5 Steps to Know God’s Will - What the Bible SaysSample

Step 1: Read the Bible

In life, you will be faced with situations where you just don’t know the best choice to make. And yet, time rolls on and you need to make a decision.

At times like those, you might wish that God would just tell you what to do, what the right choice is, and how that fits into the bigger plan. A nice idea, but it just doesn’t work that way. Or does it?

God has already given you a text with some 700,000+ words explaining Himself, His will and direction for your life, and some history besides. It’s called the BIBLE. Therefore, a sensible first step to finding God’s will is to dig into his Word to see what He has to say for you and your situation.

There are many ways to read the Bible, and how you read it is up to you. Here are some ideas to get you going.

Read the Bible to meet your specific need

Sometimes, you want God’s guidance for a specific situation. For this, try writing down what you need. Underline the important words and search the Bible for these words. Read before and after the verses you find to gain some context and jot down what is being said. Keep digging and summarizing until you see a pattern or gain clarity. Then pray, asking for wisdom and guidance.

Read to follow up what you’ve heard

At other times, you may have heard a Bible reference at church, on the radio, or in conversation. These verses may be a gift to you from God, so make a mental note. Later, look up these verses and see what God is saying. You already browse the web for news and more, so why not the Bible also? Once God has your attention, why not “click through” to read more?

Read to gain perspective and insight

Often, people follow a plan to read the whole Bible, a specific book or section of the Bible. Reading bigger “chunks” of the Bible gives perspective and insight you might otherwise miss. If you’ve never read the entire Bible, find a reading plan that interests you and get started. No need to finish within a year – what’s important is that you progress through all of God’s Word to broaden your perspective and deepen your understanding – for all of life.

The true purpose of Bible reading

The real reason for reading the Bible is to provide a foundation for a deeper relationship with God – one in which you grow closer to Him and ingrain His will into your daily life. To that end, there are many different ways to read the Bible. As long as you’re digging into it in a way that fits for you, it’s already good!

Reflection / Application

1. The Bible is God’s message to you. Have you ever read the whole thing? How would that / did that benefit you?
2. Without a search objective or reading goal, Bible reading can be difficult. Try writing out something that you want God to help you with and then take time over the next week(s) to search out various passages from the Bible that relate to this.
3. Next time a Bible verse catches your attention – whether from church, a study plan, or in-person discussion, make note of it and dig in to read more around that verse or topic.