Discerning God’s Will For Your Life …

Discerning God’s Will For Your Life …

As Christians, we are always wondering, “what is God’s plan for our lives?” We ask other people in our lives what they may think is God’s plan. Sometimes we make plans and then say, “I think this is what God desires for us to do, what are your thoughts?” We ask God in prayer for wisdom and that He would reveal His will. We state that the safest place for us to be is in the will of God.

God does have a plan for our lives. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. However, He has not written every person’s individual plan in the Bible for each one of us to read. What then are we to do?

Godly men have made plans; however, they have not always completed their plans. An example is that the Apostle Paul clearly thought he would be going to Spain (Romans 15:24), but God had other plans. So, if our plans become disrupted, we are not to be dismayed because great men of God have had their plans changed as well.

We are God’s children. Just as we desire our children to be successful and happy, God desires His children to be successful and happy. God desires for us to live with joy and delight and to have much success. All of what God desires for His children is centered around Him, knowing Him and knowing His ways … seeking His face.

The way we will get the most joy and the most success is through our sanctification, becoming more like Jesus Christ. In fact, this is God’s specified will for all of us, it is God’s will that we be sanctified (1 Thessalonians 4:3) and it is God’s command that we be blessed (Psalm 1, et., al); which means to be very happy. The eyes of God are looking to and fro upon the earth and where He looks is not upon what is being accomplished by men but He looks upon the heart of men (2 Chronicles 16:9; Isaiah 66:1-2) and He judges the heart (Proverbs 16:2; 1 Corinthians 4:5).

If you really want to know God’s will for your life, the best place to start is to follow God’s revealed will, His Biblical principles for living. In looking at Scripture, one thing that is clear is that God desires us to be more concerned for our character and how we live our life rather than what we do or where we live our life. God has clearly revealed what He would have us do, quite simply, we are to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh. God would have us grow in knowledge of Him and His ways.

Jesus said in Mark 3:35 that those that do the will of God are God’s children (brothers and sisters with Christ). God has not made His will for our lives secret, but has revealed it clearly. One great place to begin learning the will of God by studying the Sermon on the Mount! Jesus tells us how we should live our lives in simple, straight-forward wording. Blessed are the peacemakers, the pure in heart, the gentle, the merciful, and so on.

The following passages are only from the New Testament and are far from exhaustive (complete). Much more can be added to this list. It is put together to show a sampling. One should also study the entire Bible to understand God’s will. We are able to discern the will of God by renewing our mind (Romans 12:2) with the Word of God.

• Matthew – love God and your neighbor, love fulfills the law
• Luke 12:9 – do not deny Jesus Christ before men
• Romans 13:2 – obey the authorities
• 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – be a cheerful giver
• Philippians 2:14 – do all things without grumbling and complaining, being blameless in the midst of a crooked world.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – rejoice always, pray without ceasing, be thankful
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3 – live a life pleasing, be sanctified, control your body in holiness
• 2 Corinthians 5:20 – be an ambassador for Christ, share the Gospel!

I could go on, but I think you get the point.

May this be a blessing to your walk with the Lord.

Allen