I am sure most people will like to know the answer to this question. Am I doing what God’s intended with my life? If not, how do I know what the will of God is regarding my life? I will attempt to answer this question and the answer will shock you!
For us to understand what God’s will is in our lives, we first have to understand what is God’s will.
Matthew 7:21 (ESVST)
21 “ Not everyone who says to me, ‘ Lord, Lord, ’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
I am sure if there was any dispute on why we need to know God’s will, this verse above sort of dissolves that doubt. We need to know the will of God because if we don’t know it! we cannot do it, if we cannot do it, well, we will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
So, what is the will of God? God’s will firstly is that you must do God’s will.
John 7:17 (ESVST)
If anyone ‘s will is to do God’ s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.
The very first thing that God wants is that, we must do His will. There is no point in wanting to know God’s will, if we are not going to do it. So, firstly, the will of God is that we must do the will of God. Jesus said that whoever does the will of God, is his brother and sister.
Matthew 12:50 (ESVST)
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Secondly, the will of God is that we must believe in Jesus Christ His Son and our Lord.
John 6:40 (ESVST)
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
John 3:16 (ESVST)
16 “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Thirdly, God’s will is that we must be holy or live a holy life.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (ESVST)
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Paul here explains what he means by sanctification (being holy). He mentioned three things that we must not do, so that we can be holy
1) abstain from sexual immorality
2) we must know how to control our body in holiness and honor i.e not give in to passions of lust
3) not to defraud or take advantage and wrong your brother in sexual related matters e.g. Adultery
Paul says in verse 8,
Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
This is a very serious warning. If you ignore this, you ignore God himself.
Fourthly, God’s will is that we should rejoice, pray without ceasing and give thanks
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESVST)
Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Remember that everything that is in the world belong to and is from God. Whatever you have, it is because God gave you. What you don’t have, it is because God has not given you. So, rejoice or be happy with what you have, what you don’t have and need, pray and ask God for it and when you do receive it, say thanks, when you don’t receive it, say thanks as well because there is a reason why God does not give you what you want. Remember that God said that everything happens for good for a believer and he will never allow you to be tempted beyond what you can handle. This means that you might be looking for R10 000 000 000 but, God may know that if He gives it to you, you will be tempted towards the evil ways of this world. Pray without ceasing does not mean pray for 24/7 nonstop, it simply means pray consistently and not loose heart.
So, either way, be happy, pray without stopping and give thanks.
Fifthly, God’s will is that we must discern His will
Romans 12:2 (ESVST)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Now clearly not everything is covered by the four things that I have mentioned above. This verse attempts to say to you that there are other things that God wills us to do but, for us to know them or to be able to know them, we must renew our minds. That means we must change our mindset. We must change the way we think or see or understands things. Once this is done, we will be able to discern or approve or test or examine what the will of God is. This means we will,be able to tell what is good and acceptable in the eyes of God. This means your mind must line up with the word of God and where there is a conflict, allow the word to change you and don’t try to change the word to suit you.
Look how the amplified version puts it,
Romans 12:2 (AMP)
Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
Sixthly, it is God’s will that we endure the sufferings that comes with being Christians.
1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESVST)
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ ‘s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
Not only must we endure the suffering but, we must also rejoice in the sufferings so that we may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
Now to answer the question, what is the will of God in my life. First of all, when you were born again, you died and were born a new person in Christ. This is what Jesus said
John 6:38 (ESVST)
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
Jesus did not do his will while he was on earth and likewise, when we were born again in him, we lost our own wills and now the only will that we have is that of God. So, the will of God in your life is to do God’s will. Your existence, your very reason for existing, is to do God’s will, nothing more, nothing less. You don’t have a will outside the will of God. If you understand this, then you can pretty much do anything you want. That is the answer, do anything you want. Shocked, I thought so. Enjoy your life and be at peace and at all times, live in the glory of God.