3 Signs We Are In God’s Will
How Do I Know That I Am In God’s Will?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions by believers.
God’s will for all of us is the same. He desires us to be in a relationship with Him and to nurture that relationship daily.
This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3-4)
God also has a specific assignment, purpose, or calling, to work through us for the Kingdom.
For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29)
However, before we can know and walk in our calling, it’s good to be sure we are walking in His will.
Let us explore three ways to confirm we are in the will of God.
- Biblical Lifestyle
- To know God’s will, we must know God’s Word.
- The first sign is to confirm we are living a biblical lifestyle.
- Do a self-check and compare our lifestyle to what the Word says.
- This biblical lifestyle includes our conduct, speech, thoughts, actions and everything we do, think, or say.
- Please note it is impossible for us to live according to God’s will and to live as the world does.
- We will be swimming upstream and against the current and the culture, when we are living in God’s will.
- To know God’s will listen to the Word of God.
- To know God’s will DO what the Word says.
As we dig into the Word it will ruffle our feathers and it will contradict our opinions, if this does not happen, we are not looking closely enough.
A Living Sacrifice to God And so, 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. (Romans 12:1-2)
2. Peace of Mind
- In the middle of storms, we can be calm and have total peace.
- If we are walking in a biblical lifestyle, the Holy Spirit will guide us.
- If there isn’t peace of mind, we probably are not in the will of God.
- If we are not focused on Him, we are not really following Him.
- If we are in the will of God we will not be shaken.
The Holy Spirit will protect and comfort us during tragedies and challenges = he will also sustain us if we are in the will of God. There will be strength during hardship. When living outside of the will of God, nothing will bring us peace.
- There is no peace when we walk in disobedience.
- There is no peace when we walk away from our calling.
- There is no peace when we continue to sin
- There is no peace when we shun the will of God
Look at the example of Jonah, when he was running from not only God’s will but his calling. He was thrown overboard because even wicked men could sense something was wrong in his life.
And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. (2 Peter 2:20-21)
3. Things are not always going to be peaceful
- Things are not always going to be peaceful when we are in the will of God.
- We can have peace within, however, things around us may not be peaceful.
- Paul was in prison for most of his ministry (ministry headquarters), he was beaten, rejected, and abandoned.
- Sometimes God’s will, will make us nervous.
- Sometimes we get stuck in a life and stop reaching ahead, because of fear of taking the next step… it takes faith to expand and reach for more; instead of staying comfortable.
- Sometimes doing the will of God is scary.
- Don’t make the mistake of thinking lack of peace or discomfort in the situation is a sign to not move forward.
- Opportunities can be missed if we do not take steps of faith regardless of the discomfort and what appears risky.
- If we do everything on our own, we don’t need God
- Just because things are difficult it doesn’t mean it’s not the will of God
- Give Paul as an example – what if he quit…
- If where we are in our walk with the Lord does not require faith, we are not in the will of God
- If where we are going with goals and plans does not require faith we are not going into the will of God
- Jesus suffered, nevertheless He still fulfilled God’s will and purpose.
He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me. ”He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”(Matthew 26:38-39)
It takes one step of faith after another to move forward and out of the comfort zone…
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
3 signs we are in the will of God
Biblical lifestyle: Does my lifestyle measure up with the Word?
Peace of Mind: Do I have peace during storms?
Things may get rough: Do I have a need for faith?