How to Discern the Will of God

Do you ever listen to talk radio when taking long driving trips? In my case, I often turn on Christian talk in order to get a little teaching on the road.

However, a program I listened to Thursday night was disturbing. Two men, the Christian radio show host, along with a professor of Theology, were discussing the will of God. The question was: “How do you discern the will of God?” Their answer was surprising.

They concluded God generally does not directly speak to us concerning his will for life situations but that we simply need to move forward and he will work in whatever path we choose.

I have to respectfully disagree.

Their conclusion is not Biblical.

I pray daily for God to direct my path and he does, often times supernaturally. I’ve received clarity on small decisions as well as major life decisions.

Jobs

Attending Seminary

Moves

In each of these cases, God’s will was clear and I proceeded down that road.

When speaking to his people, the Israelites, the Lord said: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21). Gentiles are grafted into God’s holy people so that word is for us as well.

God desires for us to seek him to know his will for our lives.

Psalm 25:4-5 says, “Make me know your ways, O LORD; Teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; For you I wait all the day.”

Sometimes, God delays his direction and asks us to wait for a period of time before we can move forward.

Jesus wants us to follow him. That means listening to his voice to know the way we should travel. “The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice” (John 10:2-3).

This being said, we cannot forget instinct is a God-given gift and can also be used to determine the will of God. We shouldn’t discount it. You may think an idea comes from your mind, but often times, instinct is really the voice of the Holy Spirit directing you.

Isaiah 28 uses a farmer as an example of how God directs through instinctive nature:

“Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say. When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually? Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil? When he has leveled the surface, does he now sow caraway and scatter cumin? Does he not plant wheat in its place, barley in its plot, and spelt in its field? His God instructs him and teaches him the right way” (Isaiah 28:24-26).

Whatever gift or ability God has given you is part of God’s direction. When I made a C in Biology in both high school and college, I knew I was not destined to be a doctor like my father. However, when I excelled in English, Speech and Drama, that narrowed my path to a career in the creative arts. Those gifts were provided by the Lord. Don’t travel into a place that will not utilize your natural abilities. Press into your giftedness because those skills are part of God’s design for your life.

God is still in the business of directing paths. There is only one requirement. We have to spend time with him every day in his Word and in prayer. That’s the navigation starting point, but our supernatural God will then use supernatural means to make his path for our lives clear. We need to expect it. He did it long ago and he still works that way today. He will bless us when we seek his will for our lives.