Finding the good, pleasing, perfect will of God.

Ok... tonight it's a twisting road as a lot of different things get put together.

First, I've got a favorite reader. I don't know who they are, don't know how they get here, and don't know how they found my blog. My sitemeter that tells me my blog stats usually tells me how someone arrives, and what page they arrive on (typically it's always the main homepage). But this guy/gal, whoever they are, they always just pop up onto a blog page. Then, out of curiosity I go and read that post. And every single time, it gives me a word that I needed just for that day/moment.

They don't come every day, their visits seem truly random. But I've never failed to be impacted by what they go to read. Best part is, it's my own writing that is usually reaching me. It's kind of funny in the odd sense.
Today, they arrived and went to one of my older posts on the cost of power. Read it again, it's ok. :)
I would stop here and say more about that, but I want to mention the other things that pulled everything all together today.

Terry L. over at "A Disciples Thoughts" wrote a post called "The Power Behind the "Get To" Lifestyle" and in it he quoted something that really stood out. It was from Romans 12
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing, and perfect will" (Romans 12:1-2).

And immediately I thought about how I'm seeking Gods very clear will concerning leaving my church. And this verse is pretty plain about how to figure out Gods will. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then I'll be able to test and approve what God's will is -- His good, pleasing and perfect will.

So I pondered 'not conforming' and 'being transformed' and 'renewing my mind' when I came across this post by Joe Thorn called "Rebooting Your Prayer Life" (thanks to Bob at In the Clearing for the link to the post).

Altogether, the entire day was just one reminder after another that what I'm aiming for is something awesome. It's not a Sunday thing... it's an all consuming thing. It's a transforming thing, it's a miraculous thing. Or at least it can be. But it involves a revamping of every tiny little crevice of my life. Not that that work is something that a person just efforts your way through on your own. But the work is done in you, as you simply work to surrender and stay open to what God wants done in you. Even when it hurts.

It's praying, it's paying the price for the power of the Holy Spirit in your life, and turning your back on the very idea of conforming to the things of the world choosing to be transformed, and allowing Christ to renew your mind.

It's exciting. But until it becomes natural, it's something you need to remind yourself of in order to stay on track. Make the habit, change the life, then you'll see the good and pleasing, perfect will of God.

I'm excited, I really am. I wish I could explain how whatever misery enveloped me before has just simply faded. I really wish I could. But the difference now is like night and day. And an utter relief.

God is good.