August 12, 2026

Walking in the Will of God

Romans 8:31-32; Colossians 1:9-14

Gathered for worship at Burnsview Baptist Church, the congregation lifted up praise to Jesus as Messiah and Redeemer. The service highlighted God's global and local work through encouraging testimonies, including student ministry in Myrtle Beach and upcoming international mission efforts. The church family was reminded of God's sovereign care and challenged to yield their daily lives to His divine purpose.

Drawing from Colossians 1:9-14, the sermon focused on discerning and walking in the will of God. Rather than viewing God's will as a burden or an unknown mystery, believers are encouraged to cultivate daily sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. By surrendering personal agendas in every area—including careers, daily habits, and relationships—Christians experience the true freedom and joy of divine direction.

Walking in obedience produces rich spiritual blessings in the believer's life. Following Christ leads to a worthy walk that reflects His character, fruitful labor in good works, and continual strength drawn from His glorious power. Even when obedience brings trials or challenging paths, believers can rest assured that God's strength is present and sufficient for every moment.

Ultimately, living in God's will inspires continuous, heartfelt thanksgiving for redemption through Christ's blood. Having been delivered from darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son, Christians are sustained by grace and qualified for an eternal inheritance, freeing them to worship and serve Him with joy.

Key takeaways

God has freely given us all things through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Discerning God's will requires a daily, active sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.
Seeking God first in major life decisions brings divine clarity and alignment.
A life lived in God's will produces a spiritual aroma that points others to Christ.
Spiritual fruitfulness is the natural result of trusting and obeying God's Word.
God provides present-tense strength according to His glorious power for every trial.
The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot sustain you.
Believers are delivered from the power of darkness and brought into Christ's kingdom.
True worship flows from a heart that is continually thankful for redemption through Jesus' blood.
Walking worthily means allowing God's plans to supersede our personal agendas.

Day 1Colossians 1:9, Romans 12:2
Seeking the Will of the Father
Discovering the will of God is not about uncovering a hidden secret, but surrendering daily to the Creator who knows us intimately. When we wake up each morning and invite God to lead our day, our entire perspective changes. Rather than grumbling through unexpected obstacles or clinging tightly to our own schedules, we learn to tune our hearts to the Holy Spirit. God desires that we be filled with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. This process requires humility and trust. When we lay down our personal ambitions and ask the Lord to guide our steps, He opens the right doors and closes the wrong ones. Walking in His will transforms our routine daily tasks into sacred opportunities to glorify Him. As we yield our choices to Him, we discover the peace and assurance that come only from resting in His perfect plan.
Reflect
What personal plan do you need to surrender to God today in order to follow His will?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, fill my heart with the knowledge of Your will and guide my steps today.
Day 2Colossians 1:10, Ephesians 4:1
Walking Worthy of His Name
A life surrendered to Christ naturally produces a distinctive holy aroma in an unbelieving world. To walk worthy of the Lord means conducting ourselves in a manner that pleases Him in every circumstance—whether in our daily commute, our workplaces, or our homes. When people observe our patience, integrity, and kindness, they notice that something is fundamentally different about us, even before we speak a word about our faith. Following God's path might sometimes disrupt our personal comfort or conflict with worldly expectations, yet pleasing Christ is far more valuable than human approval. Living worthily is not about pursuing perfection through human effort; it flows from a heart captivated by Jesus' love. When our desire is to honor Him completely, our daily choices reflect His character and draw others toward the hope of the gospel.
Reflect
How can your words and actions today reflect the holy fragrance of Christ to those around you?
Prayer
Lord, help me walk in a manner pleasing to You and honor Your name in all I do.
Day 3Colossians 1:10, John 15:5
Abiding to Bear Lasting Fruit
True spiritual productivity is never the result of self-driven busyness, but the natural outcome of abiding in Christ and obeying His Word. When a believer is rooted deeply in the Scriptures, like a tree planted by rivers of water, their life yields genuine spiritual fruit. Being fruitful in every good work means that our daily labors—serving others, sharing the gospel, encouraging the weary—carry eternal value. As we act in obedience, our personal knowledge of God increases. We come to know Him not merely through abstract theology, but through experiential trust. A healthy church and an active Christian life remain outwardly focused, seeking to bless others and bring souls to Jesus rather than getting tangled in internal strife. By remaining connected to the Vine, our lives become vibrant demonstrations of God's goodness and transformational grace.
Reflect
In what areas of your life are you relying on your own strength instead of abiding in Christ?
Prayer
Father, prune my heart and let my life produce lasting spiritual fruit for Your glory.
Day 4Colossians 1:11, Acts 1:8
Strengthened for Every Season
The Christian journey often involves trials, unexpected hardship, and spiritual battles. Yet God does not expect us to endure these difficulties in our own limited human energy. Scripture promises that God strengthens believers with all power according to His glorious strength. This divine power is given in the present tense—moment by moment, day by day. It provides us with the endurance and patience necessary to stand firm under trial without losing our joy. When challenges arise, we can remember that the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead lives within us. His glorious power enables us to respond with gentleness instead of anger, faith instead of fear, and perseverance instead of surrender. No matter how overwhelming your current circumstances may seem, God offers supernatural strength to sustain you through every hardship you face.
Reflect
Where do you need to stop striving in your own effort and rely on God's present-tense power?
Prayer
Holy Spirit, grant me Your supernatural strength, patience, and joy to endure today's challenges.
Day 5Colossians 1:12-14, Romans 8:31-32
Sustained by Grace and Rooted in Thanks
Stepping into God's will can sometimes feel intimidating, especially when obedience requires stepping into uncertain or difficult territory. Yet the will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot sustain you. When we remember what God has already accomplished for us, fear gives way to overflowing gratitude. Through the blood of His Son, God has delivered us from the kingdom of darkness, redeemed us, forgiven our sins, and qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints. Because He freely gave us Jesus, we can trust Him to supply everything else we need. True worship springs from a heart that continuously reflects on this great salvation. As we walk faithfully in His call, we can rejoice with boldness, knowing that His abundant grace will hold us fast in every season.
Reflect
How does remembering your redemption in Christ give you courage to follow Him into uncertain situations?
Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for redeeming me; give me the faith to trust Your sustaining grace wherever You lead.

Open together

1.When making big life decisions, what habits or principles do you usually rely on to figure out your next step?
2.Can you share a time when following what you believed to be God's guidance led you somewhere unexpected?
3.What initial thoughts or emotions come to mind when you hear the phrase 'the will of God'?

Observation

1.According to Colossians 1:10, what are the four distinct results or characteristics of walking worthy of the Lord?
2.What does Paul state happens to a believer's growth as they bear fruit in every good work?
3.According to Colossians 1:11, for what specific purpose does God strengthen believers with His glorious power?
4.What specific actions has God the Father taken on our behalf according to Colossians 1:12-14?
5.What quote from Dr. Billy Graham was shared in the sermon regarding the relationship between God's will and His grace?

Interpretation

1.What is the connection between gaining spiritual wisdom to know God's will and practically walking in a manner pleasing to Him?
2.How does being strengthened for 'all endurance and patience with joy' differ from relying on human willpower alone?
3.Why is heartfelt thanksgiving such a vital indicator that a believer is living according to God's will?
4.How does our spiritual transfer out of the domain of darkness into Christ's kingdom change our everyday motives and choices?
5.In light of the missionary testimony shared in the service, how does trusting in God's sovereignty alter how a Christian views danger or uncertainty?

Application

1.In what current decision or area of life are you actively seeking to discern and follow God's will?
2.What is one practical step you can take this week to ensure your daily schedule reflects a desire to 'walk worthy of the Lord'?
3.Is there a difficult circumstance in your life right now where you need to ask God for His power to endure with joy rather than complain?
4.Looking at Colossians 1:12-14, what specific blessings of redemption can you reflect on this week to cultivate a more grateful heart?
5.How can our group actively support and pray for believers who are taking faithful risks to serve the Lord locally or overseas?

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