How to Know God's Will for Your LifeSample

‘Fully pleasing to him.’ How do you do that?

One of the biggest concerns I had as a young Christian was how to know the will of God. From the age of ten I knew I was called to follow him. But how could I know what he wanted me to do today? This week? This year?

Of course, it was easy with matters that were obviously sinful. They were to be avoided at all costs. But what about issues that were not clear?

I remember really struggling over even trivial matters like which side of the street to walk along. Which route to take when I rode my bike to school. Whether to go to a football match or not? And then agonising afterwards that I might have taken the wrong route or wasted my time after all.

Gradually it dawned on me that keen as I was to do God’s will, God himself was even more keen, if I can put it like that. It was not as though he was working against me—he was working for me. Obviously, it is his will that I do his will. The Bible says, ‘It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure’ (Phil 2:13). And if I made mistakes, didn’t I believe that God was able to fix things up?

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul prays that they may do the things that are pleasing to God (Colossians 1:10). And perhaps most striking of all, Jesus once said, ‘I always do the things that are pleasing to the Father’ (John 8:29).

When I first read this, my heart yearned with a desire to be like Jesus and to please the Father in everything. That was what I longed for. But I remember also thinking, almost in despair, ‘But how in the world do you do that?’

It’s a challenge but it is not impossible.

Over the next few days, we’ll consider God’s promises; how to recognise his voice; the important role of prayer and Scripture; how even mistakes and errors may be part of God’s plan; why suffering is often integral to God’s purpose; guidance through spiritual gifts like prophecy, visions and dreams; direction through circumstances; ‘spreading a fleece;’ having a spirit of wisdom and revelation; and so on.

To make the best of this Bible Plan, it is important to complete all of it—to watch all the videos, to read all the notes, to meditate on the Scriptures, to memorise key texts. Having a day between each section allows time for the material to sink in. Right now, you probably still have many questions (I hope you do). God willing, these will be resolved as we go along.

Knowing and doing God’s will is crucial to effective Christian living.

Let’s pray that it may be so in practice. For all of us.

Note: Scripture quotations in this Plan are from the English Standard Version of the Bible.

What Next?

·Write down questions or problems you may have about this topic. Ask God to use this Bible plan to help you to begin solving them. Record your answers as we go along.

·Memorise (together with the reference) John 8:29b (i.e. the second half of the verse).