What Is God's Will For Me?

Scripture tells us exactly what God's will is for us.

"What is God's will for me?"

Have you ever asked yourself that question? Maybe you were at an important crossroads in your life and you wondered things like “Should I take this job offer or that one?” “Should I marry this woman?” “Should I purchase this house or that one?” It is often out of a sincere desire to do what is pleasing in God’s sight that we seek to know God’s will in circumstances like these.

Did you know that there are three instances in the New Testament where Scripture explicitly states what God’s will is for you as a follower of Christ? By following the admonitions in these verses, we can ensure that as we meet crossroads like these in our lives we will make decisions clearly and with heavenly wisdom.

The first passage which explicitly states God’s will for the believer is 1 Thessalonians 4:3. There Paul writes, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.” Paul states unequivocally that God’s will for the Thessalonians believers, and for all believers, is our sanctification, that is, our growth in holiness. Paul is particularly concerned with the Thessalonians’ holiness regarding sexual immorality, but the principle of God’s desire for our sanctification extends far beyond that specific element.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism answers the question, “What is sanctification?” this way: “Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.” Note that sanctification is a work of God’s grace as opposed to an act of God’s grace. This distinction shows that our sanctification is synergistic, meaning that we have a part to play. Our sanctification is not solely God’s work, but it is the work of the believer as he cooperates with the Holy Spirit in his growth in holiness. This is God’s will for us: that we increase in righteousness as we work together with His Spirit to become more like His Son.

The second passage which explicitly states God’s will for the believer is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. One chapter after our first passage, Paul again elaborates on God’s will when he writes, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  As Paul finishes his letter to the Thessalonians, he closes with a series of admonitions for the church. Nestled in the middle of this list is this explicit statement about the will of God for the believer. It’s important to note that the Thessalonian believers were under severe persecution at the time Paul wrote this letter. The persecution in Thessalonica was so severe that Paul fled the city in order to survive.

In the midst of this persecution Paul commands the church to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances. If that is the admonition Paul gives to the Thessalonians in the midst  of such great tribulation, surely those words can lead, guide, strengthen, and encourage us as we discern God’s will for our lives. Indeed, facing trials, challenges, and obstacles will be more readily navigated if we put these three admonitions into regular practice.

The final passage in which God’s will is explicitly stated comes from 1 Peter 2:15. Peter writes, “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” This exhortation comes in the middle of a passage on submitting to governing authorities and living as servants of God. Peter is writing to an audience under severe persecution and he wants Christians to live in such a way that the lies their ungodly persecutors disseminate to the rulers would be silenced by the Christians’ good conduct.

Certainly we are to honor and obey the government leaders who sit in authority over us and our conduct as Christians should outshine the nearest competition, but the principle extends beyond the realm of government. We should honor all authority put over us whether that be parents, employers, or civil authorities. Let your good conduct shut the mouths of those who would slander you as a follower of Christ.

If we put the admonitions and exhortations in these three passages into regular practice, we will see clearly with spiritual eyes God’s will for our lives. We will have built a firm foundation on which to navigate the challenges, crossroads, and trials we will inevitably face in the future. May His will be done in us as it is in heaven! 

Rev. Jonathan Craig is the State Capitol Minister for MTS-Florida.