Guidance Is Promised
In Acts 9:6, the Lord said to Saul, "...Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." Jesus could not have given him a better promise: to tell him what to do.
And God will guide you too. He has a plan for your life. Psalm 37:23 says, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way." In Psalm 32:8, God says, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye." Aren’t those wonderful promises? Guidance is promised in the Word of God. We have a Father above us, controlling all things. We have the Savior beside us, directing our steps. And we have the Spirit within us, impressing our hearts. We can know His will.
Myths about the Will of God
There are six common myths about the will of God that need to be destroyed:
Myth #1: God will give you a roadmap for your life. God's will for you is not a roadmap — it is a relationship. If you stay in a relationship with Him, He will guide you each step of the way.
Myth #2: God is some sort of a celestial kill-joy. There are a lot of people who don't want to know the will of God because they are afraid of what they might find out. But suppose your teenage son says, "Dad, I'm convinced you're a godly man. I've decided, whatever you want me to do, I'll do it." Would you say, "He'll be sorry he ever said that. Let's see how we can make his life miserable?" Of course not! Don't be afraid of the will of God. It's what you would want for yourself if you knew enough to want it.
Myth #3: God only speaks to a certain category of persons. Some believe God has a will for ministers but not for the ordinary person. But God has a particular will for you whether you are a missionary or a secretary — a pastor or a plumber. God has a will for every life.
Myth #4: God hides His will. God does not hide His will from us. God wants to reveal His will. In the truest sense of the word, you don't find the will of God, the will of God finds you when you're walking in the Spirit.
God's Will Made Known
With these myths destroyed, we can recognize some ways God communicates His will:
Miracles — God may speak to you in a vision, a dream, or with an audible voice like He did Saul. But He does not normally guide this way. Since we have the New Testament, and the Bible is completed; these kinds of miracles are not greatly needed today.
His Word — Much of the will of God for your life is found in the Bible. It is sheer arrogance for you to pray, "God show me Your will," when He has already shown it in His Word.
The Spirit of God — Saul received the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17), and the Holy Spirit will lead you also. You need to be sensitive enough to hear the Spirit of God and know the voice of God.
The wisdom of God. Notice Saul preached in the synagogues that Christ is the Son of God (Acts 9:20). Where did he get this wisdom? God gave it to him supernaturally. Knowledge comes by looking around, but wisdom comes by looking up.
His people — When God was speaking to Saul, He used Ananias to confirm His will (Acts 9:15). When God is speaking to you about something, He will often confirm it to somebody else.
Circumstances — God opens and closes doors. And what you think is happenstance is God's plan and God's way to guide you.
The way to know the will of God for the rest of your life is to do the will of God right now — obey what you already know. If you're interested in knowing the will of God in your life, say what the apostle Paul said, "Lord, Who are You, and what do You want me to do?"
