Good morning. Obeying God and doing His will are important ideas and goals for every Christian. But I wonder if every Christian feels comfortable about knowing what God’s will is at any given moment. Let’s consider a few ways to gain confidence in hearing what God has to say:
1. Quiet time. This is a time set aside to spend between you and your Lord. Time to pray, time to sing, time to read His Word, but perhaps most important in discovering His will is to set aside that quiet time and dedicate it to listening. God tells us in Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God.”
2. Listen with your heart, mind, and soul. God may speak to us through other people, and He often does speak through those we do not expect. But to hear God we need to listen with more than our ears. Psalm 143:8 “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way, for to you I entrust my life.”
3. Always remember that God speaks to us in clarity through His Word. Jesus Christ and the Word of God are His voice and have always been unified in speaking to us. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
4. Pray, and pray some more. Prayer that is personal; prayer that is specific; prayer that is honest; prayer that is expectant of action; prayer that is understood to be two-way communication; prayer that is intimate; prayer that is joyful; prayer that is humble; prayer that is powerful. There are plenty of categories of prayer that apply so it is no wonder that we are commanded to “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
5. When God speaks, believe Him. It may not make perfect sense at that moment, but we need to remember that we are rarely able to know all the details which apply. We see but a portion while He sees it all. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Obeying the will of God is a challenging commitment, and it is impossible without knowing what His will is. Slow down; take the time; open your heart, open your eyes, and ready your ears; let the Creator of all that is speak to you.
Vern