Learning to discern God’s will for your life is one of the most important things you can do as a believer. We can learn about doctrines all we want, but it will be staying in the will of God that must be our first priority. Living right is more important than knowing more.
Better to live one day in the will of God than a thousand going your own way. “For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised” (Hebrews 10:36 AMP).
The greatest threat to discerning God’s will is in listening to our own will. We are experts by our default nature in deceiving ourselves into believing our own voice is from the Lord. We make a decision in our will and then twist the truth ever so cleverly in order to say that it is from the Lord.
You won’t seek God’s will while holding onto your own. “Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes” (Romans 12:2 TPT).
The danger we have is that we won’t use the Word to find the truth but abuse the Word to make it say what we want it to. We will cherry-pick verses and creatively interpret the ones we choose in order that we can get our way. Don’t change the Word, but let it change you.
The truth only hurts when it needs to. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13 NKJV).
We must beware of using logical statements and assuming they prove the will of God. They may all be good points on human terms, but God’s plans run so much deeper. It’s okay to be logical, but don’t ever think your logical reasoning proves the will of God.
The bridge between good intentions and good outcomes is discernment. Some of the worst outcomes grow out of the best of intentions that have not been tested by godly discernment. “Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding… Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:3,5 NKJV).
We fall into a trap when we assume good outcomes prove that we are in the will of God. You may be in His will, but the good outcome does not prove it. God’s will for us is not to make us happy and comfortable all the time. Sometimes, it is the trial that is in His will. Pray to be in His will, not that He would be in yours.
There is nothing that hinders a man or woman from doing God’s work more than being dominated by their own will. “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:19 NKJV).
So many of us make the mistake of discerning the will of God for another person. We will rely upon the resources of our mind and our heart to direct others as if we are God’s messenger. It may be that God will have you give someone a word, but most often, the word is coming from you.
It is far easier to get into the will of God than to get God into your will. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14 NKJV).
The best advice you can give someone is to have them seek the leading of the Lord. Give them things to consider but beware of trying to lead them on your own. Beware of the arrogance of your mind that makes you think you know what’s best for others .
The leading of the Lord is reserved for those who are willing to follow. “For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Romans 8:14 AMP).
The secret to discerning God’s will is not interjecting your own. Where you throw caution to the wind, and regardless of what the answer might be, you ask the Lord to lead you. God’s will might be easy, but will more likely be very hard, but it will be the right thing to do.
Whatever you don’t surrender to God is still in opposition to Him. “Now yield and submit yourself to Him [agree with God and be conformed to His will] and be at peace; in this way [you will prosper and great] good will come to you” (Job 22:21 AMP).
The most important skill you can develop to discern God’s will is patience. The Lord uses patience as the test to see if you really trust Him. Beware microwave Christianity that promotes turbo prayers and instant answers, and, in the process, has nothing of the Lord.
If you don’t wait for the leading of the Lord, who knows where you’ll end up. “From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him” (Isaiah 64:4 ESV).
One of the most beautiful moments in your life will be when you truly are seeking to discern the will of God. It takes away all the anxiety and frustration and replaces it with trust and confidence. All you must do is buckle in, because Christian, it’s going to be a great ride.
The best path to be on is the path that is in the will of God. “The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever” (1 John 2:17 AMP).
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius
Thank you very much, Paul, for sharing your discernment and understanding from our Lover God. Immensely, I appreciate you, my brother, for your Spirit-drenched insight and foresight of the wondrous will of the One Beautiful God, Who sees, surmounts and succeeds the big picture, the grand and glorious and gracious scheme that shall manifest through endless ages of eternity, for our thoroughgoing worship and rapturously complete enjoyment of Himself.
So sorry on my late reply, have been head down wrapping up my latest book. Thank you so much for your kind words! I just love the way you write with such a richness of expression! I pray the Lord is pouring out through your creative passion onto those around you. Blessings to you!
Thank you very much, Paul, for sharing your discernment and understanding from our Lover God. Immensely, I appreciate you, my brother, for your Spirit-drenched insight and foresight of the wondrous will of the One Beautiful God, Who sees, surmounts and succeeds the big picture, the grand and glorious and gracious scheme that shall manifest through endless ages of eternity, for our thoroughgoing worship and rapturously complete enjoyment of Himself.
So sorry on my late reply, have been head down wrapping up my latest book. Thank you so much for your kind words! I just love the way you write with such a richness of expression! I pray the Lord is pouring out through your creative passion onto those around you. Blessings to you!