Day 7: Knowing God's Will
Posted on: January 15, 2008
Kris Atienza

Read: Jeremiah 29:10-14 • John 7:15-18 • Ephesians 5:15-18 • Colossians 1:9-14 • 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 • Hebrews 10:35,36

Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is�his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

How can we know God's will? Reviewing Romans 12:1,2, we can come to the following conclusions. First, God's will can be known. It is not a spooky, unknowable force. It can be discerned, tested, and proved. Paul even prayed for us to be filled with the knowledge of God's will.

Second, before we can properly know God's will for our lives, our hearts, minds, and wills must first be aligned to His. Only after we have chosen to be submitted to His purposes can we be in a position to understand it. And even then, we still may not completely understand the reasons behind His plans, but we will be able to recognize that it is His will, allowing us to walk in obedience and faith.

Finally, we need to realize that there is no formula to knowing God's will. In His sovereignty, He chooses to reveal His will for us little by little and in a variety of ways. This puts us in a position to always seek His face, abide in His presence, be sensitive to His promptings, and be obedient to what He has already asked us to do. The exercise of knowing God's will is in itself a journey into the depths of God's heart, with our Good Shepherd leading us each step of the way. His promise is that if we seek Him with our all, we will find Him. Having Him means we already have everything we need. After all is said and done, we will all testify to the truth that His will is indeed good, definitely pleasing, and ultimately perfect.

Reflection
What are some of the ways God has chosen to reveal His will?

Application
Pray Colossians 1:9-14 over your life, trusting that God will fill you with the knowledge of His will and enable you to live a fruitful, Christ-centered life.