Knowing God’s Will for Your Life

Can we know what God’s will is for our lives?  This is a question that has been asked by many Christians. How do I know if something is the will of God for me? God’s will sometimes seems to be vague and hard to perceive; however, when we look into Scripture we find that as Christians we are to know the will of God. Not just to know what it is, but to also understand it. Ephesians 5:17; Colossians 1:9.

We know that God has determined certain things, but what about the day to day things. How do we know what God’s will is each day?

Understanding what the will of God is, is a good place to start. There are two types of “wills” in Scripture. As a matter of fact, we ourselves have two types of wills also. We have a desirous will and a determinate will. Just because we have a desire does not mean we will always fulfill it.

You may have the desire to parachute, but when the times comes you choose, that is determine, not to jump out of the plane, or perhaps not even get into the plane. What if the opportunity never comes around for you to go parachuting?

In Scripture there is the desirous will and the determinate will of both man and God. In Matthew 1:19 Joseph determined that he would not disgrace Mary, his wife to be. In 1 Corinthians 12:11 we are given a Spiritual gift by the determination of the Holy Spirit. Our gift is not something that we choose, or through our desires can change. In our lives, if we determine to be rich we will bring upon ourselves many temptations that are foolish and harmful, 1 Timothy 6:9. (There is nothing wrong with being wealthy, that is not what Scripture is saying here. It is the determination to be rich, which means you have set your mind to fulfill the desire of wealth, but at what cost? any?).

It is by God’s determinate will that we have been brought forth by the Word of Truth, James 1:18.

The determinate will is a desire that we decide to bring to completion.

What does determinate will have to do with our lives and understanding God’s will for our lives? There are things that God has determined will happen. Such as the completion of our salvation; the judgment of Satan; the rule of Christ, etc. And yes, at times His determinate will tells us what He has determined for us, often times in the future. These facts are necessary to know; however, it is His desirous will that tell us what we wants for us now.

You must desire something before you can determine to do it. In Ephesians 1:1 God desires to place Paul as a Apostle. The position that Paul held was by the desirous will of God the Father. Our bounds have been marked off to the placement of sons in Christ Jesus by God’s desirous will, Ephesians 1:5. The position that we have before God is a place where He desired us to be. Jesus came to earth to provide a means by which we are saved through the desirous will of the Father, Hebrews 10:7. Scripture did not come by the desire of men, but rather by the Holy Spirit, 2 Peter 1:21.

God has desires for each and everyone one of us. Not only does He has desires, He expects us to know what these desires are and to fulfill them. In salvation God has provided us with everything that we need to live godly, that is, to live our the character of His Son through our lives. This included the ability to know His desirous will, not just what He has determined will happen. We do seek God’s will out of our own strength either, so don’t think that by fasting and prayer you will know God’s will for it is God who makes us fit to do His will, not us, Hebrews 13:21. Even Paul knew this and in His communication with the Father requested that the saints would be filled with the full experiential knowledge of God’s desirous will for them, Colossians 1:9. God also expects us to understand what His desirous will is and not be foolish, Ephesians 5:17. We have a renewed mind in Christ, not a mind that is being renewed which many translations state in error in Romans 12:2. No, we have a mind that is renewed in Christ and by using this mine we can test each situation that comes our way as to whether or not it is the desirous will of God.

That is all good, but how do I determine God’s will for my life? How does He reveal it to me? There is nothing in Scripture that tells me what I am to do, where I am to work, who I am to marry, so how do I know what God’s desirous will is for my life? It is true that there is no section of Scripture that has your name on it and tell you what to do. However, that does not mean that there is no Scripture that tells you what God’s desirous will is for your life.

If you want to know what God wants you do to with your life, you need to start with what Scripture reveals as God’s desirous will for all Christians, for if you are not doing that, how can you possible be living in God’s will?

So what is revealed? The first, and foremost is God’s desire that you present your body as a living sacrifice in Romans 12:1, 2. This is your reasonable service since He purchased your body. A living sacrifice is one that continually serves so long as it lives. He owns your body, you need to recognize that and live accordingly.

We are to ask, for ourselves, according to the will of God. Communication with God is important, and is something that God wants us to do, 1 john 5:14, 15. When we communicate properly, that is, from our position in Christ, whatever we ask for is not going to be against His desirous will. Therefore , we can have confidence that He hears us and we will receive that which we have requested. Don’t think that God is here to grant you all of your wishes, He is not a genie. If you ask and do not receive, you should look at why you are asking. Are you asking so that you can consume it of your own fleshly lusts?

It is God’s desirous will that we suffer in some situation because of a good testimony, 1 peter 4:19. There are times when we will be persecuted because we are doing what is right or reprimanded because we are manifesting the character of Christ (for His name sake). However, these should not be shameful time, for through our suffering we can give a good testimony of who we are in Christ. Don’t forget, we are appointed to suffer for Christ’s name. Suffering for doing good is not something that should be strange to a Christian. Be careful though, do not suffer for doing wrong, for there should be shame in that kind of suffering. And do not think that if you suffer because you have done wrong that you are suffering for Christ. 1 Peter 3:17; 4:14, 15, 16.

Through doing good, we are to muzzle the ignorance of foolish men, 1 Peter 2:15. We are not to use our liberty that is in Christ as a cloak of evil; rather, we are to us it to serve God. Besides, when we suffer for Christ, it is actually a thing of grace, not something that should be taken shamefully, 1 Peter 2:19

God desires what we have a attitude of gratitude in all things, for all things, and for all people, 1 Thessalonians 5:18. This is not to say that you must be happy no matter what comes your way. Only that when you recognize that God is in control of your life and leads you into situation for your benefit, you have be grateful, even when those times are extremely difficult. We are not promised health, wealth, and happiness here on earth. But we are promised that God will never leave us nor forsake us and that He only wants what is the best for us.

It was God’s desirous will that Jesus would deliver us from this present malignantly evil age, Galatians 1:4. Through Christ death, burial, and resurrection we have been delivered, even though we now live in it. This present age is an age where evil (that which lacks in character) spreads. This is an attitude that is not content with doing things that lack in character; rather, it is one that wants you to be involved in those activities and aggressively seeks for you to be apart of its, actions.  We have been delivered from it in Christ Jesus and should therefore live a life that is in contrast to it.

Rather than being conformed to a life of legalism, it is God’s will that we are transformed by the renewedness of our minds, Romans 12:2. This transformation is one that shows outwardly what is already inwardly. Rather than putting on an outward appearance of someone that we are not, which any time a Christian attempts to live by any quality of law he or she is doing, we should manifest Christ’s character. (not living by law does not mean not obeying any laws, it is not living a life that through law tries to show God or others how righteous you are through your actions. God has a standard by which we are to live, and that standard is who we are in Christ.)

Abstain from fornication, 1 Thessalonians 4:3. This world presents fornication as something that is not only ok to do, but expected .We are not to be apart of that type of life style. Fornication is a sin that is done against your own body and it is something that should not be named among the saints of God. If you cannot control your desires, marry so that you are not living a life that is contrary to God’s desirous will.

We are to use our Spiritual gifts. God gave you a gift for the edification of the saint. If he did not want you do use it, He would not have given it to you. 1 Corinthians 12:18 states that our gifts are given by the determination of the Holy Spirit. They are given so that as we fellowship with other saints we can use these gifts for edification.

How we serve is also another desire of God. We should not serve others with eservice, rather we should serve as slaves of Christ. Not as though we serve man for man’s glory; rather, we should give ourselves to other Christian and the Lord, Ephesians 6:6,7, and do His will from our hearts.

Knowing what is the riches of the indwelling Christ is also another desire that God has for you, Colossians 1:27. You are in Christ, you have the hope of glory. You should not only know this, but experience it in your every day life. We experience it by learning to feel at ease with who are are in Christ. We need to take our opinion of ourselves and line it up with God’s opinion of us, and live according to His opinion.

It is also God’s desire for us to live the remaining time in His will, not in the lust of men, 1 Peter 4:2. Do not live a life that is consumed by lust; rather, live one that seeks to know and do God’s will for He has made is possible, and desires that you know His will for your life.

Present your body as a living sacrifice

Ask for yourself according to His will

Suffer for a good testimony and do not be ashamed

Muzzle the ignorance of foolish men by doing good

Give thanks in all things

Abstain from Fornication

Be transformed by the renewedness of your mind

Use your Spiritual gift

Give yourself to other Christians and the Lord

Experientially know the riches of Christ in you

Live the remaining time in the will of God, not the lust of men.

 

These are God’s desires for you. If you are violating any of these you are not fully living the way God desires you to live. These passages specifically speak of God’s desirous will for all Christians. There are other passages that also state how we are to govern the manner of our lives. It all comes down to living according to who you are in Christ. By using the renewed mind that God has given you, and not violating what you already know is God’s will for your life, you can and should know what the will of God is for any an all situation in your life. After all, it is His desire that you fully know His will.