To discern the specific will of God for your life, you must be in the Word of God. God doesn’t need to write his will for us in the clouds because He’s already written it in His Word. A famous preacher said, “If you are ignorant of God’s Word, you will always be ignorant of God’s will.”
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
So, you’re wondering, where do I start? After all, the Bible is a big book! Here’s some helpful places to start. The book of Proverbs imparts practical wisdom to guide our daily decisions. The book of Psalms is also loaded with treasures of truth leading our hearts closer to Christ.
“As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.” (Psalm 18:30)
Study specific words and where they are mentioned in the Scriptures. Study specific topics like truth, courage, joy, boldness, prayer, the Holy Spirit, the church, and numerous others. Explore the lives of specific people as they walked by faith such as Abraham, Ruth, David, Joseph, Esther, Daniel, Peter, and Paul. Examine their choices, character, families, and the adversities they overcame. Notice the situations and choices they made which may be similar to situations you are in. Did they obey God? What were the consequences from their choices?
Ask the Lord to give you a specific verses for your specific decision or circumstance. When God gives you a verse of promise, write the date next to text in your Bible. Claiming a Scriptures of confirmation will give you a memorial of assurance when your decision is tested. You can be sure, every decision of faith will be tested! Be extra careful not to make a verse say what you want. Rightly dividing the Scriptures takes hard work! To know a text of Scripture, you must examine the context. To know a word, examine the verse. To know a verse, examine the chapter. To know the chapter, examine the book. Following God’s Word will not always be easy, but it will make your life easier. And remember, the will of God never contradicts the Word of God. They are always in harmony.
Searching the Word of God is not the only step in discerning God’s Will, but it’s the perfect place to start. Follow God’s Word like you would a compass. Check your compass, then correct your direction. Do it again, and again, and again. Don’t allow impatience or presumption to mislead you. Wait upon the Lord by lingering in His Word. Do not rush. It’s not enough to occasionally glance at the compass. Unless the Word of God is obeyed like a hiker obeys his compass, you’re sure to get off course. Follow the compass of God’s Word day by day, and you’ll discover it is tried, true, and trustworthy—especially when the fog of life descends and the way appears unclear. Trust your compass.