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Finding God's will?
- Thread starter Shell
- Start date
congrats on stepping up your commitment to God.
Sometimes, we make "God's will" more of a mystery than it should be. Most of "God's will" involves what is plainly laid out for us in Scripture to do...love God, love others, being a thankful, grateful, forgiving person, not giving in to sinful desires...
What is left after that is handled by letting your life be an extended, ongoing, unending conversation with God. "Walking with God" then helps you figure out the other stuff.
And...God can do what He wishes, but most of the time He doesn't reveal His entire road map for our life's plan...He asks us to trust Him for today...and He'll lead us today. He might not show you the whole plan...but He will be with you each step of the way. Just keep walking with God.
God bless you on your journey.
Sometimes, we make "God's will" more of a mystery than it should be. Most of "God's will" involves what is plainly laid out for us in Scripture to do...love God, love others, being a thankful, grateful, forgiving person, not giving in to sinful desires...
What is left after that is handled by letting your life be an extended, ongoing, unending conversation with God. "Walking with God" then helps you figure out the other stuff.
And...God can do what He wishes, but most of the time He doesn't reveal His entire road map for our life's plan...He asks us to trust Him for today...and He'll lead us today. He might not show you the whole plan...but He will be with you each step of the way. Just keep walking with God.
God bless you on your journey.
standingfirminChrist
New Member
Best way to find God's will
1 Get in church... Hebrews tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. So that is God's Will
Study your Bible daily... David wrote in Psalm 119 Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.
Pray daily... communicate with God daily.
Do all these daily, and God will show you direction.
1 Get in church... Hebrews tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. So that is God's Will
Study your Bible daily... David wrote in Psalm 119 Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.
Pray daily... communicate with God daily.
Do all these daily, and God will show you direction.
Shell asked:
How does one truly find out what God's will is for them.
Read the Bible, and live your life according to its precepts. God's will is not a mystery waiting for you to solve it.
James says that God grants wisdom to those who ask sincerely out of faith, and so it is God's will that we pray for that wisdom.
How does one truly find out what God's will is for them.
Read the Bible, and live your life according to its precepts. God's will is not a mystery waiting for you to solve it.
James says that God grants wisdom to those who ask sincerely out of faith, and so it is God's will that we pray for that wisdom.
That's great about your re-dedication!
As far as finding God's will for our lives, there is more than one way to do that.
Everybody is at a different place in their Christian life and God might be trying to speak to you in a different way than He is trying to speak to someone else.
At any rate...take great assurance and comfort in knowing that God wants to reveal Himself to you.
Consider which one of the following areas God may be trying to speak to you through
Bible reading/Bible study...Get a good Bible that reads easily for daily readings and/or get a good study Bible for digging deeper.
Meditations...Choose some scripture passages that are meaningful to you and memorize them. Quote them to yourself during the day. Find some quiet times at home, work, or in the car and listen to quiet music and quote these passages to yourself and ask God to reveal Himself to you through them.
Active prayer life- Tell God personally and to His wonderful face that you are desiring to know His will and plan for your life. Tell him what you fear, what you hope for, what your dreams are, and seek His plan and how you fit into it and don't try to fit God into your plans.
fasting - Matthew chapter 6 says that fasting is a private thing and that you shouldn't tell anyone when you do it. Everyone can't fast, some for medical reasons and some for minor health reasons. But most can. But fasting, coupled with prayer, is taught in the Bible. If your health allows, you can choose a day once a month or so (or whenever the Lord leads you to) to go without food for a day. Drink plenty of water. Seek God in great earnest all day. Seek Him the hardest that day during the times that you would normally eat. Fasting is saying, "The flesh is NOT who I really am."
Stewardship- What has God given you that He wants you to use? Time? Talents? Gifts? Money? Abilities? God is going to hold us accountable one day for the things that He gives us and expects us to use for His glory.
I pray that your faith grows stronger everyday and that your eyes become opened to God's great will for you.
Don't be discouraged if God tries to teach you some patience along the way! Ha! That's my biggest struggle.
Peace-
Scarlett O.
<><
As far as finding God's will for our lives, there is more than one way to do that.
Everybody is at a different place in their Christian life and God might be trying to speak to you in a different way than He is trying to speak to someone else.
At any rate...take great assurance and comfort in knowing that God wants to reveal Himself to you.
Consider which one of the following areas God may be trying to speak to you through
Bible reading/Bible study...Get a good Bible that reads easily for daily readings and/or get a good study Bible for digging deeper.
Meditations...Choose some scripture passages that are meaningful to you and memorize them. Quote them to yourself during the day. Find some quiet times at home, work, or in the car and listen to quiet music and quote these passages to yourself and ask God to reveal Himself to you through them.
Active prayer life- Tell God personally and to His wonderful face that you are desiring to know His will and plan for your life. Tell him what you fear, what you hope for, what your dreams are, and seek His plan and how you fit into it and don't try to fit God into your plans.
fasting - Matthew chapter 6 says that fasting is a private thing and that you shouldn't tell anyone when you do it. Everyone can't fast, some for medical reasons and some for minor health reasons. But most can. But fasting, coupled with prayer, is taught in the Bible. If your health allows, you can choose a day once a month or so (or whenever the Lord leads you to) to go without food for a day. Drink plenty of water. Seek God in great earnest all day. Seek Him the hardest that day during the times that you would normally eat. Fasting is saying, "The flesh is NOT who I really am."
Stewardship- What has God given you that He wants you to use? Time? Talents? Gifts? Money? Abilities? God is going to hold us accountable one day for the things that He gives us and expects us to use for His glory.
I pray that your faith grows stronger everyday and that your eyes become opened to God's great will for you.
Don't be discouraged if God tries to teach you some patience along the way! Ha! That's my biggest struggle.
Peace-
Scarlett O.
<><
Shell, take a look at your life right now -- the situation God has you in. It is no mistake that you are there. Your first job is to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength in that postion. Your second is to take a look around you and see what you can do for the neighbors God has put in your life.
Yes, read and get to know the Bible. Yes, pray. Yes, gather together with other Christians. And when you are presented with opportunities and you don't know which to say yes or no to, I advice my 'dummy blonde prayer' which runs something like this: "Lord, you know that I don't know what to do here, what to choose. Please shut every door you don't want me to go through. I'd rather get a bruised nose from walking into a closed door than to go down the wrong path. Thank you."
In addition, you will find that when you pray with someone about something, very often -- even during the prayer -- a thought will 'pop' into the mind of one of you about the issue and that thought is something that should be looked at as possibly from the Lord, giving direction.
But wherever you are in your life, and in whatever circumstances, the two great commandments will always give you direction: love God and love your neighbor.
God bless you.
Yes, read and get to know the Bible. Yes, pray. Yes, gather together with other Christians. And when you are presented with opportunities and you don't know which to say yes or no to, I advice my 'dummy blonde prayer' which runs something like this: "Lord, you know that I don't know what to do here, what to choose. Please shut every door you don't want me to go through. I'd rather get a bruised nose from walking into a closed door than to go down the wrong path. Thank you."
In addition, you will find that when you pray with someone about something, very often -- even during the prayer -- a thought will 'pop' into the mind of one of you about the issue and that thought is something that should be looked at as possibly from the Lord, giving direction.
But wherever you are in your life, and in whatever circumstances, the two great commandments will always give you direction: love God and love your neighbor.
God bless you.
Shell, in case you haven't heard of George Mueller, he was a wonderful preacher in 19th century England who ran an orphanage and was well know for getting his prayers answered. Here is what he wrote. I think his first point is extremely important.
How To Ascertain the Will of God
George Mueller
(1) I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.
(2) Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.
(3) I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.
(4) Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God's Will in connection with His Word and Spirit.
(5) I ask God in prayer to reveal His Will to me aright.
(6) Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. In trivial matters, and in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective.
How To Ascertain the Will of God
George Mueller
(1) I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.
(2) Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.
(3) I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.
(4) Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God's Will in connection with His Word and Spirit.
(5) I ask God in prayer to reveal His Will to me aright.
(6) Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. In trivial matters, and in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective.
The following are some principles from God's Word that will help you to discern what God's will is for you.
1. God does have great plans for your life.
We were created by God, in His image, for a purpose. Just as God set apart from birth Isaiah (Isaiah 49:1), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:5) and Paul (Galatians 1:15) for a specific purpose, he also has a specific plan for your life.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11)
The Bible says that God's will is "good, acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2)
2. God's will, first and foremost, is that we have a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.
"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:3-4)
3. God wants us to be Christ's disciples.
This means Christians must be committed to following God's will daily, whatever the cost.
"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
4. The Bible will help us to know God's will.
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)
5. God promises to give us wisdom if we just ask Him in prayer, believing that He will give it.
Sometimes we need to just ask God to give us wisdom to discern His will.
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5)
In Philippians 4:6, God tells us that we should pray about everything.
6. God has given us the Holy Spirit for guidance.
"...when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth..." (John 16:13)
7. We should listen to the advice of godly men and women that God has placed in our lives.
Many times the advice of a parent, pastor, youth minister, Sunday School teacher or other mature person is just what we need to hear to help us decide what God wants us to do.
"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise." (Proverbs 12:15)
"Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established." (Proverbs 15:22)
8. The Bible says that there is a peace that comes when we are pleasing God with our lives.
When deciding between two alternatives that you have been praying about, sometimes one of the options will give you a greater peace. That option is probably God's will.
"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." (Isaiah 32:17)
9. We should trust God in faith that He will accomplish His will in our lives.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 1:6)
10. God has given each of us gifts and abilities to use in His service.
God always equips us to do what he calls us to do. If you aren't gifted in a certain area, God is probably not calling you to minister in that area. (see Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 and Ephesians 4:11-13 for lists of spiritual gifts.)
Remember that God's ultimate purpose for all of us is that He would be glorified (1 Corinthians 10:31) and that the gospel and God's kingdom would be advanced (Genesis 50:20 and Philippians 1:12).
1. God does have great plans for your life.
We were created by God, in His image, for a purpose. Just as God set apart from birth Isaiah (Isaiah 49:1), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:5) and Paul (Galatians 1:15) for a specific purpose, he also has a specific plan for your life.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11)
The Bible says that God's will is "good, acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2)
2. God's will, first and foremost, is that we have a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.
"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:3-4)
3. God wants us to be Christ's disciples.
This means Christians must be committed to following God's will daily, whatever the cost.
"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
4. The Bible will help us to know God's will.
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)
5. God promises to give us wisdom if we just ask Him in prayer, believing that He will give it.
Sometimes we need to just ask God to give us wisdom to discern His will.
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5)
In Philippians 4:6, God tells us that we should pray about everything.
6. God has given us the Holy Spirit for guidance.
"...when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth..." (John 16:13)
7. We should listen to the advice of godly men and women that God has placed in our lives.
Many times the advice of a parent, pastor, youth minister, Sunday School teacher or other mature person is just what we need to hear to help us decide what God wants us to do.
"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise." (Proverbs 12:15)
"Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established." (Proverbs 15:22)
8. The Bible says that there is a peace that comes when we are pleasing God with our lives.
When deciding between two alternatives that you have been praying about, sometimes one of the options will give you a greater peace. That option is probably God's will.
"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." (Isaiah 32:17)
9. We should trust God in faith that He will accomplish His will in our lives.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 1:6)
10. God has given each of us gifts and abilities to use in His service.
God always equips us to do what he calls us to do. If you aren't gifted in a certain area, God is probably not calling you to minister in that area. (see Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 and Ephesians 4:11-13 for lists of spiritual gifts.)
Remember that God's ultimate purpose for all of us is that He would be glorified (1 Corinthians 10:31) and that the gospel and God's kingdom would be advanced (Genesis 50:20 and Philippians 1:12).
It is very simple really. God's will for your life is IN HIS WORD. Read it! Then APPLY the commands he expects you to follow after IN YOUR LIFE. If you love God you will obey him. That's the hard part. You will fail MANY times. But repent and start over again. After awhile it will become easier. The reason why people don't know the will of God in their life, is because they simply don't take time in their lives to READ their bibles, STUDY it and apply it's instruction in their lives. What will you do with what God tells you today?
william s. correa
New Member
just ask him
