God’s Will: 10 Things
A topic frequently discussed among young people is God’s will for life. Young people are at a critical juncture with many life decisions in the balance.
Questions people ask regarding God’s will include:
- What does God want me to do next year?
- Does God think it is okay if I buy this car?
- Is God calling me into a music ministry?
- Is God calling me to the mission field?
- Does God want me to be single?
- Should I date?
- What college does God want me to attend?
There is a fear, not just among young people, but older people as well, that if for some reason we are not in the right place, doing the right thing, or not making the choice God wants, that God is going to be upset. Granted, we are not talking about making moral choices (it is God’s will we not sin). We are talking about everyday life choices that have no wrong or right answer.
When it comes to making these choices, some believe that if we make the wrong decision, that God will reach down from heaven and foil our plan with a “gotcha” somewhere, somehow to get us back on track. God will intervene and “close doors,” or send calamity so we will reevaluate our choice and finally get around to doing what God wanted us to do in the first place.
For example, perhaps we are contemplating choosing between two universities. We pray and ask God to show us which one He wants us to attend. The following day, the university calls to say hello. The other university does not call. “Hmmm,” we think, “perhaps this is a sign from God.” We make the choice. Six months later, there is a fire in our dormitory. There is much confusion. We start to wonder, “is God trying to show me I made the wrong choice? God wants me to know this school is unsafe.”
This kind of mentality has us trying to read life like we might read tea leaves (click here to learn how to read tea leaves). It’s foolishness. It requires us to gather pieces and clues that God places in our life, navigate the system of divine appointments, and determine how to interpret coincidences so we can solve God’s secretive “God’s will” puzzle.
Friends. Stop reading lives tea leaves and start reading the Bible. The complete revelation of God’s will for His children is in the Bible. Our greatest joy and our greatest blessings in life are available when we seek God’s will for our life by obeying His holy Word. Biblical wisdom is the best guide for discerning God’s will!
10 Things We Should Know About Doing God’s Will
This is not an exhaustive list but is provided as a starting point to have us think rightly about God’s will for our life.
- God’s children seek to do God’s will. We ought not to say we are a Christian if we have no intention of doing God’s will. Jesus said in Mark 3:35 that those that do the will of God are God’s children (brothers and sisters with Christ).
- Renew our mind. To do the will of God requires knowing the will of God and knowing the will of God comes from renewing our mind.
Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. - Doing the will of God is not rocket science. A child may determine God’s will from Scripture. Read these verses to see examples of the simplicity of God’s will.
1 Peter 2:15 – For this is the will of God, that by doing good, you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
Philippians 2:14 – do all things without grumbling and complaining, being blameless in the midst of a crooked world.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. - Be sanctified Holiness is God’s will.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 – For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality. - Pray to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. We need to ask God for eyes to see and ears to hear. We need His help. It is God’s will that we come to Him in prayer. Praying for His will is a great request that He will honor.
Colossians 1:0-10 – For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; - Seek God’s will to have an effective prayer life
John 9:31 – We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. - Be flexible and willing. Godly people make plans; however, they do not always complete their plans. An example is that the Apostle Paul writes that he will go to Spain (Romans 15:24), but it appears that God has other plans.
- Do the will of God from the heart. God is not fooled. He knows whether we are trying to look good in church or if we genuinely seek to do His will. Ask God for help to do His will from the heart.
Ephesians 6:6 – not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart - God gets along fine without us. Don’t stress and think that the world will fall away if we fail. God gives us life and breath.
Acts 17:24-25 – The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all thing - God predetermines our location. There is not one molecule out of place in this universe. Every speck of dust is where it is supposed to be right now. We are positioned exactly by the predetermined will of God. Every appointment is a divine appointment. God determines when and where we are born as well as when and where we will die. Where we are is not important. What is important is our heart and our attitude. Are we content with where God has us and with what God has us doing? Are we thankful for our parents, and our siblings that God has ordained for our life? Do we love God’s people? Do we find joy in the goodness of God? Are we hating God, or not even caring about Him? Are we making the most of what God gives us?
One clear thing is that God is abundantly concerned about our character and testimony. Here is a list of example character traits God desires for us to adopt. If we want to do God’s will, we need to:
- be thankful
- be joyful
- be a peacemaker
- be an ambassador for Christ
- be compassionate
- be kind
- be a builder and not a destroyer
- be honest and truthful
- be giving
- be merciful and forgiving
- be loving
