Among some Christians, "God's will" has a perpetually mysterious quality. People wonder what God's will is concerning their lives and for each circumstance they face. This approach to know God's will can resemble greatly a quest in seeking a medium, palm reader, or fortune teller believing special knowledge will provide useful aid. It is important we recognise God has revealed His will through His Word, and He has done so for the express purpose we would walk in obedience to it. Christianity is more than knowing the truth but living it out aligned with God's desires. It is a shame when Christians live in state of self-imposed paralysis and confusion, not knowing what to pray or do because they are torn in recognition of their limited perspective of "God's will." God has provided much more than facts about Him: God has provided Himself and all that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
Because all humans tend to worry, knowledge of the future brings an ease and comfort the flesh enjoys. Sometimes God does reveal the future to people through various means. But God is not interested in coddling our flesh and therefore rarely spells out His overarching plans for why He allowed our tyre to go flat or why the power shut off at 2am and the alarm clock was reset resulting in us being late. God has revealed His will so we might know His character, like where it is written in 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." God has also revealed His will for people as we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." God's will can be known, and we through faith in Christ can accomplish it. The Bible is absolutely packed with revelations concerning God's will.
It is easy for us to figure an eternal, all-powerful Being could simply impose His "will" however He wishes in the world He has made. God's will in this sense shall always be ultimately accomplished in His time and sovereign way. But our great struggle is to comprehend how God permits what He does not approve. For instance, God is not willing any should perish yet people die every day. People who die in their sins face eternal justice in the fires of hell. Since God created man in His image with the freedom to choose, God imposes His will of eternal righteousness and justice upon those who refuse His remedy for salvation. It is God's will that men would rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks to Him in everything - but that does not mean God will force a man to do so. God enables and empowers man to accomplish this through the Holy Spirit, but He permits man to go his own way. When you are unsure of God's will, the wise response is to seek the God who has spoken, will speak truth, and has promised to guide our every step.
Knowledge in itself is a false comfort, for only in God can we experience rest for our souls. God tells us His will so we might do it. Ephesians 5:15-17 shows we can know God's will: "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." We know God's will only through knowing Him. The fool does not account for God's power, promises, or purposes concerning his life, but the wise man fears God and trusts Him alone. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge and our faithful practice of walking obediently to God's will cultivates true fellowship with God. Paul prayed for Christians to know God's will and this prayer is according to God's will. Colossians 1:9 says, "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding..."
Knowing is one thing, and belief and subsequent obedience is another. God's commands in His Word reveal His will concerning your life. One example is Jesus commanded Christians to love one another as He loves us. We can know this is God's will, His perfect plan to govern our words, attitude, and works. It is in discovering God through His Word we learn to walk in His will. Knowing the will of God may be novel, but this knowledge alone does not save: being born again by genuine faith in Christ results in obedience. Matthew 7:21-23 says, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" If your desire is only to know the will of God, you will likely remain in confusion. But if you desire to know God's will fervently so you might obey it you are not far from discovering it. If we will seek God we will find Him, if we seek Him with our whole hearts.
Because all humans tend to worry, knowledge of the future brings an ease and comfort the flesh enjoys. Sometimes God does reveal the future to people through various means. But God is not interested in coddling our flesh and therefore rarely spells out His overarching plans for why He allowed our tyre to go flat or why the power shut off at 2am and the alarm clock was reset resulting in us being late. God has revealed His will so we might know His character, like where it is written in 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." God has also revealed His will for people as we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." God's will can be known, and we through faith in Christ can accomplish it. The Bible is absolutely packed with revelations concerning God's will.
It is easy for us to figure an eternal, all-powerful Being could simply impose His "will" however He wishes in the world He has made. God's will in this sense shall always be ultimately accomplished in His time and sovereign way. But our great struggle is to comprehend how God permits what He does not approve. For instance, God is not willing any should perish yet people die every day. People who die in their sins face eternal justice in the fires of hell. Since God created man in His image with the freedom to choose, God imposes His will of eternal righteousness and justice upon those who refuse His remedy for salvation. It is God's will that men would rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks to Him in everything - but that does not mean God will force a man to do so. God enables and empowers man to accomplish this through the Holy Spirit, but He permits man to go his own way. When you are unsure of God's will, the wise response is to seek the God who has spoken, will speak truth, and has promised to guide our every step.
Knowledge in itself is a false comfort, for only in God can we experience rest for our souls. God tells us His will so we might do it. Ephesians 5:15-17 shows we can know God's will: "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." We know God's will only through knowing Him. The fool does not account for God's power, promises, or purposes concerning his life, but the wise man fears God and trusts Him alone. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge and our faithful practice of walking obediently to God's will cultivates true fellowship with God. Paul prayed for Christians to know God's will and this prayer is according to God's will. Colossians 1:9 says, "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding..."
Knowing is one thing, and belief and subsequent obedience is another. God's commands in His Word reveal His will concerning your life. One example is Jesus commanded Christians to love one another as He loves us. We can know this is God's will, His perfect plan to govern our words, attitude, and works. It is in discovering God through His Word we learn to walk in His will. Knowing the will of God may be novel, but this knowledge alone does not save: being born again by genuine faith in Christ results in obedience. Matthew 7:21-23 says, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" If your desire is only to know the will of God, you will likely remain in confusion. But if you desire to know God's will fervently so you might obey it you are not far from discovering it. If we will seek God we will find Him, if we seek Him with our whole hearts.
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