God is a God who communicates and speaks. This should not amaze us. Communication is necessary to any meaningful relationship.
God speaks in four ways. He does so, first and foremost, through His Word, the Bible. God also speaks through His Spirit, people, and circumstances. The latter three are all subject to the scrutiny of His Word.
The most important step in getting to know God’s will is getting to know God. Does He desire to be intimate or distant? Is He patient or intolerant? Is He faithful or inconsistent? One must come to a solid understanding of God. Trust God to expose all your wrong ideas of Him and to replace them with His truth. This is a great spiritual battle in every life (cf. Gen. 3:1-5).
There are three common problems in discerning God’s will. One is there can be a greater interest in God’s will than in God Himself. Guidance comes from building a relationship with the Shepherd and not from an obsession with guidance.
A second common problem comes from having wrong ideas about how God guides. It is not the norm for God to give a clear and sudden direct communication apart from His Word every time one needs to make a decision. While it is wrong to say that God can never give such guidance, it is dangerous to make this the norm.
A third problem comes from the fear that you might miss all the details of God’s itinerary. At a Moody Bible Institute missions conference, George Vemwer said that if you miss plan A, there is plan B. If you miss plan B, there is plan C. If you miss plan C, praise God there is a big alphabet.
We should not limit the graciousness of God or the power of God to bring us back to His best. God can restore the years the locusts have eaten (cf. Joel 2:25). He has pledged and covenanted to guide us and be our God.
Dr. James Packer gave one of the most helpful lectures at a Moody missions conference I have ever heard on the subject of God’s guidance. He noted seven errors to avoid. The first was the unwillingness to think ahead (Deut. 32:28-29). Wisdom dictates to us to think of the long-term consequences of our decisions.
Another error is the unwillingness to take advice (Prov. 12:15). The counsel of those who know us best is valuable in discerning God’s will. We should not overlook the counsel of our parents and pastor. A third error is the unwillingness to suspect oneself. Not every strong urge is a prompting from God (Ps. 139:23-24).
A fourth error is the unwillingness to discount personalities. The advice of a godly person is not automatically to be taken as God’s will (cf. 1 Cor. 16:12). The unwillingness to learn from experiences and past deception is another error to avoid. The unwillingness to wait on the Lord may bring us to some wrong decisions (Ps. 27:14). God sometimes appoints waiting before He is to do something special.
The final error to avoid is the unwillingness to follow the guidance that God has already given (Phil. 3:16). God usually guides one step at a time. God’s guidance is usually given within the frame of present obedience.
It might be well to examine a series of questions phrased in the first person to make them more personal. The believer’s interaction with these questions will help one to discover God’s will.
Has my entire life been presented to God to fulfill His will (Rom. 12:1-2)? Is there any sin that is dulling my ability to listen to His instructions (cf. Ps. 119:105)? Have I a preconceived plan and preference that make me unwilling to discern God’s plan (John 7:17)? Have I a clear conscience about my present obedience to Christ (1 John 1:7, 9)? Am I giving God an opportunity to speak to me daily (Mark 1:35)?
Do I Understand God’s purposes and plans for this present age (cf. Matt. 16:18)? Have I an understanding of my gifts and talents (Rom. 12:6-8)? What are my fears about God’s will (Ps. 34:4; Rom. 12:2)? What doors has God opened up for me (cf. Rev. 3:7)?
One should not be afraid to ask himself, “What are my desires?” God’s will is not unpleasant and oppressive to a believer who is yielded to God (cf. Ps. 37:9). God can put things on your heart and give you a desire and prayer burden for a certain task or a certain people. We need to take time to understand this and not ignore it.
God does allude to a plan of good works that He has for every believer (Pss. 37:23; 39:16; Eph. 2:10). God also knows all about each one of us (Ps. 139:1-6), including how to guide us (Jer. 10:23). God has an interest in every detail of our lives (Matt. 10:29-31; Rom. 8:28).
In the life of Jesus we see a conscious determination to pursue the Father’s will and plan (John 4:32, 34; 6:38). We see the same determination in the Apostle Paul (Acts 20:24). True success in God’s eyes is not competing with others but finding, following, and finishing God’s will (John 17:4; 2 Tim. 4:7).
What do others tell me, and how do they encourage me? It is God’s plan for His people to aid one another in confirming His guidance (Acts 13:1-3).
God’s guidance usually occurs one step at a time. In fact, even God’s call to a specific work can be a process. At a Moody missions conference, Oswald Sanders defined a call as a conviction that grows as you become acquainted with the facts. Sanders noted that it is better to have an experienced guide than a detailed road map. We need to perhaps repent at preferring the latter over the former.
Fear may be the greatest weapon of the enemy in hindering God’s people about God’s will. Much of God’s plan is clear. Many things are declared to be God’s will (Eph. 5:17-18; 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:18; 1 Tim. 2:4). Concentrate on obeying God on the clear points.
God’s will is also very personal. He did not create everyone alike. Peter was more of an initiator. Paul was more of an organizer. Barnabas was more of a facilitator. The emphasis in God’s plan for each of these three men as not the same. Do not fear that God misunderstands you.
It is fitting to conclude with an encouraging definition of God’s will. God’s will is exactly what you would want if you knew all the facts. God bless you as you pursue it (Phil. 3:12-14). God declares it to be good, acceptable, and perfect (Rom. 12:2). May you discover the truth of this.