The Will of God

Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to the good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself; That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ,  both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him; In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will. 

Ephesians 1:9-11

We are the workmanship of God; we are, each of us, uniquely created by God.  Along with the global purpose, He also has a specific purpose for each of our lives.  God speaks to us in various manners to complete His will in our life.  He wants to make known His will in our lives.  Before we can understand what God's will for our life is, we must first understand what is the will of God.   

To have faith that it is possible to know God's voice rests on two foundational facts:

ü       The belief that God has a plan for you.
ü        The ability of God to communicate it to you.

God wants to communicate His plan to man so much that He actually used a donkey to speak to a prophet on one occasion:

And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?  And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.  And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay. Numbers 22:28-30

The Bible commands:

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.  Ephesians 5:17

Apostle Paul wrote the Colossians:

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.  Colossians 1:9

In Acts, Apostle Paul spoke to one man and said:

And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.  Acts 22:14

In addition to these verses, God has given many promises of guidance in His written Word.  On the basis of these Scriptures it can be concluded that God wants us to know His will.

*     God's Will Is Planned:  

God is working in this world to bring to pass all things on the basis of His plan:  

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.  Ephesians 1:11

God has an overall plan for the universe which He is working out. We call this His master plan. He also has an individual plan for each person. Those plans fall within this sovereign plan and His moral will.

*      God's Plan Is Individual And Personal:

God's will for each individual includes His sovereign plan of redemption:  

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.   2 Peter 3:9

But God's plan goes beyond the revelation of His sovereign and moral wills. God has an individual plan for each person which He seeks to communicate. The Bible confirms this by many accounts of God at work in the lives of individuals. He placed men in specific situations at exact times for special purposes. Each of the life accounts recorded in the Bible are unique.

God told the Prophet Jeremiah:  

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest out of the womb, I sanctified thee and ordained thee.  Jeremiah 1:5

What greater witness is there to the personal plan of God for an individual?  When Apostle Peter, was overly concerned about what ministry John was to have, Jesus said to him. . .

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.  John 21:22

Jesus had different plans for the lives of Peter and John.

Everywhere we look in the universe, intelligent planning is apparent. The arrangement of planets, the stars, and the individual designs of each snowflake and flower reflect this planning. Given this evidence, we must conclude that the divine Creator also has an individual plan for man, the highest of His created beings.

God promised:  

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.   Psalms 32:8

An individual pathway is indicated in this verse.

God's word lets us know that every step of a righteous man is ordered by the Lord:  

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.  Psalms 37:23

The same word used here for "ordered" is used in relation to the moon and stars which God created. 

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;  Psalms 8:3 

The science of astronomy has recorded the amazing precision of the movement of heavenly bodies.  The same precision that has scheduled the movement of the planets orders the steps of believers. God promised:

Thine ear shall hear a word behind thee, saying This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left.   Isaiah 30:21

God orders not just the big events of life, but each step.

*      God's Will Is Not Man's Way:

God's will is often contrary to the ways of man:  

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:8-9

God's will is not always the path you would naturally select. This is why it is important to recognize the voice of God. But this does not mean the will of God is something which will bring unhappiness, as the next point reveals.

*       God's Will Is Good:

The Bible teaches that God's will is always good. Although His way may not be the one you would select, God knows what is best. 

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.  Psalms 37:23  

Apostle Paul confirms God's will is good:  

And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

*         God's Plan Is Progressive:

 The word of God tells us "we are His workmanship." The word "are" is the present tense. God is constantly working in our life. It is a continuing, progressive process of revealing His will.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.  Philippians 2:13

Apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrew believers that it was God's desire to

Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  Hebrews 13:21

"Working" is in the present tense. God is continually guiding, developing, and speaking to us regarding His plan. We are promised continual guidance:  

The Lord shall guide thee continually. (Isaiah 58:11)

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