What’s God’s Will for You? (Part 1) By Babatunde Olugboji
The question of what God’s will is for a believer and its variants are some of the questions many believers have raised with me over the years as a Pastor, from the mundane to the spiritual. Such questions span a wide berth of areas, including specifics and broad generalizations. 
As believers, we often want God to give us specifics about His will for our lives -where to work, where to live, whom to marry, which car to buy, the kind of house to build or buy, the school to attend, the course to study, the career to pursue, etc. These are important decisions that we should make with godly wisdom and prayer.
Some people worry that if they make a wrong decision in such matters, if they take a wrong step, they will miss God’s “perfect will” for their lives. My response to such a question is to let people know that paying close attention to the Scriptures is a good way of knowing the approach God takes in determining what his “perfect will” is.
There is no doubt that God has specific, intentional plans for each of us. Afterall, it was God that told Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5). However, his perfect will is really the same for all people, young or old, of this race or that race. God’s perfect will includes His desire for “all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2: 3–4).
In addition, it is God’s will that we should be sanctified: that we should avoid sexual immorality; that each of us should learn to control our own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5). Doing good in line with our faith is also God’s will for us (1 Peter 2:15-16). 1 Thessalonians 5:18 also clearly reveals God’s perfect will: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” In other words, God has made His “perfect will” clear to us, from His perfect word.
You may be asking: How about other “everyday” or less “spiritual” choices that we need to make? Does God have a perfect will for specifics in our lives like which course to study in school, who to marry, where to go for lunch, or choice of meals? True, God knows all things, yet He has also given us the ability to make choices. Making decisions is more about committing our ways to the Lord.
As Proverbs 16:13 says, Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. And we should glorify Him in everything we do (1 Corinthians 10:31, Col 3:17). Having an ongoing relationship with God is more than finding that “one thing” God wants us to do. Ordering steak for lunch instead of grilled chicken is not going to mess up God’s perfect will for you. But clearly, there are things we can take to God for Him to give us direct instructions and direction.
To be continued…
Have a great week.
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