Making Decisions According to God’s Will – 2
Because God is God, He will have no trouble in communicating to us what He wants us to do. Our problem is doing God’s will, not knowing God’s will! We must be willing to do whatever He desires for us, before He will let us know His plan for us.
Note, we are talking about major decisions in our lives, not things like, “What will I have for lunch today?” But rather such decisions as, “Is God calling me into vocational ministry?”
The Lord uses five means to direct us into His will. The first is the Word of God – the Bible. You can expect to have specific biblical passages or Scriptural promises that speak to the decision you are working through.
Obviously, if something is contrary to a direct teaching or command in Scripture, or contrary to God’s character, it is not the will of God (i.e. marrying a non-Christian – see 2 Corinthians 6:14). But God can also speak to us concerning our specific situations through personal promises from the Bible. The Holy Spirit will confirm in your heart that this is God’s promise to you. For more details, see Praying Over God’s Promises.
In Psalm 119:105 (ESV) we read, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” The Word of God is like a small, hand-held, oil lamp that sheds enough light for us to take a few steps, illuminating the path as we move ahead. It’s only enough light for the next few steps, but as we go, we have light for the next few steps. See also Proverbs 6:22-23.
When wrestling with decisions have an expectant attitude as you interact with God’s Word. You may hear Him speaking while in your morning devotions, when listening to a Sunday sermon, or He may bring to mind a passage you have memorized. His direction from the Word will often be multiple passages, not just a singular one. He does not want us confused or mistaking His voice for another’s.
Jesus promises us, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (ESV)
Developing Kingdom Leaders - Tom Yeakley 