What is God’s will for your life?
This is a question many Zambian Christians wrestle with, while others may have never seriously considered it. As we explore this topic, I pray you will think deeply about God’s will and how to discover it for your own life.
Some argue that God’s will plays no role in the affairs of life. They believe our existence is simply the result of random chance and an evolutionary process. To these secular humanists, there is no active, involved God, so His will is not something to even consider.
If you are reading this, you likely don’t embrace an atheistic worldview about God’s lack of existence or involvement in the affairs of men. Though you affirm belief in God, it’s possible that, practically speaking, you live as if God’s will rarely has any motivating influence over your daily life.
This dichotomy between professed belief and daily living is illustrated by the major life decisions many Christians make with little regard for God’s will. How many believers have you seen enter into marriage simply because they reached the cultural “marrying age” and found someone available – even if that person held completely different spiritual beliefs or in many cases note even a follower of Jesus Christ?
On multiple occasions, I’ve witnessed serious-minded brothers accept questionable employment simply because a job became available, with no consideration of whether it aligned with God’s will. It’s common for Christians in Zambia to relocate for a career opportunity despite there being no gospel-preaching church in that area for their family.
In these examples, what motivates the Christian is really no different than what drives the secular humanist. A solution to a problem, or need is embraced that contradicts God’s revealed word. Life’s biggest decisions are made based on cultural norms and advice from unbelieving friends and family rather than biblical counsel and determined pursuit of God’s will.
Too often, Christians make major life choices first, then show up to inform church leaders of decisions already made, with no room for prayer or counsel from God’s word. This should concern all who lead the church! We must recognize this problem and intentionally teach about knowing and following God’s will.
How Does a Christian Discover God’s Will?
Discerning God’s will begins by addressing whatever keeps us from wholeheartedly embracing it:
- Being passionate about God’s will requires being regenerated – having a new heart and spirit birthed by the Holy Spirit.
- Unrepentant, unconfessed sin can control our lives, leaving us unable or interested in pursuing God’s desires.
- A heart controlled by selfish desires, rather than surrender to God, will always resist His will.
- Succumbing to spiritual attack – allowing the enemy to dredge up past anger, bitterness, and sin – can prevent us from fixing our eyes on God’s purposes.
- Being consumed by life’s busyness and relationships can crowd out serious consideration of God’s will.
- Fearing human opinions more than what God thinks can paralyze us from obeying His will.
- Separating the “secular” from the “sacred” keeps us from seeing that all of life should be lived on mission with God.
Once we’ve examined our heart posture, we can begin discovering God’s will through diligent pursuit of Him:
- Saturate yourself in Scripture to understand God’s revealed will
- Live daily under the control of the indwelling Holy Spirit
- Obey God’s clear commands, separating from sin and impurity
- Pray for spiritual discernment and watch for God to give you desires aligning with His will
- Seek godly counsel, but don’t depend solely on others’ subjective words
- Observe how God directs through the opening and closing of circumstances
- Confirm His leading by an inexplicable peace and confidence in your heart
Life is indeed filled with big and small decisions about career, relationships, location, and more. As you delight yourself in the Lord through obedience, He promises to direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6). Living in glad surrender to His revealed will postures your heart to receive His continued, specific guidance for every area of life.
This article was edited by claude.ai
Zambia Hunt 
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