Unit 2, Day 3: God Takes the Initiative

1. Who takes the initiative in your knowing and doing the will of God?
b. God does. He invites me to join Him in what He is about to do.

2. Which of the following are ways God may reveal his plan or purpose to you?
all of the options

In every situation God demands that you depend on Him, not a method.

What helped George Mueller know God's will?
honesty of heart, uprightness before God, patiently waiting on God.

What led to mistakes in knowing God's will?
preferring the counsel of people to the word of God.

1. I seek at the beginning to bet my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the knowledge of what His will is.
2. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.
3. I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.
4. Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God's will in connection with His Word and Spirit.
5. I ask God in prayer to reveal his Will to me aright.
6. Thus, (1) through prayer to God, (2) the study of the Word, and (3) reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly.

1. D
2. D
3. B
4. D

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What was the most meaningful statement or Scripture you read today?
In every situation God demands that you depend on Him, not a method

Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response to God.
Dear Jesus, help me to desire to seek you more than a specific method - that I would know you and your ways rather than people's ways

What does God want you to do in response to today's study?
Continue to read his word and pray diligently.

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Summary Statements

• God's revelation of His activity is an invitation for me to adjust my life to Him and join in His work.
• "I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter."
• "I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression."
• "I seek the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God."

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20.7

I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit - apart from me you can do nothing. John 15.5