Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. – Ephesians 5:17, NKJV
How do you know what God’s will is for your life? The best way to find out is to read His Word. God speaks to us through the Scriptures. My favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11 which says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God has nothing but His utmost good planned for our lives. All we have to do is to trust Him.
He wants all of us to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Our salvation is very important to Him and it is not His will that any one should perish. He wants us to come to know Him and His truth which is His Word. It’s knowledge of His Word which will sanctify us and practicing what it teaches will make us live as He desires us to.
This may not always be possible to do but God wants us to give thanks in all circumstances. Why? It is His will in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Jesus makes it possible for us to give thanks when we’re happy and when we are sad. During the trying and painful circumstances, He is there to comfort us and to impart His peace. We offer thanks because we are not going through these circumstances alone. He is with us. We give thanks to the Father who is our strength in the time of trouble (Psalm 37:39).
It is God’s will that we should be sanctified and avoid sexual immorality. He wants His children to be pure like Him and to not engage in acts that go against what is in His Word. We are to keep to keep ourselves unspotted from the world (James 1:27). We are to be morally unblemished. We cannot be His children and adopt the ways of the world which are contrary to His ways and will.
It is God’s will that by doing good we should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. We do this by obeying the people who have authority in this world. We do this for the Lord. We obey our President or Prime Minister who is the highest authority in the land and the leaders they have put in place. God has put them in place to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. We are to Live as servants of God, showing respect for all people and loving the brothers and sisters of God’s family. We are to respect God, and our honor President or Prime Minister. (1 Peter 2:14, 15). This may also be easier said than done because we don’t agree with the policies of our governments but we are to live in obedience to and harmony with them as long as it doesn’t conflict with the Word of God.
It is God’s will that we act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8). There is so much injustice in the world. People are committing crimes and are not being adequately punished for them. For out part, we are to be just and merciful in our dealings with others. And we are to walk in humility with and in total submission to God who “resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).
God’s will differs from believer to believer but here are four aspects which apply to all believers:
- It is His will that we learn more about Him (Colossians 1:9)
- It is His will that we grow in grace (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
- It is His will that we study His Word (1 Timothy 3:14-17)
- It is His will that we share our faith (Acts 1:8; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9)
I leave you with these words of encouragement: You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised (Hebrews 10:36, NKJV).
Sources: Bible Study Tools; The New Open Bible, pages 456, 457
Notes to Women 