I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:2 HCSB
Over the years I have had people ask me, “How can I know God’s will for my life?” That is a hard question to answer, but I have found four ways that help in discerning God’s plan and will for one’s life. If you are faced with an important decision, I would suggest the following:
1. Seek God in prayer and ask for His leadership and for Him to impress upon you what would bring honor and glory to His kingdom.
2. Read God’s Word and ask Him to reveal His will for your life.
3. Seek the wise counsel of Christian friends and family who love you and want only the best for you. They can provide some insights that you may not have perceived or understood.
4. Examine what your instincts tell you to do. If you are in God’s will, you will feel or sense a “rightness” and peace about the situation. You will not experience looming doubts. If you do not feel at peace about your decision, wait for a period of time and revisit the possibility until you have a good feeling about the decision you are making.
If you follow God’s plan and direction for your life, He will bless you and you will be a blessing to others just as God promised to Abram. As you obey and do what God is calling you to do, you will succeed. You may not become famous like Abram, but you can feel confident knowing that you are following God’s plan for your life and He is using you to bless those around you.
Challenge: Seek God’s will in every situation. He wants to be involved in every aspect of your life and give you direction. The next time you have a major decision to make, consider the four steps suggested above.