Dear Megan,
How can I discern God’s voice from my wants so that I can be in His will?
I know that God will open the right doors, but in the meantime trying to wait and not push what I want to have happen is so hard. Sometimes it is so hard to discern His voice when our desires are so strong and the enemy starts to make us doubt, plot and plan, and he makes us think that we are in God’s will when we are really just doing what we want. Looking forward to your thoughts!
Blessings!
~C
My dear C, this is one of the questions I get asked most as a Christian Life Coach and I am so excited to discuss it with you and a few friends here today!
One thing I know for sure is that the more you are in the Word, and have a consistent, deeply intimate relationship with the Lord, the more your will will be aligned with His and the easier it will be to discern His voice through your wants.
I think it is important to begin this discussion with a few Biblical facts about the will of God:
1. God’s will for you was prepared in advance:
Ephesians 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
2. God desires to reveal His will to you in a personal way:
Acts 22:14
“The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will.”
3. God reveals His will primarily through the Spirit of God and the Word of God:
John 16:13
“…the Spirit of truth… will guide you into all truth.”
Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.”
4. God sees the whole big-picture of your life…past, present, and future. Discovering God’s will for you is like unrolling a scroll…. He unrolls it one line at a time:
Psalm 32:8
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.”
5. Sometimes God’s will for our lives includes sorrow and affliction. Suffering gives us compassion for others and allows us to see God’s sufficiency as we learn to depend on Him:
Psalm 119:71
“It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.”
Okay! Now that we have that background established, let’s move forward and discuss what decisions are pleasing to God. One thing I know is that God doesn’t play hide-and-seek as you try to discover His will! As you sincerely place HIS desires above YOUR desires, He will be faithful to point the way. Let THIS be the prayer of your heart:
Psalm 40:8
“I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart.”
In His Word, God states that He blesses decisions that…
He initiates (Proverbs 4:11)
line up with His Word (Psalm 119:33)
accomplish His purpose (Philippians 2:13)
depend on His strength (Philippians 4:13)
result in giving Him glory (1 Corinthians 10:31)
promote justice, kindness and humility (Micah 6:8)
reflect His character (Romans 8:29)
come from faith (Hebrews 11:6)
consider the interests of others (Philippians 2:4)
are bathed in prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
My friend C… I so wish that I could just tell you exactly what to do and what decision to make, but we all know that is not possible (and you probably don’t even want that)! I do know, though, that God is guiding you each and every day as you discern which path to take:
- through your spiritual gifts, talents and abilities
- through your understanding all facets of this decision
- through impressions God is making on your spirit in the form of convictions and establishing truth
- through knowing that God placed certain desires in your heart for a reason
- through advice from trusted sources who God so divinely places in your path who are grounded in the Word, who are mature in godly wisdom and who might also have overcome similar circumstances in their own lives
- through the possible necessity of the situation (like having to move because of a sick parent, etc.)
- through seeing beyond circumstances (Proverbs 16:9)
- through the elimination of options which you discern are not the best options (1 Corinthians 10:23)
I pray that this has helped you to have a better understanding in your current situation and know that even if time has run out on this decision and you still don’t know what to do, you can still pray!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Because You know everything, You know the decision before me and the way I should go. I want only YOUR will, Father. Because I no longer have the option of waiting, I will choose one option. If this decision is not right in Your sight, I ask Your Spirit in me to put a heaviness in my heart. If this is the right direction for me to walk, please confirm it with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. I am willing to take whatever detours You decide to put in my path, as long as I reach the destination You have for me. In Your Son’s matchless name, I pray, Amen. <3
Blessings,
Megan Smidt, CCLC
