Finding and Pursuing God’s Will for Your Life

Submit: Present your body as a living sacrifice

Separation: Refuse to be conformed to the world

Transformation: Be changed by renewing of your mind

Discernment: Then you will be able to “prove” (test and approve) what God’s will is

God’s Sovereign Will

Nothing surprises God, He knows all things and His plans will always prevail.

Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:Isaiah 46:9-10

God’s Revealed Will

“We determine God’s revealed will, not by praying about it, but by reading the Bible.“

Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:James 1:19

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.Matthew 22:37-40

God’s Personal Will

“God’s will is fundamentally about moral decisions, and within the moral will of God, believers are free and responsible to make wise choices.”

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.Ephesians 5:15-17

Steps for Discovering and Following God’s Will

Step 1: Come to Christ

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.1 Timothy 2:4

Step 2: Surrender your will

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.Luke 22:42

Step 3: Immerse yourself in Scripture

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.Romans 12:1-2

Step 4: Pray Persistently and specifically

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.James 1:5

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:6-7

Step 5: Obey what you already know

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.John 14:21

Step 6: Examine circumstances with wisdom

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.Ephesians 5:15-17

Step 7: Seek godly counsel

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.Proverbs 11:14

Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.Proverbs 15:22

Step 8: Act in faith

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.Proverbs 3:3-5

Step 9: Trust God

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.Romans 8:28