Discovering the Will of God
“...that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” Colossians 1:9 (NKJV)
One of the most important pursuits of every believer should be the knowledge of God's will. There is a way God desires us to live, there are instructions He has given us, and there are purposes He intends to accomplish through our lives. The believer must therefore develop a genuine desire to understand what pleases God and to walk in agreement with His intentions. Paul prayed for the Colossian believers to be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding because understanding God's will is essential to living a life that is pleasing to Him.
There are aspects of God's will that have already been clearly revealed in Scripture. We know, for instance, that God desires us to walk in holiness, give thanks, love one another, and grow in the knowledge of Christ. We do not need to spend our lives searching for a special revelation about instructions God has already communicated. As we give ourselves to studying His Word, our understanding becomes established, and we learn to recognize the principles that should guide our conduct.
There are also decisions where the Scriptures may not mention the exact choice before us, such as the particular career to pursue, the business to establish, or the location in which to live. In these situations, we must learn to pray for wisdom, consider the facts available to us, examine our motives, and seek sound counsel where necessary. We should never use claims about divine direction as an excuse for carelessness or irresponsibility. The believer who desires to walk in God's will must also be willing to develop the wisdom and maturity necessary to make responsible decisions.
Prayer
Father, fill me with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Help me to recognize what pleases You and to make decisions that agree with Your purposes, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Confession
I am growing in the knowledge of God's will. I receive wisdom and spiritual understanding, and my decisions are increasingly aligned with His Word.
Further reading: Ephesians 5:15–17, Romans 12:1–2, Proverbs 3:5–7.