Willing to Do God's Will

If you ever have wondered about God's will for your life, you can identify with King David who prayed, "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me" (Psalm 25:4, 5). But in that same Psalm, David made a rather startling statement: "The Lord confides in those who fear him" (Psalm 25:14).

What an amazing idea—that God would confide in his people! Moses told the Israelites, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law" (Deuteronomy 29:29). There are lots of things only God knows—questions only he can answer. But sometimes we fail to recognize and follow the many things he has already revealed to us.

God isn't a tyrant who keeps his will hidden while demanding that we discover and obey it. The apostle Paul wrote, "Do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is" (Ephesians 5:17). Here are five aspects of God's will we need to understand.

What God prefers. The Lord doesn't want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). He takes no pleasure in the death of anyone (Ezekiel 18:32), for he wants everyone to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). Jesus told the people of Jerusalem that he longed to gather them together "as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but they were not willing" (Matthew 23:37). People do perish, and not everyone is saved—not because that's what God prefers, but because some refuse to trust and obey.

What God prescribes. Like a doctor who prescribes healing medicine, the Lord prescribes remedies in his Word that point the way to spiritual health. For example, 1 Thessalonians 4:3 says plainly, "It is God's will that you should be sanctified; that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable."

What God permits. In some areas the Lord simply sets down boundaries and allows us to make personal choices after we pray for wisdom and seek godly counsel (Proverbs 12:15; James 1:5). For example, if a Christian woman's husband dies, she may marry "anyone she wishes," as long as he is a Christian (1 Corinthians 7:39). Sometimes God permits us to go through intense hardships, but when this happens "those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good" (1 Peter 4:19).

What God performs. The 10 plagues, for example, demonstrated God's judgment upon the Egyptians. When Jesus died on the cross, God made a way for our salvation even though it meant terrible suffering for his Son. Indeed, "it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer" (Isaiah 53:10). By the loving will of God, "we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10).

What God provides. The term provide comes from a compound of two terms, pro ("before" or "forward") and videre ("to see"). God sees our needs ahead of time and plans to meet these needs "according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

Are we willing to do God's will? Then here is what we must do: Prefer what he prefers. Obey what he clearly prescribes. Make wise decisions in areas where he permits us to choose. Recognize the righteous deeds he performs. Appreciate what he provides. Then we "will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will" (Romans 12:2).