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On Being Christian - Controlling and Conforming Our Will
When we speak about God's Will, we should strive to see it as our will, so as to be unable to distinguish between the two. For in defining something as His will it implies that it is not our will, but His only. This should not be the case. For our ultimate aim is to conform our will to His will so that they are one in the same. For in conforming to God's will, we are driven by divine inspiration and not desire or vanity. All to often we may start a project in praise of God, but it quickly becomes our passion and self-praise that is feed, not the will of God.

"Our nature is so accustomed to please itself, that it seeks its own comfort and pleasure in all its doings, even the most righteous and spiritual, and secretly and lustfully feeds on it as though it were food." We see this happening with evangelists, people who, for the glory of God, go to the non-believers to preach and teach the word of God. At first their intent is spiritual, but it conforms to its first nature, human nature not divine. Then the evangelizing becomes tainted with pride. The will to be right overcomes the will to be righteous. God himself did not come down to our level to rule, but to serve - to lead yes, but to lead by example on how we may achieve eternal life with the Holy Father. Our actions and deeds should emulate Christ in all our doings. "He wishes to be the beginning and the end in every action and every thought of ours." So invite Him to join you in your quest. Raise up your attention to Him and invite His divine guidance in your endeavor that it may be blessed with His divine inspiration.

Because all good things come from God, and because for anything to be made perfect it is through His blessings and participation (for if we ever thought we could make something perfect without His help, we begin to fan the flames of our self-worth and vanity. Our self-worth is because of Him for He makes us feel worthy - but worthy of His grace, mercy and blessings not worthy of praise.) So again, because of the wonderfully good feelings we receive when we are in the midst of God's care flowing in the river of His good will, it is only natural to desire this feeling even more. But we must be weary of this desire, for it is a human-born flame that burns, not a divine light that shines without burning. "When there lies before you some work, which accords with the will of God, or is good in itself, do not immediately incline your will towards it and do not desire it. Raise your mind to God, so as to be clear whether it is the direct will of God." Pray on it and rid yourself of any emotion upon it. Then as you proceed, it will be without passionate desire, but divine guidance. And the piercing light of God can penetrate any darkness. In a meaning, if you stop and let the cloud of emotion settle, God's will will shine through the darkness of our unknowing and fill us with knowledge. When God guides, He provides. "Man's heart may make plans, but God will direct his steps."(a)

Like we discussed the importance of Understanding Judgment, it is important to be aware of the natural tendency to develop a desire for doing God's work. For the mind will quickly start to manifest important God-like tasks for us, to regain control over us. Then slowly we begin to fall from the will of God and into the will of self-importance. Is it not natural to claim that "Yes I did this wonderful thing." or slightly boast, "Come see what I have achieved." We do this that we may receive thanks and praise for our contribution, efforts and/or sacrifices. Does this please God? No. It pleases us. And this is the candy we must avoid. For like candy, it tastes good but has no nutritional value for us or God. Humble yourself completely to the will of God when it calls, and you will marvel and the true glory you will participate in.

"If a man does not watch himself well, he may begin some activity with the sole purpose of pleasing the Lord, but later, little by little, introduce into it a self-interest to satisfy his own desires to such an extent that the will of God becomes completely forgotten." Open your heart and mind to God's inspiration and be filled with life without anxiety. But understand, not all of God's tasks are easy, delightful, fun or even desirous. The will of God may call you to go to a person you do not like, or do not care for at all. But see here is the example of glory to God. For when we, moved by the will of God, go to a person we do not like or do not care for, yet advance to this person in God's name - the person you approach will know that it is from God that you came, for only God could have made you come. Look to the story of Jonah, a righteous and God-loving man who was commanded to go the Ninevites and call them to repentance. Jonah did not want to go, he did not think it was fair. He hated the sinners of Nineveh and tried to avoid God's will. But he did finally go to Nineveh, said just a few words to them to repent and, like a wild fire, the need to repent spread throughout the entire city of Nineveh. God knew they were ready and God knew Jonah was the right person for it, and God knew Jonah would rebel against Him in this task making the repentance of Nineveh the Glory of God not Jonah.

This is why it is important to remain dispassionate towards the will of God. We should neither like or dislike the task that God commands us. But pursue its completion to full glory of God.

"None can fully conceive how great is the strength and power in our spiritual life of this motive and aim - to please God. For even if some activity is in itself quite simple and unimportant, if it is done for the sole purpose of pleasing God and to His glory, it becomes in the eyes of God infinitely more valuable than many other great and glorious deeds performed without this aim." The quiet humble man who tirelessly cleans the church without pay or praise is infinitely more pleasing to God than the one who does grand things for the church and boasts about it to all his members. It is the humility of the heart that welcomes the dwelling of God. If a man is full of himself, there is no room for the presence of God. God fills the empty man. Pour yourself out completely that God may fill you up.

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(a) Proverbs 16:9

Based on the writings of Saint Nicodemus in Unseen Warfare.