As a Christian, sometimes I get confused about my will vs. God’s will.  I think I have wanted some sign: God to whisper in my ear, a billboard on the highway, someone telling me what I should do, or maybe God won’t even allow me to make the choice that isn’t in His will.  Of course, this is all wishful thinking; but I do have the surety of the verse 1 Cor 14:33 which says ”For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.”  I think that this means while God will not write it in the sky, He will provide clarity and peace as I honestly seek to know His will for me.

I think the first step is I need to spend devoted time with Him daily and in His word.  Psalm 119:105 tells me that his word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. He has provided His word as a guidebook for life.  Often I could say that I wonder what God’s will is for me, and if I go look it’s written right there in black and white for me in the Bible. In fact, there are a lot of verses that tell me what God’s general will is for my life…like Micah 6:8 says to do what is right, love mercy and walk humbly with my God and 1 Thess 5:16-18 tells me to rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in every circumstance.  Specifically, I know that He will never ask me to do something that goes against His word.  In addition, I know that the more time I spend with HIm and reading His Word to renew my mind, the better I will get to know His heart, character and desires.

The second thing is to consciously choose to surrender my will to Him daily. If I’m not praying for His will for me, I am usually praying for my will; because unfortunately I have a tendency to think I know best. My will is strong and my desires are often what seem right for me at the moment.  Usually, my will wants the easiest path and avoids hard things.  My heart is tied to outcomes and so if I am not surrendered, I tend to make decisions in my will based on the outcome I can see.  But, if I pray for His will and that I would have the strength and courage to allow His power at work within me to carry it out; I may end up being blessed by something I didn’t even think was possible.  I need to humbly pray and seek His will for my life, instead of my own.

The third thing is to surround myself and seek Godly counsel from people who love Jesus and love me.  What’s hard here is that  there may be people around me who love me but are not followers of Jesus. I need to be sure that those who are guiding me are seeking God themselves and not just sharing their own opinion about what I should do. This is the value of more seasoned believers in my life; who may be able to see where I am blind, or I can’t hear well because of the noise in my own head, or perhaps even where I have formed beliefs that are not centered on God’s word.  I just need to remember those people will always in the end direct me back to God and His will for my life.

Practice for today

Today I will remember that God wants me to know His will for my life, He is not keeping it a secret and He provides paths of peace that will help me to know His will through time in prayer, His word and with other believers.  I will be aware that if I feel confused about what to do or feel an urgent need to act, it is usually my will.  However, if I am honestly seeking Him and surrendering my will; if I feel peace and serenity and I have confidence about the choice I am making, God is most often the one directing me.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.