How You Can Know God's Will for Your Life
Two helpful concepts: Logos and RhemaWe now come to the point where we ask about God's will for your life? How does one know it? Proverbs 22:17-18 states: "17Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips." In these two verses we see two aspects of God's voice speaking to us from the scriptures: God's word in general, or logos (written word applicable to all people, at all places at all times) and God's specific word, or rhema (a specific insight from scripture that is applicable to a specific person, at a particular place at a particular time).
Even when God gives you an insight (a rhema) throughout the day, that undoubtedly came as a result of your prior meditation and reading of the scripture (that is, the logos). Remember, a true rhema never conflicts nor replaces the objective logos of the scriptures. When Jesus was speaking for to the disciples in Luke 24, He was giving them the Logos or general word of the law and prophets of things concerning Himself. By God's grace their eyes were opened, they heard what Jesus was saying and they were given a specific word (a rhema) that the one speaking to them was Christ. They saw that those words had immediate application to them.
With these thoughts in mind, I want to lay out principles that I have found helpful in discerning God's will for my own life. The first principle acts as the reference point for the other three. My prayer is that you will find these principles to be helpful as well.
1. God's Will is Discovered from the scriptures.
-Psalm 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
-2 Timothy 3:16-17 "16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
2. God's Will is Clarified through Godly Counsel
-Proverbs 15:22 "Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established."
-Proverbs 24:6 "6For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety."
3. God's Will is confirmed with peace by the Holy Spirit
-The Holy Spirit may say "no" as in Acts 16:6
-The Holy Spirit may say "yes" and give you confident assurance about a particular direction as in Acts 16:10
4. God's Will uses circumstances to steer in a certain direction
-Acts 17:16 16Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
May God bless you dear reader, as you aim to not only know, but do His will.
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