Can You Walk With God So Closely You Need Not Always Ask Him to Show You His Will?

Oswald Chambers thinks so (and so do I)

Photo by Juliane Liebermann on Unsplash

Is it possible to be so in tune with God that you never need to ask Him to show you His will?

Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) thinks so. And for whatever it's worth to you, so do I.

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The following is from Chambers’ classic devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, for March 20th and subtitled Friendship with God. The key scripture for the daily reading is Genesis 18:17, where the Lord contemplates whether He should reveal to Abraham what He’s about to do to Sodom and Gomorrah.

And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do, (Genesis 18:17, AMPC)

He begins the devotional by stating that the delights of friendship with God are beyond “occasional feelings of His presence in prayer,” then makes these stunning statements:

To be so much in contact with God that you never need to ask Him to show you His will, is to be nearing the final stage of your discipline in the life of faith. When you are rightly related to God, it is a life of freedom and liberty and delight, you are God’s will, and all your commonsense decisions are His will for you unless He checks. You decide things in perfect delightful friendship with God, knowing that if your decisions are wrong He will always check; when He checks, stop at once.

Some would say this is presumptuous — to think you could walk so closely with God that you never have to ask Him if something is His will.

Can this be true? Can you be so rightly related to God that you become His will?

To the religious mind, this is not only outrageous, it borders on blasphemy! Who, but Jesus, could claim such a privilege?

Spoiler alert: You can, new covenant child of God!

Here’s the deal: Chambers isn’t saying you can live as you please without consulting the Lord. That’s not it at all.

What he’s explaining is that, as a worshipper and follower of God whose aim is to please Him at all times, you can grow in your knowledge of Him to the point that you can trust all your commonsense decisions.

That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight...]. (Colossians 1:10, AMPC - emphasis mine)

How is that possible?

Because you can trust Him to give you a check in your spirit if you veer off the path. And when He does, you stop immediately and listen for His course correction.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21, NIV)

Through the years, I’ve learned that God’s number one way of guiding me is through His peace. It acts as my umpire, calling “Out!” or “Safe!”

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. (Colossians 3:15, AMPC)

When you learn to recognize His peace — His divine amen (or lack thereof) —  there is no need to stop and have a prayer session whenever something arises. Just keep walking and talking with Him in perfect, delightful friendship. He’ll show you what is of Him and what is not.

After all, is this not what Jesus told us to do?

Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:29-30, MSG)

Amazing grace? Yes, indeed, dear saint. Yes, indeed! 😊

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What do you think? Let me know in the comments (or, if you’re reading this via email, simply reply).