How to Find God's Will

Colin Melbourne

© 06-08 Born-Again-Christian.info

His Good, Pleasing and Perfect Will

One of the most frequent questions Christians ask is, 'How can I know God's will?'

Many are stuck in a rut of indecision concerning an important choice they have to make.

They pray, fast, and ask God to make His will clear, often seeking their friend's and Pastor's advice, but end up frustrated, locked into circular reasoning.

Typically they plead, 'How can I be sure that it is God, and not just me?'

This article will help you break free from that snare and be released into God's plan for your life.

Sinners are led by Satan, not God

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature... Eph. 2:1-3 Holy Bible NIV

That is why you must be born again, by receiving Christ into your heart, as Lord and Saviour. If you are not genuinely born again, you are still led by Satan and Hell-bound.

Real Christians are led by God's Spirit

When you are born again, you become a righteous child of God by faith in what Jesus has done for you, no longer a sinner, but a saint. (See 1 Jn. Ch. 3, Ro. 3:21-24, 2 Co. 5:17)

God directs His children by His Spirit in their hearts,

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Ro. 8:14

This is the crucial anointing within, the born again sealing we receive from God the moment we repent and receive Christ as Lord. (See 1 Jn. 2:27)

It is the inner witness: God telling our spirit what His will is for us.

Following God's Spirit

Jesus was led by the Spirit, (Lk. 4:1) and so are Christians.

They get into trouble by listening to men instead of God. Learn to recognise the leading of God's Spirit in your heart, and obey Him always.

God does not play games, He doesn't hide from His children, He leads them clearly.

The Spirit of God in your heart will always agree with Scripture as revealed in the New Covenant.

For example; if you think God is telling you it is regrettable but acceptable to kill your enemies, then you know you've been deceived.

Jesus said,

You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemy. Mtt. 5:43-4

Love does no harm. Did Jesus kill His enemies? No, He let them kill Him in order to save them. That's God's will for you too. It never fails.

Be filled with the Spirit

The genuine Acts 2 Baptism in the Holy Spirit is essential for discerning God's leading in your life. The first disciples flailed around in confusion and fear until they received the Pentecostal power baptism. From then on, they knew God's leading intimately, and had the power to prove Jesus is LORD. Get filled, so you can follow His plan for your life.

Know God through His Word

If you are to know God, it will be through His Spirit anointed Word: The Bible read under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

God certainly uses prophecy, interpreted tongues messages, signs, visions, and angels, today, but the only sure foundation is His unchanging Living Word.

We cannot depend simply on impressions, dreams, voices, and visions, we must rely on His Word: The Holy Bible.

We must remain open to God's supernatural leading, but be aware that there's plenty of counterfeit manifestations around. If anything does not check out in Scripture, then you can safely ignore it.

Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! Gal 1:8

Sin makes you deaf to God

When a Christian chooses to sin they break fellowship with God, walk in darkness, and fall into many traps. They stop listening to God, and He allows them to get in a mess to teach them to stick closer in future.

It is no use crying out for God to make plain His will if you are living in sin. First get right with God, and then follow Him, and you will develop your ability to stay in step.

Holiness helps you to hear God

Jesus promised intimacy with God to those who obey Him;

If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Jn. 14:23

The Holy Spirit wrote through John emphasising the importance of the inner witness;

Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us; We know it by the Spirit he gave us. 1 Jn. 3:24

Practice Makes Perfect

Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. Ro. 12:1-2

As we obey God, and live in fellowship with Him, we learn to think like Him, and are better able to discern His leading and how to please Him. It isn't difficult at all.

Two Practical Tips

Sometimes everything is in scriptural order, but you still have difficulty choosing.

Say, for example God wants you to move home, or job, but you are stuck with a choice between two equal alternatives.

Here's a very good way to help you sort out which is God's best.

Prayerfully consider this question with absolute integrity:

Which would I choose myself?

Meaning, if it was entirely your decision, with no other considerations.

The answer is most likely to be from your flesh, not from God's Spirit. So you will know what to do.

Next, make what I call a 'prototype' decision, and see if it 'sits well' in your spirit. By this I mean, in your prayer closet, make a choice as if it were final. Then having made it, examine your spirit and see how it sits.

If it is the right choice you will have a 'velvety rightness' about it in your heart. Your head may be in turmoil, but in your heart it will be peace.

If it is the wrong choice, in your spirit you will be able to sense the wrinkles and burrs. Give yourself time to discern.

Then on the basis of how your 'prototype' decision validated, you will be able to make the actual choice. You'll get better at it with experience.

Finally a warning:

Don't Get Fleeced

Never, ever 'put out a fleece'.

Some Christians pick this practice up from false-teachers following the example of Gideon, who used a fleece of wool to find God's will. (Ju. Ch.6)

It is a very dangerous practice, leaving the door wide open for occult deception. On that occasion God was gracious to dithering Gideon, but remember that was under the Old Covenant.

Christians have something far better than anyone in the Old Testament ever had. We have God's Spirit in our hearts leading us, we don't need fleeces.

God has come, given us free access into the Holy of Holies to approach God boldly through a new and living way. (Heb. 10:19-22)

He wants you to use it!

Here's God's will for all people...