Day 8: Embracing God’s Will for You

Let’s take a moment today to be with God. If you want to do this as a family, we encourage you to set aside time after your own quiet time to go through the family content at the bottom together.

PAUSE

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification.”—1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NKJV)

When we talk about “the will of God,” we often think of it in terms of what He wants us to do—decisions, actions, and direction. But what if God’s will is more about who we are rather than just what we do?

In Greek, the word for “will” (thelēmatos) refers to God’s good desires for us. Today’s verse makes His ultimate desire clear—our sanctification and transformation into the likeness of Jesus.

Sanctification is not an instant change; it’s a lifelong journey. The more time we spend with Jesus, the more we come to know Him. The more we know Him, the more we love Him. And the more we love Him, the more we become like Him. Simply put, we become what we behold.

PONDER

Beyond these 21 days of prayer and fasting, what does your devotional life look like? How often do you engage with God’s Word? Consider developing a consistent, sustainable rhythm of Bible study that will continue after this season.

PRAY

Father, I want to know You more deeply. By Your Spirit, transform me to be more like Jesus each day. Help me to seek You, to spend time in Your Word, and to grow in love and obedience. Reveal Your heart, mind, and will to me. Amen.

For Your Family

PAUSE

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:3 out loud with your kids. Whether you go on a walk, talk in the car, discuss at dinner, or gather before bed, choose a time in your day to discuss and pray together.

PONDER

Share the main idea with them.

• God wants to make us more like Him.

Ask them:

• What’s God like? How can you show God's character to others?

PRAY

Guide your children to pray using these prayer points.

• Thank God for saving you.
• Think of a characteristic of God you want to be more like (e.g.,: kind, gracious, loving, etc.) Ask God to help you be more like that.
• Pray for others to experience God’s peace.

Pray this over your children:

Father, we want to know You more deeply. I invite you into my kids' lives (name them) to comfort and teach them. Make them hungry to spend time with You every day, and help us all to become more like You in our hearts and minds. Amen.