Are You Seeking God’s Will For Your Life?

God had all of your days planned out before you were born.  You were not a mistake.  You were born at the right time and the right gender for your purpose.  Some of us spend most of our lives trying to identify “God’s will” for our life; God’s will (perceptive) applies to all believers whereas God’s plan or purpose for your life (decretive will) may differ from someone else’s plan.

(Ephesians 1:11), “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” 

God has a hidden or sovereign will (decretive will) which may not be realized until it comes to pass, and He has a perceptive will (able to understand) that is communicated in the Bible.  Summarized, His perceptive will is for all; that we repent, are spiritual healed, saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (see chart at end of article). It is the plan he outlined before we were born that may be a mystery.  What you may not realize is that you may not ever accomplish God’s specific plan for you unless you allow Him to direct your path.  It is known that that many people do not accomplish God’s perceptive will (for all Christians), or else everyone would have eternal life.

If you are expecting God to reveal your future and show you a road map for your life, expect to be disappointed.  God can and has done this, but He generally does not give us details before it is time.   If you knew every step in His plan there would be no reason to have faith and trust in Him.  You would not seek Him because you would know all the details. He tells us “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

God will prepare you for His plan and it may not be necessarily a gift that you currently walk in.  He will put the right people and circumstances in your life and give you desires in your heart that will line up with the plan.  The decisions made should concur with the wisdom He has given you through the nudging of the Holy Spirit.  If you get off course or make the wrong decision, have faith that He will direct your path.  Other than the prompting of the Holy Spirit (or dreams/vision), He may reveal His plan thorough circumstances, opportunities, mentors/teachers which of course will line up with His word.

• God speaks through circumstances that occur in our lives:
  Nothing happens by chance.  There is always a lesson to be learned when you are going through situations in life. The good times, and the bad all have lessons to learn.  There are times God will cause or allow certain circumstances to take place in your life to get our attention, to prepare or to direct you.  The events He allows, e.g., getting fired from your job, being passed over for a promotion, allowing adversity, are all part of God’s divine plan for your life.   Everything happens for a reason, there are no mistakes or coincidences.When you fight the circumstances, trying to open the door that God closed, you may delay or reject what God has for you.  Take time to pray over circumstances so God will begin to lead you to the right perspective. When you deal with adversity, always ask yourself, and more importantly God, “what lesson He is teaching me”.  There are many people that continue to go through the same circumstances because they never learned anything from them the previous times.  When you learn from the circumstances presented in your life, God is able to promote you to the next level in His plan.

• God speaks through people the Lord has put in your life:All Christians need a spiritual counselor or an accountability person; especially young people.  The Bible speaks to us about the value of wisdom.  Sometimes we need to discuss with grounded Christians the circumstances and opportunities that are put in our path.  If you do not have one, choose a mentor/counselor or accountability person wisely; making sure trust and confidentiality are esteemed.  Keep in mind any advice you receive should not steer away from the word of God.

• God speaks through opportunities or doors that have been opened:God may open doors to opportunities or blessings that you may refuse or reject. Maybe God opens a door for a career opportunity that will prepare you for your next service for the Lord; but when He provides the opportunity you reject it because it did not pay enough.  Or maybe He sends you the perfect mate as your companion for the next step in His plan. He sends the mate, but you reject His choice because the person wasn’t good enough or did not spark the feelings you need to have.  Before dismissing an opportunity, always seek God. It is our job to be in prayer and ask for His guidance so you don’t dismiss the door He has opened for you.

• God’s Will is revealed to us in His word:God will never contradict Himself; He will never speak to us through our circumstances or opportunities in a way that contradicts His word. The Bible should be our first source of information when trying to discern the voice of God.

While the above points are 4 of many ways God speaks to us, it is a waste of time to try to determine God’s sovereign plan for your life before it is time. He does things in order and in His perfect timing. Don’t get discourage when life throws you curve balls.  It is faith and trust that will get you through the storms while you are waiting on God to move in your favor.  Storms have the power to distract and get you off course if you lack trust. While you see and feel the storm in the natural, God is working out your plan in the spiritual.  He will finish what He has started.  “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6 )

So instead of trying to determine your future, start praying for His wisdom and guidance so you will not miss His callings.  When you walk in your calling, it may not be revealed in a manner you expect; but one thing for sure, you will have peace. As He prepares you, live your life trusting Him and living in obedience:

 “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1)