Well, you don’t always do the will of God. God’s will is used in the bible in 2 distinct ways.

First, like in Matthew 26:39…

“And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me;nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Another great text is Acts 4:27-28. “for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”

God’s will is His sovereign plan, in which everything he has decreed will come to be without fail. In this sense no matter what you are doing it is in fact in God’s will because it is in fact happening within God’s sovereignty, because nothing can happen outside of his sovereignty! 

Second, God’s will is seen as His Moral or Commanded Will. 

Looking at 1 John 2:17, it says “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

Or in Matthews 7:21 where Christ says “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

So what is His commanded will? His commands. Jesus answered “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12). In fact, Paul recognizes this same truth – he says in Romans 13:9 “For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

So, are you doing the will of God? Well, are you loving God as he commands? Are you loving others as Christ said to? Is your decision, action, or interest rooted in this love? Does your decision, action or interest move you closer to these things, or father away? Are you loving God and people more in this? Or less?

Okay, So will God give me a sign or something so I know I am doing the right thing?

Romans 12:2 says “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”

Discern means to detect with the eyes or other senses. 

This is not saying you will see or know what will happen tomorrow (the sovereign will), but instead you will be able to see or know what he has commanded. The world says how we should act, and what we should do. Your corrupt mind and flesh have some pretty strong opinions on what is right and or wrong. But only God’s (commanded) will is good and acceptable and perfect. As a follower of Christ your an incomplete transformation, your mind is actively being renewed. This verse has two implications; don’t be like the world, trust the process.

I like discern in this verse. It’s very fleshy. Paraphrased, I would say “Don’t let the world change you, let Christ change you from the inside out, so even your flesh knows how to follow God”

So a sign? No. That’s prophecy. In certain rare circumstances, God gives individuals dreams, visions and divine interventions via the angelic host. But far more common His means of communicating are through His Word. Does this mean if I read scripture, it will clearly tell me what to do in my circumstance? Simple, No.

God’s word renews your mind, it’s essential for your transformation. It keeps you unconfirmed and uncorrupted by the world. In this state, even your flesh knows what is right or wrong…. How much more could your spirit know?

Let’s say you have a big decision. Naturally, you first ask “should I do this”? Recognize that this very moment, this decision point, has been carefully carved into existence within the sovereign will of God by the God who shaped and knows every atom in this universe. You wouldn’t even be presented with this opportunity, or circumstance, or challenge if it weren’t for God. He’s already decided and decreed the outcome. Every detail. Your Yes or No. It’s done in His hand. This is why we are to be anxious about nothing and instead we should pray, ask, and be thankful (Phillipians 4:6). 

So we pray. “God thank you for this opportunity. Thank you for your control in this situation. Please keep me far from anxiety and fear. If this makes me love you more, or helps me love others more, may your will be done. Show me how I follow your commands in every part of this decision or situation. Whether it comes to be, or not.”

Shouldn’t I have Peace?

Many people think that if the decision is right, they should have peace. Afterall Colossians 3:15 says “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

But let’s look at some biblical examples.

Noah did everything God commanded him. Was he not afraid? 

Abraham was distressed to send out Hagar and Ishmael. Hagar cried as she thought he would die. Abraham walked Isaac to sacrifice him. They had no peace.

Esther was deeply distressed and scared for her own safety. But she did what she understood to be the will of God. To love others, and save lives. To put herself second. She had no peace.

Jesus wept before the crucifixion. But he know this was the will (command) of God and the sovereign will of God. This was loving God with everything, and loving his neighbor as himself. Yet he had no peace.

So should we have peace? No. We should have obedience. Does the missionary risking everything have peace or obedience? Does the muslim convert have peace or obedience? Do you have peace when you witness? 

As Piper writes “..when Paul says in Romans 12:14, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them,” he does not mean that this command is optional when you happen not to have peace about it. The explicit commands of Scripture are to be obeyed. Yes, ideally with a heart of great peace and great calm. But in the absence of that peace, we should confess our sinful anxiety and obey anyway.”

So how do I make a God glorifying decision?

Most of our decisions are automatic – we breath, we sleep, we do this or that. Go here, go there. Say hi to that person, don’t say anything to that one. God’s sovereign Will is working around us, and we don’t second guess any of it in the moment. Maybe we regret something, like “i shouldn’t have done that” or “I should have…”. But your single decision did not throw Gods soverign will off the tracks. Instead, we should ask did I act out of obedience or not? If I did, then we must pray that the spirit will overcome the temptation of the flesh to doubt it! If we did not obey, then simply this is an opportunity to repent and grow spiritually.  

But now maybe something a little bigger comes up and we have to respond. We are put in a yes or no situation. Should I take this job, buy this house, do this ministry, or make this change to my family (adoption, or new child)? 

The Big Decisions – Step 1: Self Check – How am I doing spiritually? 

Do I have unrepentant sin? Psalm 32:3-4 “For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah” Our sins, and more so our guilt often un motivate us to come to God. We must repent and turn to him!

Is my heart divided? Psalm 86:11 reads “Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name”

Sometimes a divided heart is pictured as serving two masters. Or being of this world. Often we can see where our heart is when we look at how we spend our time, money or resources. Am I selfless or selfish? What motivates me? What are my idols?

Outside of this “big decision”, is my prayer life vibrant?

Am I praying for God’s kingdom and the advancement of the gospel?

Am I praying out of thankfulness for everything I have?

Am I only praying for this decision, or an answer to it?

Do I read scripture and let it abide in me?

What are the loudest “voices” in my life? Is it God speaking through his word? Or is it Social Media, Facebook, The News, Friends, Family, Strangers, Influential People (even christian leaders!)? Romans 10:17 reads “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” This is not merely reading or studying, Pharisees studied scripture. Jesus warns that in John 5 37-40  “…the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”This is not merely knowing. Satan and his tempters know and quote scripture.  Satan even tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness by quoting Psalm 91! 

To abide means to accept, to allow it to transform, to take hold, to let change, to give life. Are we reading with this purpose? 1 John 2:14 implies you in fact have let the word abide in you in the past, for you christian have overcome the devil already. “ I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” You did not convert yourself. You did not come to faith yourself. You did not make yourself spiritually mature. God did. Through His word. When we read we must ask ourselves, what did this say about God or Jesus or the Holy Spirit (this grows faith) & what does this say about me, or how do I respond (this grows obedience, and through obedience we have maturity). Never read scripture without asking those two questions. As the scripture abides in our hearts, as we meditate on it throughout the day, and we reflect on those questions and their answers we make minute changes in our life and daily walk that have lasting impacts.

To recap: Sin? Heart? Prayer? Scripture? 

The Big Decisions – Step 2: God Check – Is this inline with God’s testimony? 

A big decision should never go against the character or commands of God. This would be an obvious sin. You wouldn’t choose to do something to hurt someone, or take something from someone. Although there were times in the bible when this was the case, there was also divine prophecy and intervention – think of the exodus out of egypt or the promise land conquests. However, it’s not always that simple or direct. You may have to make a decision that may unknowingly hurt someone. These don’t have to be big decisions either. Your cell phone, or other goods that you purchase in fact may hurt someone because of unfair labor practices or pay. Your decision to buy the last bushel of bananas on the shelf may put another family without. You may have to make a decision that in fact does cause harm (even if indirectly) and you will have to decide, “does the good outweigh the bad”. This looks like turning down an invitation to an event and hurting a friend because of other commitments. So if these little decisions are littered with “what ifs” then how do we make big decisions? 

First, we ask what is God doing? Often, we can look at what he has done up to this point. How has he prepared the way to this decision? Should you take this job, move, adopt? Look backwards, how have you seen God prepare you? What barriers have been removed? What doors have opened? How has every moment in your life prepared you for the next? He is faithful.

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Not everyone can, or should do the same things. You are unique, he has created you for his unique good works. What are your unique gifts, circumstances, or situations, that prepare you for this decision? 

Second, we ask how is God most glorified in or through this? As I obey his commands to love Him, and love others, do I move toward or away from this decision. Does this present an opportunity for selflessness? Or selfishness? Does this present an opportunity for more reliance and deeper faith in Him? Or do I make this decision in fear? Does this decision cause me to move away from Him or to rely more on myself and my understanding? I find it best to do two columns, one for Me and one for God and write words and feelings that come to mind compared to his promises (think similar to a pros and cons list). If I make this decision…. 

Me        |      God

Stressed Promises to help (Heb 4:15)

Challenged Promises to protect me (2 Corin. 4:8-9)

Broke Promises to provide (Phil. 4:19)

The Big Decisions – Step 3: Ready Check – Is this really happening?

Big, life changing decisions are often the accumulation of a series of small day to day decisions. It would be unwise, as an example, to wake up tomorrow and on a whim and go buy a house, in a completely new area, without any context or previous thought. Likewise, to have a Vegas marriage. Or to walk off a job because of one circumstance of anger. Proverbs is 1:32 says, “For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them” Every decision should be made in wisdom, seeking God. Only in rare, life threatening circumstances should a decision be made hastily. In these moments, we can trust the sovereign will of God to work through and despite our obedience or disobedience to His will (His commands). This is why we are to be sober minded. 1 Peter 1:13 says “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

“Mind” in this verse is the greek word dianoias. It means “disposition, thought, understanding, intellect, mind, insight” Really, it is the act of critical thinking, or reasoning in and through Godly wisdom. What Peter is saying is what we have discussed up to this point – daily perform these Self Check and God Checks – and you will be ready for action, as a sober minded person. So then what’s next? In faith you set your hope fully on grace. You step out, off the boat. You open the door. You make a move of faith. If you mess up, or make the wrong turn – God is working through that. If you do the right thing, make the right decision – God is working through that!  Proverbs 16:9 says it this way “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” But with a sober mind, we can move forward. So are we ready?

Often decisions, especially big ones take time. This time is a gift. God’s knows when we are ready. 2 Peter 3:8-9 says “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Are we stewards of this time? Do we want to make the decision more hastily? There will come a distinct decision moment, it may 5 minutes, 5 days, 5 months or 5 years from now. Trust in faith, that you will be ready. Ultimately, in glory, you will know why at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Every minute, insignificant, decision to the largest ones you made – they will all make sense. 

Like has been said, big decisions are accumulations of smaller ones. The snowball effect. Focus on the smaller ones. Focus on today, right now. Matthew 6:34 reminds us “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. … Each day has enough trouble of its own.” 

Don’t be misled, you will have to make that big decision eventually. Self Check. God Check. Ready Check.

Go. 

Really good podcasts or other resources on making decisions:

https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/do-i-need-to-hear-from-god-before-i-make-a-decision

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/how-to-know-the-will-of-god

https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/should-i-ever-take-an-action-i-dont-have-peace-about

https://www.desiringgod.org/labs/how-to-make-decisions-biblically

RC Sproul on decisions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXoQVNkoGWA

Jackie Hill/Melissa Kruger/Jasmine Holmes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqSBEwdKgE8

Voddie Baucham https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_0d2ImnpdM