There’s not a single Christian alive that wouldn’t say, on the surface at least, that they don’t want the will of God for their life. The majority of Christians would say that they want the plan of God for their life. After all, God’s plans are greater than any plan that we could ever come up with. And though the majority of Christians say this, profess this, like much of our beliefs, our actions betray us and are contrary to what we say. (After all, we do stand in church and sing songs about how much we love God and then act contrary to His Word before we make it out of the parking lot.)

You’re not alone. It happens to all of us at one time or another. Even though we declare that we want God’s will for our life, we are so quick to do whatever comes to mind. We are so slow to take time to seek the Lord in prayer, to ask Him what He wants; to get His will and His plan. Of course, for some, when I use the term “slow,” I might as well say “not at all.”

This happens in churches and ministries all across the world. Churches copy other churches, do what the one across town is doing to get large crowds, instead of seeking the Lord for themself. We can’t do what others have done and are doing to get success. Why? Because we aren’t other people. Especially when it comes to church and ministry – what one church is doing won’t always work for another church. Each church is different, reaching different types of people, in different areas, etc.

Throughout the Bible we see people seeking the Lord, not copying what others were doing. The Bible says we are to be led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14), not by the plans of men. It’s easy to just copy what others are doing. It’s easy to do what comes to our mind. It’s hard to take time out of our busy lives, our busy schedules and seek the Lord, ask Him, wait or Him, and wait for the answer to come – then do it. Our society has, through time and repetition, engrained in the majority of people, this idea that we have to always be going and doing something to be productive. But prayer is productive. Seeking God is productive. It’s not a waste of time.

It is hard sometimes to seek God with everything pulling at you. Sometimes it’s hard to obey the Lord. But we have to do it. And if we will spend time in prayer, the Lord will strengthen us so we can obey Him. That’s why Jesus was in the garden praying before He was betrayed. He was praying for strength to obey. The disciples however fell asleep, instead of praying for that strength. And they scattered when Jesus was betrayed.

Take time and seek the Lord. Ask Him what He wants you to do and seek Him for the strength and power to do it. He won’t fail you. Stay with the Word and with the Spirit.