Thinking About the Will of God
For years, I agonized about God’s will. I prayed about it. Wondered about it. Searched for it. Fretted that I would somehow miss it altogether.
I now know that I am not the only one that has suffered from this malady.
Many Christians live in confusion about the will of God. And yet, God plainly states that He is not the author of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33, KJV).
The more I read the Bible, the more I find that God plainly states what His revealed will is. Here are scriptures that tell us.
“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40, KJV).
– Believing on Jesus is where the revealed will of God for us begins. No one can skip this step and live for God. No one.
“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication” (I Thessalonians 4:3, KJV).
– Sanctification (being consecrated or set apart) begins at salvation. We are new creations. We live out that sanctification each day of our lives on Earth through the power of the Holy Spirit. Living a pure life that honors Christ is God’s will for His children.
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (I Thessalonians 5:18, KJV).
-- A thankful heart is God’s will for His children.
“For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (I Peter 2:15, KJV).
-- Living a life that honors God in all things is God’s will for His children.
The more I studied, the more I realized that if I knew Christ as my Savior and was living the life that God called me to, the rest of God’s will would take care of itself. The decisions I worried about like “should I go to this college or work at this job” would become evident while living for Him.
I found that God truly does order the steps of His children (Psalm 37:23, KJV), and I don’t have to stumble about in confusion. I can trust Him with the details. “Pray about it” has become a lifestyle. Trusting Him with the outcome is synonymous with resting in Him.
God really meant it when He said
“Be careful for nothing (Don’t worry about anything); but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. AND the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6 – 7, KJV emphasis mine).
God did not call us to a life of fear and confusion. That is the enemy. Jesus came to bring us life – abundant life.
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and they they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10, KJV).
Still, there are many questions that plague us. There are questions in this life that are not part of God’s revealed will to us. They are not specifically answered in scripture. We don’t know the hour of death. We want God to remove suffering or heal our loved ones. We pray for His will to be done, but we really want Him to follow our desires. He tells us to bring our cares to Him, but The Lord’s Prayer, which is the model prayer Jesus gave His disciples, prays
“Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10, KJV).
This is a prayer of submission to God’s sovereignty*, a prayer of trust in His innate goodness, a realization that He knows best and will do His best. Jesus submitted Himself to this will before the cross when He prayed
“O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt (Matthew 26:39, KJV).
Some good verses for anyone seeking God’s will today are found in Proverbs 3:5 - 6.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
When we know Christ as Savior, and we are trusting Him with our whole heart, acknowledging Him in all we do, we can be sure that He will guide us in His will.
He is faithful to do just that.
Father, forgive me for the times that I have wallowed in confusion when You have given me guidance in Your word. Forgive me for delaying when You have called me to press on toward Your goal. Let me walk confidently in Your will each day, trusting in You with all my heart, just like the sheep who confidently follow their shepherd. Because that’s what I am – Your sheep. In Jesus’ name I pray.
*Since “Thy will be done” follows “Thy Kingdom come” in the Lord's Prayer, I also believe it includes a longing for God’s reign on this Earth.
Disclaimer: People have written volumes about the will of God. This is simply a short devotion and cannot answer every question. I encourage you to do your own study. Follow the scriptures. You can’t go wrong there.
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