FIND AND FOLLOW GOD’S WILL

 Do you question whether God has a plan for your life?  Of course He does.  Shall the architect have a plan for a building; the artist a plan for his portrait masterpiece: the Space Administration a plan for a rocket trip to Mars, and God not have a plan for those He saves!  The very idea is unthinkable.  He notes every sparrow that falls. He numbers every hair on our head.  (Matthew 10:29-30).  He is therefore concerned about the slightest detail of our life. 

We sometimes feel that we are an unrecognizable, unidentifiable nobody in a huge ocean of humanity, but to God we are a one-and-only person, unique from everybody else in the whole world.  In all the billions of snowflakes there are no two alike.  Even so, there is no person exactly like you.  God desires to use you in a way He can use no one else.  He desires to shape you and fit you to blend together with certain other personalities to accomplish something wonderful in this lifetime that will last for all eternity. 

Jesus said in John 4:34, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”  On another occasion He said,   “I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”  John 5:30b.  He instructed us to pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”.  Matthew 6:10. 

We are told that we may “prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God” Romans 12:2.  We are admonished, “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is”.  Ephesians 5:17. The burden of the Apostle Paul’s prayer was, “…That you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”  Colossians 4:12. 

IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE OUT OF THE WILL OF GOD

 One of the saddest experiences of many Christians is getting out of the will of God. The result is always defeat, shame, and sorrow. 

Abraham got out of the will of God when he went down to Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20).  Without God’s blessing and power upon him he feared that Pharaoh would kill him and take his wife.  He told the half-truth that Sarah was his sister.  (She was his half-sister).  Pharaoh proceeded to take Sarah into his harem.  Only the intervention of God spared Sarah from an immoral situation.  With great shame Abraham and Sarah were expelled from Egypt. 

Saul got out of the will of God when he spared Agag, the Amalekite king and the best of the Amalekites’ cattle (1st Samuel 15).  As a result the kingdom was taken from him and given to David. 

Solomon got out of the will of God by taking many wives.  He was the wisest man on earth in the head, but I kings 11:4 tells us, “…when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God…” 

Jonah got out of the will of God when he refused to go to Nineveh and tried to flee by going the opposite direction to Tarshish.  He wound up in the fish’s belly for a terrifying lesson in the frightful horrors that come to a person who willfully turns his back on God’s will. 

The eagle was created to soar through the heavens.  When placed in a cage he will still have the desire to spread his wings and pierce the skies but he will have missed the plan of God for his life. God places within the breast of every one of His children the desire to ascend to the heights of attainment and service.  This can be accomplished by the blessing and power of God.  How sad when one of God’s children misses God’s plan for their life.   

IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE IN GOD’S PERFECT WILL 

God has revealed many things to us regarding His will in the Word of God.  The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) give very specific teaching about things that are God’s will and those against God’s will.  The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) likewise gives many clear teachings about how to order our life.  In fact, every situation of life is covered in the Bible with clear teaching as to what motives and actions are pleasing to God. 

Some people are troubled as to what they should do regarding developments in society that are not mentioned in the Bible such as smoking, drugs, movies, TV, radio, and certain entertainments and recreations.  For these the Bible gives principles such as, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”  1st Corinthians 10:30.  We simply ask ourselves, “Can I do this to the glory of God?”  If we cannot honestly know that we can, then we should refrain. 

There are, of course, times when we are faced with a decision about the future that will drastically affect the rest of our lives.  Shall I go to college?  If so, which one.  Shall I choose a certain vocation?  Shall I take a certain job?  Shall I buy a home, or move to a particular location.  Shall I marry this person?  At such times there are other principles that must be applied. 

One of the principles we must follow is that God will not make us do His will but will lead us along when we yield ourselves to Him and follow His leading willingly. 

Psalm 143:10, David prayed, “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God;…”  Jesus said, “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God…”  John 7:17.   

The Apostle Paul taught that when we make a total consecration of all we are to Christ we can prove what is the will of God.  (Romans 12:1,2)  These verses reveal three essentials on our part: 

Surrender.  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  (Romans 12:1). 

The will of God requires bond servants, not hired servants.  If we are going to know the will of God we must surrender our bodies, our minds, our talents, our time, and our possessions.  We will no longer claim any of these as our own, but will count ourselves as stewards who are to faithfully use them according to the plan God has for our life. 

Separation.  “And do not be conformed to this world,…”  One translation puts it this way, “Do not let this world press you into its mold…”  The world system in which we live will try to pressure us to conform to its mold.  You are to make up your mind at the outset that with God’s help you will not let this happen.  You will not let the world pressure you to conform to its pattern of selfishness, sinfulness, and sensuality, nor its pursuit of pleasure, position, popularity and possessions. 

Spiritual Mindedness.  “…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”  We must renew our mind.  This means that we are no longer self-centered, but God-centered.  We no longer live for the pleasure of the moment, but for that which accomplishes God’s purposes that last for eternity.  We no longer live to please self or the world, but to please God.  When we have such a renewal of mind as this we will become sufficiently sensitive to detect the clear leading of God in our life. 

THE SOURCES OF GUIDANCE IN FINDING GOD’S WILL 

The Word of God. 
As has been pointed out, God reveals most of His will for our life in the precepts and principles of His Word.  Many times I have asked Christians about certain actions that were clearly contrary to the Word of God.  Many answered that they felt this was what God wanted them to do.  Please do not put your feelings above God’s Word.  Your feelings are changeable and unreliable.  God’s Word never changes.  Since God inspired the Bible to be written and since God never changes you can be sure that God will never lead you contrary to His Word.   

In World War II an American bomber named, Lady Be Good was flying south over the Mediterranean after completing a bombing mission.  The instruments said “Turn East” long before they normally should have.  The pilot decided to trust his feelings rather than the instruments.  He did not know it, but a tremendous tail wind had given them a greatly increased speed.  They crash-landed in the desert of North Africa.  Every crew member perished as they tried to hike to safety through the burning sands.  Trust God’s Word, not your feelings. 

The Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:14 tells of our second source of guidance, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”   The Holy Spirit definitely impresses God’s people “…To will and to do for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.  Although we must carefully try all the inner promptings we receive to determine whether they come from God or Satan, we should continually be alert to the impressions of the Holy Spirit. 

Providence.
The third source of guidance is what old-time Christians called providence---meaning that God will work in an observable way to open up the path of His will for us.  In the first place God will equip us with natural talents or supernatural gifts to do the work for which He calls us.   

He will not call a tone-deaf person to be a soloist.  Every Christian should seek to honestly know the talents and abilities God has given them.  This will be a real key in determining the area God desires to use us.  When a certain course is God’s will, we may be assured that God will open the door to proceed in that direction.  He will also provide the resources and means to go through that door.  The Devil may also open a decoy door so we must not rely solely on what appears to be God’s providential leading. 

A Settled Peace of Mind and Heart.
As you grow from childhood you may pass through many fancies:  pilot, singer, doctor, nurse, etc. However, as you seek God’s will and pray about a certain course of action you will either be unsettled about it or have an abiding peace of heart and mind.  If you are unsettled, you may rest assured this is not God’s will.  If you receive an abiding peace you can be confident that God has sealed His will to your heart.  “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:7.   

In closing, be sure that all four sources of guidance agree.  Any one will be insufficient, but if all four are present you may rest assured that you have found and are following God’s will for your life.
 
            
Copyright © 2005 Thomas E Berry
Scripture quotations from NKJV unless otherwise noted

    Copyright © 2008 Truth Helpers Inc.