5 Ways to Determine God’s Will

George Muller,  a mighty man of prayer and Director of an orphanage in Bristol, England, said that in determining God’s will, he first endeavored to get his heart into a place that it had no desire of its own in a given matter so that he would be open to God’s will. Next he opened God’s Word and sought the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

At a recent Women’s Connection Bible study that meets every Thursday, 9am – 11am,  a question was put on the floor: How do you determine God’s will?

We were discussing the faith of Abraham in the book of Romans, chapter 4 when this critical query was posed.

John MacArthur, in Found: God’s Will (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1977), 54-55, says that God wants you to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4), filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), set apart for God’s purposes (2 Timothy 2:21), surrendered to Him (James 4:7) and suffering on His behalf (Philippians 1:29). According to John, If these five components are true in your life then God is driving your life.

As a born-again Christian, here are 5 elements that can help you to get to God’s will:

1. Turn to Jesus Christ and God’s Holy Word and ask for wisdom.  Read God’s Word and ask Him to make His will known to you.

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 your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5,6

 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

2. Seek God’s face in prayer and the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Stay prayerful as you ask Him for understanding.

Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near. Isaiah 55:6

3. Ask other Godly, mature Christians to pray with you and listen to what God might be saying through them.

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in abundance of counselors there is victory. Proverbs 11:14b

4. Make sure that what you want to do glorifies God and does not contradict anything He says in Scripture. For example, if a Christian woman wants to know if it’s OK for her to date a non-Christian, you can point her to 2 Corinthians 6:14.

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

5. After prayer and God’s Word, begin watching and listening for God’s answer.  Step out in faith and follow God as He leads.  Your relationship with Him and His pattern in your life will help you in your decisions. Be ready to adjust yourself to God's plans.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8