SEEKING GOD’S WILL

 

By Evangeline Unity Esaaba Folson

 

God’s will for a person’s life or a situation/event is His plan or purpose for the individual or situation. The bible tells us in Jeremiah 29 : 11 that

For I know  the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace,  and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

 

From this verse we can say that God’s plan and purpose for His children are good. His plan is to give you peace instead of evil and to take care of you, and not to abandon you. He plans to give you the future you hope for.

 

We are all human, therefore, we cannot predict the future, only God can. Therefore for certain important decisions in our life like choosing a life partner, choosing a career or taking a decision to dedicate your life to God and serve Him in a ministry you need help. For such decisions you would want to know God’s will so that you do not err and make a mess of your life.

 

There are also other situations in our life where would need to know God’s will, like when you are ill or you are barren or you seem to be facing one trial after the other.

 

These are all situations where knowing God’s will help us achieve the best results. What are some of the practical ways in which we can seek God’s will. There are three major steps that have helped me over the years to determine God’s will:

• Pray, Praise and Worship
• Search the word(i.e the bible)
• Ask God for a sign.

 

Pray, Praise and Worship

If you want to know God’s will then you have to talk to Him through prayer

and communicate with Him through praise and worship.

Jeremiah 33:3

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

 

This verse encourages us to pray and GOD will reveal things we do not know to us. For instance you are looking for a life partner, prayer will let God open your eyes to know your friends better and know which one to choose. Or if you are thinking of responding to God’s call to ministry, prayer would help you determine whether you really have a call.

 

You could also be in a situation where you need to choose a career. Prayer would open your eyes to see your strengths and weaknesses and help you know where you can be successful.

 

Praise and worship takes you to the presence of God.

Psalm 22:3

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

 

From this verse we learn that God inhabits the praises of His people. You can praise and worship God by singing Christian songs. Fast ones,  for praises, and slow ones for worship. But sometimes you can sing a praise song slowly like a worship song.

 

Ideally you start with slow songs (worship) and gradually increase the tempo to praise. You end the praise and worship session with slow songs (worship). A time in the presence of God through praise and worship would  lift your spirit and give you several ideas about the situation you are seeking God’s will and help you decide on what to do.

 

Search the Word (Bible)

To search the word successfully you need a bible concordance. It will give you verses for whatever situation you need to know God’s will. For example if you need healing:

Isaiah 53:5

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him: and with His stripes we are healed.

 

You are barren:

Exodus 23:26

There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfill.

When you need to choose a life partner:

Proverbs 31 :10

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.

 

Ephesians 5:25

Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.

 

According to these verses in choosing a wife the key word is “virtue” and the key word for husbands is “ sacrificial love”

 

In times when you seem to be facing one trial or problem after the other read:

Psalm 34:19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

 

After you have found the appropriate word for your situation which can be said to be God’s will for the situation, you can then pray for God’s will for your situation to be fulfilled in your life.

 

2 Timothy 3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

 

This verse confirms that scripture can be applied to every situation in our lives.

 

Ask God for a Sign

There are certain situations for which you need to know God’s will that you cannot find clear cut answers from the bible. For example, how do I know whether to be a doctor or a pharmacist? Or, should I be a man of God full time?

 

For situations like this, you could ask God for a sign like Gideon did in the bible.

Judges 6 :36-38

And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou has said,

Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor, and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry  upon the earth beside, then  I shall know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou has said.

And it was so; for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.

 

Like Gideon if you want to know God’s will in a situation where you do not have a clear cut answer from the word or you want to confirm whether you have made the right choice ask God for a sign.

 

You do not have to use a fleece, develop your own sign which would be suitable for the situation you are dealing with.

 

Conclusion

Matthew 6 ; 10

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

 

This verse is part of the Lord’s prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. I believe that as we seek God’s will for our lives, we should also remember to pray that God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Then, the world would be a better place to live in.

 

 

References

1. Internet Bible
2. King James Bible
3. Oxford English Mini-Dictionary.