logo

Thought for Today

How Are We Doing? Part 13
Monday, January 27, 2025 by Dr. James W. Walraven

Categories: Contemporary issues / Encouraging words / Spiritual deception / Spiritual warfare / The church / Thought for Today / Truth telling

Knowing God’s will: the best place to start to know and understand God’s will for our lives is via the Scriptures.

In the previous post we looked in some detail at Psalm 119. Perhaps the best know passage dealing with the importance of knowing God’s word is 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NAU): “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Going back to Psalm 119, one of the points that Psalm makes is that there are times we need to wait patiently for God’s answer. Sometimes instead of waiting, we panic, or get impatient, make our own decision, and go off on our own. That doesn’t end well.

But that too can be tricky. Sometimes God gives us a great deal of freedom, many options to explore. This can be especially true when learning about one’s career choice. We can paralyze ourselves waiting for an answer with an nth degree of detail. We can in effect tell God, “Unless you answer me like this…”; that isn’t living by faith.

Abraham comes to mind, that he went forth without knowing where he was going. God had told him to go to a land that He (God) would show him (Abraham). Abraham went forth in obedience, but it was through the process of that journey that Abraham learned the details of what God would do.

Scripture tells us that we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Yet, even that is God’s direction, isn’t it? How am I to walk? By faith, by trusting in God, believing that He will show me what I need to know, when I need to know it. In terms of classical physics, it is much easier to direct an object that is moving than one that is stationary, at rest. Yet that too is a lesson we learn, at least in part, through reading Scripture.

Through reading Scripture, and following it, we can avoid many potential pitfalls. As Psalm 119 states, one of the benefits of knowing God’s word is that it can help keep us from sin. I can think of times in my own life where I was sorely tempted to sin, but God’s Word kept me from giving in to that temptation and from going down that path.

There is no substitute for reading Scripture, for staying immersed in God’s Word. Through reading God’s Word, through prayer, at times through godly human support and advice—advice that is in line with Scripture—it is possible to know God’s will. We can trust Him to direct our path, so that we will walk in a way that is pleasing to Him, not a life bound up and directed by self-will.

Share This Blog:


Other Blogs

One In Christ

Will God Save Everyone ?


Previous Posts

Extra-Biblical Books? Part 4G: “First Enoch”
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/17/2026

Extra-Biblical Books? Part 4F: "First Enoch"
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/15/2026

Extra-Biblical Books? Part 4E: "First Enoch"
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/13/2026

Extra-Biblical Books? Part 4D: Second and Third Enoch
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/10/2026

Extra-Biblical Books? Part 4C: the “Book of Jubilees”
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/8/2026

Extra-Biblical Books? Part 4B: the “Book of the Giants”
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/6/2026

Extra-Biblical Books? Part 4A: Other “Ancient” Books
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/3/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Some Observatoins, Part 2
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/5/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Some Observations: Part 1
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/3/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 22
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/1/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 21
Dr. James W. Walraven

5/29/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 20
Dr. James W. Walraven

5/27/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 19
Dr. James W. Walraven

5/22/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 18
Dr. James W. Walraven

5/20/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 17
Dr. James W. Walraven

5/18/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 16
Dr. James W. Walraven

5/15/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 15
Dr. James W. Walraven

5/13/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 14
Dr. James W. Walraven

5/11/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 13
Dr. James W. Walraven

5/8/2026

Whom Do WE Listen To? Part 12
Dr. James W. Walraven

5/6/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 11
Dr. James W. Walraven

5/4/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 10
Dr. James W. Walraven

5/4/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 9
Dr. James W. Walraven

4/29/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 8
Dr. James W. Walraven

4/27/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 7
Dr. James W. Walraven

4/24/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 6
Dr. James W. Walraven

4/22/2026

Whom Do We Listen to? Part 5
Dr. James W. Walraven

4/20/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 4
Dr. James W. Walraven

4/17/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 3
Dr. James W. Walraven

4/16/2026

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 2
Dr. James W. Walraven

4/15/2026

Who Do We Listen To? Part 1
Dr. James W. Walraven

4/9/2026

Abiding in Death: Are You? Am I?
Dr. James W. Walraven

2/3/2026

The Return of Idol Worship and the Occult, Part 2
Dr. James W. Walraven

10/30/2025

The Return of Idol Worship and the Occult, Part 1
Dr. James W. Walraven

10/27/2025

The Murder of Charlie Kirk, Part 2a: Political Responses
Dr. James W. Walraven

9/24/2025

The Murder of Charlie Kirk, Part 1: Introduction
Dr. James W. Walraven

9/22/2025

A Time of Mourning
Dr. James W. Walraven

9/11/2025

A Thought Provoking Film, Part 4
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/28/2025

A Thought Provoking Film, Part 3
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/25/2025

A Thought Provoking Film, part 2
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/24/2025

A Thought Provoking Film, Part 1
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/21/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible Part 14c: Conclusion
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/15/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible Part 14b: Conclusion
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/14/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible: Part 14a: Conclusion
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/11/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible: Part 13c: Who Is Allah?
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/10/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible: Part 13b: Who Is Allah?
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/9/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible: Part 13a: Who Is Allah?
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/8/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible: Part 12: Allah’s promised Paradise?
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/7/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible: Part 11b: Muhammad’s Intercession
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/3/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible: Part 11a: Muhammad’s Intercession
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/2/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible: Part 10: Islamic Paradise
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/1/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible: Part 9: The Hellfire
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/30/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible: Part 8: The Siraat
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/27/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible: Part 7b: Judgment Day
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/26/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible: Part 7a: Judgment Day
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/25/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible, Part 6b: Revisiting Eesa
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/24/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible, Part 6a: Revisiting the Mahdi
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/23/2025

Please Pray
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/20/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible, Part 5f: The Last Major Signs
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/20/2025

Are We Living in Fear?
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/19/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible, Part 5e: The Last Major Signs
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/19/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible, Part 5d: Major Signs: Yajooj and Majooj
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/18/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible, Part 5c: Major Signs: Eesa’s Return
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/17/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible, Part 5b: Major Signs: the Mahdi
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/16/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible, Part 5a: Major Signs: The Dajjal
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/13/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible, Part 4b: Who Is Eesa (Islam's Jesus)?
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/11/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible, Part 4a: Who Is Eesa (also spelled Isa, Issa)?
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/9/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible, Part 3: Who Is the Mahdi?
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/6/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible, Part 2b: Minor Signs
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/4/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible, Part 2a: Minor Signs
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/2/2025

The End Times: Islam vs. Christianity, Part 1
Dr. James W. Walraven

5/28/2025

The Antichrist?
Dr. James W. Walraven

5/22/2025

The Book of Jude, Part 8
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/29/2025

The Book of Jude, Part 7
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/25/2025

The Book of Jude, Part 6
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/14/2025

The Book of Jude, Part 5
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/12/2025

The Book of Jude, Part 4
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/10/2025

The Book of Jude, Part 3
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/7/2025

"Victory over the Darkness," and "The Bondage Breaker"
Dr. James W. Walraven

2/26/2025

The Book of Jude, Part 2
Dr. James W. Walraven

2/19/2025

The Book of Jude, Part 1
Dr. James W. Walraven

2/17/2025

Christianity Today: A Disgraced Publication?
Dr. James W. Walraven

2/11/2025

How Are We Doing? Part 17
Dr. James W. Walraven

2/7/2025

How Are We Doing? Part 16
Dr. James W. Walraven

2/3/2025

How Are We Doing? Part 15
Dr. James W. Walraven

1/31/2025

How Are We Doing? Part 14
Dr. James W. Walraven

1/29/2025

How Are We Doing? Part 13
Dr. James W. Walraven

1/27/2025

How Are We Doing? Part 12
Dr. James W. Walraven

1/24/2025

How Are We Doing? Part 11
Dr. James W. Walraven

1/22/2025

How Are We Doing? Part 10
Dr. James W. Walraven

1/20/2025

On the Los Angeles Fires
Dr. James W. Walraven

1/11/2025

Who Am I? Part 4
Dr. James W. Walraven

10/25/2024

Who Am I? Part 3
Dr. James W. Walraven

10/23/2024

Who Am I? Part 2
Dr. James W. Walraven

10/18/2024

Who Am I? Part 1
Dr. James W. Walraven

10/15/2024

The Bible and...: Part 12: Conclusion
Dr. James W. Walraven

9/3/2024

The Bible and...: Part 11b: The Occult
Dr. James W. Walraven

8/30/2024

The Bible and...: Part 11: The Occult
Dr. James W. Walraven

8/28/2024

The Bible and...: Part 10e: Politics
Dr. James W. Walraven

8/24/2024

The Bible and...: Part 10d: Politics
Dr. James W. Walraven

8/19/2024

The Opening Ceremony of the Olympics, Part 5
Dr. James W. Walraven

8/8/2024

The Opening Ceremony of the Olympics, Part 4
Dr. James W. Walraven

8/6/2024

The Opening Ceremony of the Olympics, Part 3
Dr. James W. Walraven

8/2/2024

The Opening Ceremony of the Olympics, Part 2
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/31/2024

The Opening Ceremony of the Olympics, Part 1
Dr. James W. Walraven

7/29/2024

Comments about Church Goers: Examining a Secular Post
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/4/2024

"Jessup North": Yet Another New Low
Dr. James W. Walraven

2/13/2024

We Have No King but Caesar
Dr. James Walraven

1/12/2024

Advent at Faith & Reason Ministries
Dr. James Walraven

11/30/2023

So the Warfare Continues
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/22/2023

Asbury, A Clarification
Dr. James Walraven

3/18/2023

Sam Smith, Kim Petras, and the Grammy Awards, Part 4
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/15/2023

Sam Smith, Kim Petras, and the Grammy Awards, Part 3
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/13/2023

Sam Smith, Kim Petras, and the Grammy Awards, Part 2
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/10/2023

Sam Smith, Kim Petras, and the Grammy Awards, Part 1
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/8/2023

Thoughts on the Asbury Phenomena, Part 6
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/6/2023

Follow-Up on Today's Post
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/3/2023

Thoughts on the Asbury Phenomena, Part 5
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/3/2023

Thoughts on the Asbury Phenomena, Part 4
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/3/2023

Thoughts on the Asbury Phenomena, Part 3
Dr. James W. Walraven

2/27/2023

Thoughts on the Asbury Phenomena, Part 2
Dr. James W. Walraven

2/24/2023

Thoughts on the Asbury Phenomena, Part 1
Dr. James W. Walraven

2/23/2023

Be It Resolved? Part 8
Dr. James Walraven

2/20/2023

Be It Resolved? Part 7
Dr. James Walraven

2/17/2023

Be It Resolved? Part 6
Dr. James Walraven

2/15/2023

Be It Resolved? Part 5
Dr. James Walraven

2/13/2023

Be It Resolved? Part 4
Dr. James Walraven

2/10/2023

Be It Resolved? Part 3
Dr. James Walraven

2/8/2023

Be It Resolved? Part 2
Dr. James Walraven

2/6/2023

Be It Resolved? Part 1
Dr. James Walraven

2/3/2023

The Lie of Evolution, Part 2
Dr. James Walraven

1/30/2023

The Lie of Evolution, Part 1
Dr. James Walraven

1/27/2023

Be It Resolved? Part 3
Dr. James Walraven

1/27/2023

Prophetic Weeping, Part 2
Dr. James W. Walraven

8/27/2021

Prophetic Weeping, Part 1
Dr. James W. Walraven

8/25/2021

The NCAA Tournament, ORU, and Cancel Culture
Dr. James W. Walraven

3/27/2021

The Washington D.C. Riots and the Good Samaritan
Dr. James W. Walraven

1/14/2021

Spiritual Warfare
Dr. James W. Walraven

9/16/2020

Juneteenth
Dr. James W. Walraven

6/20/2020