5 Steps to God's Will
God speaks to us in many ways. He speaks to us from scriptures, sermons, visions, and dreams, and even from life circumstances. The vast majority of the way God has given me instruction is in my thoughts. The tricky part is telling the difference between God’s voice and my own fears or desires.
1 - Set the Stage
If you want God to speak through your thoughts, you should set the stage. Since it is your mind, you are the host, and He is the guest speaker. Have a moment of praise. During this time raise your voice and declare the greatness of God. Quote scriptures that say how faithful and true He is, how powerful He is, how loving and merciful He is, and anything else you can think of about the greatness of God. This moment of praise will reset your mind and spirit to see God as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Throughout the day we digest a lot of negative information motivated by faithlessness. It’s important to regularly remind ourselves of the truth.
2 - Humble Yourself
Once God steps up on stage, so to speak, repentance comes naturally. Take a moment now and humble yourself before the Lord. If you can’t think of anything you’ve done wrong, start by repenting of fear and doubt. You might want to ask for forgiveness for allowing your fleshly nature to take over for a time. Perhaps you acted out in ways that are unbecoming of a Christian. I find that once I get started in repentance, I remember all kinds of things to repent for.
3 - Listen
Now that your faith is high and your ego is low, you are ready to hear the voice of God. Ask Him to speak to you. You can even bring up certain subjects and ask specific questions. Then stop talking. The most important part of listening is to stop talking. Just take a moment to sit in silence and see what God has to say about the thing you're concerned about. He will remove all the drama that is surrounding it and shine a light on what it really is. You will leave there knowing what next steps you need to take.
Create more quiet time in your life and you will hear from God more often. These days we tend to always be using one or more electronic devices. In the car the radio is on, at home the television is on even if it is not being watched. While working out we have earbuds in our ears, and even while going to the restroom we take our phones with us.
My favorite time to listen to the Lord is during jogging. I use to listen to podcasts or audio books while on a run, but now I found that every time I go for a run and listen to God He speaks to me. My wife has gotten so use to me sharing a word from God with her after my runs that now she asks me what did He tell you today? Find what quite time works for you and make it a priority.
4 - Evaluate
Many people think they can’t hear from God. The problem is not hearing from God, it is discerning His voice from other voices. Our Lord speaks to us as a shepherd speaks to his flock. His voice is not one to flee from, but one to follow. The shepherd's words will give you a sense of peace and hope. When thoughts come to me from God they feel differently than when I am under a spiritual attack or wrestling with my own insecurities. Below is a list to help you put thoughts in the correct category.
Not God’s Voice: Hopelessness, Discouragement, Loneliness, Abandonment, Worthlessness, Confusion, Self Consciousness, Anxiety
God’s Voice: Hope, Encouragement, Belonging, Community, Security, Self-worth, Clarity, Confidence, Peace
5 - Wise Counsel
Another way the bible teaches us to know God’s will is to seek wise counsel. God wants us to stay humble enough to take the advice of others. I have helped many people know the will of God for their lives over the years, but from time to time I need help with direction for my own life. Trust the people God has put in your life. Sometimes I am too emotional about a situation to trust my own feelings.
"Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." Proverbs 11:14
Conclusion
Remember that God loves you and He wants you to succeed. I understand how frustrating it can be to discern God's will at times. Often times I have felt like telling God to stop playing games and just tell me what He wants. I realize that what He really wants is for me to know His voice above all else. When feeding the lions, the zoo keepers hide their food throughout the habitat. This keeps the lion's skills sharp plus makes the meal much more enjoyable. Remember God is not out to get you. By making you work to know His will, He is making you better.
“My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me.” John 10:27
Written by - Mike Verdin
