Every serious Christian desires to know and do the will of God. Paul says in Ephesians 5: “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
1. OUR MOTIVES MUST BE PURE – Luke 11:34; Psalm 40:8
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the single eye and to inspire in your heart one aim alone – the glory of God. “I desire to do your will, my God; your law dominates my thoughts” (Psalm 40:8)
2. OUR WILL MUST BE SURRENDERED – John 5:30; John 7:17; Romans 12:1-2
There can be no secret controversy between your will and God. “Present your bodies a living sacrifice . . . . Don’t be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, that you may prove the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).
3. YOUR FACTS OF THE SITUATION MUST BE CORRECT
Seek information for the mind. Use sanctified common sense in concert with the facts. On rare occasions God may bid us act against our reason. Don’t forget, the wisdom of man is foolishness with God. But these times are exceptions. For the most part, God will speak in the results of deliberate consideration – a careful weighing of the facts.
4. GOD’S WORD MUST BE CONSULTED – Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 3:5-6;
God will never lead you to do anything contrary to his word. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
5. PRAYER MUST BE PARAMOUNT – James 1:5; Acts 1:24, 25
Pray that doors will be shut to anything not in God’s will.
Pray that doors will be opened to that which is God’s will.
Pray that God will give you discernment.
6. WE MUST WAIT FOR THE INWARD WITNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – Isaiah 30:21; Acts 13:2.
God has given the Holy Spirit to indwell us and guide us. “You will hear a word spoken behind you, saying, ‘This is the correct way, walk in it,’ whether you are heading to the right or the left” (Isaiah 30:21)
7. WE MUST WAIT FOR THE UNFOLDING OF GOD’S PLAN THROUGH PROVIDENCE – 2 Corinthians 2:12.
“I came … to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me by the Lord” (2 Corinthians 2:12).
If you want to know the will of God for your life, wait until the Word of God, the inward witness of the Spirit, and outward circumstances focus into one point.
When a speedboat racer was thrown deep into the water, he was dazed. In his confusion, he did not know which way was up. Calmly, he waited until the buoyancy of his life vest began to pull him toward the surface. Then he began swimming.
Our life vest is Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and the wise counsel of other Christians. Swim in that direction and you will be swimming toward the will of God. After all, “the one who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17).