Knowing God’s Will For Our Life
Today’s Monday Motivation is tackling a subject that many Christians find challenging and that is knowing God’s will. This week we discuss a number of ideas about knowing God’s will in various circumstances.
We are often looking for some supernatural revelation, which does happen occasionally, but often we feel that we only have bits and pieces, but no real direction. Although most all encounter this, it is common with young people setting the direction of their life and new Christians.
Even though His will may appear vague, what we need for day to day living has been made clear to us in the Bible.
1st and most important – God want’s all to be saved.
1 Timothy 2:3-5 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
Some of the instructions given in the Bible showing us God’s will. Here are a few examples:
- Genesis 2:15 – The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (We are here to work and manage the earth)
- John 14:23 – Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. (If we are going to obey his teachings then we have to study them.)
- Deuteronomy 10:12 – And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
- James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
- Proverbs 3:1-2 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
- Matthew 22:37-40 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
- Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
- Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
What about major life decisions?
As you grow in your relationship with the Lord, you will become more sensitive to his leading.
Ask for wisdom – James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Trust in God – Proverbs 3:5-6
When you ask, be ready to set your will aside and follow his leading, not your desires.
Recall the story of Joseph
Joseph had a dream that his brothers would bow down to him. But little did he know that was only a small part of a much bigger plan for him to become Prime Minister of Egypt. But there was a price to pay. He was almost murdered, but sold as a slave instead, he was falsely accused of rape and put into prison and forgotten. Years later, when it was his time, he was called out from the prison to interpret a dream for Pharaoh for which he was appointed Prime Minister over all of Egypt.
God may give a dream, but it may be but most often is not the destination
Rarely is it a direct route, there is a process we have to go through, there is a price to pay
When it seems we are forgotten and God is silent, he is still at work accomplishing his purposes
At the correct time, everything will fall into place for us to step into our calling
Theare are many other examples in the Bible, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus
For day to day life, God does not give any great revelation, but expects us to live out life according to what he has already revealed in his word. Then, at the right time, he may call you to an unexpected assignment that he has been preparing you for all along.
What do we do in the mean time:
- Live out his will according to his word
- Grow in your relationship with the Lord
- As you grow, look to become more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit
- Develop the talents that God has given you
- Also be ready for him to use you in areas where you have no skills (he wants the credit)
- Recognize that you will go through a period of growth, training and testing
Share your thoughts and experience in the comments or reach out to us using the feedback form.