The Perfect Will Of God – Toni M. Babcock
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” – (Romans 12:1-2 CSB)
Many wonder what the perfect will of God is for their lives, without wondering “what is our true worship?” Because true worship is God’s perfect will. It’s presenting our bodies as “a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” It’s following the example of Christ who sacrificed himself after praying to His heavenly Father “not my will but yours be done.” So, how do we practice this kind of surrender in present-day terms? Again, the passage gives a clear directive—by not conforming to this age, but by being transformed by the renewing of our minds.
David yearned for such a transformation when he prayed “God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit,” – (Psalm 51:10-12 CSB).
David realized in order to know God’s will, he had to be willing to do God’s will — and that process began with a cry for transformation and renewal much like the Apostle Paul wrote about centuries later in Romans chapter 12.
We’ve all heard the old axiom “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.” In the same token, we shouldn’t take our cues from the world to find the will of God, but be willing to let God transform our hearts and minds through His Word so we’ll be more like Jesus.
Toni is the author of Reflections from the Heart in Light of the Gospel of Jesus, and The Stone Writer, Christian Fiction for Youngsters and Teens. Contact