaimed by our conscience.

Knowing the will of God is important, but listening when our conscience tells us not to do something, or to forge full speed ahead is also a 'tool' God gives us in living upright and consistent lives. We may not have the Word of God right there when the choice stands before us, but we do have our conscience to guide us. If we commit our thoughts to God and fill our minds with his Word, it is possible our conscience might just 'steer us right' instead of wrong. Just sayin!

A bit of training required?

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. (Psalm 143:10) 

I am one who needs a lot of 'teaching' when it comes to doing God's will. Make no bones about it - we choose our own way over God's way and then find ourselves working our way back to the way he asked us to go anyway, so why do we do it? When we stop to consider how 'hard' it seems to find and walk in God's will at times, we might just have to admit how insanely hard it is to walk our way back into his will once we have decided to go our own way! That 'hardness' in choosing righteousness isn't by accident - it might just show how 'willing' we are to put God first in our lives, even when it isn't the easiest thing to do! It may not seem like it at first, but those who choose to rebel against the will of God will endure a hard ending. We might think they are enjoying life now, but I don't suspect they will enjoy it much into eternity when they find themselves facing God's judgment and their eternal damnation!

If you have ever owned a dog, you might have experienced the phenomenon I refer to as 'being walked by the dog' rather than you walking the dog. The leash is firmly attached to the collar, the dog bounds out ahead of you, going this way and that, sniffing everything in its path, and there you are being 'drug along' behind as though you were the one being walked! The dog is just behaving like a dog - it must be trained to not pull, come alongside willingly, and not follow after every stray scent in its path. I imagine it is kind of like that at times with us and God. We get out ahead of him, pulling this way and that, 'sniffing at' everything that comes along our path, not even looking back to see that God isn't at all pleased with our willful disobedience. Whenever he puts us through periods of 'training' in our lives, it isn't because he doesn't like us or that he is mad at us. It is because he knows how much more enjoyable the walk will be if we come alongside and fall in stride with him!

The dog who has been through obedience training isn't 'whipped' into obedience. They are encouraged to follow commands and then they are rewarded when they do. Is the reward always something they expected, like a piece of kibble? No, sometimes it is a bit of praise, a scratch behind the ears, or a ruffling of their neck fur. He soon realizes how much pleasure it seems to bring his master. The reward is encouragement to dig a bit deeper to obey the next command. When the dog finally learns there is great reward in following the commands, they just do it because they know it brings pleasure to their master. I wonder if we were presented with God's commands today if we'd heed them simply because we know God will find pleasure in the closeness it brings us into with him, or if we are expecting some kind of 'reward' each time we obey? Just askin!

In line?

And we are sure of this, that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we really know he is listening when we talk to him and make our requests, then we can be sure that he will answer us. (I John 5:14-15)

Yesterday we looked at taking our worries to Christ and allowing him to intervene (taking the weight of those worries as his own). One of the key components of actually allowing this 'transfer of weight' is talking with Jesus about what it is that has us all muddled up on the inside. We have to be open with him in prayer, letting him know specifically what it is that burdens us, and then allow him the opportunity to settle our spirits, minds, and souls. Today, we continue with the thought that he actually listens when we ask him to take on those burdens. Unlike humans, he can shut out the distractions all around him, focusing solely on what it is we are bringing to him in our times of prayerful conversation.

Things in line with his will seems a bit restrictive, doesn't it? I have heard people pray, "If it be your will, then..." I don't actually see anything wrong with asking for God's will, but I do see something wrong with putting everything we want to happen out there with a blanket, "If it be your will..." at the end of it. To ask God to reveal his will to us is to ask him to do more than just do what we asked. It is a prayer to begin to be open to what he wants us to do or have in this life. We may want a new car, knowing that our older model is giving us troubles and we are putting good money after bad into it. We may ask God to help us find the solution to our car issue - either with a trustworthy mechanic who will do honest and much needed repairs or show us where to obtain a new vehicle. 

Talking with him about the need for a reliable form of transportation is great, but to think it will be in line with his will for us to purchase a sports car that carries a payment two or three times greater than what our budget will allow is not 'in line with his will' for our lives. We might be led to believe we can ask for anything in his name and receive it, but truth be told, God expects us to exercise wisdom and use our common sense. We must be sensitive to the will of God - the principles he teaches us in scripture. If we want to have peace in our lives, we must live within the boundaries of his teachings - for living outside of those boundaries is certain to bring upset, chaos, and worries greater than we can handle. 

We aren't going to go to God with a bucket list of requests, far outside of what we actually know his will to be. We can go to him for clarity, asking him to reveal his will when we have absolutely no idea what it might be. We must be open to hearing his will, trusting him to show us how we should act in particular circumstances, what doors should remain totally closed to us, and when it is we should just stop what we are doing. If we want to live within his safety and protection, we ask, listen, then take steps to obey. If we want to know his will, we need only ask - but there will be times when we already know his will and we are just asking because we don't like what we have heard! Just sayin!

Make me "right-wise"

Right-living is something the Bible refers to as "righteousness" - it is the idea of learning to order your steps according to the plans and purposes of God.  The design of the designer is always the best plan for the creation, is it not?  We can "recommission" some things for other use, such as making a lamp from a vase, or turning a stool into an end table, but it was not the intention of the creator of these to see them used these ways.  In fact, the vase was designed to be adorned with richly scented, magnificently colorful flowers.  The stool was designed the support the weight of a human, not a table lamp. They "function" okay in their "recommissioned" purpose, but they sure function best when they are doing exactly what they were created to do!  The same is true with each of us.

You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That’s right—you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. I’m going to do what you tell me to do; don’t ever walk off and leave me.  (Psalm 119:1-8 MSG)

Most think righteousness is a life characterized by morality and a certain degree of upright behavior.  This falls into the line of living a virtuous life.  Some other words you hear which people use to describe a "righteous life" are things like "good person", "honest", "fair", and even "just".  The truth be told, righteousness encompasses all of these traits and more.  It is the sum total of making right choices for the right reasons.  Apart from Christ in our lives, our choices are anything but righteous!  

In a biblical sense, we could interpret righteous as "right-wise-ness".  We have been made "right" by the grace of God.  We are given the ability to live "right" by the presence of God in our lives in the person of the Holy Spirit.  We are supported in living "right" by the constant intercession of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  The righteousness we are really called to exhibit in our daily lives is a result of these actions in us.  The idea is each of us coming in to "conformity" to the will of God.  Right-wise-ness is the "conforming" to this will.  How does this happen?

We have to accept the Word of God as an authority in our lives - the "owner's manual" of sorts which helps to direct us to the intended "purpose" for our lives.  When we own a car, we refer to the owner's manual to see where the spare tire is kept, how it is removed, where to put the jack, how the car is properly supported when the jack is used, etc.  The owner's manual gives us insight which supports the safest operation of the vehicle.  Now, the Word of God is no different - it supports the safest operation of our lives!  So, in order to learn to "conform" to the will of God, we have to get to know it.  There is no better place to explore what is "within" and "without" God's will than in the scriptures.  If you don't find it plainly there, you certainly get a gist of how God guides us to make decisions which don't violate his overall plan for his children.

Recognizing what the Word says is one thing - actually submitting to what it tells us to do is quite another.  Yet, to be fully right-wise in our steps, we must.  This idea of submission is kind of a sore point for some - probably because society has so twisted the meaning of submission so as to make us a little wary of this action.  Here's the truth - when we submit to something, we are just agreeing we are making it our own.  In other words, when we choose to follow God's will as revealed in scripture, we are just taking his will and making it our own.  We determine it to be "good" and "accept it" as our "mode of operation".  When we do, we learn to live in such a manner that our lives reflect the right actions God desires.

What this kind of "right-choosing" does for us cannot really be put into words adequately, but I think it helps us see ourselves as God sees us - with the full potential of blameless, perfect, and upright living.  There is an exchange of wisdom which comes as we behold ourselves through God's Word - for his Word reflects the original intention of the creation.  When we see ourselves as God sees us, the "right-wise" choices become a little easier because we see the potential in those choices.  Righteousness is achievable - through a change of perspective.  We need to learn the "right-wise-ness" of what is contained in his Word - allowing his Word to influence our choices - choosing to make his will our own.  In so doing, we become "upright", "honest", "fair" and even "just" in our behavior.  Just sayin!

Who done it?

I love to read - my favorite venue being mystery.  I like the suspense of seeing the plot unfold until you discover the "who done it" at the end!  By definition, a mystery is anything (or anyone) which presents features or qualities so obscure as to arouse our curiosity.  The "fun" comes in unraveling the obscure features.  I think God likes mysteries, too!


⁵ Just as you'll never understand the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman, so you'll never understand the mystery at work in all that God does. (Ecclesiastes 11:5 The Message)


God is at work all around us - in today's moments - unveiling little by little the elements of his "mystery" in us and through us.  


Did you ever wonder why God sometimes takes a great deal of time unveiling his mystery in us?  For one thing, we probably could not handle the whole thing if it was revealed in one great "dump of data" into our finite brains!  More importantly, I think God may just be developing our "curiosity" for more of his mystery to be revealed in us - getting our brains in line with our heart, our emotions in line with his Word, and our spirit in tune with his!  He is almost moving us step-by-step so we come to a place of heightened anticipation until we finally "get it"!


Some think of a mystery as a "puzzle" of sorts - something to be "figured out".  Let me caution you here - God's unveiling of himself in us - the re-creating of our character from one of sinful hardness into one of yielded gentleness is not something we will ever "figure out"!  I have walked a good many years with Christ and I still don't know how he orchestrates some of the change in my life, but he does!


The fact remains - God IS at work in us!  In his mysterious ways, he is bringing us into a place of understanding him more.  He reveals elements of his character, in turn this revelation begins to impact ours.  To understand something (or someone) begins with becoming thoroughly familiar with the person or object.  


Guess what?  The more we get to know God, the more familiar we become with the ways he moves, the things he takes delight in, etc.  This is my scripture tells us those who want to learn God's will for their lives must turn from following after the pursuits of the world.  "² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:2 New Living Translation)   


The process of a mystery being revealed requires "learning" - we take in information, processing it until it becomes evident we possess a "piece of the puzzle".  Sometimes God's dealings are just like this - we feel like one piece is being revealed at a time - but we want the bigger picture right now!  


Here's something to consider:  If I gave you a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle today - no box for it - just the pieces - would you be able to "handle" it?  Not likely!  You'd demand the box!  You would want to see the "pattern" in order to know where you were "headed" in placing the pieces together.  God gives us the "box" in Christ - he is the image of what we will all become when God is finished putting the pieces together in us!  Pretty awesome, huh?


So, don't worry about not having all the "knowledge" to figure out the mystery at work in you right now.  Just trust the one doing the work!  He gives us something to look toward - Christ.  He reminds us what he is accomplishing in us - making us into the image of Christ.  He will reveal the "finished product" at some point down the line - we just need to trust in the one who is "revealing the mystery" one step at a time

Bring it on!

^13-15My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he's listening. And if we're confident that he's listening, we know that what we've asked for is as good as ours.

(I John 5:13-15 The Message)

If every chapter of our lives was opened with the words, "My purpose in writing this chapter in your lives is...", we'd feel a whole lot better about what is going on at the moment!  The truth is, we don't know the end from the beginning, so we enter each new chapter of our lives with just a little bit of fear, a tiny bit of doubt, and/or an overwhelming amount of both!  Here in our passage, the writer does us the favor of laying it out plainly - I am writing this truth to you because it has the power to set you straight in your opinion about how much you matter to God!  When we commit our hearts to him, believing that Jesus is God's Son, our end result will be eternal life in Christ Jesus.  This very fact leads us to a place of "boldness" in approaching God with what our heart is burdened with.

Let's take this apart a little.  The first thing I would like us to see is that "belief" is more than a head knowledge that Jesus exists, that he is the Son of God - it is a heart knowledge that influences our behavior.  When we "believe in" Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are saying we will "adhere to" his commandments - his teachings, the examples he gave us in his walk on this earth, the promises he made to his followers.  When we "believe in" Jesus, we are making both a heart and head commitment to "trust in" him - his strength, his love, his grace, his peace that passes our limited understanding - all of it.  When we "believe in" we are really saying we are in a place where we are ready to RELY UPON that one we believe in.  

That very "believing" attitude is what brings us to the next point our writer is laying out is that this "belief in" will bring us to a place where we are totally "settled in" our minds, hearts, and emotions as to who it is we are serving, what it is we are engaged in, and what the end result of our service will be.  The idea is that we will have "absolute" knowledge - not just some ethereal knowledge (pie in the sky kind of stuff) - but total awareness that God is real, his promises are assured, and his commitment to keep us in his care is totally in force in our lives.  Our writer is directing us to remember that when we commit to Christ, we ALREADY have eternal life - we don't work to get eternal life - it is already an assured thing.

That "confidence" that is produced by knowing we have committed it all to Christ and that he has committed it all to us brings us to a place of "privileged boldness" in his presence.  I just came home from a week in Virginia - exploring the historical sites of our founding fathers.  The thing that impressed me was the commitment of the men and women who came to this country with the hopes of being free.  That is kind of how it is with us as we "leave" our country of birth (sin) and establish ourselves in our new country of rebirth (salvation).  We leave behind the old, allowing the new to be established within us, and in time, the new becomes the way of life we pursue with a confidence that we have made the right steps.  We have a "privileged boldness" in our new life.

That "boldness" is based on the fact that "in Christ" we are assured that when we make any request of God that is in agreement with his plan for our lives, he listens to us and hears us.  Now think about that a little.  He listens AND he hears.  We have a tendency in our society to just listen, without ever hearing the message being conveyed.  We are inundated with all kinds of messages each day - some worthy of really hearing, others not so much.  All that comes to God, he listens to AND he hears.  No message brought to him (prayer, seeking heart, need expressed) is ever NOT heard.  It is heard, the meaning hidden within the request is known, and he works to help us through the answer we receive.  We sometimes think he doesn't hear because we don't get the answer we hoped for, but remember, even a "no" or a "not now" answer is an answer!

The thing that we most often "trip up on" is in our not even asking God for what it is that burdens our hearts, trips us up repeatedly, or is just a desire of our hearts.  We somehow don't take the effort, time, or "risk" of asking because we don't have a confidence to ask, don't think it is worthy to bring to God, etc.  To that I can only say that we need to read back a couple of lines in our passage - we have a "privileged boldness" in Christ Jesus.  Bring it!  God will "sort through" what may not be to our benefit at this moment - like when we ask him to help us win the lottery!  He will "sort through" what seems to be a muddled mess of emotions - getting at the heart of what it is we are really experiencing at that moment.  Our part is to take full advantage of our "privileged boldness" to just bring it all to him.  God stands ready to hear from us - his words to us today is to simply "Bring it on!"  

God-chosen lives

 ^1-2 Keep me safe, O God, I've run for dear life to you. I say to God, "Be my Lord!" Without you, nothing makes sense.  ³ And these God-chosen lives all around—what splendid friends they make! 

(Psalm 16:1-3)

When we really determine to walk the pathway of a disciple, it will cost us.  The pathway is not always traveled by as many of those we call "friends" as we'd like to think.  Yet, when we find someone to travel with us in this journey of faith, what a blessing it is!  We need each other to understand and fulfill God's calling on our lives.  We each compliment the other, challenging and uplifting, learning together what is contained deep in the Word of God.

David's words ring true in the hearts of many who engage in this walk of discipleship with Christ - without you, God, nothing makes sense.  We can attempt to make sense out of tragedy, loss, or even a success - without God, and those he places in our lives as fellow travelers, we often miss the meaning hidden deep in the recesses of that experience.  

If there is one thing I have learned in this walk of faith, it is that the study of his Word presents a challenge to those who walk alone.  The Word of God is not meant for individual interpretation - there is something that is missed when we attempt to see it through the eyes of our perception alone.  As we seek to discover the will of God for our lives, we are often reminded in scripture that there is wisdom in good counsel.  In other words, we need to hear how another may "perceive" life.

Isaiah was called to bring a message to Israel - one that reminded them of how much God wants to be the one who teaches us what is best for us and to direct the ways we travel.  Isaiah 48:17 reminds us, "I am God, your God, who teaches you how to live right and well.  I show you what to do, where to go.  If you had listened all along to what I told you, your life would have flowed full like a river, blessings rolling in like waves from the sea."  Lives flowing full like rivers, blessings rolling in like waves - I am pretty certain that most of us would definitely "sign up" for this!

The challenge in our daily walk comes in our consistency - we waver, sometimes dilly-dally, and often just simply "peter out" in our pursuit of godliness.  That is why we should not travel this journey alone.  Not only do we need each other to act encourage us to take in the different perspectives of what God is doing, but we need the straight-forward teaching of his Word to steady us on the path.  When the Word does not make sense - we might need the help of another to open it for our understanding.  

The Word of God guides us in the very practical issues of daily life - how to relate to one another, when to let an offense go, what a wrong choice will cost, etc.  We may not know how to live as a member of the family of God, but he provides those who do to guide us in that journey.  Without God's perspective, nothing makes sense.  We need to discover his will for our lives - we need to run to him for his perspective.   When we are consistently running to him in this way, we are less likely to drift into rebellion or areas of sinfulness that will leave us wounded and hurting.

It is God that teaches us how to live right - he is the one that gives us the plan.  It is also God who places others in our path that assist us in maintaining our walk - in broadening our perspective of God.  What splendid friends God-chosen lives make!

Know it alls unite!

^5-6 Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
   he's the one who will keep you on track.

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

The very next verse in this same passage goes on to say, "Don't assume you know it all."  The common theme I hear from other Christians is how much they struggle with "knowing the will of God" for their lives.  Our passage gives us insight into getting "connected" to the will of God.  First, there is a development of a trust relationship with the God we serve.  Next, we have to stop relying on what we can "reason out" in our own minds.  Then, we have to truly begin to listen to the still small voice of God - no just some of the time, but in all we do and in every decision we make.  The promise is that God will help us stay on the right course in our lives if we do.

Psalm 32:8 tells us that God "looks us straight in the eyes" and gives us the good advice that we need to make the decisions of our day.  He will teach or counsel those that place their lives in his hands for his control.  There are conditions to getting his guidance, though.  Here are just a few:

• We need to "make a clean breast of our failures" with God - in other words, we confess our sins, have them forgiven (hidden in Christ), and get our spirit in alignment with his.  (Psalm 32:1-7)
• Allow the Word of God to expose our rebellion, show us the truth, correct our mistakes, and train us to live God's way.  As we continue in the Word (really spending time getting to see what is contained within the pages of the Word), we are allowing it to train us.  In this way, we are becoming equipped for every good work God has in store for us.  (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
• We need to seek God's guidance in incorporating his commandments (the wise counsel of the Word) into our lives - it may not be plain to us why we have the commandments of God, so we need his assistance in understanding how we incorporate them without rebellion.  In other words, we are allowing the Word of God to become a counselor in our lives. (Psalm 119:35)
• There needs to be a daily renewal of our mind - no longer conforming to every whim and fancy this world promotes as the "next best thing".  We have to take our daily, everyday type of decisions/choices before God and ask him what he thinks about them.  It is a difficult thing to resist the ease of "adjusting to our culture" instead of establishing the culture of God in our hearts.  (Romans 12:1-2)
• One thing we often lack in our lives (and often don't connect with knowing and acting on the will of God) is the idea of cultivating a spirit of gratitude (thankfulness).  We may not see how this connects with getting to know the will of God, but when we begin to be truly thankful for the blessings of God, the challenges God allows, and the ability to seek him for the answers, we are on the road to discovering his will on a more consistent basis.  As a matter of fact, God honors this kind of consistently grateful heart - with his presence.  What better guidance could we have in our lives than the consistent presence of God? (Colossians 3:15-17)

These are but a few of the ways we can discover in scripture that give us insight into cultivating the presence of God, understanding his plans for our lives, and living above the influence of our culture.  All are key to discovering the will of God.  All help us to avoid the trap of "thinking we know it all".  Knowing the will of God is not hard, but it does require "consistency".  Consistency in seeking; consistency in discovering; consistency in engrafting the Word; consistency in renewing our minds.  Without consistency, we lack what we need to really "walk in the will of God".