27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
First anyone wishing to know God’s will should not have preconceived ideas of what God’s will might be. Our biased ideas can make us miss God’s will for our lives. You should approach God with such an attitude that even if God’s will is completely opposite to your desire, you are willing to obey it. If you don’t have an intention to obey God’s will whatever it may be, don’t seek for His will. Come to Him with the right attitude – Lord not my will, but thine will alone be done.
This will help in avoiding many confusions and misinterpreting God’s will.
Once the attitude is right, with a sincere heart pray to God to make clear His will to you.
It is GOD’s will that you know His will. He wants you to know His will and do it.
Philippians 4
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Once you have made the request,the Lord will make it clear to you through the circumstances AND you may have an increasing/decreasing inner peace on that particular matter. If time permits, wait for a week or month and see if the inner peace is increasing. Also the Lord’s guidance will never be contradictory to what He has clearly made known through His written word, the BIBLE.
There can be 3 possible responses : YES, NO, WAIT.
If it’s a WAIT, do not over run before the Lord and take the matter in your hands. This will cause future regret. God knows BEST and His timings are perfect. BELIEVE this.
Philippians 2
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
There is always a tendency for us to be biased and to wish that God’s will be alligned to our will. So always make sure that you approach the LORD to know and do His will, and not your own. Then it is the Lord who will guide you to know His will and He will give you the strength and grace to accomplish HIS will through you.
Acts 16
6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
Sometimes there may be a waiting period in which His will is not clear. If time permits, wait till His will be clear to you and then take the step. Another option can be to pray sincerely to God that you want only His perfect will for you and then as you take a step, ask Him to close the doors which is not as per His desire. He will reveal His will through closed doors as well. In the right time, He will direct you to the door through which you have to go and you will see that all things work together for good for those who love God and who are called according to His purpose.
If the Holy Spirit forbids you from pursing a particular course, take heed to that opposition. Wait for a week or month and see if you have increasing peace about the matter. If no increasing peace, but rather a prohibition, don’t go that way for the time being. It may either not be God’s will for you OR may be not the right time to pursue that path.
We are His co-worker, not the boss. JESUS is the Lord. So let’s be sure that we don’t dictate, but allow Him to guide our steps and let’s follow Him.
It can be difficult when the husband is not a believer in Christ. In such cases, the Bible mentions as below. –> It does not imply to be subject to a violent or an abusive husband which endangers the wive’s or children’s lives. Also if the husband insists on something which is contradictory to the Lord’s clear teaching, there is no need to obey that particular thing, because a woman has to give more importance to the headship of Christ and then to the headship of her husband. But otherwise let the wife live with her husband and win him to Christ through her behaviour. The Lord will give the grace to the wife who tries to honour the Lord through her behaviour.
1 Peter
3 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
1 Corinthians 7
10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
Titus 2
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
1 Timothy 5:14
14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
Colossians 3:18
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Ephesians 5
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. –> It does not imply to be subject to a violent or an abusive husband. Also if the husband insists on something which is contradictory to the Lord’s clear teaching, there is no need to obey that particular thing, because a woman has to give more importance to the headship of Christ and then to the headship of her husband.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
1 Timothy 3
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Titus 1
5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
The Christian world seem to be divided on the doctrines supported by Arminianism and Calvinism.
Its mostly on the topic of how is a Christian born again. Either by free will of human or by the direct working of God?
The Bible says – John 6:44 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
The Bible also says – Acts 2:
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Acts 13:48 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
ROMANS 9
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
God is sovereign, and there is human responsibility also. The Lord commanded His disciples to preach the gospel.
So it is the disciple’s responsibility to preach the gospel as the Spirit of God leads.
It is the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin and draws the sinner to the Saviour.
John 16:8 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Only a sinner requires a Saviour. To make a man/woman to realise that they are a sinner, is the Spirit’s work. With the Spirit’s illumination, the sinner recognises the wretched state they are in, and realise they definitely need a Saviour who alone can help them out. No one can save them by themselves. They repent of their sins and accept the Lord’s free gift of salvation.
So is it Arminianism or Calvinism? DOES IT MATTER?
Do what the Lord clearly says us to do – Preach the gospel as the Lord leads and then let the Spirit of God work and let the people get saved.
Arguing and debating on Arminianism or Calvinism does it help us to draw closer to the Lord? Can we please channelise this energy and time to know the Lord better and do the work which He wants us to do. Lets not give chance for Satan to mock at the internal Christian arguments. Lets make sure we focus on the weightier matters as well.
Matthew 23:23
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
1 Timothy 1:4
which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
Titus 3:9 9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
JUDE
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
But definitely defend if there arises a question of whether Christ is the Saviour or any opposition arises against the gospel. If its only a question of small matters, let us focus on loving the Lord Jesus with all our heart and keeping His commandments. Let’s keep this question (whether Arminianism or Calvinism is right )to ask Him when we meet Him in heaven. JESUS is the Lord.
Yes, Christians can seek counselling support for depression or anxiety. Pray to the Lord Jesus to direct to a professional Christian counsellor. The professional counsellor would be able to understand the root cause for depression and be able to help to deal with it. Anti depressant medication as prescribed by the doctor also would be able to help along with the counselling sessions.
Definitely seek medical advice from a Christian counsellor as God would be able to heal through the counsellor as well. Also seek prayer support from a Christian friend or Church group if you are comfortable to share that you are going through depression/anxiety.
If a depressing thought of some sin we committed comes to our mind, check if we have confessed that sin to God.
Bible clearly states in 1 John 1:9 – 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we confess our sins, God surely will forgive our sins. After forgiving our sins, God will not accuse us for that sin. So definitely realise that the accusation is from devil and reject it. Do not think about it any more.
If it comes to mind again, resist it saying in your mind – I do not accept your accusation satan. Refuse to think about it any more. Divert your attention to something good or may be sing a christian praise song.
Bible clearly states in James 4:7 – 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Yes, a christian can get depressed. Elijah in the Old Testament is one of the best examples. He had one of the most important spiritual achievement in turning Israel from Baal worship to the real God, Jehovah. But when Jezebel had sent him the letter mentioning that he will be killed, Elijah fled for his life. He was depressed after the long journey. Then He asked God to take his life. He was depressed.
But God gave him proper rest and food and renewed him.
Similarly sometimes we also feel depressed. Sometimes its because the devil accusing us of wrong things, sometimes bringing to remembrance our past sins, sometimes making us feel that we are good for nothing and useless.
But then how to handle the depressing situation?