Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
— Psalm 143:10 (NKJV)

The psalmist said, “Teach me to do Your will.” The word “teach” means to cause to know something, to impart knowledge, to learn how to do something or to understand a concept. David was asking the Lord to teach him to do His will. To do the will of God requires knowing the will of God, which is the Word of God. Knowing the will of God comes from renewing your mind.

Reverend Marvin spoke about doing the will of God with our whole heart — putting your heart and soul in it. So when we ask God to teach us to do His will, we are saying that when He imparts that knowledge to us, we will put our whole heart and soul into it. Like the song says, “We will follow where He leads.” Reverend Marvin spoke about the cost. It will cost us something to do the will of God.

There is the sovereign will of God — that is, when God is God. He is in control, and it will happen. An example of God’s sovereign will was that it was His will that Jesus die for the sin of the world. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” The will of God is His sovereign control of all that comes to pass. It cannot be broken; it always comes to pass.

Then there is His will that He commands us. This is what Reverend Marvin spoke about on Sunday — God’s specific commands, rules, and moral standards given to His people in the Bible. This is what reveals what God wants us to do. This is what the psalmist was asking: “Teach me to do Your will.”

We’ve been focusing on growing — like trees planted by the rivers of water, bearing fruit in its season. We were taught to meditate on the Word day and night. Now is the time to apply all that we have learned about growing in the grace and knowledge of God, growing in wisdom and understanding. This is where we say, “Not my will, Lord, but Yours be done.”

The Word of God is the will of God. First Thessalonians 4:3 says, “This is the will of God — your sanctification.” That means a life of holiness. It says to abstain from sexual immorality. God has set boundaries for how we live. It also teaches self-control and integrity toward our brothers and sisters. We are to live in holiness, not uncleanness.

First Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” We thank Him even in challenges because He promised He would never leave us nor forsake us. He causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

When God reveals His will, He expects us to put it into practice. It would make no sense for God to teach us something and we never apply it. Like learning math but never doing the problems — it brings no benefit. Reading the Word and spending time with God leads to transformation.

It is God’s will that we do good. First Peter 2:15 says, “This is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” Peter was urging believers to submit to authority — to kings or governors — as to the Lord. We are called to good works so that men may see them and glorify our Father in heaven.

Most importantly, it is God’s will that we grow in relationship with Him — that daily communication with Him be a top priority. The psalmist said, “Teach me.” Teach me how to spend time with You. Teach me how to grow in grace and knowledge. Teach me how to walk in uprightness because Your Spirit — the Holy Spirit — lives within me. He is our teacher, helper, and advocate.

Do it with your whole heart. Do it with passion and love. Do it because you love Him — because He is the lover of your soul and you have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. Even if you’re in a place you didn’t choose, know that God will perfect it.

Think about Joseph. His brothers sold him into slavery. He was falsely accused and imprisoned, but in the end he said, “What you meant for evil, God meant for good.” No matter where you are today, even if you are being treated unfairly, know that God — the self-sufficient, omnipotent one — will turn it around for your good.

It is God’s will that you be light in dark places, that you grow even in hard places. It is His will that you flourish and prosper, even in the desert or the wilderness. It is His will that you walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. It is His will that you renew your mind, as Romans 12 says — transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Once you know the Word of God — which is the will of God — the choices you make will bring Him glory and honor. They will show that we are sons and daughters of the kingdom. Dr. Lennox spoke last week about forgiveness. It is the will of God that we forgive — not as an option but as a command. If you do not forgive, the Lord will not forgive you.

So let’s allow the Lord to teach us to do His will until we reach the place where we can say, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” God has given us His Word — all sixty-six books — so that we can know Him and walk uprightly. On our own, we cannot do it. That’s why He sent the Holy Spirit — our helper — who brings the Word of God to our remembrance.

It is God’s will that we be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding so that we may walk worthy of the Lord. When the psalmist says, “Teach me to do Your will,” it is because he wants to walk uprightly and interact rightly with the world. We cannot operate as the world does; we must walk worthy of our calling.

We have this treasure in jars of clay — the precious gift of salvation. We are called to represent Jesus as His ambassadors, the light of the world. We are called to exalt Jesus, equip His people, and expand His kingdom. That is the will of God.

We must also recognize that we have an enemy of our souls who does not want us to do the will of God. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But Jesus came so that we may have life and have it more abundantly. So whatever God is calling you to do, do it with all your heart, not unto men but unto the Lord.

Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” God has revealed enough for us to obey. Start with the small things — forgive, love, be kind, be tenderhearted, walk in unity. That is the will of God. It’s not complicated or mysterious.

The entrance of the Word gives light. Be encouraged and say, “Teach me, Lord. How can I apply what I’ve heard today?” Start now — not tomorrow, not next week. Ask, “What can I do today to show that I am following You and doing Your will?”

Jesus said in Mark 3:35, “Whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and My mother.” Let’s be like our big brother Jesus and do the will of God. Amen.