BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

We can have and use faith because God desired us to, and by His grace designed us to have and release faith even as He does. Faith is the arena God functions in. Grace opened the door for us into that arena, where we are always the winning conquerors over the lions, which the world intended to devour us. Grace by faith and faith by grace. True, the will of God is complex. It is deep and wide. Its scope ranges from the monotonous to the grand. It is moment by moment yet spans eternity. It is unique to each individual person while embracing the whole of all creation. No particle of creation—whether spiritual or natural—is too small to escape having destiny and purpose. No entity is so grand it requires no direction of the Divine One. So it’s not uncommon for the will of God to seem so complex that we are too intimidated to actually require ourselves to reach for it. Sure, there is some striving involved—the world is in a flow to keep us out of God’s will. Any part of our thinking that has not been renewed to think like God thinks is going to be carnal and fleshly, and will pull against the will of God. (See Romans 8:5; Galatians 5:16-25.) But there is also a great prize involved, as Philippians 3:14 tells us: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Though the fullness of the prize awaits us at the end of this life’s journey, there is a prize rewarded every moment we walk in the will of God in this life. For indeed, every moment in His will is a moment of knowing Him more. No prize is greater. Trust and Obey In all of its depth of complexities, following and accomplishing the will of God is as simple as “trust and obey.” We are back now to faith and grace. Trust is resting in faith that grace will make His will known. Then faith obediently acts on that knowledge expecting to be empowered. By now I’m sure your faith is growing, but you may still feel that to really comprehend the will of God for you is over your head. I understand. Although I, at least, had the assumption one could be in the will of God, generally speaking, I had the sense it would be hit or miss to accurately be in God’s specific will, and to confidently do it. But thanks be to God for my dad, Kenneth Copeland! A number of years ago, our family had taken a few days to be together and have fun. On the last morning we all gathered for a time of prayer and Communion. Whenever we are together that way, one of us will usually be inspired by the Holy Spirit with a question for “Paw Paw” that will make way for a word from the Lord. Praise God, all our children have open ears and hungry hearts to hear the wise words he brings. That day, my sister, Kellie, said, “You know, Dad, in just a few days some of the kids will be heading off to college. But even the ones not ready for that yet are at an age that they need to be especially clear about the will of God for their lives. Can you talk to us about how to know and be in His will?” I’m sure we all recall his answer a little differently, but I do know that each of us was stunned by its simplicity. His words were so saturated with grace—the power to be and do all He wants us to be and do—that our lives will forever be shaped by them. I will do my best to convey his lesson, especially in the light the Lord has continued to give to me. First, he said the greatest prayer a person can pray is, “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10). Making that declaration commands our own will to be in line with God’s. All carnal thoughts and worldly pressures will yield to the believer who has chosen the Master’s will above his own. Some things yield quicker than others, but nothing of the flesh or the devil is capable of forever resisting the will of a believer firmly united with the will of God. It also releases the mountain-moving faith that changes our circumstances to line up with the plan of God. Powerful! 22 : BVOV

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