“How do I discover God’s will for my life?” That’s a great question that all of us have probably asked at one time or another or asked a lot, and it’s based upon the premise that we believe that God has a unique plan for every one of our lives. I think that this is obvious just from observation, but it’s also biblical.
Paul talked about how we’re all different. We have different functions in the body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12). We have different ministries, different callings, different good works, which God has prepared from the foundation of the world (see Ephesians 2:10) that we need to walk in.
So how do you find out what God has just for you? Well, before we get into that we need to talk about finding out what God has for everybody. Because it would seem to be reasonable to conclude that if you’re not seeking to do what God wants everyone to do, why would God reveal to you what He has for you uniquely to do, right?
If you’re ignoring God’s general revelation in the Bible about what He wants everybody to do, don’t expect that God’s going to reveal to you what uniquely He’s created you for. Get the big stuff down first, obeying the commandments of Jesus Christ. That’s what He wants foremost, and then you can begin to seek Him for the unique things that he would lead you in. Particularly in those big decisions in life like marriage and career and where you’re going to live and so forth. These are certainly things that we need to have the Lord’s wisdom on.
A Promise for Finding God’s Will
We’ve got a great promise in the first chapter of James. James writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:5-8).
So there’s one key to discovering God’s unique will for your life. Getting His wisdom on those big decisions means you have to ask and you have to ask in faith. You can’t be moaning and groaning and saying things like, “Oh, Lord, if it’s Your will, please show me!” Come on! That’s not a good show of faith and expectation.
You need to be smiling when you make this request. “Lord, I trust you. You are the source of all wisdom. You promised to give Your wisdom if I’d ask in faith, and so here I am asking in faith. I need wisdom, Lord, and I’m going to thank You for it even before I feel that wisdom rising up within me or enlightening my mind.”
All right? And then don’t be waiting for the audible voice. That’s rare. The Holy Spirit who lives in us, He knows everything, He’s God, He’s the source of all wisdom, He can enlighten our hearts and our minds. He’ll give you wisdom and let you know which way to go. So, that’s another important key.
Look at Your Gifts and Circumstances to Determine God’s Will
Then you can also look at the gifts that God has uniquely given to you. Everybody has something going for them, and that’s why it’s so silly to be jealous about other people’s gifts. God has given you some gifts that other people don’t have! So what are you good at? What does God seem to have equipped you best for? What kind of a person are you? What kind of a personality do you have? Considering this is going to help you figure out what God has got in store just for you.
You could also look at your circumstances, although this is not the biggest factor, because God is able to change circumstances. But if God is calling you to do something, He’s the one Who can open the doors that no one can shut, and He’s the one Who can shut doors that no one can open, and I’ve experienced it both ways myself: God opening and God shutting doors, and that helps to discern what is the will of the Lord for my life.
Obviously, if it’s impossible and there’s no doors open in that direction, then I don’t have to worry about it being God’s will, but when a door opens and it opens by the doing of the Lord, well, that’s a good indication that He wants you to walk through that door.
Discovering God’s Will Is Not Easy
Am I saying that all this is just easy-peasy? No. God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. As James writes, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (4:7). This kind of wisdom, this kind of guidance, doesn’t come to folks who are just casual in their “relationship” with the Lord.
First of all, if you’re going to be obeying God and the things He wants everyone to do, you’re going to have to be abiding in his Word as Jesus talked about (see John 15), and then if you’re going to be looking to God for wisdom, you have to be praying. You have to be praying in faith. Of course, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (see Romans 10), and so this means spending time in God’s Word, drawing close to Him.
Of course, this will cause your faith to increase. Your expectation will increase because you’ll read stories in the Bible of other people God did things for, and that will make you say to yourself, “Hey, I’m in that same line. God loves me, too.” So it increases your faith to be soaking in the Word of God.
More Than Praying the Lord’s Prayer Once a Week
This is all part of the package. You just can’t check in with God on Sunday and say, “Hey Lord, I’m going to pull this nob on the vending machine and then You can download some wisdom here.” No, you need to be seeking the Lord in prayer, not just saying the Lord’s prayer once a week! We’re talking about being devoted to prayer, getting up in the morning or before you go to bed and getting away from other people and other distractions to seek the Lord. People who do that, God is pleased and he rewards them. All right?
So, that’s my best answer to that great question. Maybe somebody else can do better, but I do the best I can! Thank you so much for joining me on Little Lessons. Hope to see you next time.
