Determining God's will

God must have been calling me to Canada, cos life was better here and there were more opportunities.......just kidding, but I wonder how much that enters into those personal calls.a bigger, better church, more money,,nice place........

Cheers,

Jim

 

I wish I could help, but I'm struggling right now in trying to find God's will for my life. I was definitely not content in my old job or at my old location. Some people advised me to learn to love my job, while others suggested that the yearning to leave was a nudging from the Lord. I was frozen in my decision-making for a long time, and I still don't know which was the wisest advice, although I did ultimately decide to leave for new territory. After prayer and reflection, this seemed the most appealing alternative. I guess things will clear up in time, but at the moment I remain confused.

 

Reading this thread I honestly have to say I am amazed at the people who think that 'as long as it doesn't disagree with the Bible' you can do what you want and decide 'for yourself' what to do.

God has used every detail of our lives to help us. Why should he not use every detail of our lives to help others as well? If Christ is truly indwelling us and expressing Himself through us, through His Holy Spirit, then every decision should be put to Him first and foremost.

Christ is the hand working inside the glove of me. It is up to Him how to use me, where to put me, what to do with me.

I'm not sure how to describe either an internal nudge or a nagging -- and both happen. It's not like a voice or actual words. But the message is very, very clear. Nor do I always feel comfortable with it. And that makes sense, because He is God and my ways are NOT His ways! But I have learned to obey.

Sometimes, when confused or unsure, it is best to simply wait. "Waiting on the Lord" is a very real thing, not only in terms of service, but in terms of being still, for He is God.

For me, the most reliable confirmation is my husband. We will pray about something and one of us may get a 'thought' about it during the prayer or after, and then mention it to the other. If the other has the same thought, we know we are hearing from the Lord -- especially if that particular thought had not occurred to us before.

Or one of us will get an idea and sound it out on the other. We will pray about it and just let it sit. God will work in our hearts so that we are in agreement one way or another.

The primary thing is to focus on God. Like Peter walking on the water, just don't lose your focus. That's when mistakes are so easy, because what we think is right often isn't.

It's a different sort of life, following the Lord as completely as possible in every moment, but I am learning. And I am very grateful for the lessons He is giving. Some of my mistakes could have been so incredibly disasterous! And every time, afterwards, I remember thinking something like "I guess maybe that was the Lord's voice in my heart directing me the other way all along..."

I'm learning to listen. I'm learning to obey. Life is much better this way.

 

TomVols, although "Decision Making" is a good one, that isn't the one I was thinking of. I believe it is a very recent publication. I haven't read it, just the review in a journal.

The Scriptures tell us so much. In fact, in many places, the Scriptures declare the will of God. One such is example is the verse that says that sexual purity is his will. Okay, so one doesn't have to pray about sleeping with someone outside of marriage. Easy.

Now, the Scriptures have many commands. I don't ever have to wonder if I should murder someone.

So, if the text tells me what I need to do, and it tells the attitudes to have, and we have sought counsel from parents and the church leadership, then you may do whatever you want within those guidelines.

Remember when Paul had the vision of being in jail? His friends tried to convince him to stay. He didn't hold a prayer meeting. He told them he needed to go.

Prayer is often very subjective and influenced by what we want. There aren't many examples of people praying for "God's will" in their life. Makes you think, doesn't it?

 

James, there are ever so many more decisions to be made than those. Do you think God doesn't care?

 

Those of us who are supporting that the Bible reveals to us the Moral Will of God and that as long as we remain within the revealed Moral Will of God there is freedom in our decision making process are basing our comments on the Scripture.

I am not, I repeat I am not, a charismatic. I do not base my decisions on my feelings (well at least I try not to do so). I want God's best for my life and I want to serve Him with a pure heart and with clean hands.

God can and does speak to us through circumstances, through other Christians (wise counsel), and most importantly through His Word. However, the question is what are we to do when faced with a choice? There is freedom in the Word to make decisions as long as we remain within the revealed Moral Will of God.

Now, will someone who holds that God directs His Will in their life with pin point precision please demonstrate how God reveals His Will to them and back that assertion up with examples from the Scriptures?

[ November 26, 2003, 02:18 AM: Message edited by: Bible-boy ]

 

I am not charismatic either. Nor do I depend on my feelings. However Jesus tells us that if we love Him we will obey Him. He tells us that He will be in us as the Father is in Him. He stated that He did nothing and said nothing not directed by the Father.

Romans 8:28-30 says I am being conformed to the image of Christ.

Therefore, I am learning to listen and to obey.

 

Hello Hellen,

I agree that if we love Jesus we will obey Him. His commands for us are clearly stated in the Bible. That is not in question here. The question is: How do we know God's will for our lives?

Agreed. As believers we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit who proceeds from God the Father and is sent to us by God the Son (Jesus). Now, we need to address the original question of this thread. How does God reveal His Will to us?

Agreed. But how does God communicate His Will to us today?

Again, Agreed. Yet, this does not anwser the original question of this thread either. How do we, as Christians in A.D. 2003, know God's Will for our lives?

Me too!

[ December 04, 2003, 07:07 AM: Message edited by: Bible-boy ]

 

The following is from an old thread dealing with this issue. You can view the entire thread at: Called link.

 

One more of my posts from the Called? thread linked in the post above:

 

With respect to God's will it is essential in the first place that the person is living a consecrated life - Rom 12:1-2. Assuming such is the case the individual should subject his desires to the following disciplines, and means of grace;

1. The Word of God - Psa 119:105, 130

2. Prayer - personal prayer - Acts 9:6, and calling upon others to pray also - Col 1:9

3. Godly counsel - Proverbs 11:14; 12:15, 15:22.
(On this point it must be said that counsellors may have their own agenda in the advice they give, for example, the pastor in this case might well counsel with a view to holding the man he has trained at his present location, whereas the missionary with a heart for his filed may counsel the man to ignore the pastor's advice and follow his heart to the mission field. So it is best to get impartial counsel, if possible, from godly men who have no vested interest whatever).

4. The leading of the Holy Spirit - Acts 13:1-5, Romans 8:14

I personally think this does involves a peace, but a peace on its own is no proof of God's will.

and

5. Circumstances - 1 Cor 16:9

 

I wondered if I should even bring up "the leading of the Holy Spirit". I didn't in hopes that it wouldn't be mentioned the way it was.

Romans 8:14 says that those who are led by the Spirit are the sons of God.

Therefore, the Holy Spirit leads all true believers.

Helen, could you give a specific idea as to what you are talking about that might help in the discussion? I imagine that you are talking about things like a person's job, moving, etc. I might be wrong.

One of the obvious dangers in all of this is for a person to spend time in prayer and come away with an unbiblical solution convinced that God "told" them to do something.

 

No. The context doesn't say a thing about Scripture. That is one of the means the Spirit uses, but isn't what the text is talking about.

 

And, I believe, he stepped out of God's will for His life, because not only did his friends tell him not to go, but Agabus the prophet revealed he ought not to go and the Spirit of God told him not to go.

 

So what? The Spirit of God leads all believers. Are you saying that He leads them, but not into God's will? Sorry Daniel, I don't seem to understand what you are saying. I don't believe that one of my points stands alone, but that all of them present a believer with a compound revelation of God's will for His life.

 

Yes, I was referring to daily life decisions. And it is imperative that any 'feelings' I have be confirmed by my husband and Scripture. Nevertheless, there is a leading by the Holy Spirit in every aspect of my life.

Nor is the point formal prayer. It is much more often, in my busy life, a literal looking up and referencing the whole situation to Him and then holding myself still inside for a bit at least, and staying aware of any 'nudges' or more specific leadings. He is entirely faithful in this regard and I don't need to depend on myself at all -- my feelings or logic or anything else!

Lastly, we may be led by the Holy Spirit, but we are not all known to follow! There are those of the Flock who rather consistently seem to prefer their own way and require discipline over and over again to stay following the Shepherd. That's the way of sheep, which we have been likened to over and over again in Scripture. There is no accident involved in calling us sheep. We are helpless, willful, and often wandering off from the flock and the Shepherd. Still His, but we must be a real pain in the neck to Him sometimes, I think!

Better to stay close and look to Him to guide every step than to try to figure out our own ways, simply counting on the fact that we belong to Him to keep us safe. We will be saved, but safe is staying close to Him always, and watching Him for everything.

 

Helen,

I'm new here and not trying to be smart - but how do you KNOW the source of the "nudges" you mentioned? I know what you are talking about, but have never been sure whether or not to trust nudges and don't have a husband to look to for help.