How Do I Begin to Discern God’s Will?

This has been one of the million dollar questions for all of history: How do I discern God’s Will? As followers of Jesus we believe that God has a good will & a perfect design for our lives and because we want to honor Him with all our lives we want to know it and follow it. But this can be a daunting question and one that we struggle to find the answer to in the complexity and confusion of life. We can be directionally challenged.

HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS: GOD’S WILL IS FOR YOU TO KNOW HIS WILL.

1 Corinthians 14:33 tells us that our God is not a “God of confusion.” He wants us to know His will. He is not playing games with us. Often, we can believe misconceptions about God and His will that would lead us to believe this.

POPULAR MISCONCEPTIONS:
1) God is playing the shell game – He is constantly switching it and we have to find it.
2) God is hiding it – He is not hiding it. He wants us to live for Him.
3) God is a cosmic killjoy – Actually His will always brings fulfillment and satisfaction.
4) God has no will for my life – You are valued by God. He cares about your life.
5) God’s Will is just for professionals – There are no professional Christians. Only forgiven Christians.
6) God’s Will is just a magic 8-ball – No. God is fully sovereign, all knowing & has purposeful plans.
7) If you miss God’s Will, its over – As long as you are still breathing you can live in God”s Will.

Which one do you fall into believing? Remember: It is God’s Will for you to know His Will. He wants to you be able to live for Him. But one big question we have to answer when it comes to this topic is: What do we mean when we say God’s Will?

“The will of God” is one of the most confusing phrases in the Christian vocabulary. Sometimes we speak of all thing happening according to God’s will. Other times we talk about being obedient and doing the will of God. And still other times we talk about finding the will of God. The confusion is due to the using of the phrase “the will of God” in at least three different ways in the last sentence. Two of these ways are clearly demonstrated in scripture. The other is a little more complicated. So what do we mean when we say “the will of God”?” (Kevin DeYoung)

THERE ARE 3 DIFFERENT “WILLS” OF GOD:
1) God’s will of decree – What God has ordained.
2) God’s will of desire – What He has commanded and revealed in the Bible.
3) God’s will of direction – Things like, “Where does God want me to go? Marry? Career?”

When we are talking about “discerning God’s Will” primarily we are talking about God’s will of direction. We are all asking “What does God want for my life? Marriage? Family? Career?” And so much more.

Discerning God’s will of direction is more complicated than the others. We can’t open the Bible and see our life story written out – how cool would that be! But what we know is that God loves us. God values us. God has good plans for our lives. And God’s will is that we know His will.

We should stop thinking of God’s will like a corn maze, or a tight rope, or a bull’s-eye, or a choose your own adventure novel. The better way is the biblical way: Seek first the kingdom of God, and then trust that He will take care of our needs, even before we know what they are and where we are going.” (Kevin DeYoung)

This is exactly what Matthew 6:33 – Seek first the Kingdom of God. See Him & His ways. Walk daily with Him. Because a life lived for God is made up of days lived for God.

So, the million dollar question…

HOW DO I BEGIN TO DISCERN GOD’S WILL WITH WISDOM? WHAT STEPS CAN I TAKE?

John MacArthur wrote called “Found: God’s Will for Your Life.” And In it he gives a checklist to walk through when you are navigating questions of God’s Will for your life.

1) Are you saved? – We can’t know God’s will without knowing Him in relationship.
2) Are you seeking? – We have to be seeking God’s Will not just for Him to bless our will.
3) Are you Spirit-led? – We have to put the Holy Spirit on the throne of our heart & in the driver seat.
4) Are you being sanctified? – We need to be growing in our relationship with God.
5) Are you submitting? – We need to be submitting to what we already know from God.
6) Are you surrounded? – We need Godly people around us. God speaks through His people too.
7) Are you serving? – We need to be invested in building God’s Church in intentional ways.

These questions really help us answer the question: Am I abiding with God? God speaks through a variety of ways. God speaks through His Word, His Spirit, His people, circumstances,peace, and probably more ways. But this list matters because God’s revealed word is the trump card for our lives. We run everything through the lens of His Word.

Here is what is so cool: If you can honestly answer yes to all those questions and you don’t have ultimately clarity from God on what the right choice is. Evaluate the options. Think about what you want. Take a step and make a choice. Because the closer we walk with God, the more aligned our heart is with His. Don’t let fear paralyze you from trying to follow God in your life. There is no magic formula on knowing God’s Will. We walk by faith. God is not calling you to have all the answers. God is calling you to follow him and what he has already called you to do. God wants you to trust Him when it seems dark (Psalm 119:105). Step by step. And God is faithful.

Maybe you are asking, “What if I make the wrong choice?” I find a lot of hope in Acts 16. Paul was saved. He was seeking, spirit-led, being sanctified, submitted, surrounded, and serving. He wanted to go proclaim the gospel in Bithynia. He believed this was the right thing. He believed this was God’s will. But God had another plan for him. He wanted him to go to Macedonia. And in Acts 16 it says the Holy Spirit restrained him from going. I don’t know what that means but here is what I do know. In His faithfulness, God redirected His path. And God will do the same for us as we lay our yes on the table and seek to live in God’s Will for our lives. I have experienced it. You have experienced it. Because God’s Will is for you to know His will.

Here is what I have learned over my life. You don’t have to agree with God to trust God. Agreement is wrapped up in my feelings. Trust is wrapped up in God’s Character. And since God is loving, sovereign, and good… He is fully trustworthy. You can follow God. You can walk with God. You can trust God. You can seek to live in God’s Will.

And never forget: A life lived for God is made up days lived for God. As we faithfully pursue God in our lives may we live each day for Him.