As my family and I prepare for our American Thanksgiving holiday, I tend to reflect more on God’s blessings—where He has brought us, and how. The how is very important, as it shows how we followed Him and His will.
What is God’s will?
I recently heard David Platt give a sermon on finding God’s will. David is a pastor, founder of IMB, and author of several books, including Radical and Counter Culture. His sermon inspired and gave me a lot to think about, and I would like to recap and share some of his points with you.
Finding God’s will is one of the most pressing questions Christians ask. How do we find God’s will for our life? Who we marry? Where we live? What we eat for our next meal?
There are many methods believers use to discover God’s will. Some listen for that still small voice. Others look for an astonishing miracle, like Moses’s burning bush or Paul’s bright light on the road to Damascus. Or they look for the closed and open doors to show them which direction to go next.
Some use what I call the Striking Coincidence method—I recently heard a story of a young man who graduated from law school looking for God’s will in what to do next. He was advised to take an entry-level position at a law firm to see if he liked practicing law in that setting. But he was also considering going into the venture capital business, evaluating the financial end of businesses. One night, he woke up and his clock read 1:11. The next night, he woke up at 2:22. The third night, he woke up at 3:33. He determined that through this, God had revealed finance is where he should work, not law. I personally thought God was telling him to get a better pillow so he could sleep through the night.
I’m partial to the “What does the Bible Say” method. Romans 12:2 (NIV) says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
I was particularly challenged when David Platt said that to align ourselves with His will, we need to walk with God and be in the Word of God so that we are in tune with His voice. The more we are familiar with the Word, the more we will know His voice.
This point reminded me that when I answer my phone, I know within three words if my wife is on the other end. She is the only one who starts the conversation by calling me, “Hey, Honey Bunny.” Not only do I know her voice, but I know her character.
I don’t think God hides His will from us. Our God loves us, and desires us to know His will. He wants us to experience His will in every decision we make. He wants His will to be accomplished through you, through us, so much that He gave us His Spirit and His Word to be a light to our feet. As Psalm 119:105 (NIV) says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
The simple truth: As we walk with God, He directs the details of our lives for the accomplishment of His will and the spreading of His word throughout the world.
Oswald Chambers, evangelist and author of My Utmost for His Highest, used the illustration of walking through the woods as why Christians shouldn’t ask what God’s will is—because the only time you ask for directions is when you’re off the path.
God’s will for PFI and its affiliates is that we share the lifesaving message of the Gospel with prisoners, one of the most unreached groups in the world.
For PFI, God’s will is not complicated. We did not need to find His will for PFI 2.0, because His will was not lost. You are not here by accident. And I am so thankful for you, your passion for this ministry, your work, and to be accomplishing His will alongside you.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6a, NIV).
Article originally published in Prison Fellowship International’s PFI Roundtable.
franklofaro544238983.wordpress.com 