God’s Will

God wants to speak to you. He wants to personally guide you, teach you, and comfort you. The Bible is God’s living Word, and it reveals the truth of God to us. The Bible teaches us about a God who is active and present in the life of his people; he does not want you to just collect facts about him. Jesus taught that his followers would know his voice (John 10:27) and that his Spirit would guide us into all truth (John 16:13). Paul said that all of God’s children would be led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14). God wants to personally speak to you.

Knowing God’s will for your life can be intimidating. When theologians talk about the will of God, they are actually speaking of the “three wills” of God. First, there is God’s sovereign will. This refers to his perfect, secret plan that cannot be stopped. Our response to the sovereign will of God must be a deep inner surrender.

Along with his sovereign will, there is also the moral will of God. We are told in the Scripture that it isn’t his will that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), yet some do. It isn’t his will for people to commit murder or lie, yet some do. God’s moral will is often broken by humanity, and ignoring his will comes with consequences. This is why we must learn God’s moral will and, with his help, obey it. 

Lastly, there is God’s unique will. This is his personal plan for you. He cares about every detail in your life as a loving, liberating father does, and he wants to guide you.

Four simple tests can help you avoid confusion when it comes to discerning God’s voice: 

The Doctrine Test. When trying to hear God’s voice, first ask, “What does the Bible teach on this topic? Does my decision align with the teaching of Scripture?” The counsel of a pastor or leader from your church can be helpful here.

The Disciple Test. Next, ask, “Does this decision make me more like Jesus? Does it push me to trust God more? Will it stretch my heart to love him more?”

The DNA Test. Thirdly, ask, “Does this decision seem to fit with how God has been working in my life recently?” You’re looking for clues of the work of God’s providential hand in your life. The more you are aware of his overall guidance, the more clearly you can discern his specific guidance. 

The Dinner Table Test. Lastly, ask, “When I sit down at the table with wise, mature Christians who know me and love me, what do they think of my decision?” Notice it doesn’t ask, “When I sit down with friends who think just like me, what do they say?” Invite mature Christians into your process as you learn to discern God’s voice. 

These four tests will help you build a library of evidence when it comes to knowing and following God’s voice. Over time, like in any relationship, you will become more and more familiar with God’s direction.