THE WILL OF GOD, KNOWING
Background
God has a specific will for the life of each Christian. It should be our highest purpose to determine just what His will is for us and then to do it, whatever the cost.
In order to know the will of God for our lives, we must first know God Himself. We can never know who we are without first knowing whose we are. We learn to know God as we submit more and more to His lordship, are obedient to His Word, and are led by the Holy Spirit. In direct proportion to our knowledge of God and our submission to Him, we experience the joy of walking in His will: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5–6).
Billy Graham writes: "To know the will of God is the highest of all wisdom. Living in the center of God's will puts the stamp of true sincerity upon our service to God. You can be miserable with much if you are out of His will, but you can have peace in your heart with little if you are in the will of God. You can be happy in the midst of suffering if you are in God's will. You can be calm and at peace in the midst of persecution as long as you are in the will of God. The Bible reveals that God has a plan for every life and that if we live in constant fellowship with Him, He will lead us in the fulfillment of this plan."
Helping Strategy
Commend the inquirer for desiring to seek God's highest and best for his or her life. Mention, however, that only the child of God can know His direct or specific will for life. Sometimes the non-Christian will express a desire to know the will of God about an important decision or step in life. Point out that the first step in knowing the will of God is to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Explain "Steps to Peace with God," page 11.
For the Christian seeking to know the will of God, suggest some principles for knowing His will:
1. Advise him or her to make right any conduct or relationships that may