How To Know God's Will For Your Life

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Have you ever found yourself asking what does God
want me to do with my life, orwhat should I do in this
particular situation?
Maybe you've prayed for God togive you a clear answer.
You've searched the Bible orjust felt stuck, waiting for
clarity.
Well, you're not alone.
This is one of the most commonquestions Christians wrestle

(00:21):
with.
Here's the good news God's willisn't some hidden treasure that
we have to find and then dig up.
So in today's episode, we'regoing to explore what Scripture
says about discerning God's willand uncover practical steps
that you can take to walkconfidently in God's plan for
your life.

(00:42):
So let's dive in.
Hi friends.

(01:02):
First let's define what we meanby God's will.
There are three primary aspectsof God's will.
The first one is God'ssovereign will.
This is his ultimate plan forcreation, his control over
everything.
Ephesians 1.11 reminds us thathe works all things according to
the counsel of his will.
Secondly, it's God's moral will.

(01:23):
It's another type of his will.
God's moral will, this is hisdesire for how we live our lives
, and Micah 6.8 says it veryplainly where it says he has
told you, o man, what is goodand what does God require of you
, but to do justice you, but todo justice, to love mercy and to

(01:49):
walk humbly with your God.
The third aspect of God's willis God's specific will.
Now, this is what most of ushave questions about.
What does God want from mepersonally, my job, my
relationships, ministry and more?
But here's a crucial pointministry and more, but here's a

(02:10):
crucial point, god's will isn'talways a mysterious, secret plan
we're waiting to discover.
It starts with what he'salready revealed in his word.
So, to start things off, let'slook at what scripture teaches
us about God's will.
First of all, god's generalwill is clear.
He wants all people to come tosalvation.

(02:30):
That's one thing we know aboutGod.
1 Timothy 2.4 says God desiresall people to be saved and to
come to the knowledge of thetruth.
We also know that he calls usto sanctification.
1 Thessalonians 4.3 says forthis is the will of God your

(02:52):
sanctification.
God wants us to draw closer tohim and to know him more by
seeing our lives becoming moreand more sanctified.
Now, renewing your mind is key.
In Romans 12, 2, it says Do notbe conformed to the pattern of
this world, but be transformedby the renewing of your mind.

(03:16):
Then you will be able to testand approve what God's will is
His good, pleasing and perfectwill.
We also know that God speaksthrough his word.
Psalm 119, 105 reminds us thathis word is a lamp unto our feet

(03:37):
and a light unto our path.
So what does all this mean?
Well, if you want to know God'swill, we have to immerse
ourselves in Scripture.
It's where he reveals His heartand His plan for His people.
Remember, we live in a worldthat is against God.
If we are grounded in the Bibleand God's Word, we will be more

(04:01):
in tune with His will, notinfluenced by the world.
We all know that the world hasheavily influenced the way we
think and what we do and how wefunction in life, so it's so
much more important now thanever.
It's always been important, butI think now more than ever,
because the world we're seeingis just caving in on Christian

(04:23):
values.
We're seeing is just caving inon Christian values, and so to
know God's will and to read hisword is to help us draw closer
to him, so that we understandand know his voice much more
clear.
All right, so now let's getpractical.
Here are four steps to help youdiscern God's will.
First of all, pray for guidance.

(04:46):
Philippians 4, 6, and 7 tellsus to bring everything to God in
prayer.
Specifically, it says do not beanxious about anything, but in
every situation, by prayer andsupplication, with thanksgiving,
present your request to God,and the peace of God, which

(05:06):
transcends all understanding,will guard your hearts and your
minds.
In Christ Jesus, practicallywhen we pray, we're not just
asking for answers, we're askingfor peace and alignment with
his heart.
Again, we go back to knowingGod more, enables us to hear him
more clearly.

(05:27):
Number two seek wise counsel.
Proverbs 15.22 says plans failfor lack of counsel, but with
many advisors they succeed.
We need to surround ourselveswith mature Christians who can
help see clearly when ouremotions and our own personal

(05:47):
desires cloud our judgment.
This is so easy to do.
Again, we live in the world.
We know we're not of the worldbut man.
It's hard sometimes when wehave to follow the world's rules
, in the sense that we have towork and we have to do all these
things.
We have to obey the laws andall those things that God has
ordained others to create.

(06:08):
But all of that needs to besubmissive to God's general will
.
So, again, by reading God'sWord and knowing what he has,
the big picture, has in storefor all of us in the world.
We're going to hear from himmuch more clear.

(06:31):
Three pay attention toopportunities and gifts.
First, peter 4.10 encourages usto use our gifts for God's
glory, and it says each of youshould use whatever gift you
have received to serve others asfaithful stewards of God's
grace is revealed through thedoors he opens or closes, but

(06:58):
again, we need to be veryattentive to his timing and his
direction.
I think a lot of times we putthe blame on others, or even the
enemy, and say you know, I'mbeing blocked from hearing God's
will.
But really that comes back tous and we need to know His voice

(07:19):
.
It says in Scripture too, thatthe sheep will know the
shepherd's voice.
Well, we won't know it if we'renot in tune to God's Word.
If we're not hearing from Himand knowing what he wants from
each of us individually, thenwe're not going to hear His
voice very clearly.
So, being around surroundingourselves with mature Christians

(07:41):
who can guide us, and then alsojust being attentive to
opportunities of doors that openand doors that close.
Number four avoid falsediscernment.
Man, this is a big one.
Sometimes we can convinceourselves that what we want is

(08:02):
what God wants.
Can anybody relate to that?
I know I can.
Isaiah 55, 8, and 9 reminds us.
It says For my thoughts are notyour thoughts, neither are your
ways.
My ways, declares the Lord, asthe heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higherthan your ways and my thoughts

(08:24):
than your thoughts.
This is a really hard one,because we can cherry pick from
Scripture to justify the thingsthat we desire, or we can
misinterpret random signs asconfirmation from God.
But it's so important to trulylisten to God rather than

(08:45):
pursuing what feels easiest ormost convenient.
If we want something bad enoughand we see this in the false
gospel and all types of things Iwon't get into that I could
open up another can of worms.
But if we want something badenough, we can search for
Scripture and find a Scriptureor even just part of a Scripture

(09:09):
that can line up with what wewant, so that it says exactly
what we want it to say.
But in the context of even justa few Scriptures before it, it
completely loses its meaning.
As far as what we're trying tomake it say, we have to know the
Scripture in its whole.

(09:30):
How are we handling uncertainty?
Even when we follow these steps.
We know that there are going tobe times of uncertainty, so how
do we handle that?
I know that I've been in timeswhere I've asked God to show me
the way.
I just earnestly want to knowthe way, and he seems silent.
So how do we deal with that?
Well, first of all, we need tounderstand that waiting is often

(09:53):
a part of God's will.
Isaiah 40, 31 promises butthose who hope in the Lord will
renew their strength, they willsoar on wings like eagles, they
will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not be faint.
Two, we can trust in God'scharacter, not just His plan.

(10:16):
There's a scripture I memorizeda long time ago from Romans
8.28, and that scripturereassures us exactly what we're
talking about.
And it says and we know that inall things God works for the
good of those who love Him, whohave been called according to

(10:36):
his purpose.
If we trust in God, no matterwhat our circumstances, no
matter how long we have to wait,or if we don't hear clearly, we
know that God still has a plan.
We can be assured of that.
We need to rest in hischaracter.
And third, we need to beobedient in the present.

(10:59):
We can get so wrapped up inthings that are going on and
looking for direction that weforget about what's going on
right now.
Luke 16 10 reminds us thatwhoever can be trusted with very
little can also be trusted withmuch, and whoever is dishonest
with very little will also bedishonest with much.

(11:20):
So remember to focus on beingfaithful today, and God will
lead you into his bigger plans.
Finally, god's will for yourlife.
Just remember, it's notsomething you have to strive to
uncover.
Sometimes it seems that way,but it starts with knowing Him,

(11:43):
with trusting His Word and withwalking in obedience to do what
he's already revealed to us.
So let me ask you this what'sone step you'll take today to
align your life with God's will?
Maybe it's spending more timein prayer, seeking wise counsel,
or simply just trusting himwith a decision that you've been

(12:07):
hesitant about.
I know that in the past I havemade wrong choices, assuming
it's God's will, and I've alsowalked through open doors that I
felt very clearly were God.
Sometimes I was right,sometimes I was wrong, but one
thing I also know is that whenwe are seeking God with all of
our hearts, even when we makemistakes, he's there to pick us

(12:31):
up and dust us off and move uson.
Making a wrong choice or wrongdecisions is not the end of the
world.
God knows us better than weknow ourselves.
So be patient with yourself andif you want to know God's will
for your life, grow closer toHim.
Hey, if this video spoke to you,let me know in the comments

(12:52):
below.
Share how you have discernedGod's will in your own life.
I'd love to hear your storiesBefore you go.
Don't forget to subscribe toBehind the Mic Podcast for more
faith-based content like this.
If you're looking for moreencouragement, check out all the
numerous stories and topics onour YouTube channel at Behind

(13:12):
the Mic Podcast.
Thanks for watching andremember God's plan for you is
good.
He's guiding you every step ofthe way.
Take care, and God bless.

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