When you look at it from a certain aspect, being ruled by God is a simple consideration. A person makes a choice to give God control of their life. They decide to make the will of God the top priority and concern in decisions made, choices picked, and directions taken. While it is understood that there may be a great amount consideration about “what is God’s will in this matter,” God’s will is the primary concern.

On the other hand, being ruled by God is a complex consideration. The complexity comes in knowing one’s motives. “Am I doing this for me or for God? Am I merely conforming to the expectations of my past and other people, or am I surrendering to God? Am I trying to manipulate God or serve God? Am I trying to make the important people in my life happy or am I seeking to bring joy to God? Does this arise from faith in myself or faith in God?” Those can be hard questions to answer honestly! They focus on the truth that response to God must be internal as well as external.

Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS’” (Matthew 7:21-23).