As believers, discerning God’s will for our lives is crucial in our walk with Him. None of us was created by accident. The Bible lets us know that God has a unique plan for each and every one of us. His will is specific, accurate, and clear, and will guide us on our journey to fulfilling our life purpose.
Why is it important to know God’s will?
In Mark 3:35 (NIV), Jesus said, “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” This tells us who Christ sees as His real relatives and therefore, joint heirs with Him—those who know and do His father’s will.
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
-Psalm 37:4
2 Corinthians 8:7
But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.
Also, in the passage about the parable of the two sons (Matthew 21:28-32), Jesus teaches us the importance of obeying God’s will and how it ultimately leads to righteousness, salvation, and eternal life.
God doesn’t hide His will from His children and the Bible contains many of them. These include 1 Thessalonians 4:3 which says, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality,” and 1 Thessalonians 5:8, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” In addition, it is God’s will that by our good works, we silence ignorant talk (1 Peter 2:15).
Seeking God’s will
Discerning God’s will is not difficult. If you ask Him through prayer, God will lovingly reveal His will for your life. Prayer is powerful and effective (James 5:16), and coupled with meditation, it’ll keep your spirit in tune with God’s Spirit and make it effortless for you to hear from Him regarding any situation.
Also, it is vital that you are acquainted with God’s word. The Bible gives guidance and direction (Psalm 119:105) and diligently studying it will spiritually transform you, renew our mind, and help you know and walk in God’s will.
Furthermore, you can seek wise counsel from people you trust such as ministers, mentors, and parents. They can see gifts in you that you probably weren’t aware of, or help you recognize opportunities around you (Proverbs 11:14).
The key to walking in the will of God
The key to walking in God’s will is obedience and Jesus set the perfect example of this. With His crucifixion looming, Jesus became leaden with sorrow at the agonizing journey before Him.
In His commune with His Father, Jesus prayed thrice for the “cup of suffering” to pass from Him; nevertheless, He maintained His faith and submitted to the sovereignty of God’s will.
(Matthew 26: 39) And in doing so, God gave Him victory over the Devil and raised Him from the Dead. When you choose to obey the Lord, He will bless you and also make you a blessing to others. But many people aren’t very submissive to God’s will. Rather than being humble and obedient, they try to negotiate with God, especially when His will doesn’t quite fit the picture they had in mind.
As a co-heir with Christ, you need not be afraid of or try to avoid the will of God for your life. Although He never promised an easy road, the Bible teaches that whichever road you’re destined to take, God will be with you every step of the way.
Also, do not be discouraged when you make a mistake or digress. No one walks in the path of God’s will perfectly, every moment of the day. Sincerely seek after God in prayer when you go astray and His Holy Spirit will guide you back on the right track (John 16:13).
In summary, knowing and walking in the will of God will bring you satisfaction, blessings, guide you to fulfilling your purpose and make you a blessing to others. This walk isn’t always an easy thing to do, though— you have to put in the work and make some sacrifices— but ultimately, the more you learn about God and commune with Him, the more He will reveal Himself and His will to you.
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