P r a c t i c a l L e s s o n s f o r U n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e Wo r d o f G o d God Will Show You His Will KEY PASSAGE: Jeremiah 29:11-13 | SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE: Psalm 16:11; 119:105 | Proverbs 3:5-6 Matthew 7:7 | Acts 16:9 | Romans 8:28 | Colossians 1:9 | James 1:6-8 | 1 John 5:14-15 SUMMARY: faithful to reveal “the path of life” to those who seek it (Ps. 16:11). God has a plan for you. And He promises to reveal it to you if you genuinely want to know what it is.“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart’” (Jer. 29:11-13). Although this promise was specifically given to Israel, it also applies to anyone who desires to know His will. The Lord’s plans lead to “welfare”— happiness, well-being, and success; not “calamity”—trouble, affliction, and ruin. If necessary, God will move heaven and earth to show us His will. Fully understanding this principle is essential to discovering the Father’s plan and purpose for you. SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES: Why can we trust God to reveal His will? In order for you and me to follow the Lord’s plan for our life, we must know what He has called us to be and do. It would be out of character for God to hide His will and then expect us to walk in it. The Bible also promises His guidance—all we need to do is ask Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” The apostle Paul indicated that it was possible to know the Father’s will (Col. 1:9). The Lord is How can you discover God’s plan for your life? The Bible: People neglect to consider scriptural truth and drift away from God’s will (Ps. 119:105). Trust Him to direct your life (Prov. 3:5-6). ■ Prayer: Ask the Lord for clear guidance. He promises to answer us when we pray according to His will (1 John 5:14-15). ■ Circumstances: For a child of God, there is no such thing as coincidence. And the Father usually does not close a door unless He plans to open a new one. ■ Godly counsel: Before taking advice, make sure the person is living righteously. And don’t ask, “What do you think I should do?” but “What do you think the Word of God says I should do?” ■ ■ Your conscience: It is the moral filter of your life. Saturate it with the Word of God, and your decisions will become more Christlike. ■ Restless spirit: Right before every major life change, I’ve always felt restless. When this happens, get on your knees and ask God, “What are you saying to me?” But only expect Him to show you the next step rather than any long-term plans. Unusual manifestations: The Lord spoke to Moses by calling his attention to a burning bush (Ex. 3:2). Paul saw a vision of a man from Macedonia, asking Him to come and preach to them (Acts 16:9). Especially in important matters, the Lord will sometimes manifest His will in an unusual way. ■ LIFE PRINCIPLES NOTES | LP091122 What are some hindrances to discovering God’s will? ■ Self-will: If you have already made up your mind, it will be difficult for you to hear what the Lord wants you to do. The influence of others: They may give you reasons why you can’t do it or say that God would not expect you to make such a large sacrifice. ■ ■ Ignorance of God’s Word: The next generation knows almost nothing about the Bible. Sunday school is wonderful. But children need to sit in the worship service, too—even if they don’t understand everything. Only by getting in the habit of attending church will they remain involved as adults. Doubt: Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Once you have heard God’s will, don’t start to second-guess it ( James 1:6-8). ■ Unworthiness: Every single believer is loved equally by the Father. Don’t believe the lie that you are undeserving of His guidance or grace. ■ Busyness: All of us have the same amount of time in a day; how we choose to invest it is an indication of what we value. If your life is too full to pray, you need to re-evaluate your priorities. ■ Fear: God’s will can seem impossible, destined to failure, or foolish. But remember that the Lord can bring good out of every situation (Rom. 8:28). ■ Known sin: If you are determined to live a rebellious life, the Father will not fully reveal His will to you. ■ How can you know for sure that you’ve heard Him correctly? Ask yourself these questions: Is it consistent with the Word of God? The answer you hear should line up with the clear teaching of Scripture. Is it a wise decision? Carefully think through the consequences before making a commitment. Can I honestly ask the Lord to help me achieve this? If you are submitted to His will, you can boldly ask for His help. But the same isn’t true regarding your own agenda. Do I have genuine peace about it? Don’t rush to make a decision if you feel unsettled. If you lose an opportunity because you were obedient, God will bring you a better one. Does this decision fit who I am as a follower of Jesus? Does it fit the Lord’s overall plan for my life? The Father has the best planned for you. And finally, will this decision honor God? Unless your choice glorifies Him, it is not His will. A Personal Example During my senior year in college, I really struggled to know God’s will for my life. Had He really called me to preach? So I asked Him for a sign— two falling stars—meteors, really. The next day, as I was walking back from supper with a friend, God answered my prayer. But only later did I realize that the Lord had given me the confirmation I asked for. I fell on my knees and thanked Him for loving me so much. The Father graciously revealed His guidance for my life, and I’m confident He will do the same for you. CONCLUSION: How can you know the will of God? Begin with reading the Bible. Seek His face in prayer, and look for His direction through circumstances. Ask godly believers to help you know how to apply biblical truth. If you have a restless spirit, seek the Lord about what new thing He is doing in your life. And be prepared for God to reveal His will in unusual ways. When you know what He wants you to do, don’t let doubt, fear, or willful sin keep you from obeying Him. Your own plans can’t compare to the good things the Father has in store for you. The wisest thing you can do is to obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. To purchase the message God Will Show You His Will 091122 for these Life Principles Notes on CD or DVD, please visit www.intouchbookstore.org. CONTACT US: 1-800-789-1473 ® LIFE PRINCIPLES NOTES | LP091122 www.intouch.org CUSTOMER CARE: 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. ET | M-F