How do I determine God’s will?
Question: I am facing some decisions in my life and am trying to determine what to do. How can I know the will of God?
Response: I heard a speaker once say, ‘God will bless you by revealing more of His will as you live according to the will He has already revealed.” The following points may clarify this statement:
1. Trust that since God has a will for you, He must desire you to be aware of it.
2. Devote yourself to reading the Bible since it is the Word of God revealing the will of God.
3. Recognize that first things must come first. God directs and guides those who belong to Him. Simply put, if you have not experienced salvation trusting your life to Jesus Christ, then you will not get very far. You will not discover God’s will for your life by neglecting the Gospel.
4. Live a Spirit-filled life. What is this? You live a Spirit-filled life by recognizing that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit and by living as if you are standing in the direct presence of Christ.
5. Live a life of purity. Your life should attract people to God, not repel them.
6. Live a life of submission to God and other authorities.
7. Live with sensitivity to the reality of the body of Christ. It is true that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit, but there is even more emphasis in the New Testament on the temple of the Holy Spirit of which you are a part. God brought you into a family, a body, a temple through which He intends to provide edification, encouragement and discernment.
8. Be willing to suffer for the cause of Christ and live with boldness.
9. If you are living in a way that reflects points 1 – 8 then you may proceed by doing what you desire. What? Yes, we know that God places desires in the hearts of His children and fulfills those desires. But remember, a person must recognize that a godly life of faith, Bible reading, prayer, and obedience is the way in which God develops our desires. We are told to, “Delight yourself also in the Lord; and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). He not only fulfils godly desires; He also creates the desires.
For more information regarding some of these steps refer to John MacArthur’s book entitled, “Found: God’s Will.” It has helped many who have struggled with this question.