Understanding the Will of God

by Cindy Phillips

Ephesians 5:17 says Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. A fool lives their life by their own, or someone else’s, direction. True wisdom is following the Lord. “For the LORD gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6) “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7)

But how do you do understand the will of the Lord for your life?

First, humble yourself before God. James 4:10 says Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Recognize Him as your creator and therefore your God. God made you for a purpose! Ask Him and He will show you. This is a promise God made to you in Matthew 7:7; ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Second, submit yourself to the Lord. James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. How is this different from humbling yourself? When you humble yourself you take yourself off the “throne” of your life. Submission is then putting yourself under the leadership of another, in this case, God.

Third, don’t put God in a box. Don’t expect Him to show up the way you want or expect. Wait on Him and He will reveal Himself to you.

Next, be quick to obey what you hear from Him. Don’t be afraid to miss it. Move on what you believe He is telling you.

Pay attention to correction and pursue God. There is so much He has said about His will for His people in the Word. The more you are in the Word the easier it will be for you to hear clearly from Him. As the Word of God shapes you, the byproduct will be understanding His will.

It all starts with humility and moves by persistence as you grow in Christlikeness. Do this all by faith and He will be well pleased with you.