Knowing God’s Will
What do you want to do with your life?
If there was a quarter tossed into a fountain each time someone got asked this question, we’d all be rich.
The possibilities are never-ending, and it can leave us feeling overwhelmed about making the right decision.
I think this same tendency occurs when it comes to seeking God’s will.
We think we have to choose the right thing such as a job or place to live or else we’ll ruin God’s plan for our lives.
I remember the agonizing, overwhelming feeling that plagued me when I was offered several jobs in the span of three hours after graduating college. Talk about a high stress situation–I barely slept for a couple days while I wrestled with the decision. I put pressure on myself to pick the right one, because only one could possibly be the position God had for me and I needed to figure it out.
And yet, that response places too much dependence on ourselves and not enough confident trust in the Lord.
It’s also not a proper biblical view.
Because if God truly operated like that, it would be mighty cruel of Him. Instead, we have freedom in the decisions we make and the weight and pressure to choose correctly can be lifted from our shoulders. That does not mean we should pursue a sinful decision–but that’s a blog for another day. However, if the choices are not sinful, then there is freedom and grace in the decisions you make.
How am I confident about this?
Because the Bible clearly lays out God’s will for us!
1 Thessalonians 4:3 says, “it is God’s will that you should be sanctified.”
In anything we do in life, He wants us to look more like Jesus. That’s what sanctification is. The continual process as believers in Christ to daily think, say, and live in a way that mirrors Christ and looks more like Him.
And so God’s will is spelled out plainly for us through His Word.
He wants us to fear Him and love Him above all else (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
To put to death our fleshly desires and walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:24-25)
Display patience, joy, exude peace, gentleness, kindness, and demonstrate self-control (Galatians 5:22)
To not keep records of wrong but forgive just as we’ve been forgiven much (1 Corinthians 13)
To resist temptation (1 Corinthians 10:12-13; James 4:7-8)
Choose to rejoice and not worry (Philippians 4:4-6)
To go and make disciples (Matthew 28:29-30)
Pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44)
To think on thoughts that are pure, excellent, admirable, and praiseworthy (Phillippians 4:8-9)
To not give up meeting together with other believers (Hebrews 10:25)
Extol the Lord, whose praise should always be on our lips (Psalm 111:1)
Seriously, the list could go on and on.
It truly is so kind of God to clearly articulate what it is He wants us to do with our lives. To honor Him with every part of our being doesn’t mean it’s an easy task. But it’s a rewarding one that brings abundant life.
And to let you in on a secret: I’ve switched jobs three times since those first offers out of college. Each position has been perfect in its own timing and allowed me to grow and view each day and opportunity with people as a way to live out God’s will regardless of the circumstances or job title.
So next time you are making a decision, you can rest in the fact that regardless of where you go or what you do, if you are being transformed to look more like Jesus, you are in His will.
What are some other ways we can live for Christ with our lives and walk in His will?