How Can I Know the Will of God for My Life?
Did you know what question is asked more than any other question when people ask counselors and Bible teachers a Bible question?
How can I know the will of God for my life?
That question, more than any other question, is asked: How can I know the will of God for my life?
And that is a great question. That is a wonderful question, and it applies to Adrian, it applies to you, it applies to all of us.
Profound Truth, Simply Stated
This is Love Worth Finding with Pastor, Teacher, and Author, Adrian Rogers. I want you to find the familiar passage of scripture. As a matter of fact, it may be your favorite passage of Scripture—Proverbs 3:5-6. We’re going to revisit that passage because it is so pertinent for this time of the year as we’re thinking about the future—Lighting the Future.
A Promise of Guidance
Isaiah 58:11 says,
“And the Lord shall guide thee continually.”
Is that not a great promise? How would you like to say, day by day, moment by moment, Almighty God is guiding me?
That is what He says—”The Lord shall guide thee continually.”
Now, either that is true or it is not true, and we are so blessed.
There is a Father above us controlling all things.
There’s a Savior before us, so we can walk in His footsteps.
There’s the Holy Spirit within us, impressing our hearts so that we can find our way in a dark, dark day.
God has a special plan just for you. God doesn’t deal with us in mass. He deals with us as individuals. Everything God makes is original—just like every snowflake has its own specific pattern. God made you as an individual, and God has a plan just for you.
Psalm 37:23 says,
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.”
Every step you take is to be in His plan and in His purpose. Now I want you to believe this.
Finding, Following, and Finishing God’s Will
Dr. Stephen Alford said that God’s great plan is for us to find, follow, and finish the will of God for our lives. That’s what it is.
Let’s talk a little bit about how to light the future. Turn to Proverbs 3:5-6:
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths.”
Now, that’s God’s word. I submit to you, it’s either true or false. I believe it’s true. You believe it’s true.
Breaking Down the Passage
There are three basic things I want you to see in this text that you and I are to do:
Let God Choose the Way
We must have full confidence in God—”Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.”
Many of us don’t trust the Lord enough to let Him guide us.
Trusting in the Lord means trusting a person, not just a proposition.
Let God Confirm the Way
God confirms His will in four ways:
Through His Word – “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
Through Prayer – “Show us the way, Lord.” (Acts 1:24)
Through Wisdom – “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.” (James 1:5)
Through Providence – “I have set before thee an open door.” (Revelation 3:8)
Let God Clear the Way
“He will direct your paths.”
The Hebrew word for “direct” means to clear the way, like a bulldozer removing obstacles.
Trusting God in All Aspects
Many people want to give God just a part of their life—1/10 of their money, 1/7 of their time. But God wants all of it.
Dr. Stephen Alford, as a young man, had a dream to be an engineer. He planned to support missions, but God had a different plan. When he was seriously ill, his father sent him a letter saying,
“Tis but one life, ‘twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”
At that moment, he surrendered to God, saying: Anywhere, anytime, any cost.
God’s Plan is Not a Roadmap—It’s a Relationship
Most people want a roadmap for their lives, but God’s plan is not a roadmap—it’s a relationship.
God Clears the Path
When God calls us, He clears the way for us, just as John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. In the same way, God moves obstacles out of our way when we trust Him fully.
Conclusion: Will You Trust Him?
God has a plan for your life. If you will acknowledge Him in all your ways, He will guide you. Are you ready to trust Him with all your heart and surrender everything to Him?
