Knowing God’s will

If we had a diagram that would lead us to God’s will, it would certainly seem simpler for how to pray. We may actually have a conflict of interest in our prayers. We want something. God may have something else in mind. How do we synchronize the two?

An interesting passage of Scripture in Judges 6 talks about Gideon who wanted the assurance of God’s blessing for battle. We get the term, “putting out a fleece” from this text. It is taken from Gideon’s time in seeking God’s will. He wanted the fleece to be dry and the rest of the ground wet. Then he wanted the fleece to be wet and the rest of the ground try. To me, this is an act of disbelief. Also, there are no other scriptures in the Bible that advise us to follow his example of testing God. It is an indication of Gideon being unsure of God and of himself.

Let us look at three people who learn something about God’s will. In Luke 18 we read about a beggar who did not beg for God’s will. Instead, Jesus asked him what he wanted. This man’s faith for God’s will was centered on the person of Jesus being convinced that Jesus was capable. From this example, we can discover that if we are going to operate under God’s will, it must be centered on Jesus. It must be that we are so convinced that God is capable.

The incident of the magician in Acts 8 adds more to our learning. We must view God’s will as his volition and not the result of some magical formula whereby we manipulate God. There is no such thing as wishing or praying hard enough for an answer. When we say it, God hears us. It is more of a matter sincerity the multitude of words. He will respond one way or the other.

Luke 23 offers more guidance when it tells about a king who could not command God’s will. This is highly important because it involves our attitude about God. It also reminds us of our position before God. As his children, we are seeking the benefit from our Heavenly Father. Whatever his answer happens to be, it is out of his wisdom and love for us.

The key to knowing God’s will is to abide in him as mentioned in John 15:7. What does it mean to abide in God? We are void of worldly distractions. We are centered upon his goodness and willingness. To abide in him is the same thing that a child would abide in the home of his earthly father. That child is part of the family, part of an atmosphere of unity. There is a connection between the child and the father like what no other youngster in the community has.

If we are going to pray believing, it must be with the conscious awareness that we have a unique relationship with the creator of all things. It might be true that as you are praying God’s will, it would be wise not to ask for open doors but to know his guidance through closed doors. God gave us a brain to think with. God gave us his Holy Spirit to guide us. Our consideration must be without prejudice or preconceived plan. When we reach a decision, it must be with an awareness that we are seeking a special response that only a believer can process.

Since the requirement to know God’s will is to abide in him, our concentration must be on him and not our request. When we seek him, it must be through humility displayed by accepting whatever answer he delivers to us. This can be hard if the situation is serious. To abide in him is to live inside a divine circle of fellowship. If we are seeking his will by abiding in him, it must be a union of our wills to his will. When things get desperate, how willing are we to remain in the abiding principle, asking in faith yet knowing that his wisdom oversees our desires.

If we really know another person, we also know their preferences which in our case of this discussion is God’s will. We cannot expect ourselves to pray in God’s will if we do not have a closeness to God first. When we pray, it must not only be in subjection to his will. It must be requests that are consistent with the nature and purpose of God, especially if the matter is very serious. Jesus did this when he prayed in the garden. He said, “thy will be done.” We know we are abiding in him when we pray with the attitude that he has the final say and that is okay.