“We have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will… so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.”

Colossians 1:9-10

“That you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will…” Wow! That’s a tall order that the Apostle Paul was seeking on behalf of the church at Colossae. What in the world would it be like if we were filled with the knowledge of God’s will? That is the question we have been pondering the last couple of weeks in our Wednesday study at my church.

We’ve been studying Adam Hamilton’s book Why? I would hope that every follower of Christ would periodically ask the question, “What is God’s will for me at this time in my life?” Where am I headed in this Christian pilgrimage? What is next for me?

Hamilton has debunked several myths regarding God’s will, including one that I was taught as a child: God has a perfect plan for your life that was predetermined before you were even born. Needless to say, Hamilton poked many holes into that theory. (If you would like to discuss this, come by the office and join me for a cup of coffee.)

And then he gives some refreshing ideas regarding God’s will. Consider the following:

Hamilton: It is helpful for me to remember that mine is not the only story God is authoring; I am part of a much larger story of God’s love and care for our world…the world doesn’t really revolve around me.

• We have daily opportunities to be used by God.
• We invite God to help us pay attention, and to say yes in those moments when our story could be a part of God’s larger redemption story.
• Part of knowing God’s will is simply paying attention and noticing what’s going on around you.

“Mine is not the only story God is authoring…We invite God to help us pay attention.” Hamilton reminds us that our lives are less like a script and more like a blank book where the remaining chapters are yet to be written.

Those words ring true for both individuals and for the local church. We are all in this together, our stories intertwining with each other, continually being written. And as our stories progress and as we pay attention, we find that we are, indeed, part of a much larger story of God’s love and care for our world.

I hope you are involved in a local church. I hope that you are allowing your story to merge with other believers because our stories are not complete. Blank chapters are still waiting for words. How exciting it can be to watch and wonder what’s next! Let’s keep paying attention.