How Do You Know the Will of God?

God's will is out there somewhere. Yes, perhaps in Chicago...

How do you make an important decision—find God’s will—and act with confidence when your counselors offer conflicting opinions, the data is confusing, and God seems to have lost the marker He uses to write on the wall?

First, when God doesn’t seem to be speaking loud enough for you to hear Him, it doesn’t mean He is a long ways away. On the contrary. The people you speak to softly, those you are quietest around, are the friends closest to your heart. God’s quietness is not distance, disfavor, or indifference. Actually, it is His closeness.

Do you really believe God would let you slip from His care? If He let this happen, He would invalidate His infallible Word.

Second, God’s will is not mystical and hard to find. He is not waiting on you to find His perfect will in order to provide His blessings for you. God is in you wherever you are and provides for you at every point of need. One of the primary jobs assigned to the Holy Spirit is to lead you.

The truth is, God is far more interested in you talking with Him than He is in you acting like some school child taking orders from the teacher. Sometimes God speaks definitively and sometimes He simply discusses options with us. Give God the freedom to speak as He wishes and take Him at His word. He won’t lose track of where you are or fail to supply a genuine need.

Third, you have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). Make a conscious determination to acknowledge—for your own benefit (God already knows)—that you are trusting Jesus. Then consider, contemplate, research—i.e. use your mind—and then make your decision.

Your decision is not going to ruin God’s day. Neither is your decision going to separate you from God. He is in you! It is not possible to miss Him when you are trusting Him.

Fourth, God won’t force Himself on you, neither will He act for you. He gave you the ability to make decisions. You are secure in Him and you are filled with the Holy Spirit. Nothing can separate you from Him. You have every reason to be confident in Christ Jesus. Act! Trust Him. Consider the circumstances and counsel before you, then follow through with your decision.

What you decide to do about all that is facing you is not the issue. Trusting your Heavenly Father is the critical factor.

Seizing every opportunity to serve those close to you is your responsibility. Accepting the circumstances of life with the confidence that is yours in Christ is your privilege. Reflecting Jesus to others is your testimony. Relying on the Holy Spirit is your strength. Preparing as God leads you is wisdom. Inaction is your undoing. Passivity is failure.