‘For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.’ Philippians 2:13 NKJV
Remember the childhood partygame, Pin the Tail on the Donkey? Winning in that game was a stab-in-the-dark process. And for many of God’s children, determining His will and purpose for their lives can feel pretty similar. But it doesn’t have to. Here are some scriptural steps that take the guesswork out of it.
1) Commit yourself to obeying God’s will. Understanding God’s will is impossible until you commit yourself to actually doing it. Any desire to retain your own will blinds you to His. You don’t need a detailed map; it’s a journey of faith. Be confident that God loves you and wants only the best for you, and that when you submit yourself to Him, ‘And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’ (Romans 12:2 NKJV).
2) Listen for the Shepherd’s voice and trust it. Jesus doesn’t leave you alone to figure out His will for your life. He is our Good Shepherd, and His ‘And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.’ (John 10:3-4 NKJV). Note the words, recognise his voice. With time and experience, you will learn to know when God is speaking to you. Like Abraham, who submitted to God’s will without knowing where he would be led, you’re called to surrender your will without knowing where He will lead you. God promises wisdom, insight, and understanding not just to the spiritually smart but to any person who lacks wisdom (see James 1:5-6). So believe that His wisdom is yours!
SoulFood: Amos 1:1 – 5:17 Mark 9:38-50 Ps 103:1-12 Pro 19:12-16
word4today an adaptation of The Word For Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2023
