How Do I Know God’s Will for 2021?
As we enter 2021, what does God want from you and me? How can I know God’s will?
If you are a Christian, you desire to follow God and do His will. Sometimes, however, you are unsure what God wants you to do. Does God want me to move to Florida? Does God want me to buy a minivan? Does God want me to date him or her? As Christians, there are countless decisions we must make in this new year. How do we know God’s will?
I am convinced knowing God’s will does not need to be complicated or cumbersome. I like to think about finding God’s will and the decision-making process in three easy stages.
- Find and do what is clearly revealed in Scripture.
For example, the Scriptures are clear what God’s will is:
- “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2).
- “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
- “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
- Apply all biblical principles to your decision.
For example, the Scriptures offer principles for your decisions:
- Be content in the circumstances you find yourself in. (Philippians 4:11; 1 Timothy 6:6).
- Be a good steward of what God has given, not spending beyond your means. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
- Seek God’s kingdom first. (Matthew 6:33).
- Do what you want!
Only if you do and are doing the first two stages can you do the third stage—what you want to do. Doing what you want isn’t selfish and self-seeking. Why?
Because if you are practicing the commands and principles of the Scripture, then you are “delighting yourself in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4). And when you delight yourself in the Lord, God “will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).
Psalm 37:4 does not mean you skip stages one and two and do what you want. It means that when you are already performing stages one and two, your heart desires will be God’s heart desires for you. When you are following God’s will from the commands and principles of Scripture, the beauty is that your heart desires will be his heart desires—so do what your heart desires!
What decisions are you facing in this new year? Are you applying all the commands and all of principles of Scripture to the decision? Ask a trusted parent, pastor, friend, counselor, or mentor for wisdom to find these passages and help you evaluate them in your life. And when you are applying them in your life, do what you want to do—that will be God’s will for you.
Pastor Dan
For more on God’s will for your life, please see the follow resources:
- A sermon on God’s will here.
- The three-part teaching series here, here, and here.
- The one-part teaching series here.