Should I serve on the mission field, or stay in my present job? Should I buy a new car? Should I tell Mark that I will marry him? Which church should I attend?
These are a just a few examples of the many questions Christians will be presented in life. Some decisions are so important that they will affect you and others all through life and even beyond. Other choices are less drastic. Yet, every decision you make has consequences. It is worth remembering, for there is nothing that so glorifies God as seeing His children walking in the truth, making wise decisions and changing their lives to be in tune with His will (2John 1:4). Looking at those giants of Faith in Hebrews 11, we are impressed that every one of them made serious and difficult choices that commended them to God.
How can you know the will of God in every decision that you encounter? How can you know what will best please Him? Some follow the “open door” formula to discern the will of God, while others stress the “inner peace” method. However, many misinterpret those signs to follow their own selfish course anyway. Most people think they are following God’s will. Are they? The list that follows is a series of questions that help to avoid such errors. It is arranged in order of most important to least important. This is a man-made list, so don’t put it in the place of God’s Word. Nevertheless, we have made every attempt to take these points directly from the Scriptures themselves.
Before seeking God’s will in a certain matter you must be already doing His will! God is looking for honest, sincere followers of Christ to bless and to direct, but if Self is on the throne in your life and you are ignoring His Word, well, let not that man think he shall receive anything of the Lord (James 1:7). So before going through the following list, stop and evaluate. Are you doing the full will of the Father according to His divine Word? Is the fruit of the Spirit evident in your life? Are you living in faith, wisdom and humility?
- Which option helps you best glorify God and advance His Kingdom? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God (1Cor 10:31). Never let yourself be involved in anything that might bring shame or disrepute to the name of Christ, whether in manners of action, speech or dress. This point is deeply dependent upon correctly dividing the Word of Truth, of reading and applying the Scriptures to every part of your life.
- Are you free of all selfish motives? Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts (James 4:3). How easily the heart can secretly harbor selfish motives. These will always cloud the choices and make the decision difficult.
- Am you willing to do all that God asks? And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me (Mat 10:38). To discover God’s will, it is absolutely essential to be willing to obey God no matter what He asks, no matter the cost.
- Is the matter in accordance with the universal will of God? Whatsoever is not of faith is sin…Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin (Rom 14:23; James 4:17). God will never ask you to do something contrary to what His Word has already taught, nor will He ask you to disobey a Bible commandment. Recognize this, often the decisions you must make are not between right and wrong, but between good and better. Always choose what best matches the basic principles of the Bible.
- What do the authorities in your life say? Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Heb 13:17). Ask God to speak through your pastors, teachers and parents.
- What makes the best use of your assets and talents? He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much (Luke 16:10). God expects you to make wise use of the talents and possessions that He has given. They are to build His Kingdom, not yours.
- Is this the right moment; is it in God’s timing? Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him (Ps 37:7). Sometimes the answer isn’t yes or no, but “wait awhile.” There are many biblical examples of waiting for the “latter rain” (Hos 6:3). Guard against the error of comparing your life and times with those of other Christians.
- Should I put out a fleece? And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night (Judges 6:39-40). If there are no clear answers to the above questions, it might be appropriate to put out a fleece. Do so with great caution to avoid tempting God. Hearts can easily guard secret prejudices and pre-determined choices. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jer 17:9). If you do put out a fleece, form it such that God can clearly, simply speak. A fleece that would require God to work a miracle in order to show His will is tempting Him. Instead, lay out a simple, unbiased fleece to be sure that God is free to work.
- Is the road ahead clear and open? For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries (1Cor 16:9). God often opens doors and clears the path ahead, but not always. The Devil is in the business of obstruction and if thinks he can discourage you by hindering the path, he will definitely try to do so. Answer the previous questions first, then handle this one with care. We’ve heard many people use this single sign for going and coming – and they never seem to stop that to-and-fro movement.
- Do you have inner peace? And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left (Is 30:21). The Holy Spirit speaks in a still, small voice, often by using the Scriptures. It brings great peace of soul to see you paths confirmed in the teachings of the Bible! On the other hand, the Devil is in the business of taking away peace and he is awfully good at it! It is his most favorite weapon, in my opinion. So be careful with this sign. Looking back at the lives of devout men and women, we are impressed by the difficulties and sadnesses they had to endure. True inner peace comes from doing the will of God.
Conclusion: In discerning the will of God, a pure, honest and sincere heart is essential. It is so easy to think that God is speaking when in fact your heart has secretly decided already, perhaps without you even knowing it. You might see an open door, or feel inner peace, and think, “That’s it!” But wait. Don’t make an important decision without answering the other 8 questions first. When you honestly want to know God’s will, it is then that He really wants to show it to you! Remember, discerning God’s will in a particular matter is important, but the mark of true wisdom is doing His will. The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever (1John 2:17).
Do not think it strange if you are presented with complex, difficult decisions that make the path seem quite cloudy ahead. Expect to be faced with two or three options. God is blessed by wise decisions, so of course He will test you! On the other hand, do not over-charge every situation with the thought that this is a dire, severe choice that will change your life forever. God can make good things happen from bad choices (Rom 8:38). I am convinced that God does not have a pre-planned path for every person to walk, and if you mess up along the way you’ve ruined everything. Rather, life is a constant presentation of choices and paths, and as you go along you are making choices that are either pleasing God displeasing Him. Choose wisely.