Ephesians 5:17-18 – “So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  NASB

One of the most asked question among church people is, “How can I know the Lord’s will?”  I have been asked, “How can I know that what I plan to do is what God would have me do?”  Those are not idle or unimportant questions.  Many are perplexed wondering what the will of God is for them and how they can discover the Will of God for their lives. To many it is often like traversing a complex labyrinth.  Some go through their entire life still asking when they die, “What is God’s will for my life?”  That should never be! 

I’ve had people, even preachers insist that it is impossible to know God’s will all the time.  I usually ask for ‘chapter and verse’ because I do not believe and have not found where God said that.  I fully concur that sometimes it may be like mining for gold and we have to dig and search but knowing His will is possible. 

If it is as difficult as many believe, God has severely limited Himself regarding our service.  As a parent, do you make it difficult or easy for your children to know your will?  I always wanted them to know beyond doubt and made it as easy as possible for them to discover.  What would make us think God is somehow different?

What advantage would it be for God to hide His will from His children?  That would be like asking someone to run a race but give leave them clueless as to the route.  If God wants us to do or not do something, how would it benefit Him or His kingdom to hide that from us?  God never operates on chance but choice.  He has a will and His desire is for us to know that will and to do that will.  In fact, He has, for the most part, made that will known in His Word!

It is in the best interest of the Kingdom of God for us to know the will of God.  God never asks or commands us to do what we cannot do.  I am confident that God is doing everything possible to make us aware of His will, short of violating our own will.  He wants us to know in time to prepare unless He has already prepared us. 

God is not going to spring something on you at the last minute that you are totally unequipped to handle or do.  He is not a sadist that enjoys watching us flounder around in failure but wants us to achieve His purposes.  The Will of God may not always be pleasant and desirable at the beginning.  It will become that if we are serving Him out of genuine love.  It is wrong to assume that because something is unpleasant it is not the will of God. 

The refiner’s fire is not pleasant or desirable to the gold, but the result is desirable and good.  I am reminded of the words of the apostle Paul in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, and to them who are the called according to His purpose.”  Tragically, we frequently place the emphasis on “all things” but God places it on “work together for good.”  It is the finished product, not the process that is the ultimate focus of God and should be for us.

I’ve used the illustration of baking a chocolate cake from scratch to emphasize this truth.  In that process, there is bitter chocolate, salty salt, and powerful baking soda.  Those would not be tasty as a stand-alone item.  The entire process required the ingredients to be blended together or ‘beaten’.  Once the blending is completed then the mix is placed in the oven and heated for a time before the finished product is produced.  That’s Life!  All of it ‘working together’ produces the finished product which is good. 

I hope I have whetted your appetite and sparked your interest.  Can we know the will of God?  I believe the answer is, Yes!  I want to talk about some steps or elements involved in knowing that will and hopefully help each of us become more comfortable with the will of God.  We will continue the journey in the next devotional.

God bless you and I pray that your day will be peaceful and rewarding!