How Can I Know the Will of God?
Every Christian understands that they should pursue God's will for their life. However, sometimes God's will feels very hard to find it. Many Christians are filled with stress and anxiety about discovering God's will. But is this God's will?
Some Christians approach discovering God’s will as if God was playing some game of “Spiritual Scavenger Hunt” with them. They act as if God is some divine puppet master dangling His will just beyond their reach until they beg and plead just right.
On the other hand, many modern Christians seem to have no concern for knowing or obeying God’s will. They are so consumed with living their life they have given little thought to learning or pursuing God’s will.
However, Scripture outlines four principles about God’s will that applies to every Christian.
Principle 1: It’s God’s Will for Believers to Pursue a Life of Sanctification.
1 Thessalonians 4:3–5 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.
At the very core of what it means to follow Christ is the idea of sanctification. Sanctification is the act of consecrating, making holy, or setting apart unto God.
Sanctification is a work of the Spirit (Rom. 15:16; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Thess.2:13) in unity with the will of the believer (Rom. 6:19; 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Tim. 2:21). This means that while the Christian is not the cause of their sanctification, they aren’t mindless bystanders either.
God will not force the believer to consecrate themselves, but God WILL consecrate the believer who WILL’s Him to do so. In short, we are responsible for the pursuit of sanctification, but at the same time, we depend upon the grace of the Holy Spirit to enable us in that pursuit.
For Christians, living a life of sanctification is an act of worship as they continue to yield their will to God (Romans 12:1).
Principle 2: It’s God’s Will for Believers to Give Thanks in Every Situation.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
There should be no such thing as an unthankful Christian! When we recognize our incalculable debt to God for His lovingkindness and tender mercies, gratitude is the only proper response for Christians. Therefore, it is the will of God that every believer live a life of thankfulness to Him.
This life of gratitude flows from a humble attitude that acknowledges that we don’t deserve anything good from God (1 Corinthians 1:28–29). Understanding that every good gift comes from God (James 1:17); it is God’s will that every Christian put on a lifestyle of thankfulness (Colossians 3:12). This means that in every situation we find ourselves in, God's will requires us to keep a posture of thankfulness (1 Timothy 4:4–5).
Principle 3: It’s God’s Will for Believers to Live Wise.
Ephesians 5:15–17 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
The Christian is called to live a life characterized by godly wisdom (James 1:5; 3:17). This divine wisdom teaches us that we are finite creators who possess a limited number of days (Psalms 90:12). Because of this, God's will for His children not to waste their life on unwise or foolish pursuits.
Since we live in evil days, the enemy continually tries to trap the Christian into becoming sidetracked with ungodly and foolish efforts (1 Peter 5:8). It is the will of God that the Christian avoids ungodly and foolish behaviors and live in godly wisdom.
The only way Christians can know godly wisdom is by studying Scripture (2 Timothy 3:15). Having learned godly wisdom from His word; the Christian is equipped to live in God’s will. With holy boldness, the Christian is called to live in God’s wisdom no matter what the world says or does.
Principle 4: It’s God’s Will for Believers to Endure through Present Sufferings.
Hebrews 10:35–36 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
Suffering is the undeniable reality of our present state. As a result of living in a sin-cursed world, we should expect to deal with problems and trials (1 Peter 4:12–13). Jesus warned His disciples that tribulation was an unavoidable part of living for Him (John 16:33). Given this fact, it is vital that Christians embrace the truth that they must endure through present sufferings.
When suffering comes to Christians, God wills that we endure through it and go deeper in our relationship with Christ. Instead of causing us to give up and fall away from Christ, suffering should drive us into the arms of Christ as we depend more deeply upon His grace and strength (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Some Christians want to make the will of God a mysterious thing that is hard to discover. However, Scripture provides some clear principles about how God desires us to live. As we trust God to help us live in His will, we can be confident that He will lead us one step at a time into what He wants us to do in the future.
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About the Author
Dr. Laurito (DMin. Southwestern Assembly of God University) serves both the church and the academy as a pastor and an adjunct professor. Whether through books, sermons, podcasts, blogs, or biblical resources, Dr. Laurito is committed to equipping this generation to fulfill their Spirit-inspired destiny.