This question how can I know what is the will of God has been in mind for long and I have looked for an answer in scriptures and preaching’s to understand the will of God and this is what I came upon based on my research and my experience.
- Walk with God
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 (Prov 3:5-6). For the beginners, if you are interested in knowing God’s plan for your life, then you must learn to walk with God. You need to develop a relationship with Him. Christianity is all about relationship rather than just religion. And so you must cultivate your relationship with God.
We can cultivate that relationship best by spending time in His Word, taking time for prayer, and taking every opportunity we can to be involved in church and small group bible studies When we seek these disciplines in our life, God will begin the first steps to revealing His plan to us.
- Surrender your will to God’s
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom 12:12).
Many times when we say we are seeking God’s will, what we are really wanting to say to God is this: “OK, God, here’s what I’m planning to do. Now I need you to rubber stamp this, all right?” I must tell you that this is not really effective in finding His true will. Before God will begin to reveal His will to you, you must be committed to do whatever it is that He desires for you to do.
- Obey what you already know to be God’s Will
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality (1 Thes 4: 3). Many people seem to want to know what God’s plan is for their lives, but they overlook the fact that 98% of His will is already delineated carefully through His Word. If we do not obey the things that God has shown us clearly to be His will, why would we think He would reveal any further information regarding His plan for our lives? Obedience is an important first step.
- Seek Godly input
Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety (Prov 11:14). One key component for finding God’s will is to seek the input of Godly advisors in your life. Think of it this way: you should understand that you are basically a composite of the five people you spend the most time with. So, then, it is vital that you choose those five people well.
If you choose to surround yourself with Godly advisors, they will be instrumental in helping you discern God’s plan for your life. But if you surround yourself with people who are far from God, your hope of finding His best for your life will be greatly diminished.
The church is designed to help you greatly with this. I would encourage you to be in church every single time the doors are opened. The more you involve yourself with a community of believers, the greater your chances will be of finding godly men and women who can help you discern God’s will.
- Pay attention to how God has wired you
God has created you to fulfill a specific role in this world. There is no one else who can achieve completely what God has purposely created you to do. The Apostle Peter gives us this admonition: As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:10). God has gifted every one of us to perform a special mission for which we alone were created. How amazing is that? Wow!
So, when you seek to discover God’s will for your life, pay attention to how He has gifted you. His plan for you will always be directly related to the gifts that He has bestowed upon you. The great news is that you will automatically be good at whatever it is that He has called you to do!
- Listen to God’s Spirit
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (Jn 10:27). Most of us think that talking to God, sharing our problems and reciting all the novenas is the way to obey to God. But sitting in His presence and listening to the Lord speaking to us is the best form of prayer. It is in the moments of silence the spirit talks to us and guides us. So let us spend some quiet time with the Lord.
- Listen to your heart
In addition to listening to the Spirit, I also recommend listening to your heart. To understand my point here, consider the following passage: Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass (Pslm 37:4-5). I love this passage, because it shows me that, when I am walking with the Lord, He will actually let me do many really cool things that I actually love to do! When you are close to Him, He actually begins to shape your desires so that you desire the things that He has already called you to do.
- Take a look at your circumstances
God often clearly demonstrates His plan for our lives by lining up circumstances in obvious ways. And He also shows us what His will is NOT for us to do in that same way. It is not His will for you to take the job that is not offered to you. Over the years, I have discovered that God is pretty good at opening and closing doors. He even did that for the Apostle Paul and his entourage in Acts.
A Closing Thought
The next time you begin to ponder God’s plan for your life, I would encourage you to mull over the above eight keys. Use these principles to help you to hone in on His plan. And when you seek His will earnestly, you will find it!
Cathaline