One of the age old questions of the young and the old concerning life has always been, “What is God’s will for my life?”. There have been many books, blogs, and sermons preached yet the question in many of hearts remains unanswered. Why is this?
I believe it is because it is vague and vague makes us uncomfortable. I don’t know about you but I would love a list of ten ways to find God’s will. The bottom line is that God’s will can’t be found by checking off a to-do list.
How can God’s will be found then? There is an obvious answer that comes to mind, pray. While this is absolutely true, it is still vague. I believe that what is at the root of the most ministers instruction to read the bible and to pray is really them telling us to get back to the basics. Before, a builder can build a house the foundation must be laid.
Honestly, I find myself wanting more words from God telling me a specific action to take rather than living out what has already been given to me in his word. Maybe the reason God stays silent for so long is because we fail to obey his initial commands. His word even tells us over and over again in the gospels that a wicked and adulterous generation looks for signs but none will be given except the sign of Jonah. Instead of looking for more words, maybe it is time to live out what has been given and what has been spoken.
I can’t give a list of ten ways to find God’s will for your life but I can list out principles and directives that are already laid out in his word:
1. Love God
This sounds simple and begs the question of why I would even list this. The reason I put this on the list is because I find myself shamefully forgetting it to often. How in the world can I or anyone else find the will of God for their lives if they are not loving God with everything they have. In fact, ultimately this is the will of God for all of our lives. More than anything he wants us to be in relationship with him. I feel that when we come to him rattling off every question we can think of concerning our lives, he just sits with his hands pressed to his face, shaking his head, saying, “If you only knew I just want to love you right now and I just want you to love me. You’re worried about all the wrong things. If you would come and talk to me my voice would be very clear and you would know me so well that you would know the answer before you could ask it.” If you are struggling with the will of God for your life, start spending time with him. If you look into your heart and honestly don’t desire to then ask him to give you that desire. One of the most powerful prayers I have ever prayed is, “God I want to want you.”
2. Love People
1 John 4:7-8 tells us to love one another because everyone who loves has been born of God but whoever does not love does not know God. John 3:16 tells us that it was because God so loved the world that he sent Jesus to come down and die on the cross for us. God’s will, his desire, his heart cry is people. What consumes the heart and actions of God? People. God’s will is for us to be like him, to care about what he cares about. There is no way to find God’s will if one is not walking in love. One could be the greatest preacher, missionary, teacher, evangelist, or writer but if they are not loving on the people that they are around everyday they are missing the will of God.
What I’m trying to say is that there is that it does not matter what you do if you are not loving God and people it is a one-hundred percent guarantee that you are not in the will of God. On the other hand, if you are pursuing God with all you have and you are loving people there is no way that you can miss the will of God for your life.
Stop worrying and Start loving.
Written By: Danielle O’Neil @danielleoneil.com