Six Steps to Knowing God's Will

One key aspect of the will of God is genuine submission to God.

George Mueller stated that 90 percent of the problems in regard to the will of God are related to not being truly submissive to God. Let us heed the wise counsel of the German reformer Martin Luther, who stated, "I have held many things in my hands, and have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hand, that I still possess."

Look at the six points that Mueller outlined in regard to his own pursuit of God's will.

1. I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.

2. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If I do so, I make myself liable to great delusions.

3. I see the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Spirit guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.

4. Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God's will in connection with His Word and Spirit.

5. I ask God in prayer to reveal His will to me aright.

6. Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge; and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. In trivial matters, and in transactions involving more important issues, I have found this method always effective.

- Bill Thrasher, Living the Life God has Planned

Link: Enquiring of the LORD (9 Apr 10)