By Larry Stover

Stover lives in Valley Grande and is pastor at Praise Park Ministries Church of the Nazarene

Numerous people have asked me lately about knowing and doing God’s will. It is an exciting moment and a fantastic period in our lives when we know that we are doing what God wants us to be doing.

Many people I know are struggling with knowing and doing God’s will. They are fretting and agonizing over what they should be doing.

I have some helpful insights in seeking after God’s will.

First of all, your relationship with Jesus Christ should be up to date. Your connection with the Savior should be exciting to you. Your mind should be on worship on a continual basis. I talk with too many people who have an experience that happened years ago. They know nothing of a 24/7 relationship with Jesus Christ. They are missing so much. It’s very hard to sense the leading of the Holy Spirit when you have a blah relationship with God.

Second, you need to be in prayer continually. You should be asking God what He wants you to be doing. There are two very important prayers that I have taught people for years. The first is, “Lord, I’m yours, whatever it takes for me to be the person you want me to be, Your will be done.” The second is, “Lord if there is someone out there today that needs me, I’m available.” These prayers will maintain an up-to-date relationship with Jesus Christ and will let God know if there is someone going through a tough time, you are willing to be used by the Holy Spirit to minister to them.

Lastly, look around and see where God is already working. We tend to spend a lot of time asking God what to do instead of looking to see where He is already at work.

Six years ago, the congregation of Praise Park Nazarene was getting ready to move into our new facility in Valley Grande. We had been praying for years that God would give us fresh direction to begin ministry in the community.

Out of those prayers God led us to begin Wednesday Night Family Worship and to begin ministry in the schools.

It’s hard to imagine that four years ago we fed the DCHS football team for the first time. Now we feed all the athletes at both DCHS and Martin Middle. We are now involved in continual activities at these schools as well as VG Elementary. This has expanded to overseeing the community T-Ball and Coach Pitch leagues for the past two years.

We know we are doing God’s will because people’s lives are changing on a weekly basis.

I am more excited about a being a Christian than ever before. I share with the leadership of our community and schools that God has brought us all together to make a difference in our community. Knowing God’s will makes life “Simply Beautiful.”