What Is God’s Will For Me?

Christian bookstores are full of how to guides and lifestyle improvement books that supposedly tell us how to find God’s will, and lots of churches run self-help, self-improvement programmes to find the will of God, but the fact is that most of them fail to explain the will of God.
If God has something he wants us to do, don’t you think he’d let us know?
After the incredible price that He’s paid for our redemption, which displayed His love for us, would He just leave us to figure out that purpose ourselves with no input from Him?

Christians, who haven’t discovered God’s will for their life would make us think this.

It seems that everyone’s asking for God’s will for their life.

To know God’s will for us and, as a result doubt less, have more confidence, and have a clear picture of what God wants from us, is right in front of us if we would read the scripture.

For example, Ephesians 1:9,

“Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which He has purposed in himself:”

The trouble is that’s not what most people want to hear!

When Christians ask to know God’s will what they’re often really asking is for God’s opinion about their circumstances, as if he were a personal career counsellor.

“Dear God, I feel like I am not going anywhere in life, and I would really like to do something I enjoy. Can you give me a great opportunity?”

We pray for God’s will and the quote “perfect plan for my life”. When we don’t get a clear sign in the mail, we do what we think’s best anyway.

In spite of all the how to guides, lifestyle improvement books, and churches that repeatedly preach on how to find God’s will, but many of us fail to learn what God’s will is for us. and there’s a reason.

If we add to this an almost never-ending procession of advice from the pews of the organised church, particularly the Charismatic churches, where people always seem ready to advise you to look for signs, dreams, omens, or coincidences and circumstance that point us to God’s will for us or to verify that what we’ve already decided to do is God’s purpose.

They say if God wants us to do something He’ll open doors. Be careful! That door may be a prison door. The apostle Paul spent a great part of his ministry behind bars, and he was perhaps the most certain of all Cristians about God’s purpose for his life.

Many people go and ask some sort of spiritual advisor, pastor, or some other mentor, but it’s a fact that other people love to tell us what to do. After all, the closer that person is to God the better chance we have of getting the proper message relayed from God, right?

If you’re a Calvinist, which is one who thinks that God forces his will upon every step of your life, then there’s no point in reading any further, it’s all been pre organised for you outside of you free will. So, your confusion about God’s will is God’s will.

If you’re like most people, what you end up doing is praying fervently about what you should do, where you should go or even what you should say. Some even pray about what clothing to wear and think that in doing so they’re “trusting and loving” God more.

Unfortunately, God never responds about those plans for becoming a millionaire, or that career move that you’ve all but committed yourself to.

Many people will say this doesn’t necessarily mean anything since it could be that God is testing your patience. Wait, you mean indefinitely?

Most people we ask will tell us that knowing God’s will is difficult.

However, we’re not like most people!

God’s will for our life is not difficult to understand, but sometimes it can be difficult to accept, especially if we want God’s will to line up with ours.

The fact is though, God’s will has nothing to do with personality tests, circumstances, opened doors, or prophetic utterances by self-proclaimed modern day “prophets”.

As we mature as Christians, and we mature only by knowing God’s Word, we come to know God’s will and as a result we doubt much less, and have more confidence, and a clearer picture of what God wants from us.

But the great realisation is this, Not my will But God’s Will.

We learn through the Word that God’s will is right in front of us as we read and meditate on scripture, but it is not the response that most people want. For most, it’s saying, “I haven’t got the time to learn the Word, I just need God to direct me to this career.”

Learning to discern God’s will is centred on an understanding of God’s Word, the Bible, but it must be an understanding that comes from rightly dividing that Word as 2nd Timothy 2:15 says,

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

Paul also realised the importance of understanding the whole Bible. In Acts 20:27, Paul speaking to the elders of the Ephesian church says,

For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 

Without rightly dividing the whole Word of God the Bible is beyond understanding, it’s confusing and so we look to our heart’s desires and life’s circumstances and to other so-called “Godly people” for clues as to what God’s will is for us.

We tell ourselves that the unknown outcome of our lives is in God’s hands, and then we take blind steps towards our own ends while being ignorant of His will. And when those blind steps fail, we make excuses as to why they failed, but deep down we know that it wasn’t God’s will after all.

The greatest deception we can experience is that we do our own will and call it God’s will.

It’s a lie that God’s will is beyond understanding. It’s a greater lie that we can do God’s will without knowing what it is.

If we don’t know God’s will, then we’re not doing God’s will. To do God’s will is to first know it.

If we don’t know God’s will, we can’t live a life in Christ in the peace that He promises in Philippians 4:7,

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Ignorance of God’s will condemns us to a life lacking in purpose and peace and as we continue to pretend that we’re living our life according to the Lord’s purpose, we’re only deceiving ourselves.

The truth is we’re doing our own will and calling it God’s.

But there’s a giant arrow pointing us to God’s will, plainly revealed in the Bible, if we’re prepared to first look and then accept it.

It would be good to introduce something at this point that many Christians seem to trip over. It’s a state that’s called “Waiting on the Lord”.

Many Christians go about their lives hoping that one day God’ll make it clear what His purpose for them is.

They love him and want to do his will, but they don’t know what He has in mind, so until God speaks to them in some way, all they can do is wait.

Isaiah, a prophet under the Old Testament, states the condition of these people exactly in Isaiah 64:4,

For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who WAITS for Him.

In Psalm 25:3 to 5 King David reaches out to God,

Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause. Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. 

Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.

This passage describes something different to what many Christians understand “Waiting on the Lord” to be.

This describes a person who waits on another so attentively that a mere look at the eye indicates the will of that person. It’s like a dedicated butler or some other servant who’s completely dedicated to their master. A good illustration is that servant waiting on his master at dinner where the servant knows the master so well that the master only needs to look at the saltshaker and the butler understands that he wants it.

We should notice that King David’s prayer here is for those who deal treacherously without cause to be ashamed and then he pleads for God to teach him His ways and His paths and His truth.

God promised that for those who diligently seek and focus on God, through faith, there’ll be reward.

Hebrews 11:6,

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

And so, Christians “wait on the Lord” for Him to reveal what he has “prepared for those that love him” as 1 Corinthians 2:9 says,

But as it is written: “EYE HAS NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” 

But what if God had already revealed his will, and it’s simply been ignored?

Wouldn’t it be a tremendous relief to know just WHAT God has prepared for His people?

Of course it would, and it has already been revealed!

God has declared his will for all in the revelation of the mystery given to the apostle Paul by Christ Himself, and Paul’s passed it on to us in his epistles written to the Body of Christ today.

Unfortunately, very few Christians are aware of this revelation.

Paul explains that from the beginning of the world men like Isaiah have waited on the Lord as we just saw Paul reminding us of in 1st Corinthians 2:9 where he quotes Isaiah 64 verse 4:

“eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which god has prepared for those who love him.”

But then Paul drops a bomb shell on those people that are sitting with Isaiah waiting on the Lord in the next verse, 1st Corinthians 2 verse 10.

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 

What has the Spirit, The Holy Spirit, revealed?

The things God has prepared for those that love him! There’s now no more need for waiting! God’s spoken his will.

Ephesians 1:9 and 10,

(God), having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 

God’s will is in Jesus Christ, and people being in him (Col 1:27-28).

Often, when Christians ask to know God’s will what we’re really asking is for God’s opinion about our circumstances. We’re trying to get some sort of sign or a word of prophecy that we can know that God has confirmed our plans for our day to day lives here in this world. It’s like He’s a personal career counsellor.

“Dear God, I feel like I’m not going anywhere in life, and I’d really like to do something I enjoy. Can you give me a great opportunity?”

However, God already has a purpose: His own purpose.

God’s will changes in the Bible as his operations with humans’ changes.

When the Lord revealed to Paul that He has counted the whole world in unbelief His will boiled down to two things:

1 Timothy 2:4,

[God] will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

If you’ve believed the gospel, you’ve already done half of God’s will. The other half includes a lifelong process of coming to a knowledge of the truth. This requires study that’s study of the Bible, prayer, and fellowship as 2^nd Timothy 2 verse 15 says,

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

When the word of truth becomes part of our inner man we gain wisdom. We learn skills to pass on to other people. We’re equipped to live according to God’s purpose in a time when the days are evil.

But it’s easier said than done, of course, like 1^st Thessalonians 5:18,

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

It’s hard to do God’s will sometimes, but at least we can understand it.

True thanksgiving comes from a grateful heart for what God has accomplished on our behalf. We owe him our life. That’s the bottom line. Whatever direction we take in our natural lives, the underlying foundation we live by is that we have eternal life because of God’s grace. He paid an astronomical price to redeem us and wipe away the death penalty for sin. When this knowledge becomes the basis of our life what else can we do but give thanks continually to God.

We can’t give Him thanks if we don’t understand that foundation.

2 Corinthians 5:15,

and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 

The Bible says we should not live unto ourselves. Yet, this seems to be the motive behind why people continually ask for God’s will.

The expectation is to receive a personal life assessment or a road map to earthly success and happiness from God’s divine job bank.

The complaint really, is that God’s word doesn’t give us specific enough answers about our circumstances. It doesn’t address the way we see ourselves going.

Well, perhaps God is telling us something about the way we seek His will like in Philippians 2:21,

For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 

We can know God’s will, but now for the hard part, doing it.

The revelation of God’s will for the church today is called the mystery of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:7 to 8, Paul speaking,

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

This mystery is not something we receive in dreams and visions, or through the mouths of self-proclaimed modern prophets, or from people who long to show others they’ve ” got a special gift from God” by quote “speaking a word from God to us”.

No, it’s been written by Paul in the Bible through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, for us to understand.

Ephesians 3:3 to 5,

how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 

There’s now no need to wait on God because God’s already revealed his will that the manifold wisdom of God might be known by the church. (Ephesians 3:10.)

Before the mystery was revealed, Isaiah said in Isaiah 40 verse 13 (and Paul repeats it in 1 Corinthians 2:16),

For “WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD THAT HE MAY INSTRUCT HIM? (or tell the Lord what He should do)“

But now, you and I, if we’re Christians, have the mind of Christ as Paul says in the rest of that verse in 1 Corinthians 2:16,

“But we have the mind of Christ!”

It’s no longer us who should be waiting on the Lord to reveal His mind, but it’s God waiting on us to study what He’s already revealed in Ephesians 3 verse 9,

and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ.

We see God’s overriding will plainly given to us in Ephesians 1 verses 7 to 10,

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, (wait for it) having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 

Furthermore, Paul says in Ephesians 5:17 we’re unwise if we don’t know God’s will, and we read,

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

So, what is God’s will? Here it is:

1. Salvation is God’s will for you and me and all other people. 1 Timothy 2″3 and 4,

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved…

2. Coming to a knowledge of the truth. 1st Timothy 2 and the remainder of verse 4,

…and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

3. Giving thanks to God. 1st Thessalonians 5 verse 18,

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Notice that it’s God’s will that we give thanks IN everything, not FOR everything.

God’s not going to tell you to be a doctor or a bus driver. He won’t tell you who to marry. He’s not going to give you insider information on which stocks to trade or which investments to make.

What He’s done is give you His Son and the source of all truth in the Bible.

We make our own decisions, but those decisions should be based on these biblical truths and it’s within the dedication to these truths that our way in this world is outworked.

Don’t steal.

Ephesians 4:28,

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labour, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 

Don’t marry someone who doesn’t love God as much as you do.

Ephesians 5:21,

…submitting to one another in the fear of God. 

In everything give thanks.

Thessalonians 5:18,

…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Ephesians 6:10 to 20 further reveals God’s will for us,

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 

Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

Therefore, take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 

and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Paul’s been in glory for 2000 years but there are still multitudes today that sacrifice their own lives and quote “open their mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which they are ambassadors in chains, and we pray that they may speak boldly, as they, and we, ought to speak”.

Now at this point many of us may ask, “Well doesn’t God guide us at all in our everyday lives here on earth?”

In Psalm 32:8 we have King David speaking a prophecy from God to the nation of Israel,

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. 

Here God’s prophetically promising the nation, through David, that He’ll guide them with His eye upon them.

But look at the next two verses, Psalm 32 verse 9 and 10,

Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you. 

Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.

What’s happening here is that God’s using the horse and mule to demonstrate something. The horse and the mule are not easy to guide. They need the bit and bridle, along with hard and constant training, before they’re useful to the master.

God’s saying don’t be like them, don’t make Him constantly use afflictions, trials, and testings, to keep us on the right path.

Proverbs 3:5 and 6 give us the conditions under which God will direct us,

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Many people are scared to have God direct their paths. They’d much rather direct themselves! However, this is the heart that doesn’t trust in the Lord. The heart that delights in God’s Word is the one that receives direction in God’s paths.

“How can I know the will of God?”

King Solomon’s answer is when we:

• Decide to put our trust in the Lord.
• Decide to not trust in our own understanding but give attention and priority to God’s revealed word.
• Decide to acknowledge and honour God in all that we do.

Psalm 119:105,

Your Word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. 

In summary you and I can know God’s will. It’s revealed to us clearly and plainly in His Word that’s freely and easily available to all today.

God’s not going to speak audibly to us or send a dream or an angel to tell us whether we should take this job or wear these clothes or buy this or that thing. These things will all come to us naturally as we live in His counsel, His Word.\

We mustn’t to fall into the trap of looking to circumstances, events, or other people’s so-called prophecies as signs from God telling us to do this or not to do that.

To know and trust in God is to know and trust His revealed Word.