How To Know God's Will
Many Christians are afraid to make decisions in fear that their choices won't line up with the will of God for their lives. They become paralyzed when confronted with a choice and many times would rather not make a decision at all. The truth is, as Christ-Ones, we should enjoy making decisions. Choosing is how we live by faith in that we decide to be receptive to what Christ is doing in our lives in any given moment, which is how we experience an intimate relationship with Him. So, choosing is one of God's gifts to us in the freedom that we have in Him. The anxiety we often experience when having to make a choice, especially when the choice has the possibility to produce dire consequences, is due to Christians looking outside of themselves for the right choice to make.
We all want to know God's will for our lives, but often we don't realized that the motivation in seeking God‘s will is self-centered. Think about the question...
“What is the will of God for ME?”
We need to come to understand that God's will doesn’t really have much to do with us! It is God's will. We must first, discern what God is doing in our lives and second, choose to participate with Him. His will focuses on His purpose for our lives. HE is the will of God for us. HE is the dynamic of His own desires. You and I know His will by the revelation He gives us. It is only Him who can let us know what is that good, well pleasing and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 indicates that in order to prove the perfect will of God, we need the transformation that comes from the renewing of our mind. A renewed mind is required in order receive a revelation from God. The revelation of God's heart toward us automatically imparts the ability to prove the will of God. Without a revelation, a major pursuit of trying to figure out the will of God will ensue. We will be looking for 'signs', expecting God to speak to us in dreams, or be eagerly waiting for an 'open door' to confirm the decision we should make. This is not to say that the Lord does not use various means to reveal His will to us, but many times we are seeking something outside of ourselves when we should be focused on our spiritual union with Christ as the bases for every decision we make.
It’s often asked, "But how do I discern God's will?"
Be careful not to complicate the situation by overthinking it. Indecisive searching is often self-centered. On the surface it might appear to be more spiritual to seek God's leading than to just go ahead and do the obvious thing. For example, if God gives you a watch, are you honoring Him more by continuing to ask Him what time it is or by simply consulting the watch He has provided you? The choice, many times, is right in front of you.
The following quote from A.W. Tozer beautifully expounds upon this idea...
Except for those things that are specifically commanded or forbidden in the Scriptures, it is God's will that we be free to exercise our own intelligent choice. In almost everything that touches our everyday life on earth, God is pleased when we are pleased. He wills that we be free as birds to soar and sing our Maker's praise without anxiety. God's choice for us may not be only one, but rather one of a score of possible choices. The man or woman who is wholly and joyously surrendered to Christ can't make a wrong choice -- any choice will be the right one.”
A.W. Tozer - HIS Magazine
Tozer echoed this thought from St. Augustine, who stated, "Love God and do what you want."
The will of God requires us to make decisions and decision-making is a faith choice. Faith is our response to what God has done and is doing. Faith is a decision we make to allow for the receptivity of God's activity. A decision of faith is a decision of obedience (Rom. 1:5; 16:26) and that, Beloved, is the will of God for you. So, go and enjoy making decisions in the freedom of His will and you will experience life as God intended.
