When making life’s decisions, those who pursue the Christian life have a significant edge over nonbelievers. We know that our sovereign God has already prepared the ideal path for us and possesses infallible knowledge of his priorities. This will help us carry out his will. Practically, he states, “This is my will for you.”
So what is the will of God? God has a purpose for every human life that only He can fulfill. A life-changing adventure, an orphanage, a relocation to the jungle, or any mighty works aren’t necessary. Just spend time with him, pay attention to what he says, and seek his wise counsel. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Jesus Christ to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
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What Is The Will Of God?
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “will” as “a choice or determination of one having authority or power.” This means God’s will is not randomly imposed on us but is chosen or intentional. Even before everything was created, God had his will prepared for his creation.
All through history, God has made it clear that he reveals his will to those who seek him with their whole hearts. The written Word of God has several instances of God revealing his will to humanity, including Abraham, Gideon, Noah, Moses, and many more. As Henry Blackaby points out, the pattern was the same in these instances.
It began with his showing up; second, he explained what he was going to accomplish; third, they trusted in God; fourth, they obeyed him; and fifth, they saw God’s will come to fruition. As we pray and read the Bible, we may learn more about God’s will for us and see it manifest in our lives.
2 Types Of God’s Will
The word “will of God” has two distinct meanings in the Bible. There are two possible translations of Romans 12:2, and we must determine which one is being utilized. One of the Bible’s most baffling mysteries is that God has sovereign control over all things. Yet he also disapproves of many of them. This is why comprehending the two meanings of “the will of God” is so critical.
1. God’s Will Of Decree
Let’s examine the texts of Scripture that lead us to this conclusion. Consider the first verses that define “God’s will” as his supreme authority over everything that occurs. How Christ talked of God’s sovereign will at Gethsemane[1] while praying is one of the clearest.
Acts 4:27–28 states: “Truly in this city, there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”
Therefore, the will of God was for his Son to die. This was his strategy and his directive. Jesus bowed and said, “Here’s my request, but you do what is best.” That is precisely what God wants us to understand.
Don’t ignore the crucial element that covers human sins. In the Old Testament, Herod, Pilate, the soldiers, and the Jewish leaders all sinned by carrying out God’s intention for the crucifixion of his Son (Isaiah 53:10). One thing is clear: God wills the occurrence of the things he detests.
Furthermore, when understanding the will of God in the Old Testament, it is revealed that God, in one sense, may be seen as the initiator in the execution of his will, which consequently affects or involves events that make up human history.
2. God’s Will Of Command
The second definition of “the will of God” in the Bible is what we might refer to as his “will of command.” His order is that we carry out his will. This is God’s will, which we can disobey and fail to carry out, unlike the will of decree, which we must carry out whether or not we believe it.
In the New Testament, God warned that people may disobey his revealed command. For instance, Christ declared, “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” (Matthew 7:21). Not everyone follows God’s will.
Paul was called to bring salvation to the Gentiles. He wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:3, “That you avoid sexual immorality is the desire of God for your sanctification.” Here is a very particular example of what God requires of us: sanctification and sexual purity. This is his commanding will. However, many do not comply with the will of God, resulting in sin.
Advantages Of Following God’s Will
Are there any benefits to pursuing God’s purpose in your life? This is a question worth asking, and the solution provided should meet your needs. If you don’t know why you’re seeking the will of God, you won’t be able to find it. Generally, there are four advantages to seeking the revealed will of God found in biblical teaching.
- New perspectives: It helps us see things from a different viewpoint. Instead of making choices based on what we see in this world, we want to consider what God sees. He is omnipotent and omniscient.
- Peace of mind: Most of the time, we don’t want to make difficult choices because we’re afraid of the risks. But when we follow God’s divine will, our hearts and minds are at peace, knowing he is with us. It will be easier for us to make choices in our own lives.
- A relationship with God: God wants to have a personal relationship with us. With this, we can use divine knowledge to make wise judgments. God created us, and when we accept his Son, he resides within us through the Holy Spirit to bring salvation to our souls. This is the will of God.
- Divine protection: The will of God is our best defense against the forces of the devil. With his will, there will be no uncertainty in making judgments. God wants us to rely on him, and in turn, he provides us with divine protection.
- God’s mercy: You will get God’s compassion if you remain steadfast in his love. Mercy is a gift you get even if you don’t deserve it, even though you’ve done all you can to earn it. To know the will of God is to also know the mercy of God.
- Happiness: Happiness is brought to us by God. People who obey God’s will are happy because they spend less time feeling guilty about their choices. Obedience brings a sense of satisfaction. How could one be unhappy in the presence of God?
- God’s best: God’s will for the individual who waits on him has never been heard or seen by anyone since creation, according to Isaiah 64:4. Following God’s plan for your life is not about doing things your own way but rather about waiting for God to provide guidance and direction in your life. To put it another way, if you accept and follow his plan for your life, you will arrive at your destination. Your path would lead to God’s finest.
- Comfort: When everything else fails, recognizing God’s will for our lives provides comfort no matter what the circumstances. His commitments remain unwavering, regardless of the circumstances. As a Christian, you will always be able to find comfort in the presence and will of God.
- Hope: God’s divine will gives us reason to be hopeful. Waiting goes hand in hand with faith and is an unavoidable aspect of the human experience. However, as we wait, we may find comfort and hope in following God’s plan.
- God’s steadfast love: Through the will of God, we are able to get a sense of God’s steadfast love for us. The only way we can be sure of God’s faithfulness is if we know what he says. Moreover, how would we ever see his providence if we didn’t trust him to keep his Word? When we put our faith in God’s plan, we may be certain that he will always provide a way out.
10 Bible Verses About God’s Will
These are ten passages and verses from God’s Word that shed light on his will and how it affects us. We can enjoy these Bible verses, from both the Old Testament and the New Testament, when we feel lost and need assurance regarding the will of God for our lives and the world.
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:18
“And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
— John 6:39–40
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
— Micah 6:8
“For it is God’s will that by doing good deeds, you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.”
— 1 Peter 2:15
“This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
— 1 Timothy 2:3–4
“The people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’ When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.'”
— Acts 21:12–14
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.”
— Galatians 1:3–4
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
— Deuteronomy 29:29
“Why do you not even know what will happen tomorrow? What is your life like? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.'”
— James 4:14–15
“Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.”
— Ephesians 6:6
How To Follow God’s Will In Our Lives?
Christian living involves following God’s will, even if it is entirely different from our own. But are you struggling to find the will of God? God wants you to hear his voice, seek him in the little things, get closer to him because of who he is, and then ask him to reveal his desire for us.
Focus On The Simplicity Of God’s Will Instead Of Making It Complex
Those who seek the will of God can find straightforward instructions in the Bible, which is God’s Word. “Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).
Be thankful, rejoice, and pray. These tasks will put an end to all of our distracting thoughts. When we refocus our attention on the simplicity of God’s desire for us, we no longer feel compelled to make a decision immediately. Our attention shifts from God’s responses to our prayers to how we conduct our lives for him.
Psalm 143:10, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground,” is an example of how we might pray for God to teach us his will. After all, we must do all things according to the will of God.
Be Open To The Possibility That God’s Purpose May Not Make Sense To Us
Some things in this world, especially those that aren’t of God, might seem nice and righteous at first glance. Looking at Paul, we can see how to tell the difference between what is true and what is not. Paul had a rudimentary grasp of what fulfilling God’s will meant, and he claims to have known it was God’s intention that he be an apostle (1 Corinthians 1:1).
Instead of devoting time and energy to what-if scenarios, we might remember that an uncertain conclusion allows God to be exalted in our circumstances. And isn’t that our greatest desire? God works so that we cannot take consolation in our own accomplishments. We do not need to be concerned about how everything will turn out; we simply need to have faith in God.
You need the atonement of Christ for your sins. You need the Holy Spirit to guide you into Christ-glorifying truth and cultivate the humility that embraces the truth. Your spiritual worship is to offer your body as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God.
Remember That God’s Plan Has A Higher Goal In Mind
Ephesians 1:11 informs us that God’s plan has a purpose beyond what we can perceive because he selected us beforehand and orchestrated everything according to his plan. When we demonstrate our readiness to trust God in every circumstance, we join this broader mission.
Conclusion
God is eternally kind to us since he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. As we strive to know his purpose, let us first seek to know God intimately; as a result, our lives will naturally lean toward his will.
Transform yourself by renewing your thoughts. We need fresh thoughts and emotions. Make the tree healthy, and the fruit will be beneficial (Matthew 12:33). That is a very crucial point. God has called you and your fellow believers to this.
“Thy kingdom come; thy will be done, on earth as in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Jesus Christ taught his disciples to pray for God’s sovereign will to be done. By extension, he instructs us to do the same.
Such an Inspiring Read. Certainly, as we strive in this Challenging Earth upon these Reveal Signs of End of Times; it s a Call Upon us to Make that Rightful Choice and Stand in that Faith, so for We Must Stand by our Father in Heaven, the Almighty God. As you Arise for the day, Pray our Lord in Faith, Hopeful by His Love and Strength, He Shall Rain us His Blessings. “Choose whom to serve. As for My Family and I, we shall Serve Our Everlasting Father in Heaven.” (Joshua 24:15/Deuteronomy 06:04-05)