How to Understand God’s Will

In order to do God’s will we must first know His will. In order to have real satisfaction, rest, and contentment in the Christian life—and there is no true rest outside the Christian life—we must have the full assurance that we are doing the will of God. The soul that loves God cannot be satisfied with anything less than this. As long as there is a doubt, there cannot be perfect contentment. We must have a perfect knowledge of God’s will concerning us, or else we shall not fully know we are doing His will.

Many are saying, “I would gladly do God’s will if I only knew what is His will.” Such ones have not reached that nearness to God that they should. There should always be a clear and definite understanding between God and His children. “My sheep,” Jesus says, “hear my voice”* (John 10:27); and we know that God hears the voice of His children. We can talk to God and God to us; consequently, there can be understanding between us. You can live close enough to God to know His will—not merely to suppose His will or take it for granted, but to know it because He told you. A man’s employees may suppose they are doing what he wants them to do, but this does not give them full assurance. It is only when they have been in his presence and heard him express his will that they know they are doing it. You can know God’s will. You need not spend one day without knowing you are in His order.

The Scripture says, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”* (Ephesians 5:17) In the verses preceding this one, we are told to walk circumspectly and to redeem the time. We need to know God’s will that we may use every opportunity to the greatest advantage. To pass along day after day without a definite knowledge of being in the will of God or without taking much thought about it or earnestly seeking to know it, is living on entirely too low a spiritual plane. God wants you to come up higher—high enough and close enough to know His will. Has not God purchased you? You are His servant, His bond slave. You are to do everything you do for Him. He who has men in his employ expects them to do his will. They do not go out a single day ignorant of his will. They do not always wait to be told what to do, but they make inquiry. With many there may not be enough earnest seeking after God to know His will.

In order to know God’s will there must be a perfect consecration to God. The soul must lay down her own will and present herself before God as much as to say, “I give up my way and will forever to be Thine and Thine alone; to love Thee and serve Thee; to do Thy whole will now and forever.” There must be humility before God; a deep inner consciousness of your nothingness and your inability to accomplish anything in life of yourself. “The meek will he guide in judgment.”* (Psalm 25:9) We must be meek and humble before the Lord and confess that we are dependent on Him and that life will be an utter failure unless He wills and guides and plans and works in us and with us and for us.

There must be great love to God and an earnest desire to know His will. Without strong desire to know God’s will you can never learn it. It is those who desire that obtain answers to their prayers; and that desire must be really great. You must seek to know. Where there is great desire, there will be earnest seeking, but there will not be earnest seeking without fervent desire. The desire must be so intense that you feel as if you must know. You must feel that you cannot get along in life without knowing God’s will. You cannot be of any service to Him without having knowledge of His will. You must also have faith. When you ask God to teach you His will, you must believe He will do it, and He will do it. When He begins to unfold His will, you must move in His order without doubting or questioning. He will guide you and direct your every step, and you can know that you are doing the very thing God wants you to do. Bless His name! Such a life is heaven here.