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You need to make a decision—what job to take, which house to buy, what church to attend, how to deal with a difficult child—the list is endless. What if you make the wrong choice? The results could be disastrous. Wouldn’t you want to know what the all-knowing, all-wise Maker and Lover of your soul would say? But how do you know what God’s will is in a matter? I’ve been on this quest for most of my Christian life and I finally understand enough about it to write a book. Here’s the first chapter of How to Know God’s Will. (Just released today!) |
My Quest to Know God’s Will
Chapter 1
Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25:4-5)
When I was a relatively young Christian, I went on a quest to find the answer to this one important question: How do you know God’s will in every decision you have to make?
I had been growing in my love for Jesus and wanted to obey Him. But the best course of action is not always black and white in the Bible. For example, there are no specific instructions about who to marry. Yes, there are guidelines—like our spouse needs to be a believer. But just because someone is a believer doesn’t mean they are the one we should choose as our lifelong partner. Many can attest to the fact that they wished they had asked for and/or heeded God’s direction before taking their vows at the altar.
In my search, God showed me two foundational truths:
First, God wants you and I to know His will.
Think about it. If God wants us to obey (and He does), then He has to tell us what He wants. That’s His responsibility. If you, as a parent, expect your teenager to be home at a certain time, then you must tell him what that time is. Otherwise, that’s just plain meanness.
Secondly, if we stay close to Him, we will be able to “hear” Him.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (Jn 10:27). We will be able to recognize His leading and therefore know what He wants us to do in any given situation which may mean just waiting.
When I grasped these two truths, such peace flooded into my heart! You and I need not remain anxious when we don’t know what to do. You see, it is far more than knowing about God’s rules—it’s about knowing His heart, about relating to our loving heavenly Father.
I believe that’s what God was trying to communicate to me—that’s it’s all about being and remaining in a right relationship with Him.
Knowing God’s will is more about a state of being than a state of knowing.
Sin interferes with our relationship with God and the reason we were created. Joni Earekson Tada says, “Our fundamental orientation to God is that we were created to will what God wills, to know what He knows, to love what He loves.”1
We were made for intimacy with God.
Before I go any further, I need to ask you a very important question: Do you have a personal relationship with God? Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior. You cannot get close to God unless you have come through Him. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6).
You see, we are all sinners and fall short of God’s glory (Rom 3:23). He is holy, pure and perfect—we are not. But God created us for an intimate relationship with Him. His biggest desire is for all of mankind to be saved from an eternity separated from Him in hell to an eternity in heaven with Him.
The Lord is…not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pet 3:9 NKJV)
God our Savior who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. (1 Tim 2:3-5 NLT)
It is clear from Scripture that in order to know the will of God we must first be in a relationship with Him.
If you’re not sure that you are saved or need more information, please click here!
My friend, if you and I are right with God, if we stay connected to the One who loves us and knows all things, then He will lead us to make the right decision in every circumstance.
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1. Joni Earekson Tada , Joni, and Steve Estes. When God Weeps. Zondervan, 1997. p. 141.
Except where indicated all Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV. ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
(NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
(NKJV) New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.