What are some things I should do to discover God’s will for my life?

Romans 12:1-2So, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Knowing God’s will begins with knowing God. He holds nothing good back from those who hold nothing back from him. As he transforms us into a new person, we will come to understand his ways and enjoy the habit of living out his purpose for our life.

Genesis 12:1, 4The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. . . . So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed.

Psalm 40:8“I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”

Psalm 143:10Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

In order to know God’s will, we must begin by obeying God’s word.

Proverbs 2:3-8Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.

Proverbs 3:6Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Isaiah 2:3“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.”

Matthew 6:9-10“Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”

James 1:5If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

1 John 5:14We are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.

We should not sit around waiting for God to reveal his will for us; we need to proactively look for it. Actively seek God’s will through prayer, reading the Bible, conversation with mature believers and reliable advisors, and by discerning the circumstances around you. Based on what you know from Scripture, what might God be asking you to do in the circumstances where he’s placed you?

Acts 21:14When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Sometimes God’s will for us becomes evident through circumstances beyond our control. We do the seeking, but we must allow God to work out his will in the way he deems best. In the end, we will be glad of wherever he has taken us.

Matthew 25:21“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities.’”

Matthew 25:29“To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance.”

The natural abilities we have are gifts from God, and they are often a clue to what God wants us to do. Why would God give us certain talents and spiritual gifts, and then not ask us to use them? We may have natural gifts in the areas of cooking, entertaining, managing a business, teaching, handling money, playing an instrument, or many other things. We should use whatever gifts we have to bring honor and glory to God. If we do this, we will be right where we need to be to discover God’s will.

Proverbs 16:3Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

God’s will is that we do everything as if we were doing it for him.

Hosea 6:3“Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”

Give yourself completely to knowing God’s will. Seek his will passionately, not casually.