How Can We Know God’s Will?
The question of the day – most every day – for those who desire to follow God. How can I know God’s will? Choices are not always crystal clear no matter how strong our desire to follow God’s plan. The Apostle Paul provides a clue in two of the choices he made.
In Acts 16, Paul planned to go east to Asia but “the Holy Spirit told them not to go into the province of Asia at that time.” So he and his companions “headed for the province of Bithynia” (in the north), “but again the Spirit of Jesus did not let them go.” Then that night, Paul had a vision of a man in Macedonia in Greece (due west), “pleading with him, ‘Come over here and help us.’ So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, for we could only conclude that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.”
Making those choices eventually landed Paul and Silas in jail where they sang worship songs and prayed, survived an earthquake, led the jailer and his family to faith in Jesus, and founded the church at Philippi and others on their second missionary journey.
Later, on his third journey, Paul planned to go to Rome. He was arrested and appeared before the Roman rulers and would have been set free except for his appeal to go to Rome. After several years, he finally set sail, still a prisoner in chains. A storm arose so fierce that the sailors were terrified, but Paul the prisoner reassured them, “But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as He said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”
After the shipwreck, Paul was on the island of Malta where he was bitten by a deadly snake which he shook off into the fire. So deadly was this snake, when he didn’t die, the islanders thought he was a god.
On his second journey, Paul did an about-face twice changing the directions of his travels, but on his third journey, he was resolute to reach his destination of Rome despite storm, shipwreck, snakebite and being a prisoner.
So here’s the question – how did he know? How did Paul know to give up his plans for Asia and Bithynia, while never giving up on Rome despite serious setbacks?
What would I do?
Would I have been willing to quickly abandon my plans because a dream indicated to go another way or would I stubbornly set my jaw and press on against God’s will for what I think I want?
Would I be resolute to journey forth despite storm and hardship or would I give up under the strain thinking something so difficult couldn’t be of God?
Honestly, I can’t say.
What I can conclude is this. Paul didn’t make these decisions according to the emotions he felt on any given day.
He didn’t make a list of pros and cons reasoning out the best plan to follow.
He based his decisions on a lifelong sensitivity to God’s leading.
In prison, he worshipped and prayed. He didn’t decide to develop a prayer life when hardship hit. This godly behavior in tough times came from a life of prayer and worship in the ordinary times.
Want to know God’s will in the difficult times? Get to know His will each day, whether there are big decisions to make or not. Spending time with Him in prayer and praise will increase sensitivity to the Spirit’s leading. There’s simply no shortcut or substitute.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5:12
Do not conform 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. Romans 12:2
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Do you struggle to know God’s will sometimes? How can I best pray for you beloved?
Good insight. It is hard to know what I would do in Paul’s shoes; jail, storms, shipwrecked, snakes…yikes! My mind can very rarely be a big part of deciding what God’s will is because His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts. His will for me is usually the opposite of what I would choose for myself, especially where danger is involved. Paul was set free yet he chose to stay a prisoner and go to Rome. I fear I would have ran the other way…shouting, “I’m free!” I tend to judge things by how I see them, so I ask God to change my fleshly eyes to spiritual eyes so I can see like He sees.You are right that it is a daily walk with Him that leads to knowing His will, and the Holy Spirit that helps to obey it.
Good words…so true!
Charlotte
I have gone down the road of my own will, and was burned by it. Although I am not 100% sure of God’s will for my life, I will follow Him every step of the way, one day at a time.
Awesome thoughts.