HOW CAN I KNOW IF
I’M IN GOD’S WILL?

Does God have a plan for your life? Yes, He does.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Probably the most often asked question that has plagued believers throughout the ages is, “how do I know if I am in God’s will?” Coming to know the will of God is a continuous process.

Reading and understanding God’s word is first. Then you must act on what you have learned. This brings up other questions like; “how”, “where”, “when” and “why”.

Let’s look at: Psalm 31 to find the answer to these questions.

1) How? - When we yield to God, He will live through us.

“Ps. 31:5 Into Your hand I commit My Spirit…”

2) Where? – Liberty and freedom come when we trust God in His narrow way. Then the narrow way turns into a broad way.

Ps. 31:8 “….You have set my feet in a wide place.”

3) When? – This is at the time one has a relaxed will and is not anxious.

Ps. 31:14, 15 “But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, You are my God.” My times are in Your hand.”

4) Why? Whatever you do, do it for His glory. Are you doing it for concern for others, or for the glory of God? If your heart is right toward God, He will correct your mistakes.

Ps. 31:3 “For you are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name’s sake, lead me and guide me.”

Col. 3:23, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”

The following is a list of ways that you can know the will of God. It certainly is not exclusive nor exhaustive, but a way to gage your own actions, as to whether or not they would be pleasing to God.

(The following denoted with asterisks are those that are most often used in determining God’s will.)

1) I must want to know the will of God. Many times we deceive ourselves as to what is really important to us. Do we really want to know what God’s will is for our lives, even if it doesn’t co-inside with what we want?

In the gospel of John 5:1-15 Jesus, while at the pool of Bethesda, saw a man who had had an infirmity for thirty eight years, who was there with many others, to be healed by the stirred up water in the pool. He was never able to make it to the pool in time. Jesus said to him in verse 6

John 5:6 “Do you want to be made well?”.

In this statement, Jesus’ question is meant to have the man examine himself, for if he remained infirmed he would not have to work, and in addition, people would pity him and do things for him. If you read John 5:1-15 you will know the complete story.

2) I must yield my will to God.

Matt 26:39 “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

3) I must not have predetermined choices. Don’t do what you want first and then tell God what you did as an afterthought.

4) You must have a pure heart before God.

Matt. 5:8 “ Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

“blessed” – The word is an adjective suggesting happy, supremely blessed, a condition in which congratulations are in order. It is a grace word that expresses the special joys and satisfaction granted the person who experiences salvation.

“Pure” - Without blemish, clean, undefiled, pure. The word describes physical cleanliness, ceremonial purity, and ethical purity. Sin pollutes and defiles, but the blood of Jesus washes the stains away.

5) It’s an ongoing process daily, moment by moment, not by big events.

Isa. 28:13 “precept upon precept…line upon line…”

6) The will of God comes through obedience.

John 17:4 “I have glorified You on the earth, I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”

7) **God directs you by His peace.

Col. 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts….”

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you…”

Phil. 4:6,7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Don’t move unless you have God’s peace.

8) **You will be directed by God’s word.

All of Psalm 119 is about God’s Word. Some examples are:

Verse 11, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Verse 50 “…For Your word has given me life.” Verses 89, 90 “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven, Your faithfulness endures to all generations.”

Verse 105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Verse 133 “Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.”

9) You may get a revelation directly from God through His word or in prayer. This is called a “rhema” word. When you are reading His word and it seems to jump off of the page as though He is speaking directly to you…….He is!.

Jer. 33:3 “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.”

10) He directs you through council.

Prov. 11:14 “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”

But be sure that the counsel you get is from seasoned Christians who have proven character.

11) **Fasting and Prayer brings spiritual maturity.

Fasting is a humbling of yourself before God; not letting the flesh have dominion over your being; putting into submission the wants and desires of the flesh, which will enable you to fix your complete focus on God, not allowing anything to come between you and the Lord.

Psalm 35:13 “…I humbled myself with fasting; and my prayer would return to my own heart.”

1. What does God have planned for your life?

2. Complete this scripture: Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your ________.”

3. Complete this scripture: Ps. 31:14, 15 “But as for me, ________, O Lord; I say, You are my God.” My times are in Your hand.”

4. Knowing God’s will comes by big events.

5 On the list of ways to know God’s will, which one says “I must yield my will to God”.

6. Complete this scripture: Phil. 4:6,7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the ________ of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

7. Which number says “You will be directed by God’s word?”

8. What word in the text describes physical cleanliness, ceremonial and ethical purity?

9. Which Psalm focuses on God’s word?

10. Of the categories listed, which one brings spiritual maturity?

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