How to Discover God’s Best For Your Life

Are you guilty of settling for less than God's best because you're afraid or you don't know what His best is. It's time to discover God's best for your life. #Biblestudy #Numbers #WomensBibleStudy #GoodMorningGirls

Chip Ingram writes:

The enemy of our souls wants “To mess your life up. To ruin your relationships. To separate you from God. To make you be emotionally depressed. To cause you to physically go into areas that will ruin your life. I mean, the whole goal of the world system is to destroy you.”

The world has a mold and it wants to squeeze you into it!  Just look at the magazines at the check-out counter. Promises of better relationships, beauty and business success, sell millions of copies every month.  We long to live a better life but this world only offers a mirage.  It offers the opposite of what Christ offers.

We may think that freedom comes through more money, more beauty treatments, a thinner waistline or a forbidden relationship but all of it is a dead end street.  Sin threatens to entangle and strangle out the joy, hope, love, peace and freedom that comes only from the Lord.

We long for peace and think that it will come through one more workout, one more girls night out, one more vacation or one more dollar earned – but the workouts, nights out and vacations all come to an end and the dollars are spent and we are back on the hamster wheel running towards nowhere.

1 John 2:16 warns us:

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

The world temps us through our eyes.  False realities are promoted. Fake story lines and empty promises all are a sham and our eyes betray us.  Our eyes lead us to believe there is something better than what we have today.

So we run…

We run toward the world and the mirage.

And we run away from God.

We miss God’s best for us.

As we come to the end of our study in the book of Numbers, we find Israel on the cusp of entering the Promised Land!  It is now within reach. The old generation of Israel has died in the wilderness and a new generation is born and ready to fight and enter the Promised Land.

And so we pick up in Numbers chapter 32:1 – it says:

Now the people of Reuben and the people of Gad had a very great number of livestock. And they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock.

The Israelites were to go inside the Promised Land and settle there…this was God’s best for them.  But the tribe of Reuben and Gad “SAW THE LAND”.

They saw land OUTSIDE the Promised Land and desired it {gasp}! What were they thinking???  I’ll tell you what they were thinking…they were thinking they wanted to be prosperous! They were thinking they saw something good and wanted that for themselves.  But they were on the wrong side of the Jordan!

And so they went to Moses and requested to have this land.  At first, Moses is angered and calls them “a brood of sinful men” (v.14).  And then this happened in verses 16-23:

And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones: But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.  For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.

And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the Lord to war,  And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the Lord, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him,  And the land be subdued before the Lord: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the Lord, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the Lord.

 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.”

They made a deal. They so desperately wanted the land outside the Promised Land that they were willing to fight for the Promised Land but then not receive it!

They had not even SEEN the Promised Land yet and they were willing to give it up!  This land that God specifically chose for them – full of blessing.

Rejected.

I gasp at their choice and yet I wonder, how many of us settle for less than God’s best.

Maybe we fight to defend the name of Christ on Facebook or we go to church every Sunday faithfully but then the other 6 days of our lives we chase the world and its ways.

We choose to live outside the Promised Land.

We are deceived by our eyes and the lies of the world and try to control our lives rather than live a surrendered life to God’s best for us.

Then what?

These two tribes were living exposed, flirting with danger and 2 Kings 15:29 tells us they were the first to be captured by the Assyrians because they were not under the protection of the rest of the Israelites inside the Promised Land.

Have we left ourselves exposed?

Have we missed God’s wisdom and protection by deviating from God’s path?

Verse 23 says: “Be sure your sin will find you out.” 

Hidden sin is damaging and leads to defeat.

Hidden sin must be confessed, to be conquered.

Hidden sin does not always lead to immediate consequences. Often times a long time passes and then a man reaps what he sows. If we sow to the flesh, we will reap corruption. If we sow to the Spirit, we will reap everlasting life. (Galatians 6:7-8)

We reap what we sow.

Do you want to discover God’s best for your life?

Then you must be shaped by the Word…

NOT by the world.

Our Father in Heaven, has given us His Word to guide us. Oh! How it must grieve Him to watch us deviate from His Words and choose to follow His ENEMY and His enemy’s ways.

Though we may not always be sure what our next step in life should be – one thing is certain – we must keep in step with the Lord.

How do we keep in step with the Lord?

We keep in step through the reading and

APPLYING of God’s Word.

This is what Good Morning Girls is all about…

Keeping in step with the Lord –

Discovering God’s best for us –

And living it!

Let’s be Women Living Well by drinking from the living well – the living Words of God – everyday!!!

Walk With the King,

Courtney

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28 Comments

  1. “Do you want to discover God’s best for your life? Then you must be shaped by the Word…NOT by the world”. An excellent quote
    Thank you for pouring out such truths. And I am looking forward to the Job Study as well!
    Blessings to you Courtney.

  2. Thanks Courtney! I ready this to the family at the breakfast table today and my son who has just studied the parable of the Sower and the Seeds (Luke 8:4-14) was thrilled and has just gone off to make adjustments to his talk for his Primary Class. Thanks!

    1. Lili,

      Wow- that’s so great that you read this at the breakfast table. What a blessing you must be to your family that you pour God’s truth into them!

      Thank you for sharing that!
      Lots of Love,
      Courtney

  3. Chapter 32 has been the most eye opening lesson in this book. I think as Americans, we are enveloped in a culture where it is so easy to sit back in comfort and never step out in faith for a bigger plan God has for us (to stay on the known side of the river). I have been to Haiti 10 times….I see and I help where I can….but I always come back to my comfortable spot. I can shut everything off about the poverty in another part of the world if I want.

    So in this chapter, I prayed one of those prayers that now I’m afraid I shouldn’t have prayed. I asked God to push me out of my comfort zone if it meant following His plan for my life. What does that mean? What could I be asked to give up? I don’t know, but I do know that God loves me and if He has a plan for me, it will be better than anything I could imagine….it will be the promised land.

    1. I could not agree more with you Sharon! I feel the same way about being here in America and so easily being able to not think about the plight of the rest of this world. It’s so easy to get comfortable and think we’re doing what’s right when really we’re just missing God’s best for our life. I too have prayed this prayer and am taking steps of faith knowing that God will walk along with me!

    2. Sharon – I loved what you shared here!!! Yes a thousand times yes and amen!!!

      Thank you for sharing your story and may God use you for his glory. You are an inspiration!

      Lots of Love,
      Courtney

  4. Thank you for the summary. I didnt think the book of Numbers would be so enlightening. I have learned so so so much from you and this bible study. Thank you for being such a beautiful vessel for God!…and sharing all your knowledge and wisdom that God has also given to you! I look forward to reading Job!! Be blessed! !

    1. Donna,

      I’m so glad you joined us for the book of Numbers and that you are coming back for Job!! Hooray!

      I can’t wait for 2016. So glad we don’t have to walk this road alone.

      Lots of Love,
      Courtney

  5. God separates a people unto Himself for His good plan and purpose. In Christ, we have been called, chosen, cherished in order to worship, work and walk with Him. The book of Numbers was an inspiring and instructional picture of promises, passion, purity. Thank you for leading us in our “walk with the King”. A Blessed Christmas to ALL!

    1. Charlsie,

      I love your reflections and yes – Numbers was both inspiring and instructional. Just so good for the soul. I’m so glad you joined us and hope you’ll be back for the book of Job! Merry Christmas!

      Lots of Love,
      Courtney

  6. Thank you Courtney for your insight and study into God’s Word. I have been so blessed by this study of Numbers and look forward to our study in Job. I’ve personalized your statement from the above material, YES, I want to discover God’s best for my life!! Then, I MUST be shaped by the WORD…NOT by this world. God’s richest blessings on you and your family as you celebrate our Savior’s birth.

    1. Becky,

      Thank you for joining us for the book of Numbers and I’m so excited to hear you’ll be back for the book of Job!!! Hooray!

      Merry Christmas and I can’t wait for 2016 together!
      Lots of Love,
      Courtney

  7. What a great post to finish up our study in Numbers! I am so excited to be learning so much and am grateful you are leading us through the bible one book at a time! WOOT WOOT!!! Merry Christmas!

  8. I was strengthened by this study. I especially like this post. Sometimes when we go through things, it’s hard to articulate how we feel and this really spoke volumes to me. Personally, I’ve been through a lot lately (who hasn’t right?) so I love when I’m reminded of God’s goodness. I love being reminded how precious my walk, my life and my time is with Him. I think because we’re Moms that we sometimes get caught up in the daily life that we tend to put our time with the Lord on the back burner. Every time I get an email or go on here I am encouraged and reminded how important it is to keep my time with the Lord. This devotional really helped me to do that. I will definitely be back for Job. That will be awesome. I actually enjoyed Numbers. I thought it might be kind of boring LOL, but it really wasn’t. It was full of insight and guidance. I really learned a lot from it.I’m glad we did it.
    Thank you Courtney for your ministry!

  9. This was just what I neede this morning! It is so easy to get caught up in our culture!! I need to remember to focus on God and his guidance in my life. The things of this world are so tempting but never leave us feeling truly fulfilled. Thank you for this reminder !!!

  10. This is wonderful, Courtney – thank you so much for reminding us of the spiritual warfare that happens in our minds and hearts every day. I sadly missed the Numbers study, coming in only at the end after I found your ministry – but I’m so looking forward to Job! In the meanwhile I am doing your Advent study and reading Elisabeth Elliot. I have had poor health for nearly two years now, but I have finally come to understand that this was God’s way to call to me – I do believe that had I been comfortable, happy and therefore immersed in the world and its commodities I wouldn’t have found God. Many thanks for your inspiring words, Dani

  11. Hi Courtney, I have really enjoyed studying Numbers with you. I have been saved for 33 years and to my shame this is the first time I have ever finished this book right through to the end. I learned so many lessons from it and it was truly a blessing to my soul. Thank you for all you hard work in keeping this blog going. I know it isn’t easy keeping this going along with all the busyness you have in your life but please be assured that it is blessing my heart tremendously and I’m sure, the hearts of thousands of others.

    Hugs, Karen X

  12. Hi Courtney,
    I’ve been away from your blog for a while. It has been a whirlwind year- we had our first and probably only baby in May. And as a new mom- I got off track in my relationship with the Lord. I spent more and more time on baby websites. Honestly a sinful amount of time on baby websites. I’m ashamed. But I want 2016 to be the first of many (however many God gives) “years of the Bible”. This post has hit me in the gut in a wonderful way. Thank you for being a faithful servant of our Lord Jesus Christ! You are such a beautiful woman, not only on the outside (which you truly are) but you have such a beautiful spirit. I look forward to studying Job with you and the ladies here! 🙂

  13. Hello Courtney. I thoroughly enjoyed your study on ” HOW TO DISCOVER GOD’S BEST FOR YOUR LIFE”. I am so blessed and I am going to use it in my preaching on the 1st January 2016 New year’s worship service. I am a Pastor from Mumbai, India and love to get connected with the people of God around the world to be encouraged, strengthen and praying for one another. I am blessed and feel privileged and honored to get connected with you because of who you are in the Lord Jesus Christ. I have been in the Pastoral ministry for last 36yrs in this great city of Mumbai a city with great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. we reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the broken hearted. We also encourage young and the adults from the west to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have your grown up children to come to Mumbai with their friends to work with us during their vacation time. I am sure they will have a life changing experience. God’s richest blessings on you, your family and friends. Wishing you a very blessed, and joyous Christmas season and a very bright, prosperous and Christ centered New year.

  14. Great piece you have shared on God’s creation.Thanks for sharing this wonderful blog.I liked you ideas and tips. God does have great plans for your life! This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth”.Nice sharing.

  15. I have 2 of Chip Ingrams books I`ve started studying-also r12 spirituality (Romans 12). I`m anxious to start this study on Job too. Thanks for this wonderful group and hard work.

  16. I feel refreshed and relaxed whenever I read an article that lifts my faith in god. Thank you for posting this. You help us a lot by posting wonderful content like this. Keep on posting!

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