(Read John 10)
I love playing on the water. This must be a confession from a child’s heart regarding my maturity level. Anything from surfing, paddleboarding, body surfing, to sailing — it doesn’t matter. So, when I was learning how to windsurf, I couldn’t figure out why the learning curve was so steep. I have pretty good balance and have been surfing since I was 12, so I figured it would be a cakewalk with a large board under my feet and a big sail full of wind pulling me around the water. After numerous plunges under the water and some choice words I shouldn’t have used in front of my mother-in-law, even if they were under the water, it occurred to me that I was missing a key ingredient—the wind.
I knew how to sail from sailing a sunfish around the bay for years as a kid. While I’m no expert, the principles are basic. Knowing the direction of the wind and putting myself between the wind and the sail is all I needed to remember. Applying this principle to windsurfing made a world of difference. To learn and progress, I had to do one thing before I could do another. This is equally true when it comes to knowing the will of God. We can’t know His will if we don’t first walk with Him.
My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me.
John 10:27
In this statement, Jesus “knowing His sheep” means that He knows those who truly believe in Him and follow him. Jesus also says that His sheep hear His voice. This means that they are responsive to His teachings and guidance. Jesus knows His sheep intimately. He knows their names, strengths and weaknesses, hopes and fears. If we are Jesus’ followers, we recognize His voice and distinguish it from the voices of others, and this is only possible when we have a personal relationship with Him and have come to know His voice through prayer, Bible study, worship, and other things revealed to us.
Several aspects of God’s will are clearly spelled out in the Bible regarding right and wrong and other black-and-white things. His instructions are very explicit about many things and sometimes more subtle when it comes to understanding Him. But can we understand Him if we don’t know Him? This reminds me of the richness of my dialog with close friends and family. When talking with a stranger, we share superficial, and maybe even personal stories, but we still don’t know each other’s hearts. When speaking with someone we have a love relationship with, we’re connecting on a different plane. A reciprocal exchange of our joys, fears, and sorrows with people we love allows us inside. It’s the same way with God.
How can we know God’s will? By simply asking Him. Prayers are one of the ways we can learn to know God better. It’s not just us talking; it’s a dialog. We should be seeking Him. What does He want? What is He doing, and how can we meet Him there?
“We ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.”
Colossians 1:9-10
Paul prayed to the Colossian believers that they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in wisdom and spiritual understanding so that they could live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way, bearing fruit in and growing in the knowledge of God. Notice that Paul didn’t say he wanted to be filled with knowledge of God’s will in my life, or God’s will in my career choices, what car to buy, or what color shirt to wear. Paul wasn’t talking about intellectual wisdom either; he was talking about eternal things.
Growing in the knowledge of God is not a one-time event but an ongoing process, a lifelong journey deepening our relationship with God and understanding His will more fully. As someone suffering from ADD, I don’t always hear God speaking to me in silence. My mind is busy and noisy. I think having silence is less important than being able to hear God above our distractions. A friend told me today that he finds closeness with God through action. “I can’t be sitting or praying in a quiet room, but if I’m on a hike or doing something intentional, I can pray. I need motion and action around me,” he said. “Even with a rucksack on my back, if I’m walking towards impending danger, I feel very close to God. It gives me calm, and I can pray, I can hear God.”
Knowledge of God through prayer is a conversation, not a monologue. Be still and listen doesn’t have to refer to being quiet, it’s being quiet enough to hear God’s voice. Since God is always speaking, we need to make sure that through prayer, study of His Word, conversations with other believers, worship, and circumstances, like a Bluetooth device, we’re always seeking His signal. This morning, I wondered how many times I missed His voice in my life because I was too busy, proud, or separated to hear it.
“Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3:35
I love this passage! This speaks to me about God’s sovereign love and the community of His Kingdom. God’s will is not just revealed through prayer and His Word but also through other believers. Another friend is in overtime of a lengthy game of a possible career switch. He has been struggling with his dilemma for almost nine months. Through the profoundly personal conversations of our paddleboard talks, we’ve traded thoughts and doubts about all kinds of things. The most impressive part to me is the encouraging love of God that permeates each session. We’ve talked about pros and cons, change vs. status quo, revelations from Scripture, and circumstances, but most of all, we look through his situation to the will of God. While this is my friend’s big quandary, I feel raised up to feeling God’s will more from the conversations than he might be.
It’s a reminder of the deep spiritual connection that binds believers together in the family of God. Those who follow God’s will are part of a spiritual family that transcends blood relationships and is united by a common faith and commitment to God.
A different friend of mine has been giving up an amazing amount of his free time to help with construction and build cabinets for our house. He is one of the kindest, most humble people I know. As with most construction projects, there are no simple shortcuts. There are always surprises, not to mention last-minute changes my wife or I make. Despite our fickle deliberations, he keeps saying, “No, I like doing this kind of thing; it’s about what you want.” That points like a laser to God’s love for His children. Our friend’s willful and joyful service and immense sacrifice of time is a reflection of the servant attitude of Christ in His mission on Earth. We couldn’t be more grateful for the sliver of light that emanates through our friend from God’s will to us.
I thought about a few significant changes I had been considering making. Then it dawned on me. It’s not about God’s will for me, it’s about God’s will. Seeking God’s will is finding Him, not Him meeting me where I am. Maybe God’s will is about me bringing others to Him, encouraging others, and in doing so, glorifying Him. God’s will isn’t about my career either, it’s about seeking, learning, and knowing Him so He can work through me. God, not circumstances, should guide our choices.
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
Psalm 119:105
Meditating on God’s Word can light the way to us being closer to God and knowing His will better. Not only has God given us all the tools to have a personal relationship with Him, but He is actively speaking to us. We need to obey what we already know to be God’s Will.
Knowing the will of God requires us first to know God, and to know God we must love Him. We are taking our first step in our walk with God by seeking Him, reading His Word, connecting with other believers, praying powerfully, and worshiping faithfully. Only then can we run.
But when we’re not cultivating a close relationship with God, then it is only a matter of time until someone or something takes His place.
Greg Laurie
Key Applications:
- When seeking God’s will, it’s essential to be fully open to whatever God wants. God’s plans come before ours. We should never go to God to get approval for our plans. Trust in God’s plans for big things, turn to Him, trust, and rely on Him.
- Find mature, dedicated Christians and share with them the decisions you’re up against. You may hear answers you don’t like, but you’ll get a Godly perspective to think about.
- Pray, ask God where He is, and walk there.
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.