Knowing God's Will

When God bolts the door, don't try to get in through the window. The will of God never will lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.   -Source Unknown

Knowing God’s will for our lives is one of the toughest questions that we could possibly ask. Perhaps you're wondering what God’s will is for your career path. Should you change jobs, should you quit your old job, or should you retire? Perhaps you want to know God’s will for relationships that you may be in. Or, maybe you're just wondering what God’s will is for some other aspect of your life.

We all are faced with decisions every single day. And, for the most part, these decisions are not the kind of that you would sweat over too much. Nor are they things that you probably would decide on by prayer and fasting. The truth is, there are bigger questions that we have to answer at certain times in our lives; times when we want to know God’s will for our lives. Sometimes we may even wonder, does God really care about the decisions that we are making?

When we're considering moving, changing jobs, or anything else in life, we may want to know if God really cares what we do; and has a will for our lives. I want to know God’s purpose for my life, and I want to know if God does have a plan and a purpose for my life. But how can I figure out and learn what plans God has for me?.

Let me assure you that God does care about all decisions that we make in this life; and has a plan for our lives. God’s primary will for our life is for us to be totally and completely surrendered to him and not conformed to the pattern of this world.

If we want to know what God wants us to do, then we must first strive to live a life of conformity to Him. For me the will of God is a very tough thing to grasp. In most decisions we should be willing to ask what is God’s will in this or that situation. The Scriptures teach that God has a moral will; or a will for each and every one of us.

I really think that God is more concerned about our character and how we live our lives for Christ, than what specific choices we make in other aspects of life. Whenever we read of a statement in Scripture about what the will of God is for us, it is always more general than specific. It is usually saying that a certain character trait, or action is the will of God. With certain moral decisions you do not have to look any further than the Word of God to determine the Will of God.

For example, it is never God’s will that you sin. It is never God’s will that you lie, steal, hurt another person, etc. I think that before we can expect to know and be in the will of God, regarding decisions we are making in life, we need to strive to be in God’s moral will for us. Many people want answers and direction to every aspect of their lives, but my suggestion is that if you remain in the moral will of God other answers will be more clear.

Remember, that God’s will is more about our character and about following Jesus, than particular decisions we may make in life. If we say we want to be in the will of God it begins by living in the will of God. Certainly, God has given us free will to make decisions on our own. Sometimes he may point us in the right direction, but in the end the decision is ours to make.

It will never be the will of God for you to violate a command, no matter what the circumstances. If you are contemplating a decision that involves sin you are wasting your time because God’s will has been revealed on that issue. It will never be the will of God for you to do something that is going to hurt you spiritually. God’s will is for you to grow in godliness and to become more like Christ.

In closing, God will never will you to do something that will cause you to stumble or to digress in your faith. On anything you consider the will of God, you should be able with a good conscience to pray God’s blessing upon it. God gives a peace that transcends all understanding. If you cannot pray God’s blessing upon it, then it is unlikely that it is the will of God that you should be doing it.

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Romans 12:2; Matthew 6:33; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Ephesians 5:17; Psalm 138:8; Romans 12:1; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4

Prayer: Lord, what is Your will that I do? I am completely open to Your plan for me. I desire to live only in You and to be guided by You forever. Grant that Your holy will may be carried out perfectly in me. Amen

-St. Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)

Have a blessed day,

Juliette