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God’s Will…What should I do?

Praying for God’s guidance is sensible. We want God’s will to be done in our lives, as when we pray, “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” But how far should we press our desire to seek the Lord’s guidance?

Does God’s will include the number of children I should raise, where I should live, the color of my hair, or which dress I should wear? What is God’s will? Has the Holy Spirit chosen a particular job for me, or the perfect man for me to marry, or the best cancer treatment for me to take? Should I ask Him? Hmm….

Sometimes it is better to find the answers before we ask the questions.

Scripture says quite a bit about God’s will for our salvation, and it’s consistently good news! His will is that we be saved (e.g., Ephesians 1:9-14 and 1 Timothy 2:4). So we already know His will about what will last in heaven, forever.

Regarding God’s will for our life on earth, God’s Word speaks both of freedom and responsibility. For example, regarding a decision as to whether a Christian should eat a meal that might offend her friend, we are told the decision should be made with love for the friend. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men (Romans 14:17-18).

Our Father’s answer from His Word to our questions about His will for us on earth direct us not to think about what is best for us, but what is best for our witness and walk with Jesus.

So God’s answer is not, “Marry this man I have chosen for you.” Rather, God’s response is better summarized with the adage, “Choose your love, then love your choice.”

Certainly, there are better choices than others, for which God has given us brains with a born-again conscience and the conversation of fellow Christians. We do well to heed these gifts! In particular, through the Word, the Holy Spirit transforms our minds so that we are able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2), knowing that what our Father desires for us is a righteous life on earth and an eternal life in heaven.