God’s Will in 3 Dimensions

Practical Tips in Making Sense of God’s Direction in the NOW – (Part Two)

“God will meet you where you are in order to take you where he wants you to go.” – Tony Evans

Knowing God’s Will Through Intellectual Engagement

Who would ever THINK that God wants you to use your mind to figure him out what He wants from your life. This may be strange to those who are ONLY predisposed to waiting for God to tell them every little thing. I used to be one those people who felt that way. As I matured I learned that the capacity to know God and His will is much bigger than the theological box that I was conditioned to believe that He was in.

Last time we were together we discussed that Through the Act of Stillness we can get know the Will of God for our lives. We found out that if we get some where and sit down, and become intentionalThrough the Act of Stillness then we can experience the reality of this truth—-Be still and Know that I am God.

Today’s lesson we are going to look at something different. We are going look how God uses our mind to put us in a position to ascertaining what His Will is for our lives. This process I am referring to I’ve coined as Intellectual Engagement.

Through Intellectual Engagement we find out that we have a major part in getting to know what God’s Will is for our lives. It is not always up to Him to provide the dictates of His Will for our lives. Sometimes we have to put ourselves in the position to walk through the essential steps in order to walk through the door of knowledge—-The knowledge of His Will.

Let’s consider this biblical passage as the pathway to knowing God’s Will and what to do to prepare ourselves to get there.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2-3, NRSV)

5372 συσχηματίζομαι (syschēmatizomai), συσχηματίζω (syschēmatizō): vb.; ≡ Strongs 4964—LN 41.29 shape one’s behavior; (dep.) be conformed to a pattern or mold (Ro 12:2; 1Pe 1:14+) Swanson, J. (1997). In Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Logos Research Systems, Inc.

The best idea here from the above biblical Greek reference is that “Do not be conformed to this world” means do not shape, pattern, or mold your behavior according to this world. To get an idea of what this world means let’s take a brief look at Ephesians 2:2.

“In which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.”The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Eph 2:2). (1989). Thomas Nelson Publishers.

The best way to understand this world in context that is applicable to our time is to translate this verse accordingly —Be not conformed the world you know and the spirit of this age that comes along with it. This world as we know is going to pass away and be replaced with the age to come.

In order to fulfill the Will of God in the earth we have to get this world out of our heads. Why? Because a new age is to come. However, this does not mean that we are to be socially irresponsible or to be so heavenly minded that we are are no earthly good. It means there is a new world arriving and will be fully present when he (Christ) has returned.

Lastly, be transformed (in its present, passive imperative sense means., “keep on being transformed”) by the renewing of your mind. The Greek verb translated “transformed” (metamorphousthe) is seen in the English word “metamorphosis,” a total change from inside out (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18). 

“The key to this change is the “mind” (noos), the control center of one’s attitudes, thoughts, feelings, and actions (cf. Eph. 4:22–23). As one’s mind keeps on being made new by the spiritual input of God’s Word, prayer, and Christian fellowship, his/her lifestyle keeps on being transformed. Paul added, Then you will be able to test and approve (dokimazein, “prove by testing” [1 Peter 1:7, “proved genuine”], i.e., ascertain) what God’s will is—His good, pleasing (cf. Rom. 12:1), and perfect will.”

(Witmer, J. A. (1985). Romans. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 487). Victor Books.)

We can conclude that through intellectual engagement, i.e., renewing the mind we can transform our lives to exhibit God’s Will in our lives.