The Path of God’s Will – Part 4

I have often heard many followers of Jesus Christ speaking about God’s will for their life. That being said, how will we know if or when we’re even on the right path of God’s will?

My pastor did a four-part series about knowing where to find God’s will for us. The answers to this very question are found in the Scripture’s and the only thing we must do is open it to see for ourselves.

Let’s dive right in to learn what God’s Will for our lives look like in the Fourth and final Study.

The Path of God's Will Part 4

God’s Will: The way of Wisdom

We truly love our children and are grateful for them. How much more does the Lord love His children—those of us in Christ?

The question for each of us is, have you entrusted yourself to the Lord to be adored by Him in this way?

Our righteousness is by God’s grace alone by faith alone in Christ alone. Have you taken your life out of your hands and thrust it into God’s hands?

Have you trusted in Christ?

  • Are you saved in the grasp and embrace of His grace?
  • Are you born again?
  • Have you cast your life, your hopes, your dreams at the feet of Christ?
  • How can we be responsive to His overwhelming love?

We want to be obedient to God’s will. The foundation of the house is not the same as the house.

God’s will and foundation

Here are six steps that we will be held accountable to God because the Bible commands us to do these things.

What are the Six Steps in Godly Decisions?

God has given us these 6 steps so that we can make wise and Godly decisions.

1) Gather information

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise. Making the best use of the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:15-18

We need to consider:

  1. How we walk.
  2. We are to walk circumspectly.
  3. We are to take in all of the options.
  4. We are to survey the whole landscape.
  5. We are to think deeply about our choices.
  6. We need to do the hard work of analyzing our motivations.
  7. We are to interrogate the options.
  8. We need to gather wisdom so that we can walk wisely before God.

2) Consecrate Ourself

“I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 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.” Romans 12:1-2

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality” 1 Thessalonians 4:3

“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:21 and 23

God’s disclosure to us is dependent on our obedience. A consecrated life is an obedient life and a life where we have allowed Him to direct our desires and motivations.

God is replacing wrong desires and wrong lusts with the right desires and right motivations.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

“And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” 2 Samuel 7:3

“Love God and do what you want”. This is based on making godly decisions because you love God and want to honor Him.

Quote by John Calvin

“The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.” Romans 14:22

“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you” Romans 1:11

“Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.” 1 Corinthians 10:25

  • The prerequisite for having Godly desires is being consecrated to God.
  • If we are set apart to God, then we will have godly desires.
  • We still must be sure that our desires are compatible with Scripture.
  • Our desires are from the Lord as we consecrate ourselves but we still need help to be certain that we make wise choices.

3) Pray, Pray, Pray

“You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” Psalm 27:8

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;  fret not yourself over the one who  prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” Psalm 37:7

“That this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.” Psalm 48:14

“But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke, they vanish away.” Psalm 37:20

  • We must pray throughout the process, at the beginning, middle, and end.
  • It is crucial that the Holy Spirit will convict us when we pray for our heart and motivations.
  • Let’s pray for our mentors because they have the same attacks coming from Satan that we do.
  • Pray that the Holy Spirit will mold and shape our thinking.
  • We pray for wisdom and discernment as we study the Scriptures.

4) Study the Bible

We are called to engage the Scriptures. Just as olive oil is extracted from pressing olives, we need to press into the Scriptures just like we get olive oil by pressing olives.

The Scriptures are worthy of our sincerest searching.

  • We should study the Scriptures morning, noon, and night.
  • The Lord has revealed Himself to us in the Scriptures.
  • We read to change our thinking– to conform our minds to the mind of Christ.

We read to understand the greatness and glory of our God

It begins with daily saturation. Look for directly applicable Scriptures. Search for principles. They may not deal directly with our particular problem, but they may guide us to make a godly decision. The Bible is sufficient and so we go to it to study and learn and receive guidance.

5) Seek Guidance from Mentors

This is probably the most neglected step of all.

a) Seek biblical counsel

We need mentors that challenge us and stand over us. Expensive council refers to those who have authority in our lives and those who are wise and godly.

“Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me,  “Let your heart hold fast my words;  keep my commandments and live. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;  love her, and she will guard you.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Proverbs 4:1-13

Mentors will shape, rebuke, and challenge you

We all have blind spots and inexperience and sinful desires and make poor decisions and need spiritual mentors that will help us make Godly Decisions.

Let’s Pray for our mentors to make Godly Decisions that glorify God. May we humble our hearts and ask for wise counsel. Ask God to bring people in our lives who will tell us the truth not what we want to hear.

b. Receive guidance by a spiritual guide

“Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.” Proverbs 20:18

What this means is we should not stack the deck and blast those that are mentoring us. Ask for their guidance to help us make Godly decisions.

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”Proverbs 12:15

We need to seek guidance from mentors and identify specific challenges in our lives where we need to make godly decisions and go through this process.

6) Entrust the decision to the Lord

a. A final checklist of a few questions:

  • How will this choice glorify the Lord and bring Him honor?
  • Would I want this done to me?
  • Will I be proud of this decision when I stand before Christ someday?

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:10

  • We are accountable to Christ for what we have done.
  • We will also receive His grace.

b. Leave the results to the Lord

Once we have gone through this process carefully and the decision has been made, leave it in His hands.

We may end up in a trial if that is God’s Will, but entrust it to the Lord and leave the results to God.

In Closing on GOD’S WILL: THE WAY OF WISDOM

This is our approach and our foundation for making Godly Decisions for the glory of God. This does not cover everything but it is Biblical and a good foundation.

Check out the Armor of God Study