A Life Aimed at Pleasing God
“Thus, we also have as our aim—either at home or away from home—to be pleasing to Him.”
—2 Corinthians 5:9
There are several reasons Christians have an interest today in gaining insight into God’s Will. First, it seems only natural to me that Christians would wish to know God’s desires for their lives. Paul the Apostle stated in 2 Corinthians 5:9, “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.” As children of God, it should be normal for each of us to want to understand God’s desires in all aspects of our lives.
The Natural Desire to Know God’s Will
Secondly, Christians have an interest in learning about God’s Will because it is a very difficult subject—especially with so many options available today. Consider all of the daily decisions we make. Only a few years ago, if you wanted to select a long-distance carrier, you had but one option. Today, we have dozens of choices.
When I was young, if I desired to watch TV, I could only choose between four channels. Today, we have hundreds of options. This is also true of decisions regarding where we live, what career path we choose, or what school we attend. Therefore, as never before, Christians need to learn how to determine God’s direction in their lives.
The Complexity of Determining God’s Will
Thirdly, Christians are showing renewed interest in this subject because determining God’s Will is complex. To be frank, my motivation for writing this book is not because someone else has not previously addressed this topic; rather, it is because there are countless individuals writing books and conducting seminars on how to know God’s will for your life—often with conflicting methods.
The Formulaic Method
To illustrate, some use the formulaic method, which suggests there is a formula to find God’s will. This approach is somewhat similar to a pilot using a checklist prior to takeoff.
- God’s Word — Check
- Prayer — Check
- Wise Counselors — Check
If all these elements align, the conclusion is that the decision made must be God’s will.
However, the problems with the formulaic method are two-fold. The first issue arises when all the elements do not align. For example, you may feel God leading you in one direction through prayer, yet a wise counselor advises you to go in the opposite direction. In such a case, to whom do you give greater weight—the leading of God through prayer or the wisdom of the counselor?
The Experiential Method
Another method of determining God’s will is the experiential method. Advocates of this approach often say, “Moses did not have a checklist when he sought God’s will; he simply developed a relationship with God, and God directed him.”
According to this view, if you develop a close personal relationship with God, you will not need to worry about knowing His will; you will naturally know what to do.
The Rational Method
Others use the rational method to determine God’s will. They argue, “God does not have a specific will for every detail of your life; He wants you to make good decisions.” Therefore, in this view, making wise and logical decisions is the way to determine God’s will.
Jesus’ Simple Promise Amid the Confusion
In the midst of this turmoil and uncertainty concerning God’s will, however, Jesus offers a very simple and reassuring promise:
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).