Predestination and Discovering God's Will

[ElenaP]

I am somewhat struggling trying to figure out how trying to discover God's will for your life falls in line with predestination. I suppose I can understand it in hindsight. But when faced with the choice of actively attempting to pray and search for God's will, versus just waking up and going about your life thinking if it is predestined, it will occur.... I don't get it.

Should one struggle with spiritual matters, trying to find God's will, or just let life flow?

 

[Iconoclast]

I am somewhat struggling trying to figure out how trying to discover God's will for your life falls in line with predestination. I suppose I can understand it in hindsight. But when faced with the choice of actively attempting to pray and search for God's will, versus just waking up and going about your life thinking if it is predestined, it will occur.... I don't get it.

Should one struggle with spiritual matters, trying to find God's will, or just let life flow?

Hello EP
A person finds God's will for their life in the path of obedience...obeying all lawful commandments. In keeping God's word His will unfolds in the normal course of life.
I heard it preached this way;
Providence is a good diary.....but a bad roadmap

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

While predestination is a revealed truth for God's sheep it has to do with us growing in God's grace more than helping us to know what to do.
The apostles would write .... I will come to you, if the Lord will.
They made plans but understood that the plans they made were subject to God's over -ruling providence.

 

[Iconoclast]

Hello EP
A person finds God's will for their life in the path of obedience...obeying all lawful commandments. In keeping God's word His will unfolds in the normal course of life.
I heard it preached this way;
Providence is a good diary.....but a bad roadmap

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

While predestination is a revealed truth for God's sheep it has to do with us growing in God's grace more than helping us to know what to do.
The apostles would write .... I will come to you, if the Lord will.
They made plans but understood that the plans they made were subject to God's over -ruling providence.

Here in Acts 18 is an example;
21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus

 

[ElenaP]

A person finds God's will for their life in the path of obedience...obeying all lawful commandments. In keeping God's word His will unfolds in the normal course of life.

Thanks for this explanation, this makes a lot of sense to me.

They made plans but understood that the plans they made were subject to God's over -ruling providence.

This is the part I struggle with more, as I have made MANY plans in my lifetime that did not come to pass or do not come to fruition, or were radically altered and taken off course, or were thwarted and stopped, so it is at this point in my life I come to ask, what is God's will, just tell me and I will do it, I am tired of my plans, I want to follow God's plans........ but not having much personal direction here, it can at times feel like just drifting....

 

[Iconoclast]

Thanks for this explanation, this makes a lot of sense to me.



This is the part I struggle with more, as I have made MANY plans in my lifetime that did not come to pass or do not come to fruition, or were radically altered and taken off course, or were thwarted and stopped, so it is at this point in my life I come to ask, what is God's will, just tell me and I will do it, I am tired of my plans, I want to follow God's plans........ but not having much personal direction here, it can at times feel like just drifting....

In Romans 13:10....we are told....love is the fulfilling of the law. We are to show the love of God to all people. This means keeping the ten commandments and all they imply.
If you hear anyone say Christians are not to be law keepers you are hearing a false teacher..
As believers we are no longer under the laws penalty,and we do not obey in order to attain salvation.
Once saved God himself places His law in our hearts so we can walk in the obedience of faith.
EP......many people read at least one chapter of proverbs a day to gain scriptural wisdom from what the Spirit gave to Solomon.
In addition to whatever other portions of scripture you read...ie,on the 17th read proverbs 17, on the 18th....18 etc.

 

[robustheologian]

I think is important to understand the aspects of God's will. There's His decretive will...which is also known as His secret will. Then there's His preceptive will...also known as His revealed will. We can't know all of his secret will so that's not what is meant by finding out God's will for your life. However, you can find God's will for your life by reading His Word and being obedient to His precepts and continuing to make Him more and more the Lord of your life. Just be careful not to fall into the trap of legalism...you don't obey Him to get God's grace, you obey Him because you have already been given God's grace.