How do I determine God’s will?

Paul said, Colossians 1:9 "So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom."

I. Does God have a plan for my life?

A. GOD’S PROMISE - God has always promised to lead and guide His people.

Proverbs 4:11-12 ¹¹I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. ¹²If you live a life guided by wisdom, you won’t limp or stumble as you run.

B. GOD’S EXAMPLE - In the Old Testament, God led His people by the pillar of fire (by night) and the cloud (by day).

Numbers 9:15-23 ¹⁵The Tabernacle was set up, and on that day the cloud covered it. Then from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle appeared to be a pillar of fire. ¹⁶This was the regular pattern—at night the cloud changed to the appearance of fire. ¹⁷When the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel followed it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel camped. ¹⁸In this way, they traveled at the Lord’s command and stopped wherever he told them to. Then they remained where they were as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. ¹⁹If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed for a long time, just as the Lord commanded. ²⁰Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days. Then at the Lord’s command they would break camp. ²¹Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and moved on the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and followed. ²²Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. ²³So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses.

C. GOD’S HELP - Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to continually dwell with man and be his guide.

John 14:26; 16:13 ²⁶But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative—and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you…¹³When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

D. GOD’S LEADERSHIP - The most common illustration used throughout scripture to depict the certainty of divine guidance is the Shepherd/sheep relationship.

· Psalms 23:1-3 ¹The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. ²He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. ³He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

Isaiah 40:11 ¹¹He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
Ezekiel 34:6, 11-12 ⁶They have wandered through the mountains and hills, across the face of the earth, yet no one has gone to search for them…¹¹“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep. ¹²I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day.
Matthew 9:36 ³⁶He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd.
John 10:14-16 ¹⁴“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, ¹⁵just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice; and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
1 Peter 2:25 ²⁵Once you were wandering like lost sheep. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

E. GOD’S DESIRES - God’s plans for our life are good plans, filled with joy and peace. This joy and peace is not dependent on the circumstances of our life. The children of Israel were in captivity in Babylon when this was written.

· Jer. 29:10b-14a I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. ¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ¹²In those days when you pray, I will listen. ¹³If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. ¹⁴I will be found by you,” says the Lord.

F. GOD’S CONCERN - God cares about what we do. He cares about the details of our life because they are a barometer of the condition of our heart.

· Ps. 139:3 ³You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am.

G. GOD’S PERSISTENCE - God’s plans for us are always for good. Unknown plans can be frightening, but when the plans belong to God, we can rest assured that we can expect something marvelous.

· Ps. 138:8 ⁸The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.

H. GOD’S PERSPECTIVE - God wants to help us follow the path that will be most pleasing to Him, not the path that may be most pleasing to us. However, when we follow Him, we’ll find that His path will turn out to be the most pleasing.

· Ps. 32:8 ⁸The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

I. GOD’S VOICE - God does not want His people to be in bondage about seeking and knowing His will in a matter.

Isaiah 30:21 "and you will hear a voice say, “This is the way; turn around and walk here."

J. GOD’S DETAILS - Our steps are ordered by God.

· Psalms 37:23 The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives.

Proverbs 16:9; 20:24 We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps…How can we understand the road we travel? It is the Lord who directs our steps.
Genesis 24:27 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. “The Lord has been so kind and faithful to Abraham, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.”

K. GOD’S CLARITY - Walking with God is not a guessing game. He wants us to know His will.

Ephesians 5:17 ¹⁷Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do.

· Psalms 32:8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

II. Some Principles to consider:

A. God’s will is holiness.

Eph. 1:4 ⁴Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

B. God’s will is happiness. God wants you to be happy. But our happiness is inextricably tied to obedience.

Jn. 15:9-11 ⁹“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. ¹⁰When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

C. God’s will is hardy. Some people believe that there are 3 circles on the target of God's will. The truly spiritual hit the smaller "perfect will" while the others get the "good" or "acceptable will" of God. However, the truth is that His will is all three. God’s will is a highway, not a tightrope.

Acts 5: 3-4 ³Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. ⁴The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God.”
Romans 14:1-4 ¹Accept Christians who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. ²For instance, one person believes it is all right to eat anything. But another believer who has a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. ³Those who think it is all right to eat anything must not look down on those who won’t. And those who won’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. ⁴Who are you to condemn God’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him tell them whether they are right or wrong. The Lord’s power will help them do as they should.
Romans 12:1-2 ¹And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? ²Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

III. What conditions are necessary to enable us to hear His voice?

A. Fear God.

· Psalms 25:12-14 ¹² Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose. ¹³They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the Promised Land. ¹⁴Friendship with the Lord is reserved for those who fear him. With them he shares the secrets of his covenant.

· Psalms 37:3 ³Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

B. Live holy.

Romans 12:2 ²Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

C. Actively look for God’s will for you.

Proverbs 2:3-8 ³Cry out for insight and understanding. ⁴Search for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure. ⁵Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. ⁶For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. ⁷He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly. He is their shield, protecting those who walk with integrity. ⁸He guards the paths of justice and protects those who are faithful to him.

D. STUDY THE WORD - Let God teach you from his Word.

Isaiah 2:3 ³Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the Temple of the God of Israel. There he will teach us his ways, so that we may obey him.” For in those days the Lord’s teaching and his word will go out from Jerusalem.

E. BE PASSIONATE - Give yourself completely to knowing his will. Seek God’s will passionately, not casually.

Hosea 6:3 ³Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him! Then he will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”

F. Pray - Ask God to reveal his will to you.

James 1:5 ⁵If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.
Proverbs 2:6 ⁶For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
1 John 5:14-15 ¹⁴And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. ¹⁵And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for.

G. LET GO - Sometimes the best way to know God’s will is to let go and let God have his wonderful way. We may learn more about his will for us as we allow him to work out his will in our lives.

Acts 21:14 ¹⁴When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The will of the Lord be done.”

IV. principles of good decision making

A. BE FACTUAL - Make sure you have all the facts. Pay heed to circumstances. God opens and shuts doors to show you the way.

Proverbs 18:13 ¹³What a shame, what folly, to give advice before listening to the facts!

B. BE OPEN - Be open to new ideas.

Proverbs 18:15 ¹⁵Intelligent people are always open to new ideas. In fact, they look for them.

C. PRAY, FAST, MEDITATE - Seek God’s guidance. Spend time in prayer and fasting, and meditation.

1 John 5:14 ¹⁴And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. ¹⁵And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for.

D. SEEK ADVICE - Seek the advice of trusted friends or wise counselors.

Proverbs 12:15 ¹⁵Fools think they need no advice, but the wise listen to others.
Proverbs 15:22 ²²Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many counselors bring success.
Proverbs 27:6 ⁶Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

E. ATTEND CHURCH. First, it’s a command of God. Second, it’s a great source of information. Third, it’s the elders’ job to get you into the Word. Fourth, there will be others there to encourage you to actually DO it.

Proverbs 15:22 ²²Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many counselors bring success.
Proverbs 27:6 ⁶Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

Isaiah 2:3 ³Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the Temple of the God of Israel. There he will teach us his ways, so that we may obey him.” For in those days the Lord’s teaching and his word will go out from Jerusalem.

Hebrews 10:25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this joyfully and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

F. DON’T CONTRADICT GOD - Make sure your decision is not based on values that contradict God’s Word. Search the Scriptures for examples or principles. Knowing the Scriptures and gleaning their wisdom give us more options in our decision making and provide us with the discernment we need to make healthy choices. A right decision is one that is consistent with the principles of truth found in God’s Word. If only one of the options would please God, that is the right decision. If there are several options that are consistent with God’s Word, then rather than the decision itself, the most important thing may be the process of trusting God to help you make the most of the path you choose.

· Psalm 119:98 ⁹⁸Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for your commands are my constant guide.

· Psalm 25:4 ⁴ Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord; point out the right road for me to follow.

G. CHECK YOUR PEACE - Check to make sure you have peace about it. Does something about it keep bugging you? If it is God’s will, He will allow you to be excited or experience nervous anticipation but there will still be an underlying peace. If you are doubtful, are you getting little nagging doubts or a conviction?

Proverbs 16:17 The path of the upright leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.

H. VERIFY IT’S PEACE, NOT COMFORT - We must, however, include the caveat that this peace does not mean there will be no strife. It will be a peace in your heart that you are doing what’s right. Not necessarily peace in your home.

Matthew 10:34-38 ³⁴“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! No, I came to bring a sword. ³⁵I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. ³⁶Your enemies will be right in your own household! ³⁷If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. ³⁸If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. ³⁹If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it.

I. CONSIDER OTHERS - Consider the effect this decision will have on those who depend on you. Will this enable you to better care for your loved ones, contribute to the work of God or help the poor?

Philippians 2:4 ⁴Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.
1 Timothy 5:8 ⁸But those who won’t care for their own relatives, especially those living in the same household, have denied what we believe. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

J. CONSIDER GIFTS, TALENTS, SKILLS - Is this in line with the gifts, skills and talents God has given you?

1 Corinthians 12:7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.
Romans 12:6-8 ⁶God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. ⁷If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. ⁸If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

K. Exercise your mind - God gave you one and He expects you to use it.

Proverbs 1:4-6 ⁴These proverbs will make the simpleminded clever. They will give knowledge and purpose to young people. ⁵Let those who are wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. And let those who understand receive guidance ⁶by exploring the depth of meaning in these proverbs, parables, wise sayings, and riddles.

L. Make a decision! - Hemming and hawing is just as bad as making the wrong decision. Trust God’s grace. Go for it and fix things on the way. If you wait for the perfect opportunity, you’ll be waiting forever.

Joshua 24:15 But if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.
2 Corinthians 6:2 ²For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation.
Colossians 4:5 ⁵Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. (KJV Redeeming the time)

M. OBEY WHAT YOU KNOW - Obey the things you already know He wants you to do.

James 1: 22-25 ²²And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don’t obey, you are only fooling yourself. ²³For if you just listen and don’t obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. ²⁴You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. ²⁵But if you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law—the law that sets you free—and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

V. What are some of the things we know are God’s will for us?

A. SEEK JUSTICE - God’s will is that we seek justice at all times and that we do what is right.

Amos 5:21-24 ²¹“I hate all your show and pretense—the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. ²²I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. ²³Away with your hymns of praise! They are only noise to my ears. I will not listen to your music, no matter how lovely it is. ²⁴Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, a river of righteous living that will never run dry.

B. LOVE OTHERS - God’s will is that we love others.

1 Corinthians 14:1 ¹Let love be your highest goal, but also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives, especially the gift of prophecy.

C. SERVE OTHERS - God’s will is that we serve others, putting them above ourselves.

Mark 10:43-45 ⁴³But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. ⁴⁵For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”

D. OBEY GOD’S LAWS - God’s will is that we obey his laws for living.

Exodus 20:6 ⁶But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations.

E. FOLLOW THE SPIRIT - God’s will is that we live under the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-26 ²²But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. ²⁵If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.

F. SERVE GOD BY SERVING MEN - God’s will is that we do everything as if we were doing it for him. We must also take our neighbor into consideration. We do the will of God while trying not to offend men. That’s the balance He requires.

Proverbs 16:3 ³Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 3:5-6 ⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. ⁶Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 ³¹Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God. ³²Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. ³³That is the plan I follow, too. I try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what I like or what is best for me, but what is best for them so they may be saved.

VI. How can we know the will of God?

A. By the written Word. Does what you’re considering fit into Scripture? If it contradicts Scripture in some way then you know it cannot be God’s will.

· Psalms 43:3 ³Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.

· Psalms 119:105, 133 ¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path…¹³³Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by any evil.

Proverbs 6:20-23 ²⁰My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s teaching. ²¹Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck. ²²Wherever you walk, their counsel can lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up in the morning, they will advise you. ²³For these commands and this teaching are a lamp to light the way ahead of you. The correction of discipline is the way to life.
Hebrews 4:12 ¹²For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are.

B. By the counsel and advice of others. Be sure to discuss your plans with people that you trust; people who are older, wiser, smarter, have experience (especially specialized experience in the field you’re considering.(But not always: Nehemiah 6:12; 1 Kings chapter 13)

Deuteronomy 17:8-9 ⁸“Suppose a case arises in a local court that is too hard for you to decide—for instance, whether someone is guilty of murder or only of manslaughter, or a difficult lawsuit, or a case involving different kinds of assault. Take such cases to the place the Lord your God will choose, ⁹where the Levitical priests and the judge on duty will hear the case and decide what to do.
Proverbs 11:14 ¹⁴Without wise leadership, a nation falls; with many counselors, there is safety.
Proverbs 12:15 ¹⁵Fools think they need no advice, but the wise listen to others.
Proverbs 20:18 ¹⁸Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without the advice of others.
Proverbs 24:6 ⁶So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many counselors.
1 Corinthians 5:12-6:5 ²It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways. ¹³God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”…¹When you have something against another Christian, why do you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter, instead of taking it to other Christians to decide who is right? ²Don’t you know that someday we Christians are going to judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide these little things among yourselves? ³Don’t you realize that we Christians will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disagreements here on earth. ⁴If you have legal disputes about such matters, why do you go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? ⁵I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these arguments?
1 Corinthians 12:8 ⁸To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another he gives the gift of special knowledge.

C. By the Holy Spirit within us.

· Psalm 143:10 ¹⁰Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

John 14:26 ²⁶But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative—and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you.
John 16:13 ¹³When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.
Acts 8:27-29 ²⁷So he did, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. ²⁹The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”
Acts 11:12 ¹²The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry about their being Gentiles. These six brothers here accompanied me, and we soon arrived at the home of the man who had sent for us.
Acts 16:6-8 ⁶Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had told them not to go into the province of Asia at that time. ⁷Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not let them go. ⁸So instead, they went on through Mysia to the city of Troas.
Acts 20:22-24 ²²“And now I am going to Jerusalem, drawn there irresistibly by the Holy Spirit, not knowing what awaits me, ²³except that the Holy Spirit has told me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. ²⁴But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love.
Romans 8:14, 26-27 ¹⁴For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God…²⁶And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. ²⁷And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
Romans 9:1 ¹In the presence of Christ, I speak with utter truthfulness—I do not lie—and my conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm that what I am saying is true.

D. Through prayer.

Genesis 24:12-14 ¹²“O Lord, God of my master,” he prayed. “Give me success and show kindness to my master, Abraham. Help me to accomplish the purpose of my journey. ¹³See, here I am, standing beside this spring, and the young women of the village are coming out to draw water. ¹⁴This is my request. I will ask one of them for a drink. If she says, ‘Yes, certainly, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have appointed as Isaac’s wife. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”
Romans 8:26-27 ²⁶And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. ²⁷And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
Colossians 1:9 ⁹So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom.
Colossians 4:12 ¹²Epaphras, from your city, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident of the whole will of God.
James 1:5-7 ⁵If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. ⁶But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸They can’t make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.

E. THrough clarifying questions. Define your questions carefully. Don’t ask “What God’s will for my life”. Ask “What’s God’s will in this particular instance.” Be specific. Be clear.

Acts 1:24-26 ²⁴Then they all prayed for the right man to be chosen. “O Lord,” they said, “you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen ²⁵as an apostle to replace Judas the traitor in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” ²⁶Then they cast lots, and in this way Matthias was chosen and became an apostle with the other eleven.

F. By our feelings.

1. God puts it in our mind.

· Nehemiah 2:12 ¹²I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us, except the donkey that I myself was riding.

· Nehemiah 7:5 ⁵So my God gave me the idea to call together all the leaders of the city, along with the ordinary citizens, for registration. I had found the genealogical record of those who had first returned to Judah.

2. God gives joy .

· Psalms 37:4 ⁴Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

· Isaiah 55:12 ¹¹It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. ¹²You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!

3. You will feel compelled by the Holy Spirit.

· Jeremiah 31:33 ³³“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

· Ezekiel 36:26-27 ²⁶And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. ²⁷And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command.

· Acts 20:22 ²²“And now I am going to Jerusalem, drawn there irresistibly by the Holy Spirit, not knowing what awaits me,

4. God will guide us by our conscience.

· Romans 9:1 ¹In the presence of Christ, I speak with utter truthfulness—I do not lie—and my conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm that what I am saying is true.

5. There will not be confusion but peace.

· 1 Corinthians 14:33 ³³For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the other churches.

· Philippians 2:13 ¹³For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.

· James 3:17-18 ¹⁷But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere. ¹⁸And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.

6. There will be no doubt.

· James 1:6-8 ⁶But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸They can’t make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.

G. By miraculous means, God will speak miraculously, if necessary.

1. Through dreams and visions.

· Genesis 46:2 ²During the night God spoke to him in a vision. “Jacob! Jacob!” he called. “Here I am,” Jacob replied.

· Job 33:15-17 ¹⁵He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in bed. ¹⁶He whispers in their ear and terrifies them with his warning. ¹⁷He causes them to change their minds; he keeps them from pride.

· Matthew 1:20, 24 ²⁰As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit…²⁴When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded. He brought Mary home to be his wife,

· Matthew 2:12-13, 19-20 ¹²But when it was time to leave, they went home another way, because God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. ¹³After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up and flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to try to kill the child.”…¹⁹When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and told him, ²⁰“Get up and take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.”

· Acts 9:10-12 ¹⁰Now there was a believer^ in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. ¹¹The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you arrive, ask for Saul of Tarsus. He is praying to me right now. ¹²I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him so that he can see again.”

2. With angels or special messengers of God.

3. By a sign or wonder.

· Genesis 24:14 ¹⁴This is my request. I will ask one of them for a drink. If she says, ‘Yes, certainly, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have appointed as Isaac’s wife. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”

4. However, we are not to seek a sign.

· Matthew 12:38-39 ³⁸One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove that you are from God.” ³⁹But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, faithless generation would ask for a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.

· Matthew 16:1-4 ¹One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus’ claims by asking him to show them a miraculous sign from heaven. ²He replied, “You know the saying, ‘red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow, ³red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You are good at reading the weather signs in the sky, but you can’t read the obvious signs of the times! ⁴Only an evil, faithless generation would ask for a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Then Jesus left them and went away.

H. Through circumstances. Ask God to open and close doors for you. If God closes a door (i.e. makes the circumstances seem to be inauspicious) don’t try to force it too much.

Acts 9:23-25 ²³After a while the Jewish leaders decided to kill him. ²⁴But Saul was told about their plot, and that they were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him. ²⁵So during the night, some of the other believers let him down in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.

I. But not always - "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

2 Corinthians 5:7 ⁷That is why we live by believing and not by seeing. ⁸Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.
John 7:17 ²⁹Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.”

VII. Should I put out a “fleece”?

Judges 6:39 ³⁹Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.” ⁴⁰So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.

Note: Gideon’s example is often used by Christians facing a decision. However, great caution must be exercised when putting out a fleece, because it tends to limit the options of a God who has unlimited options available to us.

VIII. How do I know if I’ve made a good decision?

A. IT HONORS GOD - You know you’ve made a good decision when what you’ve decided honors God.

· Psalm 79:9 ⁹ Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the honor of your name. Oh, save us and forgive our sins for the sake of your name.

B. IT PRODUCES THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - You know you’ve made a good decision when the fruits of your decision produce good results.

Galatians 5:22-23 ²²But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.

C. YOU ARE STUDYING AND ACTING ON THE WORD - You will more consistently make good decisions if you are spending consistent time in God’s Word and acting upon its principles.

Hebrews 5:14 ¹⁴Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right.

D. YOU ARE TRUSTING GOD - Even if we don’t always make the best decision, God has the power to make the decision turn out in our best interests.

Romans 8:28 ²⁸And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.