17/01/2025
𝓔𝔁𝓱𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷: 𝓗𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓸 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓯𝓲𝓽 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓓𝓸𝓬𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓖𝓸𝓭’𝓼 𝓓𝓮𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓮𝓼
The doctrine of God’s decrees is not merely a theological concept but a practical truth meant to comfort and transform the believer.
In The Christian’s Reasonable Service, Wilhelmus Brakel provides valuable insights on how to embrace and apply this doctrine for spiritual growth and peace.
🌷 1. Rid Yourself of Earthly Attachments
“Seek to rid yourself of inordinate and close attachment to earthly things, and be diligent in renouncing your own will. The things of this earth are not your portion, and therefore cannot satisfy. Have you not often experienced that instead of resulting in more holiness, they rob you of your peace and spiritual liberty, hindering you from running your course with joy? Have you not often perceived in retrospect that it was God’s wisdom and goodness that He did not give you the desire of your heart, and that at times you were uncomfortable when your desire was granted? Why then are you so set upon receiving your desire? Is it not much better to rest in God’s decree?”
Reflection: Earthly things often fail to bring lasting peace. Recognize that God, in His wisdom, withholds or rearranges our desires for our ultimate good.
Practical Step: Reflect on moments when God’s wisdom surpassed your own desires, and commit to resting in His decree.
🌷 2. Rejoice in God’s Sovereignty
“Seek often to stimulate love for the sovereignty of God. Do you wish God to be your servant in order that you might receive your foolish desires? Or is it your joy that He is Lord, that He acts freely, and that as supreme Sovereign He rules everything according to His will, so that no one can stay His hand and say, ‘What doest Thou?’ Would you wish God to be subject to you, and to do your bidding? Do you not rather desire that, without the least deviation, His will be accomplished, both in regard to all things and in regard to yourself, even if you would have to lose all that you possess?”
Reflection: God’s sovereignty is a reason for joy, not frustration. Celebrate His perfect rule over all things, even when it challenges your preferences.
Practical Step: Spend time in prayer, thanking God for His sovereign control. Humbly surrender your plans to His will.
🌷 3. Trust That God’s Decrees Are for Your Good
“Consider and believe unreservedly that all that God has decreed concerning His elect He has decreed to their benefit to such a degree that they could not have imagined or desired anything to be more profitable. Approve of this truth and apply it to your own situation. If you may believe yourself to be a partaker of Jesus Christ, God’s decree will be precious to you. You will be able to find sweet rest in it, and you will be able to surrender everything into the Lord’s hand with ease, saying, ‘He may accomplish in me whatever He has decreed concerning me, and it will be well.’”
Reflection: God’s decrees are always for the good of His people. Trust that His plan, though sometimes mysterious, is better than anything we could design.
Practical Step: Meditate on Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11, affirming God’s goodness in all His plans for you.
🌷 4. Use God’s Appointed Means
“You have no prior knowledge of what God has decreed concerning you in various specific circumstances. This much you know, however, that God works out His decree in the way of means, and has bound us to these means. Whoever refuses to use the means—which God will cause him to do if He has so decreed—has no right to complain, as he himself is to be blamed for it. ‘Ye have not, because ye ask not’ (James 4:2). The promise is, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you’ (Matt 7:7); ‘Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it’ (Ps 81:10).”
Reflection: God’s decrees include the means by which His purposes are fulfilled, such as prayer, obedience, and action. Neglecting these means dishonors Him.
Practical Step: Commit to using lawful and faithful means in your pursuits. Pray diligently, act wisely, and trust God to guide the results.
🌷 5. Meditate on God’s Decrees Daily
“By confirming and believing this truth while allowing yourself to grow accustomed to it through much meditation, you will be armed and strong in all circumstances of life; your desires will be holy, your concerns will be moderate, and you will use the means with more liberty, and yet carefully.”
Reflection: Regular meditation on God’s sovereignty strengthens faith and helps align our desires with His will.
Practical Step: Set aside time daily to meditate on God’s decrees, reflecting on passages like Isaiah 46:10 or Romans 11:36.
🌷 6. Find Peace in Trials
“Should there be many evil circumstances, that you are threatened or oppressed with poverty, injury, disgrace, devastation by enemies, famine, pestilence, loss of property, loved ones, or life, the decree brings quietness since it is not inflicted by man, but is all according to God’s eternal counsel, which you should neither desire to change, nor can be changed by anyone. Consider that His decree is for your good, even though you cannot perceive this beforehand. Then you will not fear, even if everything were to be turned upside down.”
Reflection: Even in the darkest moments, trust that God’s eternal counsel is at work for your ultimate good.
Practical Step: When facing trials, remind yourself that God’s hand governs all things and pray for grace to trust His purposes.
Conclusion: Yield Everything to God
“Thy will be done!”
This is the heart of living under the doctrine of God’s decrees—surrendering all to His wise and sovereign will, trusting that He is working all things for His glory and your good.
“For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).
Reflection Question: How can you better trust and rest in God’s decrees this week?
Download a free eBook of The Christian's Reasonable Service here: https://www.monergism.com/blog/christians-reasonable-service-indexed
