The notion of being "in" or "out of God's will" is binding, harmful and destructive. It produces guilt, shame, fear and anxiety.
God's will for us is clear and simple. We are to love him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and our neighbors as ourselves. In fact we are told this is the *greatest expression of his will, yetwho among us of us does this perfectly.
If we don't, does that mean we are now "out of God's will" and forever off track to fulfilling “our destiny" or "God's will for our lives" when we don't?
Typically when someone says they are anxious about missing God's will, they are referring to "vocational" type decisions such as whether to marry this person or not, to take this or that job, buy this or that house, move to this or that location etc.
However these are more our concern then God's. God says whatever we do, do it for his glory. In Gods economy why we do things is stressed and far more important than what we do. What we do is determined more by our skills, gifting and circumstances.
It's not that God doesn't care about the “what” decisions or we shouldn't pray about them but only as we assess if we are doing them for his honor or not. Then we can better assess if, when and how our choice fit our skills and circumstances. Using all he has give us is part of doing things for his glory.
I have found of myself and in observing others, the biggest reason we are so concerned about "vocational" type decisions is we do not wish to be responsible if the outcome is not favorable (e.g. it's not my fault things didn't work out, it's God's) when in fact these type of decisions are exactly the ones God calls us to make and be responsible for.
Someone once said it is not what I don't know about God's will that is most challenging but what I do know. How well do we love God with all our heart? This should be our primary focus and concern.
Regarding Gods will we are told to following...
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and Acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, thatby testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Rom 12.1-2
This passage tells us discerning the unknown will of God (i.e. vocational type decisions) is contingent on living out the known will of God i.e. If you wish to discern what is God’s good, acceptable and perfect will for you, present your self in sacrificial obedience to God and align your thinking and will with His. As you do he will guide you.
For a further discussion click here
For a further discussion click here
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* this is sometimes referred to as the revealed will of God whereas vocational type decisions are referred to as the secret or hidden will of God.
