God's will…it seems so simple. So, why is it often a struggle to KNOW the next step to take, the step that honors God the most.
When we come to a cross roads and wonder which way to go, we often ask what is God's will. By crossroads I mean, deciding to take a new job or career path, or finding a new church, or deciding who to marry. These are often major decisions that can be quite scary because we want them to be God honoring and on His path for each of us.
Some of the first things my husband and I do are: we pray for discernment, we listen for God’s still quiet voice, we ask ourselves what we feel in our gut, and we look for signs that point toward God’s will.
These are all good habits, but fall short in one major way. We try to be careful not to make decisions on our emotions. The heart is wicked and can quickly lead us to make the wrong decision. “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV).
The heart follows what the individual wants, but this is not necessarily what God wants. Wanting or desiring something does not always line up with God’s word.
There’s one better way to know God’s will. What does God’s word—The Bible say? God’s word is God’s will. God's living word has all the wisdom we need to know about God's will. His paths are laid out in His word.
Scripture is alive and God’s living word. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV).
It shows us how to live and how to be more like Him. When we go to the Bible and meditate on it, God’s word helps us make better life choices. Of course, we also can pray and ask for wisdom and discernment to truly understand what God’s word says.
It is also a great idea to ask for prayer from other friends of the faith, or to ask the advice of another wise person of the faith, whether it be a mentor or a pastor.
We can be careful about which friend or parent we ask for advice from. They may be a good/ loyal friend, but they won’t be able to point us toward God’s will without them knowing God’s word.
Here are a few scriptures that hopefully will help each one of us find and follow God’s will:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV). Have faith, trust that His plan is better than your own plan, submit to His word, and He will make your life the path straight.
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV). He wants us to thank Him for the good stuff and the hard stuff too. Thanking Him in all circumstances is His will.
“For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised” (Hebrews 10:36 AMP). Be patient in difficulty and carry out the will of God, and then you will receive God’s good promises.
“The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous” (Psalm 19:9 NIV). Worshiping God is a pure act and will last for an eternity. God’s word is His command. It is true and holy.
I hope these verses help each one of us to search out God’s word, and its true meaning for our lives. Meditate and pray on His word and wait for clear understanding before making important decisions.
And always be grateful even in the hard stuff of life! Have faith!
Be Blessed,
AllisonD
