How do we know God’s will in our life? It’s the question that haunts each of us who claim to be a believer in Jesus. We all want to follow God’s will but sometimes it’s foggy or distant or blurry. If you’re like me, you want clear boundaries and parameters in direction. You want to know where you are headed so that you can correctly make wise decisions.
We know prayer is an essential part of a Kingdom-person’s life. We pray to our Heavenly Father to speak to us and guide us. We want to hear his voice. We know, based on Jesus’ own life on earth, that Kingdom-people love, serve, and live humbly. Jesus’ Kingdom is upside down compared to earthly kingdoms of fame, wealth, and power. In Jesus’ Kingdom, the greatest will be servant and slave of all. The first will be last and the last will be first.
So, in the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus prays, “You will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Most of us pray that but then add, “I’ll weigh out your will and if I like it, then I’ll do it.” But how do I know God’s will? What do I need to do to find God’s will in my life?
Well, for God’s will to be done, I have to obey his instruction. Any of us that have children know this to be true. There have been moments when we taught them to change a tire, load the dishwasher or mow the grass. In those initial moments, we walked with them and interacted with them. They learned from us by being with us. They obeyed our instruction and example in order to accomplish the task.
So, to obey God’s instruction, you have to hear his voice. How in the world do we hear the voice of God? It comes in many ways. On Sunday mornings when you are gathered to celebrate Jesus as one big family of God, you hear the voice of God through the singing of praise, through the comments offered by the person presiding over communion, through the reading of God’s Word, and through the pastor offering his or her observations over a text from God’s Word. In those moments, God is speaking to you. Equally, as you interact with other people in your small group or a ministry group or even your own family, people offer insight from God into your life as you journey together. Sometimes, in the stillness of your day, you feel the Spirit of God laying some direction on your heart and soul.
But to truly hear His voice, you have to be listening. Years ago, my youngest son played high school football. The stands on Friday night were always fun, full, and loud. It was south Kansas City and the school was 6A so it was big deal. But out of all the noise that happens during a game, my son said he always heard two voices: his coach on the sidelines and his dad from way up in the stands. It’s because he had trained his ear to hear the encouragement that my voice offered during the heat of the battle.
To be able to hear God’s voice then, you must spend time with him. Compare the time you spent with God last week reading His Word and in prayer to the time you spent on the phone or on social media or binging Netflix. If you really want to hear God, you must dedicate time with him every single day. God’s voice is like radio waves…they are always in the air. You and I must “tune in” his voice to discover his will for us.
Ultimately, in order for God’s will to be accomplished, I have to be willing to let go of mine. God must become priority in life. His voice is the one you follow over everything else. His will is that you would live with him forever. He’s pursued you through all of history, eventually sending his Son to die for you. His upside down Kingdom is calling you. Your best life will take place when you answer God’s voice. So, create margin in life and in your calendar. Listen closely to those around you. Lean in and hear his whisper. Blessings on your journey.