God has a plan for your life that is different from the plan for my life. I have spent the majority of my life trying to determine what God’s will is for me and then mustering the courage to do it. Fear will tell us there is a consequence for obedience, but the opposite is true too. There are abundant blessings waiting to be revealed.
First step- Knowing God
Before we can discover God’s will for our life, we must know God himself. We need to recognize our identity as God’s creation, his child. In the same way we learned to be obedient to our earthly parents, we need to learn to be obedient to God. As we walk in obedience with God, we learn to trust His ways. When we are obedient to His word, the Holy Spirit teaches us.
If we don’t know we are God’s child, then it is difficult to trust Him. If we don’t trust Him, then we end up relying on our wisdom and strength. Sooner or later this will end in disaster.
When we trust God and are obedient to Him then we discover true Joy.
Billy Graham wrote: “To know the will of God is the highest of all wisdom. Living in the center of God’s will puts the stamp of true sincerity upon our service to God. You can be miserable with much if you are out of His will, but you can have peace in your heart with little if you are in the will of God. You can be happy in the midst of suffering if you are in God’s will. You can be calm and at peace in the midst of persecution as long as you are in the will of God. The Bible reveals that God has a plan for every life and that if we live in constant fellowship with Him, He will lead us in the fulfillment of this plan.”
In order to determine God’s will for our own life, we need to examine whether or not we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior. For more information, read the article Finding Peace.
Examine Your Life for Things Hindering God’s Will
Next we need to examine our own actions with our relationships with family and friends. I believe that Satan acts against God’s will in your life. So, be certain to be on the look out for people who may unintentionally hinder God’s will in your life.
Even Peter attempted to hinder God’s will in Jesus own life. But Jesus recognized Satan at work in him and rebuked him.
“But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16: 23 BSB.
We need to do the same. For example, a part of God’s will for my life is to write. However, there have been teachers and well meaning loved ones who were not supportive in my endeavors. I had to recognize my sin of listening to them instead of trusting God’s power to use my abilities.
Confess Allowing Hindrances to Influence our Actions
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 BSB).
We need to be willing to follow God’s will in our life. Whatever task or wherever God may send us, we will need to actually pack our bags and go. Not, just talk about it, but actually take the first step involved in completing the task.
Where to Find God’s Will
If you are seeking God’s will, search Scripture. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal principles, commands, and hindrances to you.
But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 1 Corinthians 2:10 NLT
We should also pray when we are seeking God’s will about our plans.
In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3: 4-5 BSB).
This means that the Holy Spirit will reveal mysteries to you and enable you to understand them. The result will be peace.
Scripture to to use when praying about God’s will in your life
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect Romans 12: 2 NLT.
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT.
For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God (1 Thessalonians 4: 3- 5 BSB).
Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! 1 Peter 3: 17 NLT
It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 1 Peter 2:15 NLT
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 1 Peter 4:19 NIV
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.… Romans 8: 26 – 28 BSB.
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God remains forever. 1 John 2: 16 – 17 BSB.
A Prayer for You
Heavenly Father help us turn away from the world’s behavior and customs, but to allow your son, Jesus Christ, to transform us into a new person by changing the way we think. Help us to recognize your good, pleasing and perfect will for our lives.
Give us thankful hearts no matter the circumstances of today, and remind us of the joy in belonging to Christ Jesus.
We confess our unholy actions, words, and images that attract our eyes. Give us strength to abstain from sexual immorality. Thank you Lord for the freedom you grant us to control our own body in holiness and honor.
Help us accept your will when we or our loved ones are suffering. We know your ways are higher and trust your plan for our lives.
Thank you for giving us your Spirit to help us pray and recognize God’s will in our daily routine.
In Jesus name we ask these things and thank you for your goodness, Amen.
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Reference:
Below is my Amazon link where you can find a great resource written by Billy Graham. It will help you find biblical answers to the urgent concerns of our day. I highly recommend it if you regularly counsel others or are searching for answers to your own pressing concerns.
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