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Yielding to God’s Purposes

Yielding to God's Purpose

What are God’s purposes? How can I trust what God is up to in my life? Think back to the last time you found yourself wondering what God was up to. Maybe you’re in a season right now where His ways seem really mysterious. It’s scary when it feels like God has abandoned you, but you are not alone. The Bible speaks to this idea because God wants us to know that He is always with us. Read this excerpt from the Know the Word Study Bible.

“But the wisdom that is from above is the first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” –James 3:17 NKJV

Consider this:

God is perfect. Eternal. Almighty. He knows everything about everyone (Ps. 139:1-4). On the other hand, we are imperfect. Sinful. Our lives are but a vapor (James 4:14). The more we learn, the more we realize we don’t know.

So why in the world wouldn’t we align our plans with God’s purpose?

We tend to think we know enough to make our own way in life.

But because God actually cares, get over that tendency. He is God. You are His. He provides the resources you need to accomplish His purpose.

Isaiah 41:10 records God’s assurance to His people:

“Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

God’s purpose for you is not mysterious – see Micah 6:6-8.

This is the foundation of God’s will: to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him. All of the specific decisions we make can fall under these categories.

So make every one of your actions purposeful. And know that obedience is tightly tied to how your purpose is lived out.

If God’s absolute care for you is not enough motivation, consider this:

There were many times God called specific people to do specific things; and from those who did not obey He took away His hand of protection and provision (Jer. 7:13-15; Rom. 1:18-32). Even in such cases, His distance is intended to bring us to repentance and reconciliation.

David wrote Psalm 57 when he fled from Saul into the cave. Perhaps David doubted God’s purpose for him at this point. Maybe he wondered what was going on. He may have even been tempted to think God was wrong. But instead he wrote, “I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me” (Ps. 57:2-3). David did not turn away from God’s purposes for his life, even when circumstances made it difficult to see the way forward.

Jesus said, “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgement is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me” (John 5:30). James calls us to follow Jesus’ example when he reminds us that the fruit of wisdom is becoming a person who is “willing to yield” (James 3:17).

What might the Lord be asking you to yield or surrender so that you might do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly alongside Him? Think on these things.

Know the Word Study Bible

Know the Word Yielding to God's Purposes

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28 Comments

    • Robert

      It isn’t until I am completely yielded to God’s Spirit and sense of purpose for my life, the more that I am able to receive the full benfit of the blessings that God wants to give to me.

      The more I resist the less I am able to receive.

      • Joy

        wow, that statement really helped me. like God was speaking directly to me. It is EXACTLY what i needed to hear. It is the answer to a question that was stressing me out. Thank you for posting your comment.

      • Rosemary Hall

        Yes in Church today we had Malachi and what a blessing of instruction it was. So defining and explanatory. We should not rob God of “anything” – He knows all about us after all.

    • Linnie W

      It is so hard to stop and yield to God at times but when we do we get so much closer to Him and we go so much farther then we can imagine.

    • Margie Sims

      This is truly an enlightening word and spiritual nourishment for my soul and spirit.

  2. Rosemarie Patton

    Knowing God will and purpose for you life is overcoming a tremendous hurtle in your walk with him.

  3. Mary Anne

    I long for His will to be revealed to me so I can be in obedience. How long shall I wait to live that blessing, that peacefulness of your righteousness?

    Lord you know my life’s gone round & round in circles, or so it seems. I and my family have suffered much loss, such sadness & turmoil.
    How long shall I wait Lord, until the age of Sarah? Please stop this carousel very soon so that I may get off! We need your miracle of a mercy, peace, love & kindness. I choose to walk Your straight line without distractions!!!!! Thank you, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

    • Connie

      Amen yes this is a beautiful prayer, so much of how I feel deep down! I so desire to get off this roller coaster and be planted where I feel I belong! I pray this also! Blessings to you ??

    • Sandy

      Oh goodness Mary Anne!!! That is exactly how I felt, I get you totally! I recently started reading this book I stumbled and my life has taken a complete turn! The book is called Supernal Grace on Amazon. I tell you, in all my life as a christian I’ve never felt this free!!!

    • Patricia Wallace

      This is an awesome prayer pray this prayer for me and my family.Thanks for sharing! ❤❤❤❤❤

      • Joy

        Mary Anne, Connie, Sandy, and Patricia, I just prayed for all four of you that God will send peace and balance to your life. When the four of you cross my mind in the future, i will continue to pray for you. Your sister in Christ, Joy 🙂

    • Amanda Caiazzo

      Romans 5:3-5, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (ESV)

      Be still and wait on the Lord, for He is Good.

      Jeremiah 29:11
      For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm.❤️♥️??

    • La Teisha

      Wait on The LORD and be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart wait I say on the LORD I pray he gives you endurance during your waiting season it’s only temporary.,, Blessings Sis

  4. Jeffrey

    In James 4:7-8 show that we must resisting the devil he will flee from you, but how do we do it by drawing to HIM who have call us on to him, first it must have a change as we see in Rom 8 read it and in v6 to v9 show us that to yield to Jesus Christ there must have a change but that is Christ working not ours. In James 3:17 we see that the knowledge of Yahweh is spiritual and is not carnal (earthly thinking) so to yield to Jesus you must have and indwelling of Christ in you which is spiritual minded thinking a sinfree living.

    • Ruth

      In our noon day prayer yesterday this was one of our topics of discussion. Yes we must first submit to GOD in order to resist the devil and make sure we are submitting to the right one.

  5. Martha and Rich Woodward

    I am burden with cares of the world, my world, families issues with family who live far away,and stubborn aunt Ginny who is being mean to staff in a skilled nursing facility see moved to 10 days ago because she would not admit to anyone her health situation, now we found out she probably will not go back to her apartment. I am feeling helpless,my husband doesn’t get my concerns. I need to be still and wait on the Lord.

    • Edward

      DEAR SISTER when we try to help outhers when they dont want your help dont insist, because it causes trouble for you and them: KNOW this if your aunt needs your help she will ask you for it.

  6. Dwight Tjornhom

    Martha….I am learning to wait on God, too…..
    I am homeless and staying with friends temporarily. My Grandmother was in a nursing home with ALS for 13 years, and my mother eventually passed from the same disease. Our family is fractured and separated – with 4 Lutheran ministers!
    The ONLY ONLY ONLY one you can rely on is God…no matter where he leads you.
    God bless you!

  7. Joey

    many times i feel Him calling me to work on His vineyard. i feel the calling in my heart. but everytime, i refuse. i cry, i’m not worthy, i’m scared, afraid of the responsibility.

    with this post, i feel the call again.

    Jesus, my God…..

    • Edward

      Sounds like your afraid of your god which you call jesus, please except this if your afraid of your god you have been lied to : the man they called jesus said my FATHER said he would not judge you niether will i

      • Edward

        WE all make mistakes thats how he teaches us, IF he judged you for your mistakes how can he teach us ? WE call our mistakes sin HE calls them mistakes if you believe this or not

  8. Jeremy Harper

    I want to yield to Gods purpose for my life so I read on. Reluctantly. I don’t like to read. Lol. This message speaks to me. And this is what I got. When I read the part about David it blew me away. God had promised he was king. God should have opened heavens gate so David could walk right to the throne. But here he is running for his life. God was taking him exactly the opposite way. David didn’t doubt Gods purpose for his life. He trusted it was the way God had planned all along. He could have doubted but oh how David knew how to pray. Like proverbs says. A man plans his ways but God directs his path. I need to follow davids example. I know Gods purpose for my life. I have to trust that this path I’m on is the one that God has me walking down.

  9. Dale

    He recently took two of my great-grandchildren, 2 & 3 mos., to be with Him in Heaven and I feel there will NEVER be any healing of the hole in my heart and soul with the loss. On one hand I know they are so much better off with Him in Heaven, but my selfish side wants them back terribly.
    I want to submit to God’s will, but HOW do we know when God is calling and telling us WHAT He wants us to do?

  10. Bev C.

    I believe I’m in His purpose (I hope I’m right) but this month has been very trying. Work, financially, health, family, which is all (kind of) weighing heavily on my spirit. I pray for strength & guidance. I want to totally surrender to Jesus, yet, I think I sometimes don’t really have that right. To those going through that I’ve read, I’ll pray with you. I still choose to keep moving onward & listening for His “…still small voice…” telling me if I am on the right path of His purpose.

  11. Peter A.

    As a group of us are currently going through James, and I too suffer knowing and following God’s will for my life I am quite moved by all the comments. I am often reminded that my Lord is more concerned with my holiness than my happiness. Rom. 8: 28-29 Help me keep the right perspective, all things He will work together for good and the goal is for us all to be like his Son (paraphrase mine). Both James 3 :13-18, Rom. 12:2 tell us that wrong thinking leads to wrong living.

  12. Jim Campbell

    “… If you are a fan of this blog post. you can read more like it by purchasing the Know The Word Study Bible, which runs parallel to any Bible in our app.”

    Sorry ‘Olive Tree’, you need to consider your own priorities before the Lord, for your corporate ways are unfortunately far from perfect. E.g. you issued your useful NJKV app, omitting some vital translator footnotes that are available in the printed text, and are required to accurately assess certain passages. Last year, you promised to fix the problem. Even though you’ve updated the app, you haven’t fixed it.