Through our lives, we are given the option and choice of paths to follow. Many of these paths are ones that we take the pen and orchestrate, craft, or push to attempt to make what we would like to occur, but even the most thorough of plans often will fall apart, leaving you disappointed, frustrated, or desiring more than the life you have written. The alternative path is following the Will of the Lord. What this means is coming before the Lord and allowing Him to author your life, believing what He has in store is part of something far more significant than yourself, and there is goodness to experience. The question then arises, how can I know God’s Will for my life?

1. Get Your Heart Correct Before God

It is an honor to stand before the Lord in prayer. He is the Creator of all that is, all that was, and all that will be, and yet He still wants us. He still opens the door of invitation to us to come before Him and invites us to know Him through intimate relationship with Him. When we come before God, we must enter His presence with the respect and reverence He deserves. Hebrews 10:19-22 explains it as, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” When we draw near to Him with genuine hearts, confess our sins, and earnestly desire to be with Him, then we can stand before Him to be in a place to receive understanding. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), but fear in this context means holding Him in the honor that He is indeed the Highest God and that He is worthy of all praise and worthy of our obedience forward.

2. Lay Aside Your Motives

Standing before the Lord to come into receiving what He has for us also requires us to set aside our own ambitions, motives, and guesses of what He is going to say. This is easier said than done, for often, we come expecting a specific answer. God is not a magic eight ball with a few predetermined answers; instead, He is Lord of infinite knowledge, understanding, and truth. Don’t put words in God’s mouth, and don’t get ahead of Him in what He gives through direction. Humbly come before Him knowing what He gives you next is what you need to know in this very moment. Recall the words of Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” God can answer in a moment what people may never understand in a lifetime of their own searching.

3. Journaling, Listening Prayer, Walking with God

Romans 8:26 explains that even our tears are prayers to God. The Holy Spirit can translate into words of prayer what we may not be able to articulate in our sighs of pain. In the same way, God can translate revelations, understanding, and messages in a way that resonates with us in a very specific way. Whether journaling with God in prayer, contemplative listening prayer, or even a walk in the woods is what brings you closest to God, glean from what He brings you in your set aside time with Him. It is important to keep good records of what you hear from the Lord or what is explained to you through metaphor, for example. As much as we would like to think that we will always recall such things, we often forget. Having it written down will serve later as reminders of what God promised you, what you’re walking towards, and as proof of testimony of how His Word came to pass.

4. Test the Spirits

In this world, there is an enemy who seeks to hinder the plans of God, to confuse us, and to thwart the will of the Lord, and because of this, it is vital and imperative to test the spirits. If you feel that you have received instruction or a message connecting to God’s will for your life, it is your duty to test that word. 1 John 4:1 explains it as such, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.” 

You can test the Words in a few simple ways to start. First, the word must be in alignment with the Word of the Lord. It will never be counter to the truth found in the Bible. The Word of the Lord through revelation will never contradict the Word of the Lord in the Bible. Second, ask the Lord to help you know His voice of truth solidly and to give you discernment of any false voices. God’s voice, though at times may cause us to be stunned, will always be met by the peace of the Lord and a discerned knowing within of what is truth. Consider John 10:10, “my sheep know My voice.” Do not be led astray by things you know deep down are not of the One True God. Lastly, don’t hesitate to call in Godly allies for support. Together, you can seek what is of the voice of truth over your life.

5. Godly Allies

Partnering with Godly allies is a great asset to your walk with the Lord in seeking to understand the Will of God in your life. These people will not only claim to be Christians, but it will be evident of the fruit of their lives that they are living a life surrendered and honoring to God. Jesus offered in Matthew 7 that you will know His followers by their fruit, and that stands true. Are those around you harvesting fruits of the Spirit such as kindness, gentleness, and love? Inviting those you know to be God’s children to pray with you can also serve as a place of confirmation or further seeking what God has laid before you. Partner with those who partner with God.

Next Steps

God’s will over your life is always the best course. It may require sacrifice, it may require giving up on dreams you once had, and it may require a drastically different plan than you would have written, but it will always prove best in the end. Let us hold firmly to the truth of Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” We must also know that God will answer the prayer when we ask to know His Will for our lives. It may take time, but He will answer, and it will prove a walk where you come to know your Creator personally, which is the most extraordinary gift life could offer. Believe the words of Isaiah 50:4, “The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will.” The Lord has a plan for your life, trust that His Will is available for you to know and to live out abundantly.