How Can I Know God’s Will for My Life?

“I am convinced that nothing in this world happens outside the will of God—literally nothing. There are no failures, and there are no loose ends in the ultimate plan of God.” Do you agree or disagree with that statement? Why?

Someone correctly said, “God is too kind to do anything cruel . . . Too wise to make a mistake, . . . too deep to explain Himself. When we know the Who we can stop asking, 'Why?’”

The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:27-28, “He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Those who “love God” are “those who are called according to His purposes.” God causes everything to work for the good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purposes. That is Paul’s deep personal conviction. Mere “things” do not work together for good or evil. “And we know” in all our suffering and pain God is working out His great eternal purpose. No matter what the circumstances in our lives that purpose will not be overthrown, and it culminates in final glory to God.

Paul’s focus is on our eternal sovereign God at work, not some “evolutionary optimism.”

Let’s be quite honest all things from our limited human perspective do not always seem in the moment of crisis to be turning out for our good. At least, we don’t in the pain and emotion feel that way. From our limited knowledge bad things do happen to Christians, and at times it seems that evil is winning.

However, when we get God into the picture the “final good,” or “true good,” is “good” for those who “love God and are called according to His purposes.”

Those who have responded to the “effectual call” of the Gospel of Jesus Christ can look back over events leading to their putting their faith in Christ and see God’s hand in it all.

Often we go into the presence of God to pray and we do not have the slightest idea what to pray for, but we do know that we will grow in His grace and the knowledge of Him as the Holy Spirit works in us to accomplish His will. The Holy Spirit is interceding on our behalf that God's perfect will be done.

In discovering and doing the will of God it is most important that we seek to become Christlike in all that we do. Our ultimate goal is to be conformed to the image and likeness of Christ.

I am convinced that is the perfect will of God. We do not need to know all the details, but to walk by faith in Christ knowing the Holy Spirit is guiding and leading us that God's will is done. Is that not the thrust of what Paul is saying in the context of these verses? In the face of difficult circumstances ask God for wisdom (Jas. 1:5) because “God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” We have the assurance, “Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of light, with whom there is no variation, or shifting of shadow” (v. 17).

The Holy Spirit “intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” He knows what the will of God is, and “He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purposes” (v. 26-28).

The Holy Spirit is praying for you and me right now in these areas according to the sovereign and efficacious will of God. I can be quite confident of that, and even quite bold, knowing that His sovereign will and purposes will be accomplished in my life. “And we know” says the apostle.

He gives us wisdom and He is praying for us that we will obey Him. We need to make wise decisions based on His leading. Make yourself available to Him.

God orders the events in our lives according to His sovereign plan to conform us to the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. Every choice we make in life should be around that central purpose in our lives. Is the person you are dating causing you to become more like Jesus Christ in your thinking, behavior and attitudes? Does your vocation or profession open doors for you to share Jesus Christ with lost sinners?

I am often asked, “Does God want me to marry this person?” My response is will that person be used of God to conform you to the likeness of Jesus Christ? God does have a perfect plan for your life, and He will keep bringing people and circumstances into your life to knock off the rough edges of your personality and fashion and shape you into His likeness. I am convinced that in the sovereign love and wisdom of God He causes all things to “converge upon and contribute to that goal.” Even many of the evil things that come into our lives He uses in His wisdom and grace to work for our good and His glory. God will not allow even one single thing to work evil to the people of God (Romans 8:28-37). Do I have my mind and heart set on God’s determinate and eternal purpose? Then I can not go wrong because I am involved in something that will still be worthwhile a million years from now.

Selah!

Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006