You’ve been praying for months or maybe even years for something and until now you feel that God has been silent. Whether waiting for Mr. Right, a job or a business opportunity or simply the go signal to buy or not to buy, time and time again, I’ve been asked this question – “How do I know God’s will?”. Before I go on let me first ask you this question & I need you to be really honest about it, “In case you find out His will, are you ready to obey no matter what it may be?” If Not, then why even bother to know it? and why would God care to let you know?

 

In searching for God’s will, 99% of people don’t have a clue on how it will be revealed. Do they hear an audible voice? Will it be in a dream? An appearance? Though God can speak in a thundring voice full of power and might usually it is in the gentle sound of the wind that God chooses to speak. God can can use any form: An experience or circumstance (might be a tragedy or a victory), the Bible, signs, other people a dream or through the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). Whatever it is, the point is that God is constantly speaking to you right now. The question is “are you listening?”

 

Though no one can tell you exactly what God’s will is for you, my goal here is to help you know where to start. This is your journey, no one can take it for you. It’s entirely between you and God. You can fake it & trick yourself that you’re there, but in the end, you’ll be fooling nobody but yourself.

 

Here are guidelines on how you can know God’s will for you. I don’t believe in luck so I won’t say good luck in finding it. Instead, I do pray that you will find yourself at the center of His will.

 

1. Get all the facts
Before you even start, get all the facts. and I mean everything you need to know in order to make a wise decision. Make sure all your datas are correct. Dig a little deeper. Be sure you know what you need to know. Make your decision on verifiable facts whenever possible instead of on what you hope will happen.

 

2. Read the Bible
The bible isn't just read as a story book. Its God's message to you. Start your kids early on.

The bible isn’t just read as a story book. Its God’s message to you. Start your kids early on.

 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” Psalm 119:105

 

You’re talking about God’s will and what He wants you to do. If you want to know it then you gotta know God first – what he likes and hates. I am 100% sure that whatever God’s will is, it won’t go against its own word – the bible. So to eliminate your choices, read the bible and take out those that you know God won’t make you do.

 

On a plane, I met a girl who saw me reading the bible. She asked “Are you a pastor?” I said no. She said “you seem to be a man of God can you give me some advice? I recently broke up with a boyfriend who tricked me & stole my apartment in Las Vegas. I was wondering why this would happen when I simply followed God?” I wondered how this was so and asked her to elaborate and it turns out she broke up from her husband because she had a lover and one day while in a mass she prayed “Lord, whoever it is you want for me let him be there when I turn around after I pray.” So she turned, saw the lover by coincidence and broke up with the husband. My reply to her was “Ma’am if you read the Bible, you’d know that God is against divorce and so whoever it is that spoke to you that day in church wasn’t God and this was definitely not God’s will for you.”

 

3. Consult Godly counsel
In 2002, when I didn't know whether to pursue Photography. God gave me a mentor / friend to push me - Bert Dimson.

In 2002, when I didn’t know whether to pursue Photography. God gave me a mentor / friend to push me – Bert Dimson.

“The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice” Proverbs 12:15

 

Take note… I said “Godly” counsel and not just counsel.
Who do you run to when you need advice? What makes them credible enough to be your go to people? How are their morals? Are they indeed Godly people? Sometimes we are guilty of seeking people who we know will give advice that favors the choice we wantin the first place.

 

I have a friend who after finding out that his wife had cheated on him went out drinking with friends. After telling them what happened all 6 of them had one advice. “Leave her!” it was a good thing this guy thought of coming to me and I gave him an advice to stick to his commitment and accept the wife back but with a set of rules and conditions. He said this was the only advice that gave him peace.

 

So go ahead… draw up your options and then consult someone who you know Loves you enough to tell you not just what you want to hear but what you need to hear.

 

4. See what is Practical

 

When I say practical, I mean these 3 things.

 

a. The Opportunities given to you – What is unfolding before you? Perhaps God is speaking to you by shoving an opportunity right in your face. Is it a job offer that’s been chasing you for the past 2 years? Is it a friend who seems to be always there just when you need him/her? List down all your options and pick out the thing that makes sense the most.

 

b. The talents God have given you – If God has blessed you with a talent, I’m sure he doesn’t want that to go to waste. Why not check if you can make money out of this… Finding a partner? maybe God wants you to partner with someone who compliments your gifting. Doesn’t make sense to start for example a manpower agency if you’re not good in managing people, or why start a restaurant if you don’t know how to cook. Though you can hire outside workers with the skill, being gifted yourself is definitely an advantage and can be a clue to what God’s will is for you.

 

God always equips us to do what he calls us to do. If you aren’t gifted in a certain area, God is probably not calling you to minister in that area.

 

My daughter Jazz has been gifted with a great voice and the skill to play guitar - much like her mom.

My daughter Jazz has been gifted with a great voice and the skill to play guitar – much like her mom.

 

c. Available resource – Resource are things that are in limited supply, what do you have currently? Are you rich in time? Do you have money to burn? Maybe God wants you to leverage that as part of his will.

 

We originally wanted to do farming because Monique’s family owned several hectares of land in Iloilo. When we flew there we discovered that every square inch of it was used for Sugar cane. Based on research Sugar Cane pretty much destroys the land because of all the pesticides that are needed. We scrapped this off for now as this is probably not God’s will yet.

 

Though God sometimes asks us to take leap of faiths, I believe the will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you. Meaning, it might not be practical now… but after obedience, God will make it so.
When I was a kid, I already loved photography. Unfortunately, I didn't have money to buy my camera. In 1996 I used all my Angapao's to buy my first SLR camera.

When I was a kid, I already loved photography. Unfortunately, I didn’t have money to buy my camera. In 1996 I used all my Angapao’s to buy my first SLR camera.

 

5. See what gives you peace

 

“The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever” Isaiah 32:17

 

Sometimes, Though sometimes God’s will isn’t the most obvious or easiest to digest and may sometimes even be illogical. I am sure that whatever it is, it will give you much peace and peace from all sides.
Scuba Diving is considered as dangerous sport (daw) but as long as you're doing God's will who cares? You have peace!

Scuba Diving is considered as dangerous sport (daw) but as long as you’re doing God’s will who cares? You have peace!

 

6. PRAY

 

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” James 1:5

 

Having completed and checked everything above, pray again (because each step should be actually done with lots of prayer). This time, silence yourself. Let go of what you want and surrender it to God. Ask God to reveal to you what he wants for you and that you’d be ready to obey it regardless of what it is.

 

Lastly, here is a poem I found that speaks much about God’s will.

 

The will of God will never take you,
Where the grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the arms of God cannot support you
Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the power of God cannot endow you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the army of God cannot protect you,
Where the hands of God cannot mold you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.
Everything happens for a purpose.
We may not see the wisdom of it all now,
but trust and believe in the Lord that everything is for the best.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

 

 

Ending notes:
Incase you make the wrong decision, don’t worry. If you read the Bible, it has stories of people who makes wrong decisions but still God uses them. Examples are Samson (yes he is not a myth), Abraham and David. They all at some point in their life veered away from God’s will but still in the end God used them to accomplish his will. Whether good or bad, rest assured God knows the mistakes we will make before we even commit them and God can use them.

 

There will be times, when God has not yet revealed to you His will. Perhaps its not the right time yet. What do you do? Until God moves you, “Bloom where you planted”. You might be sick and tired of your job or itching to get away from your parents or not sure about your 5 year boyfriend, until you get a clear direction from God. Stay put and do your best.