Finding God's Will

by

Zac Poonen
 Copyright – Zac Poonen (1971) Contents
Paperback ISBN: 9789190565813
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Kindle ISBN: 9789384302597
This Book and You.......................................... v
PDF ISBN: 9789384302900 1. God’s Plan for Your Life............................... 1
This book has been copyrighted to prevent misuse. 2. Conditions for Finding God’s Will................. 9

It should not be reprinted or translated without written 3. Guidance Through the Inner Witness........... 31
permission from the author.
4. Guidance Through External Means.............. 41
Permission is however given for any part of this book 5. Vocational Calling........................................ 59
to be downloaded and printed provided it is for FREE
distribution, provided NO ALTERATIONS are made, provided 6. Final Consideration..................................... 65
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iii
 This Book and You

Many Christians are confused about how to find the

will of God for their lives. This book is an attempt to
help them. It presents no perfect formula for infal-
lible guidance, for the Bible presents none. We must
beware of seeking Divine guidance in a mechanical
rather than in a spiritual way.
This book is not meant to provide you with all the
answers. Its main purpose is to encourage you to be
more dependent on the Holy Spirit. Watchman Nee
has said,

“We human beings are not to produce ‘perfect’

books. The danger of such perfection is that a
man can understand without the help of the Holy
Spirit. But if God gives us books they will ever be
broken fragments, not always clear or consistent
or logical, lacking conclusions, and yet coming
to us in life and ministering life to us. We cannot
dissect Divine facts and outline and systema-
tize them. It is only the immature Christian who
demands always to have intellectually satisfy-
ing conclusions. The Word of God itself has this
fundamental character, that it speaks always and
essentially to our spirit and to our life.”

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 This Book and You This Book and You

May this book impart not merely information to your American Standard Bible. I gratefully acknowledge
mind, but above all, life to your spirit. permission to use the quotations from these versions.
A word concerning the content of this book: No I am indebted to a number of the Lord’s servants
paragraph, or even chapter, is complete in itself, if it who read through the original manuscript of this
is not read in the context of the whole book. In some book and offered helpful suggestions.
cases, even if one sentence in the book is ignored or
carelessly read, it may result in an entirely different
impression being conveyed, from the one intended. I
would therefore urge the reader to read through the
book slowly and carefully (read it twice if possible) in
order to get the message correctly.
Chapter Two is perhaps the most important chapter
in the book. If we fulfil the conditions for finding God’s
will, then guidance invariably becomes a simple
matter. When we get bogged down, it is usually due
to some prerequisite remaining unfulfilled in our life.
May the Lord help each of us to glorify Him by doing
His will on earth as it is done in heaven.
I have not used the King James Versions herein, lest
its archaic language prevent us from understanding
the real meaning of Scripture. I have instead, used
modern translations for all Scripture quotations. I
once heard an adaptation of the incident described
in Acts 8:30, 31. Philip asks the Ethiopian states-
man, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
The latter replies, “How can I unless some one gives
me a modern translation?”
Scripture quotations are from the Amplified Bible
* except where otherwise stated, “JBP” refers to J.B.
Phillips translation of the New Testament. ** “TLB”
refers to “The Living Bible” Kenneth Taylor’s para-
phrase of the Scriptures. “NASB” refers to the New

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 Chapter 1

God’s Plan for Your Life

Man’s greatest honour and privilege is to do the will

of God. This was what the Lord Jesus taught His
disciples. He once said that only those who did His
Father’s will would enter the kingdom of Heaven
(Matthew 7:21). He also said that His true broth-
ers and sisters were those who did the will of God
(Matthew 12:50).
This emphasis was duly passed on by the apostles
to their generation. Peter declared that God sets men
free from sin so that they can do His will (1 Peter
4:1, 2). Paul asserted that believers are created anew
in Christ Jesus so that they can walk in a path
God has already mapped out for them. He therefore
exhorted the Ephesian Christians not to be foolish,
but to understand what the will of the Lord was for
their lives (Ephesians 2:10; 5:17). He prayed for the
Colossian Christians that they might be filled with
the knowledge of God’s will. He told them that his
co-worker Epaphras was also praying for them that
they might fulfil all the will of God (Colossians 1:9;
4:12). The apostle John taught that only those who
did the will of God would abide forever (1 John 2:17).
This emphasis is unfortunately rare in our
day and generation. Hence the shallowness and

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 Finding God’s Will God’s Plan for Your Life

powerlessness of the average believer today. Men are God’s Plan is the Best
urged to come to Jesus merely to receive forgiveness.
It is the height of folly not to seek God’s guidance.
In apostolic times, people were told that forgiveness
If you were alone in the middle of a thick forest on
of sins was to be only a prelude to a life dedicated to
a pitch dark night, not knowing which way to turn,
the fulfilment of the whole will of God.
you would be glad to have with you someone who
Acts 13:22 seems to imply that David was called
knew every inch of the forest and whom you could
“a man after God’s own heart” because he desired to
trust fully. You would soon follow without question
do the will of God alone. David himself tells us else-
whatever way he took. It would be foolish to ignore
where that he delighted in doing God’s will (Psalms
his advice and to move on your own into that dark
4:8). He was not a perfect man. He committed many
and dense forest, full of hidden dangers. Yet many
sins, some very serious ones, for which God had to
believers do just that sort of thing.
punish him severely. Yet God forgave him and found
The future that lies before us is darker than
pleasure in him because basically David wanted to
anything on earth could possibly be. We can see
do all of God’s will. This encourages us to believe
nothing ahead. Yet we have to move forward.
that in spite of all our imperfections, we too can be
We sometimes come to crossroads in our lives,
men and women after God’s own heart – if only our
where we have to make decisions with far-reaching
hearts are set on doing His will.
consequences. Decisions such as the choice of a
The New Testament urges believers to walk as Jesus
career and a life-partner affect our entire future. How
walked, following His example. The guiding principle
are we to decide at such times? We know nothing of
of Jesus’ entire life and ministry was to do the will of
the dangers and the hidden pitfalls along each path.
His Father. He never moved until His Father told Him
We know nothing of the snares Satan has laid for us.
to. And when He did move, neither the threats of His
And yet – we have to decide which path to take.
enemies nor the pleadings of His friends could stop
It would therefore be not only desirable but neces-
Him from doing what His Father required of Him. His
sary for us to have someone beside us at such times
daily food was to fulfil His Father’s will (John 4:34).
whom we can trust fully, who knows the entire
As men crave for food to nourish their bodies, He
future. In the Lord Jesus Christ, we have just such a
craved to do the will of the One Who had sent Him.
Person, and He is more than eager to guide us along
Every believer should have a similar hunger to
the safest and best path.
fulfil all the will of God. How easy it is to pray, “Thy
The Bible teaches that God has a specific plan for
will be done on earth as it is in Heaven,” and then to
each of our lives (Ephesians 2:10). He has planned a
do just as we please, without seeking God’s guidance
career for us, chosen a life-partner for us and even
in our daily lives.
planned where we should live and what we should

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 Finding God’s Will God’s Plan for Your Life

do each day. In every case, His choice must be the “Come to Me and I will give you rest – all of you who
best, for He knows us so well and He takes every work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear My yoke
factor into consideration. It is wisest then to seek His … and let Me teach you (as the older ox teaches the
will in all matters – major as well as minor. inexperienced one) … and you shall find rest for your
It is not only foolish but dangerous to follow the souls; for I give you only light burdens” (Matthew
reasoning of our limited intellects and the dictates 11:28–30 - TLB).
of our emotions alone. Unless we are gripped by the We read of Enoch that he “walked with God”
conviction that God’s plan is indeed the best, we are (Genesis 5:22) – i.e., he did not rush ahead nor lag
not likely to be in earnest about seeking it. behind, but walked in God’s appointed path as one
Many have made shipwreck of their lives by failing under the yoke – for three hundred years. As a result,
to seek the will of God right from their youth. It is God testified that He was pleased with Enoch’s life
indeed “good for a man that he bear the yoke in his (Hebrews 11:5). This is the only way that we please
youth” (Lamentations 3:27). In Matthew 11:28–30, God – by living and moving under His yoke, in His
Jesus invites us to take His yoke upon us. What perfect will. Only thus shall we be able to stand
does it mean to take the yoke? Oxen that are used to before Him without regret when He comes again.
plough fields are kept together by a yoke upon their
necks. When a new ox is to be trained to plough, it is
Missing God’s Plan
yoked together with an experienced ox. The new one
is thus compelled to walk in the same direction and It is possible for a believer to miss God’s perfect will
at the same speed as the older ox. for his life. Saul was chosen by God to be king over
This is what it means to take the yoke of Jesus Israel, but eventually as a result of his impatience
upon us. We shall have to walk with Jesus in the and disobedience, God had to reject him. True, he
path that pleases Him, never rushing ahead to do remained on the throne for some years more, but he
anything without His leading, nor lagging behind had missed God’s will for his life. Solomon is another
when He calls to some new step of obedience. Few example. He pleased God in this earlier years, but
understand this meaning of the yoke. Fewer still are fell away later through marrying heathen women.
willing to accept it. The ox is forced by its owner to Twice in the New Testament we are exhorted to
take the yoke upon its neck. But Jesus invites us. take a warning from the example of the Israelites
There is no compulsion here. How foolish we are to who perished in the wilderness. God’s perfect will
reject this invitation! We would rather take the heavy for them was that they should enter Canaan. But
yoke of our own self-will with its accompanying frus- all except two of them missed God’s best through
trations, defeats, and regrets, than the light yoke of unbelief and disobedience (1 Corinthians 10:1–12;
Jesus that brings true liberty and deep rest! Hebrews 3:7–14). Many believers have similarly

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 Finding God’s Will God’s Plan for Your Life

missed God’s perfect plan for their lives through words and this testimony lest you too miss His
disobedience and compromise – often in marriage or first choice. God, doubtless, will use any life that
in the choice of a career. is submitted to His hands, anywhere along life’s
G Christian Weiss in his book, ‘The Perfect Will pathway, but let us be among those who have
of God’, tells of a teacher in a Bible School who told sought and surrendered to His will at the outset
his students one day, “I have lived most of my life of life’s journey, and thus avoid those painful and
on God’s second best”. God had called him to be a shameful detours along the way.”
missionary in his younger days, but he had turned
aside from that calling as a result of marriage. He We just cannot live the victorious life or be of
then began a selfish business life, working in a bank, maximum use to the Lord, or be a blessing to others
with the primary purpose of making money. God in any place we choose. Some may feel that they can
continued to speak to him for a number of years, but choose their own career and their place of residence
he refused to yield. One day his little child had a fall and then seek to be a witness for the Lord wher-
from a chair and died. This drove him to his knees, ever they are. The Lord may in His mercy use such
and after a whole night spent in tears before God, believers in a limited way. But their usefulness in
he put his life into God’s hands completely. It was God’s vineyard will be only a fraction of what it could
too late for him to go to Africa now. That door was have been had they earnestly sought His plan and
closed. He knew that had been God’s best for him, remained in the centre of His perfect will. Stunted
but he had missed it. All that he could do was to ask spiritual growth and limited fruitfulness are but the
God to put the rest of his life to some use. He became consequences of a careless disregard of God’s laws.
a teacher in a Bible School, but could never forget If you have disobeyed God in some matter, turn to
that this was only God’s second-best. Him in repentance now, before it is too late. It may
Weiss continues to say, yet be possible for you, as in Jonah’s case, to come
back into the mainstream of God’s plan for your life.
“I have since met numerous people who have Each of us has but one life. Blessed is the man
borne similar testimony. Usually these testimo- who like Paul, can say at the end of it, that he has
nies have been bathed, or at least marked, with finished his God-appointed task (2 Timothy 4:7).
bitter tears. For while, thank God, He has ways of
using even those who have sinned and have gone “The world and all its passionate desires will
past that single entrance into the channel of His one day disappear. But the man who is following
perfect will, life can never be the way He originally God’s will is part of the Permanent and cannot die”
intended it. It is a tragedy to miss the perfect will (1 John 2:17 - JBP).
of God for one’s life. Christian, mark well these

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 Finding God’s Will

“Live life then with a due sense of responsibility,

not as men who do not know the meaning and
purpose of life, but as those who do. Make the best
use of your time, despite all the difficulties of these
days. Don’t be vague but firmly grasp what you
Chapter 2
know to be the will of God”
(Ephesians 5:15–17 - JPB). Conditions for Finding God’s Will

Summary Divine guidance cannot be considered by itself apart

1. The Lord Jesus and His apostles taught that from our personal relationship with God. Many
man’s greatest honour and privilege is to do the desire the gifts but not the Giver. If we long for guid-
will of God. ance but do not thirst for God Himself, we shall not
2. It is foolish to move into the future on our own obtain the guidance we seek.
when God is waiting to guide us. His plan is the A person must be in fellowship with God in order
best. If we yield to Him, He can save us from to experience His guidance in his life. This implies,
Satan’s snares. first of all, that he should have come into a vital rela-
3. It is possible to miss God’s perfect will for our tionship with Christ through the new birth. But this
lives through carelessness or disobedience. alone is not enough. There are certain other essen-
tial conditions to be fulfilled if we are to know God’s
leading. These prerequisites are mentioned in two
passages of Scripture, one in the Old Testament
and the other in the New (Proverbs 3:5, 6; Romans
12:1, 2). Let us consider these passages in detail.

Faith
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and mind …
and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).

There are many who never come to a knowledge of

God’s will, because they simply do not believe God
will guide them. Faith is a prime prerequisite when

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 Finding God’s Will Conditions for Finding God’s Will

we are seeking God’s guidance. By faith we mean not In Hebrews 11:6, we are told that without faith it
merely a mental acceptance of truth but a confidence is impossible to please God. The verse goes on to say
in God that comes through personal knowledge of that those who come to God must believe that He is
Him. a rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek
When we lack wisdom (knowledge of God’s mind Him. The evidence of a person’s faith is found in his
in a certain situation) we are invited to ask God for persistence in prayer. The one who doubts will stop
this and we are promised that He will grant it to us praying very soon. But the one who believes will lay
in abundance – provided we ask in faith. The one hold of God until he gets an answer. God honours
who asks without faith invariably receives nothing earnestness because it is the product of a strong
(James 1:5–7). faith. We cannot receive anything precious from
Young believers may feel Divine guidance is avail- God without intensely desiring it first. “He satisfies
able only to the mature who have grown in the (only) the longing soul” (Psalms 107:9). God has said,
knowledge of the Lord for several years. It is no doubt “Then you will seek Me, inquire and require Me as a
true that the more we walk with God, the better we vital necessity and find Me; when you search for Me
can discern His mind. Nevertheless it is also true with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Is it not true
that God desires to guide all His children. What was that when seeking God’s guidance we have often
said to Paul is true for all of us – gone about it half-heartedly? When Jesus sought
the Father’s will in the garden of Gethsemane, He
“God … has destined and appointed you to prayed again and again “in desperate prayer and the
come progressively to know His will – that is, to agony of tears” (Hebrews 5:7 - JBP). How casual our
perceive, to recognize more strongly and clearly seeking is, when compared to that! We often seek
and to become better and more intimately God’s will with no more earnestness than we would
acquainted with His will” (Acts 22:14). have when searching for a lost five-paisa coin! No
wonder we don’t find it. If we value the will of God
A father gladly reveals to his children his desires and as the greatest treasure on earth, we will seek it will
plans for them – not only to the older ones but to the all our hearts. Do we really believe that God rewards
younger ones as well. It is the same with our Heavenly diligent seekers? Then our faith will manifest itself
Father. God has said in His Word that in this day of the in importunate prayer. If we are consumed with
New Covenant (or Testament) all His children – “from earnest desire to fulfil His will in every area of our
the least to the greatest” – will know Him personally lives, God will undoubtedly reveal His mind to us. He
(Hebrews 8:10, 11). Every one of us can then come to cannot but honour a faith that lays hold of Him until
Him “with the full assurance of faith” that He delights it received an answer.
to make His will known to His seeking children.

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 Finding God’s Will Conditions for Finding God’s Will

Faith, in the Bible, is often coupled with patience. 3, 5, 21). None who wait for the Lord’s time will ever
Both are necessary if we are to inherit God’s prom- regret having waited, for God “works and shows
ises (Hebrews 6:12, 15). David exhorts us (no doubt Himself active on behalf of him who (earnestly) waits
from his own experience), to commit our way to the for Him” (Isaiah 64:4; cf. 49:23).
Lord, trusting in Him and waiting patiently for His Often, it is only as we wait that God can make His
time and we are assured that He will not let us down mind clear to us. James McConkey in his booklet,
(Psalms 37:5, 7). One of the greatest temptations ‘Guidance’, has written, “Sometimes you draw from
when seeking God’s guidance is to fret and become the tap a glass of water which is muddy and turbid.
impatient. But the believing heart is a restful one. How do you clear it? You place the glass of muddy
There are some decisions for which we don’t need water on your table. Moment by moment the sedi-
to wait for a perfectly clear indication of the mind of ment deposits at the bottom of the glass. Gradually
the Lord. For example, if you are seeking the Lord’s the water grows clearer. In a few moments it is so
will as to whether you should commence a journey clear that you may distinguish objects through it. It
on the 15th or the 16th of the month, you need not has all been brought about simply by waiting. The
wait indefinitely for a clear word from Him. law is the same in the realm of guidance. Here, too,
Yet there are some decisions for which we must God’s great precipitant is waiting… As we do so, the
wait until we are perfectly clear about the will of God. sediment slowly settles… The trifling things assume
When considering marriage, for example, we cannot their proper subordinate place. The big things loom
afford to be uncertain. We have to be perfectly sure up into their proper importance. Waiting is the solu-
of God’s will before deciding. Such a decision is tion of it all… The vast majority of our mistakes come
obviously of greater moment than the former one, from neglect of it. Haste is more often a trap of Satan
because its effects are more far-reaching. The more than it is a necessity of guidance….
important the decision, the longer we usually have to “Sometimes our perplexity is so great that it seems
wait to be sure of God’s will. no guidance will ever come. For such times the
If we trust in the Lord, we won’t be afraid to wait. psalmist has a precious message in his word about
We will not seek to grab for ourselves ahead of God’s the night-watchers. ‘I am looking and waiting for the
time out of fear that we might lose the best by waiting. Lord more than watchmen for the morning’ (Psalms
God is well able to safeguard the best for us in every 130:6). How do men, who wait in the night hours
realm. When we grab impatiently, we invariably miss for the dawn, watch for the morning? The answer is
the Lord’s best. The Bible says that “he who believes four-fold:
… will not make haste” (Isaiah 28:16).
In the great “Guidance” Psalm – Psalm 25 – David “They watch in darkness. They watch for that
speaks again and again of waiting on the Lord (verses which comes slowly. They watch for that which is

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 Finding God’s Will Conditions for Finding God’s Will

sure to come. They watch for that which when it intelligence cannot by itself deprive a man of the
does come brings the light of day.” knowledge of God’s will, if the man leans upon God.
But proud dependence on one’s own cleverness and
“So it is with us who wait for guidance. Often our foresight can. Paul says in Philippians 3:3 that a
perplexity is so extreme that we seem to be waiting believer should be characterized by a lack of confi-
in total darkness. Often too as we wait, even as those dence in himself.
who wait for the day, the first faint streaks of dawn Paul was a mighty intellectual, but he still had to
seem to come, oh, so slowly! Then too, as there never distrust himself and lean upon God. From his own
yet has been a night of uncertainty as is sure to end experience he writes to the Corinthian Christians, “If
in the dawn, so our night of uncertainty is sure to any man among you thinks himself one of the world’s
end in the dawning light of God’s guidance. Lastly, clever ones let him discard his cleverness that he
as the slow-coming dawn, when it does arrive, brings may learn to be truly wise. For this world’s cleverness
light and blessing without measure, so when our is stupidity to God” (1 Corinthians 3:18, 19 - JBP).
God-given guidance at last breaks upon us it will Worldly wisdom is a hindrance to the knowing of
so gladden our waiting souls and so illumine our God’s will, and so must be discarded.
beclouded path, we shall almost forget the long days Lest this last statement be misunderstood, let me
when we waited in darkness.” add a word of explanation. Rejecting worldly wisdom
Beware of being in a hurry. Impatience always does not mean the non-use of our intellectual abili-
stems from unbelief. It was said of the Israelites in ties. Paul used his and it is unthinkable that he
the wilderness that “they did not (earnestly) wait would ever ask others not to use theirs. Worldly
for His plans (to develop) respecting them” (Psalm wisdom cannot refer to education and learning for
106:13). They missed God’s best thereby. May God both the learned Paul and the unlearned Corinthians
save us from such a tragedy. (to whom he was writing) had to discard it. It refers
to the measure of trust we put in our own cleverness,
whether our learning be much or little. It is a malady
Self-Distrust
that can afflict the learned and the unlearned alike.
“Do not rely on your own insight or under- The Bible likens believers to sheep. A sheep is a
standing…and He will direct your paths” foolish animal, unable to find its own way around,
(Proverbs 3:5, 6). and extremely short-sighted. Its only safety lies in
following its shepherd wherever he goes. This is a very
The one who does not distrust his own natural humiliating fact for self-confident man to acknowl-
wisdom in spiritual matters has yet to learn one of edge. His pride will rebel at the very suggestion of
the fundamental lessons of the Christian life. Meagre his being so stupid in spiritual matters. Yet this

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 Finding God’s Will Conditions for Finding God’s Will

utter distrust of self is an inescapable preliminary to We are sometimes eager to know God’s guidance
knowing God’s guidance in our lives. David took the in one area of our lives, but not so keen on having
place of a sheep before the Lord and thereby experi- His direction in other areas. For example, we may
enced Divine guidance – “The Lord is my Shepherd… earnestly seek God’s will in marriage, but may not do
He leads me… He leads me” (Psalm 23:1–3). so when looking for a job. Or it could be vice-versa.
Unless man humbles himself and takes this lowly Or perhaps we may seek God’s guidance how and
place, he cannot know the ways of God. “He will teach where to spend our month’s annual leave, but may
the ways that are right and best to those who humbly never ask Him how to spend our money.
turn to Him”, said David in Psalm 25:9 (TLB). Self- This is because we are inclined to want God’s
confidence may be all right for the man of the world guidance only when it is convenient for us. Selfish
but certainly not for the child of God. Herein lies the motives often lurk, unknown to us, in our hearts.
reason why many believers miss God’s plan for their We seek God’s will in some matters because we don’t
lives. Confident of their own abilities, they do not want to make mistakes that might cause us suffer-
earnestly seek the will of God. They depend instead ing or loss. The motive is not that we might please
upon their own genius and are thus led astray. God but that we might be comfortable and prosper-
God often allows failure and confusion in our lives ous. Hence we fail to receive God’s guidance, for He
in order that we might see the total depravity of our has promised to guide only those who acknowledge
hearts and the unreliability of our fallible intellects, Him in all their ways, those who gladly accept His
and thus learn the necessity of clinging more closely direction in every area of their lives.
to Him. One of the chief lessons which the Lord There are many areas in which God’s will is already
sought to teach His disciples was that without Him revealed to us in the Scriptures. For instance, the
they could do nothing (John 15:5). They were very Bible says that God wants us to be holy and thankful:
slow in learning this: so are we.
The humble man who recognizes his limitations “This is the will of God that you should be conse-
and leans heavily upon God will ascertain the Divine crated – separated and set apart for pure and
will without difficulty. The self-confident Doctor of holy living….
Theology, on the other hand, who depends on his
Seminary training, will be left groping in the darkness. “Thank God in everything – no matter what the
circumstances may be, be thankful and give
thanks; for this is the will of God for you (who are)
Obedience in Every Area
in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:18).
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will
direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6).

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 Finding God’s Will Conditions for Finding God’s Will

Similarly, we are told that God expects us to love our “As you go, step by step, I will open up the way before
neighbours as ourselves (Romans 13:9). If we have you”, is His promise (Proverbs 4:12 - Paraphrase). He
received God’s forgiveness and salvation, we should is interested in our every step.
desire the same for our neighbours. God’s will is
clearly revealed in the New Testament: we are to be “The steps of a (good) man are directed and
His witnesses (Acts 1:8). established of the Lord, when He delights in his
Loving our neighbours implies a concern primarily way and He busies Himself with his every step,”
for their spiritual needs, but does not exclude their (Psalm 37:23).
other needs. God has said,
Here is another promise of guidance for the obedient:
“I want you to share your food with the hungry
and bring right into your own homes those who are “I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you
helpless, poor and destitute. Clothe those who are along the best pathway for your life; I will advise
cold and don’t hide from relatives who need your you and watch your progress, (but) don’t be like a
help. If you do these things, God will shed His own senseless horse or mule.” (Psalm 32:8, 9 - TLB).
glorious light upon you… Then when you call, the
Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here.’ He will quickly (The horse is characterized by impatience always
reply. All you need to do is to stop oppressing the wanting to rush ahead whereas the mule is char-
weak, and to stop making false accusations and acterized by stubbornness often refusing to move
spreading vicious rumours! Feed the hungry! Help forward. We must avoid both these attitudes).
those in trouble! Then your light will shine out from God speaks to us through our consciences when
the darkness, and the darkness around you shall we are disobedient. We should therefore be careful
be as bright as day. And the Lord will guide you to heed the voice of conscience always. Jesus said,
continually” (Isaiah 58:7–11 - TLB).
“Your eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye
God delights to reveal His mind to those who are is sound and fulfilling its office, your whole body is
unselfishly concerned with the needs of others. full of light” (Luke 11:34).
If we fail to obey the Lord in these areas where He
has already revealed His will, then we cannot expect What did Jesus mean by the eye? In Matthew 5:8,
Him to guide us in other spheres. It is a principle of He connected spiritual vision with purity of heart.
Divine guidance that God never grants further light So the eye must refer to the conscience which when
to one who ignores the light he already has. God will obeyed constantly, leads us to purity of heart.
not show us the second step before we take the first.

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 Finding God’s Will Conditions for Finding God’s Will

By itself, conscience is not the voice of God, for it is of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, there were
educated and determined by the principles on which two classes of servants – the bondslave and the
a person bases his life. But if it is obeyed constantly hired servant. A bondslave, unlike the hired servant
and brought in line with the teaching of the Bible, it was never paid. He was bought by his master for
will reflect God’s standard increasingly. The promise a price and as a result all that he was and all that
in Luke 11:34, then is, that if we keep our conscience he possessed belonged to his master. This is what
clean we shall have God’s light flooding our lives – every believer must recognize himself to be. Our
and thus we shall know His will. If we fail to listen time, money, talents, families, possessions, minds
to the voice of conscience in our daily lives, we shall and bodies – all – belong to our Master and our Lord,
fail to hear the voice of the Spirit when seeking God’s for they are His by right of purchase on the Cross
guidance. Instant obedience to God whenever He (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20).
speaks to us is one of the secrets of guidance. We are therefore exhorted to present our bodies
Recently, I read of a fifteen-year-old boy, blind from to God, once for all, as a living sacrifice, even as
birth, who flew and landed an aircraft safely. This the burnt offering in the Old Testament. The burnt
remarkable feat was accomplished by his instantly offering, unlike the sin offering, was wholly offered
obeying every order given by his instructor pilot. to God and signified the offerer’s utter dedication
When facing life’s manifold problems, we may feel unto Him. When a man offered a burnt offering, he
like blind men trying to land a plane on an unknown received nothing back. God could do whatever He
and invisible runway. But if we develop the habit of liked with that offering. It was symbolic of Calvary’s
instant obedience to God’s commands, we shall find Cross where the Lord Jesus offered Himself utterly
that we land safely. to His Father saying,

“Father, not My will but Thine be done.”

Unconditional Yieldedness
“Make a decisive dedication of your bodies – This is what it means to present our body as a living
presenting all your members and faculties – as a sacrifice to God: we must die to our own will and
living sacrifice, holy and well pleasing to God… choice as to how and where our body should be used
so that you may prove (for yourselves) what is by Him. Only thus can we know His will.
the good and acceptable and perfect will of God” Lack of such yieldedness is usually the main
(Romans 12:1, 2). reason why we are unable to ascertain God’s will.
Our yieldedness to the Lord is often with reserva-
The New Testament exhorts us to become bondslaves tions. We are not really willing to accept anything
to the Lord. Paul called himself a willing bondslave that God may offer.

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 Finding God’s Will Conditions for Finding God’s Will

I met a brother once who was willing to take up are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the
any vocation except full-time Christian service. I told Lord’s will, whatever it may be. When one is truly
him that it was this reservation that kept him from in this stage, it is usually but a little way to the
being clear about God’s plan for his life. When he knowledge of what His will is.”
finally yielded all to the Lord, he immediately gained
a deeper assurance of God’s will. God did not call Some want to know God’s will first before deciding
him to full-time Christian service, but He wanted whether to obey or not. But God does not reveal His
him to be willing. will to such people. Jesus said,
Many who come to God under the pretext of wanting
to know His will really want only His approval of “If any man desires to do His will, he will know…”
the path they have already chosen for themselves. (John 7:17).
Hence they receive no answer from Him. How soon
our problems of guidance would be solved, if only A willingness to do anything that God commands
we gave ourselves without any reserve to our Lord will alone qualify us to know what His perfect will is.
saying, This applies to small matters as well as big.

“Lord, I am willing to accept anything, if Thou wilt A Renewed Mind

only assure me that it is Thy will. Choose Thou
for me, my Lord. I have no choice of my own in “Do not be conformed to this world … But be trans-
this matter.” formed by the (entire) renewal of your mind – by its
new ideals and its new attitude – so that you may
It was Abraham’s willingness to go anywhere and to prove (for yourselves) what is the good and accept-
do anything at any time for God that made him the able and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).
“Friend of God.”
George Muller of Bristol (England) was a man of Worldliness plugs our spirit’s ears preventing us from
great faith and one who could ascertain the will of hearing God’s voice. Every person living in this world
God with remarkable accuracy. He has said in this is affected by its spirit. No one has escaped its influ-
connection, ence. From our childhood every one of us imbibes,
day by day, either more or less of the spirit of this
“I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such world into himself – by what we hear, see and read.
a state that it has no will of its own in regard to This especially affects our minds and influences our
a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with thinking. The decisions we take then come primarily
people is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties from worldly considerations.

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 Finding God’s Will Conditions for Finding God’s Will

The Spirit of God Who comes to live in us, when should be our first concern. This is why the Lord
we are “born again” is opposed to the spirit of this taught us first to pray, “Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy
world and therefore desires to renew our thinking Kingdom come”, and only then, “Thy will be done”.
completely. God’s ultimate purpose for us is that we The process of discerning and eliminating worldly
might be conformed to the image of His Son. motives is vital if we are to know the will of God. To
This is the primary part of His will for all of us. say, “God led me”, when our motives were selfish, is
Everything else – whom we should marry, where we blasphemy. Far better in such cases to say the deci-
should live and work – is secondary. All of God’s deal- sion was our own than to take God’s Name in vain
ings with us are directed towards this end – that we and give a cloak of spirituality to our worldliness. We
might become like Jesus (see Romans 8:28 & 29). But gain nothing by merely convincing others (or even
this can be fulfilled in us only as we allow the Holy ourselves) that we are doing God’s will. After all, God
Spirit to renew our minds daily. The more our minds cannot be fooled. As the Bible says,
are thus renewed, the more accurately shall we be
able to discern the will of God at life’s crossroads. “We can always prove that we are right, but is the
Worldliness is not basically something external Lord convinced?… We can justify our every deed
– such as attending cinemas, drinking, smoking, but God looks at our motives” (Proverbs 16:2; 21:2
wearing expensive and fashionable clothes and orna- - TLB).
ments, or living extravagantly. These may denote a
worldly person, but they are only outward expres- The renewal of our minds will result in our beginning
sions of his worldly thought-processes. Conformity to think as the Lord thinks and to view situations
to the world exists essentially in a person’s mind and people as He views them. Paul’s mind was so
and shows itself in various ways, especially in his renewed that he could dare to say that he had the
decisions. For example, when considering a job or a mind of Christ and that he no longer looked at people
career, a worldly person will be governed by factors from a merely human point of view (1 Corinthians
such as salary, promotion-prospects, comfort, ease, 2:16; 2 Corinthians 5:16). His prayer for the
convenience, etc. And when contemplating marriage, Colossian believers was that they too might be thus
he will be influenced by points such as family-status, transformed –
caste, dowry available, position in life, physical
beauty, or wealth. “We are asking God that you may see things, as it
A believer’s decisions, on the other hand, should were, from His point of view by being given spir-
be governed primarily by spiritual factors, although itual insight and understanding” (Colossians 1:9
other considerations should not be neglected. The - JBP).
glory of God’s Name and the extension of His Kingdom

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 Finding God’s Will Conditions for Finding God’s Will

Such a transformation of our minds will enable us discipline of trials that He sends into our lives. Thus
to know what pleases God and what does not please we shall find ourselves growingly conformed to the
Him, and thus we shall be able to discern His will image of our Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18). If we neglect
easily in the different situations we face. God’s daily meditation on God’s Word and prayer-fellow-
promise to us in this New Testament age is, ship with the Lord, we will find it extremely difficult
to ascertain God’s mind. Meditation on God’s Word
“This is the new agreement (testament) … I will can straighten our warped and crooked ways of
write My laws in their minds so that they will thinking and make us spiritually minded and sensi-
know what I want them to do without My even tive to God’s Voice.
telling them … I will write My laws into their We can recognise the Lord’s voice only by becom-
minds so that they will always know My will” ing accustomed to hearing it. A new convert once
(Hebrews 8:10; 10:16 - TLB). asked a mature servant of God why it was that
though Christ had said, “My sheep know My voice”,
Such a renewal will give us an understanding not yet he could not hear the Lord’s voice. The servant of
only of God’s will, but also of His method and of His God replied,
purpose – we will know, not only what God wants us
to do, but also how He wants us to do it, and why. “Yes, it is true that His sheep know His voice, but
Doing the will of God can be drudgery if we do not it is also true that the lambs have to learn it.”
appreciate God’s purposes. When we do appreciate
them, the will of God becomes for us what it was to A son identifies his father’s voice easily only because
Jesus – a delight. It is because of our ignorance of he has heard it so often. Even so, it is only by
God’s nature that we fear His will. If we knew Him constantly listening to the voice of the Lord, that
better, we would rejoice to do His every bidding. we will be able to distinguish it above the din and
How can our minds be renewed? A wife living close clamour of other voices that will ring in our minds
to her husband in heart-companionship comes to when we seek God’s will. If you are habituated to
know more and more of his mind and of his ways listening to the Lord’s voice, then in times of emer-
as the years go by. The same applies to the believer gency, His promise is,
and his God. The new birth is like a marriage with
the Lord Jesus. We should go on from that point to “Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying,
walk in close fellowship with the Lord, conversing This is the way, walk in it; when you turn to
with Him day by day. the right hand and when you turn to the left”
We must also let Him speak to our hearts daily, (Isaiah 30:21).
both through His Word as well as through the

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 Finding God’s Will Conditions for Finding God’s Will

If, on the other hand, we turn to the Lord only in

Summary
times of emergency, we are not likely to hear His
voice at all. Some of God’s children are so busy that If we want to find God’s will, we must first fulfil
they have no time to listen to the Lord in their daily the following conditions:
lives and yet in times of crisis they want to know
His will immediately. Speaking of such believers, 1. We must believe that God will reveal His will to
G Christian Weiss has said that the spirit of their us. Such faith will be characterised by earnest
prayers in an emergency is something like this – desire and patience. We should be willing to
wait for God’s time.
“Lord Jesus, I’ve been awfully busy and haven’t 2. We must distrust our own cleverness and
had much time to talk with you. Forgive me. humbly lean upon God. We do not have to
But now, Lord, I’m in a predicament, and I must discard our intellectual abilities, but our confi-
know Your will in this very important matter by dence must be in God and not in ourselves.
10 o’clock tomorrow morning. So please, Lord, 3. We must be willing to do God’s will in every area
hurry up and reveal it to me. Amen.” of our lives, and not just in a few. We must be
obedient to the light God has already given us,
God’s will is not revealed in that way, nor indeed to and should keep our consciences clean always.
such persons. 4. We must yield ourselves without reserve to God
Daily fellowship with God in meditation and in and be willing to accept anything He chooses
prayer is vital, if we wish to have God’s guidance in for us.
our lives. 5. We must walk with God daily, listening to what
He has to say. We must allow Him thus to
renew our minds and deliver us from worldly
thought-processes.

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 Chapter 3

Guidance Through the Inner Witness

When we come to the subject of the means by which

God guides us, we must bear in mind that Biblical
principles are more important than the experiences
of even godly men and women. God is not limited to
work in any pattern we lay down. He is Sovereign and
may at times choose to use the miraculous instead of
the normal means of guidance. He guided Israel by
a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire in the wilderness,
but that method ceased when they entered Canaan.
The Acts of the Apostles have a few cases of extraor-
dinary guidance. An angel spoke to Philip and told him
to leave Samaria and to go to the desert road (8:26).
Ananias was told by the Lord in a vision to go and meet
Saul (9:10–16). Peter saw a vision in which God revealed
that he was to take the gospel to the heathen (10:9–
16). Paul saw a vision directing him to go to Macedonia
(16:9). He also refers to a time when the Lord gave him
directions in a vision in Jerusalem (22:17–21). But
these are exceptions rather than the rule.
We cannot entirely dismiss the possibility of God
directing His children in similar ways today. But as
in the Acts of the Apostles, such instances are rare.
In this book we are concerned only with the normal
means of guidance.

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 Finding God’s Will Guidance Through the Inner Witness

In the Old Testament, ascertaining God’s will of the Lord is… (therefore) be (ever) filled … with
appears to have been an easy task. The law of Moses the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:17, 18).
was clear and specific in many things. The Israelites
in the wilderness had only to observe and follow the The words in Luke 4:1 are also significant – “Then
pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit … was led by the (Holy)
They did not have to be spiritual to know when and Spirit.” Throughout His earthly life the Lord Jesus
where to move. They only needed good eyesight! was governed and guided only by the inner witness of
When the high-priest sought to find God’s will, all the Holy Spirit – never by human coercion or advice
he had to do was to cast the ‘Urim and Thummim’ in or even by sympathetic appeal.
the Lord’s presence and they indicated ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. It This sensitivity to the voice of the Spirit was found
was all so simple, because it was external and easily among the early Christians too. In the Acts of the
apprehended by man’s physical senses. Apostles, we find Philip acting on the inner urging
of the Spirit and joining the chariot of the Ethiopian
statesman (Acts 8:29); Peter obeying the inner voice
Relying on the Holy Spirit
of the Spirit directing him to go to Cornelius’s house
In contrast to all this, knowing God’s will appears (Acts 10:19, 20); and the leaders in the church at
to be so much more difficult for us in this day and Antioch recognizing the witness of the Holy Spirit in
age. The reason is that God wants us to prove for their spirits confirming the call of Saul and Barnabas
ourselves what His perfect will is (Romans 12:2). The to foreign missionary service (Acts 13:2). The same
Holy Spirit now lives in a believer to be his Guide, Spirit desires to guide each of us today in every
and He replaces all the external means of guidance decision.
that existed in the Old Testament. External guid-
ance is for the immature. Inward guidance is for the
Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit
mature – and this is the way God desires to lead all
His children today. The Holy Spirit speaks to us through an inner pres-
When seeking God’s will, we need to ascertain sure in our spirits rather than through an audible
what the Holy Spirit is saying to us in our spirits. It voice. He urges us inwardly either to take or not
is essential therefore that we seek to be filled with to take a certain course of action. Normally, this is
the Holy Spirit. The Bible says, the result of much time spent in prayer, weighing
the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed
“Do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but course of action. However the Holy Spirit may also
understanding and firmly grasping what the will give us a sudden urge at times to go somewhere
or to do something. But sudden impulses to do

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 Finding God’s Will Guidance Through the Inner Witness

something ridiculous can come from Devil too – or being deceived are, however, considerably lessened,
from ourselves. So we must be careful. The Holy if we examine our motives and make sure we desire
Spirit will in any case never lead us contrary to the the glory of God alone and are prepared to accept
teaching of the Bible. whatever He chooses for us. It is usually where such
We can distinguish the voice of the Holy Spirit by yieldedness is lacking or where motives are selfish
the increasing pressure He produces in our spirits that we go astray.
and the growing peace He gives to our minds, as we God’s will may sometimes be just what we like
pray over the matter. “The mind set on the Spirit ourselves, but it can also be what we do not instinc-
is life and peace” (Romans 8:6 - NASB). The Devil’s tively like. We should not think God’s will is always
voice is usually harassing and often accompanied by the most difficult course of action that lies before
threats of judgment, if we do not obey instantly. God us. Neither need it be the easiest course of action.
invariably gives us sufficient time to consider and be When we are in a difficult situation or a tough job,
sure of His will. we may be tempted to run away from the place. This
On some occasions the Spirit may lead us to do can easily be mistaken for the leading of the Spirit.
something our minds cannot fully understand. On such occasions, if we are in doubt, it is better to
Stephen Grellet, an American preacher, was once take the more difficult step and to trust God to give
led by the Spirit to a certain logging camp which he us grace to manifest Christ’s victory in our situation.
found deserted. But he was so sure of his guidance, One practical step, when you have to decide on
that he went into the empty dining hall and preached a course of action, could be to draw up a ‘balance
his sermon. Many years later, a man approached sheet’. Draw a line across a sheet of paper and write
Grellet in London. Reminding him of the incident, down all the reasons for doing a particular thing
he said he had been the cook at that camp and had on one side, and all the reasons against it on the
been the only man there that day. He had hidden other. Pray over these reasons daily and revise the
outside a window and listened to Grellet’s sermon. list as necessary. Be sincerely willing to accept either
He was converted and had gone on to work for the course of action. As you continue to pray, the Holy
Lord. Such guidance however is extremely rare. Spirit will give you a witness in your spirit as to what
It is often not easy for us to distinguish between our you are to do. If you experience a growing peace in
own heart’s voice and the voice of the Spirit, for our your spirit about a particular course of action, this
hearts are so deceitful. For instance, when consider- will usually be a clear indication of what God wants
ing a possible life-partner, we can easily mistake the you to do. The Bible says,
emotional pressure and the “growing feeling of peace
and joy at every contemplation of the proposed step”, “Let the peace (which comes) from Christ (through
for the witness of the Holy Spirit. The chances of the Holy Spirit), rule (act as umpire continually)

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 Finding God’s Will Guidance Through the Inner Witness

in your hearts – deciding and settling with us by new birth is not a lot of new rules and regula-
finality all questions that arise in your minds” tions to which we are required to conform. He has
(Colossians 3:15 - AMP). not brought us to a new Sinai and given us a new set
of commandments with their ‘Thou shalt’ and ‘Thou
As, in a football game, all play stops when the referee shalt not’… As a Christian you now possess the life
blows his whistle (to indicate a foul), so we should of Christ, and it is the reactions of His life that you
check ourselves when we lose our peace. We should have to consider. If, when you contemplate any move,
proceed ahead only when we have perfect peace in there is a rise of life within you to make that move;
our spirits. if there is a positive response from the inner life; if
there is ‘the anointing’ within (1 John 2:20, 27); then
you can confidently pursue the proposed course.
Realizing the Importance of the Spirit
The inner life has indicated that. But if, when you
It is essential that we recognize the importance of the contemplate a certain move, the inner life begins
inner witness of the Holy Spirit, that we have spoken to languish, then you may know that the move you
of in this chapter, for this is the chief means by which contemplated should be avoided, however commend-
God guides His children today. We must always obey able it may seem to be.
the inner promptings as well as the inner checks of
the Spirit. It is not enough for a believer to be guided “Do realize that the conduct of many a non-
by the principle of right and wrong. That is the plane Christian is governed by the principle of right and
of the Old Covenant. We are called under God’s New wrong. Wherein does the Christian differ from the
Covenant to live on a higher plane – sharing the very non-Christian if the same principle governs both?
life of God and being governed by that life. These two God’s Word shows us plainly that the Christian is
planes of living are symbolized by the two trees in controlled by the life of Christ, not by any exter-
the garden of Eden – the tree of knowledge of good nal code of ethics. There is something vital within
and evil and the tree of life. It is good to have a moral the Christian that responds to what is of God and
code that tells us what is good and what is evil, and reacts against what is not of Him; so we must
to live by that standard. But that is reverting to living take heed to our inner reactions…. We dare not
‘under the law.’ The Christian standard is higher be governed by externalities, nor by reasoning,
(Matthew 5:17–48). our own or other people’s. Others may approve
Watchman Nee in his booklet, Two Principles of a certain thing, and when we weigh up the pros
Conduct, says, “It is a most amazing thing that the and cons we too may think it right; but what is
objective of so many Christians is only conformity to the inner life saying about it?
an external standard, though what God has given

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 Finding God’s Will Guidance Through the Inner Witness

“Once you realize that the determining factor in

Summary
all Christian conduct is life, then you know that
you must not only avoid all that is evil, but also 1. God rarely guides us in spectacular ways. In
all that is just externally good. Only what issues this New Testament age, God guides us through
from the Christian life is Christian conduct; the Holy Spirit. So we must seek to be filled
therefore we cannot consent to any action that with the Holy Spirit.
does not spring from life…. Many things are right 2. The Holy Spirit speaks to us through an inner
according to human standards, but the Divine pressure in our spirits. This pressure increases
standard pronounces them wrong because they as we wait on God in prayer, and will be accom-
lack the Divine life…. God’s way for us is not panied by a growing inward peace.
known by external indications but by internal 3. To distinguish the voice of the Spirit from other
registrations. It is peace and joy in the spirit that voices, we should examine our motives and see
indicate the Christian’s path. It is a fact that the that they are pure.
Lord Jesus Christ dwells within the believer, and 4. A ‘balance sheet’, to evaluate the advantages
He is constantly expressing Himself in us, so we and disadvantages of a proposed course of
must become sensitive to His life and learn to action, can be helpful in enabling us to find
discern what that life is saying.” God’s will.
5. We must place great value on the inner witness
May God help us to learn this lesson. of the Holy Spirit, for this is God’s chief means
of guidance in our day. God expects us to be
governed by this in our daily lives and not
merely by a moral code.

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 Chapter 4

Guidance Through External Means

The Holy Spirit speaks to our spirits through the

following external means also, when we are seeking
His guidance:-

i. The teaching of the Bible.

ii. The witness of circumstances.
iii. The advice of other believers.

If we have ascertained the will of God accurately,

the witness of the Holy Spirit through these external
means will correspond with His inner witness within
our spirits.

The Teaching of the Bible

The Bible has been given that we might be instructed
in correct doctrine and be led in the path of righteous-
ness (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). In a number of matters,
God’s will is already clearly revealed therein.
For example, if you are considering marriage
with an unbeliever (even a nominal Christian and a
regular church-goer), the Word of God is explicit:

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 Finding God’s Will Guidance Through External Means

“Do not be unequally yoked up (a symbol society do. God’s Word clearly warns us to beware of
of marriage) with unbelievers – do not covetousness and of the love of money. The overall
make mismatched alliances with them” teaching of Scripture is also that we should learn to
(2 Corinthians 6:14). give rather than receive – much less demand (cf. Acts
20:33–35). It is clear then that God can never approve
Similarly, if we see a brother in material need, the of anyone asking (or even hoping) for a dowry.
Bible clearly teaches that we are to help him (James What about the acquisition of wealth by games of
2:15, 16; 1 John 3:17). Or if you have a dispute with chance? Proverbs 28:22 (TLB) says,
a fellow-believer and you want to know whether to
go to court or not, the Bible emphatically says, “No” “Trying to get rich quick is evil and leads to
(1 Corinthians 6:1–8). The Bible also teaches that poverty” (cf. Proverbs 13:11; 28:20; & 1 Timothy
lying and theft are always wrong (Ephesians 4:25, 6:9–11).
28). If there has been some estrangement between
you and another believer, again the Bible leaves no From these passages it is clear that God does not
room for doubt to what you should do. You are to go approve of a believer taking part in any form of lottery
and be reconciled, taking the initiative yourself, even or betting or gambling.
when it is the other person’s fault (Matthew 5:23, 24). God’s Word is indeed
If we have signed a contract or a bond with any
firm or institution, there is no need to seek God’s will “a flashlight to light the path ahead (of us) and
on whether we can break the contract or “jump” the keep (us) from stumbling” (Psalms 119:105 - TLB).
bond, where a more attractive vacancy offers itself
elsewhere. The Bible tells us that the person who On rare occasions, God may confirm His guidance to
dwells with God “keeps a promise even if it ruins us through some specific passage in our daily Bible
him” (Psalms 5:4 - TLB) and also that “God delights reading. But care is needed for we are often likely
in those who keep their promises and abhors those to read into a passage what is not basically there.
who don’t” (Proverbs 12:22 - TLB). It is a shame and Usually such passages are brought to our attention
a disgrace when a believer does not keep his word. without our looking for them. It is unwise to look for
Similarly, the Bible also teaches that we should suggestive verses in our daily Bible-reading, for that
not remain in debt to anyone (Romans 13:8). is not the purpose of the Quiet Time, and we can
Besides specific commands, the Word of God lays easily be led astray thereby.
down guiding principles too. For example, when A young believer may be keen on going to the USA
contemplating marriage a young man may wonder when God wants him to remain in India. The mate-
whether he should ask for dowry as others in his rial attractions of the West may, however, have such

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 Finding God’s Will Guidance Through External Means

a strong hold on him that when he finds a verse like, Circumstances ordered of God must be submitted
“They shall fly… toward the West” (Isaiah 11:14), he to and accepted, whereas those arranged by Satan
will immediately conclude that God is encouraging must be resisted. If we are not sure we can pray
him to go. Our hearts are deceitful and the Devil is a something like this,
subtle foe. We need to be on our guard against both.
God may, in his supernatural wisdom, lead us “Lord, I do not know whether this situation is
through a verse taken out of context, but this is of Thy ordering or from Satan. But I do want
the exception rather than the rule. And when God Thy perfect will at any cost. Save me from being
employs such a method it will usually be only to deceived and thus missing Thy best. If this is
confirm guidance that we receive through the normal from Thee, I accept it joyfully. If it is from Satan, I
channels. We should never make such verses the resist him and bind him in Thy Name.”
sole basis for guidance in any matter.
The Lord will preserve our way and make all things
work together for our good if we are sincere before Him
The Witness of Circumstances
and live according to His commandments (Proverbs
God is the God of Providence. He can control our 2:8; Romans 8:28). Satan hindered Paul from going
circumstances and thereby indicate His will. He to Thessalonica, but Timothy went instead and God’s
allows certain things to befall us, either to confirm purposes were still fulfilled (1 Thessalonians 2:18;
the guidance we have received through the witness 3:1, 2).
of the Spirit, or to stop us from taking a wrong step. We find a number of cases of circumstantial
As George Muller has said, guidance in the Acts of the Apostles. God used perse-
cution to scatter the church from Jerusalem for the
“The stops of a good man, as well as his steps are spread of the gospel (Acts 8:1). Paul and Barnabas
ordered by the Lord” (cf. Psalms 37:23). moved from one place to another whenever perse-
cution increased to such an extent that there was
It must be borne in mind though, that Satan too no point in staying (Acts 13:50, 51; 14:5, 6, 19, 20).
can order circumstances to some extent, to lead This was in accordance with the Lord’s own precept
us astray. Many have been deceived in choosing a and example (Matthew 10:23; John 7:1). God used a
life-partner through being guided by circumstances famine to take Saul and Barnabas to Jerusalem (Acts
ordered of the Devil to trap them! The way to escape 11:28–30), where they learnt the power of importu-
deception is by fulfilling the conditions for guidance, nate prayer (Acts 12:5). Coming back to Antioch, they
mentioned in Chapter two. imparted this spirit of prayer to their fellow-workers

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and this finally resulted in the extension of the work us, if we live under His Lordship. When we do not
to distant regions (Acts 12:25–13:3). obtain something we greatly longed for and prayed
Adverse circumstances in Philippi were used of God for, we can be sure that God has something better in
to lead Paul and Silas to preach the gospel to a needy store for us.
jailor (Acts 16:19–34). The last eight chapters of Acts Missing a train and the delayed arrival of a boat
reveal how God used circumstances to lead Paul to once led me to speak to a needy soul who opened his
preach the gospel to a number of people whom he heart to the Lord that very night. Transfer to a ship
would not normally have met (cf. Philippians 1:12). that I did not like was once God’s means of leading
Some of the world’s greatest missionaries were me to a young sailor who gave his life to the Lord and
guided to their fields by circumstances. David was baptized. God makes no mistakes. He is the God
Livingstone initially felt led to go to China and took of Providence. We can trust Him to order circum-
medical training in preparation for service in that stances for His glory and for our good.
land. When he was ready to go, China was “closed” We can ask God at times to reveal His will by alter-
because of the opium war. The London Missionary ing circumstances, when we find an obstacle in our
Society suggested the West Indies. He turned it path. When the Lord called me to resign my commis-
down on the grounds that there were many doctors sion as an officer in the Indian Navy, I applied
there already. Finally, through contact with pioneer for resignation and the application was promptly
missionary Robert Moffat, Livingstone went to Africa. rejected by the Naval Head-quarters. Circumstances
Adoniram Judson felt challenged to serve as a were thus contrary to what I felt to be the witness
missionary in India and accordingly set sail from of the Holy Spirit within me. I prayed that the Lord
America. On arrival, in India he was not permitted would alter circumstances and release me from
to stay. While in Madras, he was told to leave the the Navy and make that a confirmation of His call.
country by a certain date. He was therefore compelled I applied three times for permission to resign my
to board the only boat leaving Madras before that commission. Finally after two years I was released.
date. The boat was bound for Burma and Judson It was then evident to me that the initial hindrance
spent the rest of his life there. had been engineered by Satan. Yet God overruled
The work that these two men accomplished for God it, to strengthen my faith in His total authority over
in these lands clearly proves that it was God who had governments and earthly powers and to teach me
ordered the circumstances that led them there. more of His ways.
God may prevent us from going into paths He has Indeed, He is the One who has the key to every
not chosen for us by putting us on a sick bed or by door. When He opens a door, no one can shut it, and
making us miss a train, an appointment or an inter- when He shuts a door, no one can open it (Revelation
view. Disappointments can be His appointments for 3:7). Even a king’s heart can be turned by our God

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in any direction He chooses (Proverbs 21:1; cf. Ezra was used on a few other occasions too (Joshua 7:14;
6:22). 1 Samuel 10:20; 14:41–44; cf. Proverbs 16:33). In the
God may also lead us contrary to circumstances. New Testament, there is only one instance of men
When the first wave of persecution swept Jerusalem, asking God for a sign to indicate His will and that
the apostles did not run away but prayed for bold- too was before the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:23–26).
ness. God filled them with His Spirit and made Note that after the advent of the Holy Spirit, there is
Jerusalem tremble at the manifestation of His power, not a single recorded case in the New Testament of
for His time had not yet come for the disciples to be believers seeking to find God’s will through a sign.
scattered (Acts 4:29–33; 5:11–14). This seems to indicate that it is no longer God’s
When Philip left Samaria for the desert road, it was normal method of guidance. It served a purpose in
contrary to circumstances, which called for him to Old Testament times, when the Holy Spirit did not
remain in Samaria where he was being greatly used indwell man – but not now.
(Acts 8:26). God may confirm His will or encourage our fainting
Circumstances are thus, not always an indication of spirits with an occasional sign. When other methods
God’s will. They must be considered only in conjunc- of guidance are apparently inconclusive, only then
tion with, and in subjection to the inner witness of dare we ask God for a sign. But we should pray even
the Holy Spirit within our spirits, and His witness about the type of sign to ask for. We should not use
through the Bible. God does not except His children signs as a means of getting our own way. For instance,
to be pawns moved around by circumstances. He is we should not ask God for a miracle as a sign, when
the Lord of circumstances and He wants His chil- our real intention is to get some excuse for not going
dren to share in His mastery over them. alone the path we know He wants us to take. At the
same time, we shouldn’t ask God for something so
Is it right to ask God to indicate His will by a sign? common that it is not really sign at all, just as an
The Old Testament records some instances of men excuse for going along our own self-chosen path.
asking God for a sign to indicate His will. Abraham’s We should also beware of the procedure adopted
servant asked for a sign and thus found the bride by some Christians who ask God for a verse as a
God had chosen for Isaac (Genesis 24:10–27). sign and then shut their eyes, open their Bibles and
Gideon asked God to confirm His will by a sign. The place their finger on the page that falls open. That
next night he asked God to reverse the sign. God method can lead us astray and in any case is foolish.
answered on both occasions and confirmed His will The Bible is not a book of magic! Don’t treat it as if
(Judges 6:36–40). The sailors on the ship carrying it were.
Jonah drew lots to find who was the cause of the To make a sign the chief, or the only means of guid-
storm. God answered (Jonah 1:7). The casting of lots ance is totally un-Scriptural. We should remember

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too that desiring signs is a mark of spiritual imma- plunge ahead and fall” (Proverbs 24:6; 20:18;
turity. We should grow out of that state as soon as 13:14; 12:15, 26 - TLB).
possible.
However, there are two extremes to avoid. One is
to be completely independent of the advice of godly
The Advice of Other Believers
men. The other is to be so completely dependent on
The New Testament places great emphasis on their advice as to accept it without question as God’s
the necessity of believers functioning together as perfect will. If we cling to either of these extremes, we
members of one body. No member can function shall either go astray or remain spiritually stunted
independently. Everyone is dependent on others for all our lives. Much as God wants us to take counsel
existence and survival. It is quite reasonable there- from our fellow-believers, He does not expect us to
fore to expect that even in guidance, God would be slavishly subject to their advice – even if they are
place great value on the fellowship of believers. He saintly men.
has made this provision as a safeguard against our The Bible presents truth in a perfect balance.
missing His perfect will. Man, unfortunately, has a tendency to swing to an
But ourselves we may not be able to see all the extreme. It is thus that many heresies have been
advantages and disadvantages of taking a certain born in Christendom.
step. The advice of other godly men will be invalua- In the Old Testament, this balanced view is clearly
ble in helping us to look at the decision we are taking presented in 1 Kings chapters 12 & 13. In chapter 12,
from different angles. This is especially necessary the young king Rehoboam should have taken the
when facing a major decision. If, in proud self- advice of the godly elders instead of listening to young
sufficiency, we ignore this God-ordained means of men like himself. Because he didn’t, he precipitated
guidance, we cannot but suffer loss. the division of his kingdom. In chapter 13, the young
The Bible says, prophet should not have listened to the advice of the
older prophet (“It is not mere age that makes men
“There is safety in many counsellors… Don’t go wise” – Job 32:9 - TLB). Because he did, he lost his
with your plans without the advice of others… The life.
advice of a wise man refreshes like water from a In the New Testament, we see this balance in the
mountain spring. Those accepting it become aware life of the Apostle Paul. In Acts 13:1–3, we find God
of the pitfalls on ahead… A fool thinks he needs calling Paul for foreign missionary service. But God
no advice, but a wise man listens to others… The revealed His will for Paul to his fellow-workers also
good man asks advice from friends; the wicked at the same time. What God spoke to Paul privately
was thus confirmed to him through the others. On

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the other hand, in Acts 21:1–15, we find Paul reject- as to what should be done about it. On the whole
ing the advice of every one of his fellow-believers (and in the New Testament guidance is given directly
even the prophecies of some of them) and going in to the individual, not through another person, as
the direction he felt was God’s will for him. God later was common in the Old Testament. For instance,
confirmed that his going to Jerusalem was right. although Cornelius was told by an angel to send
(Acts 23:11). for Peter (Acts 10:5), Peter himself was told to
On yet another occasion, at the beginning of Paul’s go with them through an independent agency,
Christian life he went to Arabia, having found the (Acts 10:20)”.
will of God entirely on his own without consulting
anyone at all (Galatians 1:5–17). In his booklet, Guidance, James McConkey writes,
These examples from God’s Word suggest that
there are some occasions when we should pay atten- “Flesh and blood could not reveal the Christ
tion to the advice of godly men, and some occasions to Simon Peter (Matthew 16:17). Neither can
when we may have to go against the advice of those it reveal the things of Christ to us. Nor does it
same men, and yet other occasions when we do not matter whether it is our own flesh and blood or
have to consult anyone at all. In any case whether we that of some other. For the other man’s flesh and
accept or reject or do not seek the advice of others, blood is compassed with the same infirmities and
the ultimate decision must always be our own, for subject to the same errors as ours. Moreover the
we are personally answerable to God for our deci- man who relies upon his friends for his guid-
sions. The advice of a man of God can be invaluable ance soon finds that the variety of advice they
but is never infallible. offer only increases the number of his perplexi-
Michael Harper, in his book, ‘Prophecy – A Gift for ties. Then too it is a Divine principle that God
the Body of Christ’, writes: does not reveal to another man His plans for your
life. Christ’s rebuke of Peter for wanting to know
“Prophecies which tell other people what they are His will for John is the clearest possible proof of
to do, are to be regarded with great suspicion. this (John 21:22). You may help the little child to
‘Guidance’ is never indicated as one of the use of walk in its beginnings of the art. But if it is ever
prophecy. Paul was told what would happen to to learn to walk alone there comes a time when it
him if he went to Jerusalem, but not told either must let go of your hand entirely and cease from
to go or refrain from going. His friends may have all dependence upon you. The believer who would
advised him concerning this, but the guidance learn to walk with God must learn the same
did not come from the prophecy. Agabus foretold lesson. And as a baby learns it at the cost of some
a famine, but his prophecy gave no instructions tumbles even so must the Christian learn it at

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the cost of some mistakes. It were better learned Jesus only.” It is the voice of the Lord that we must
that way than not be to learned at all. The price ultimately hear, whatever external means God may
of a few blunders is not too high for such a treas- use to speak to us.
ure as a walk alone with God in the place of His In “What Shall This Man Do?”, Watchman Nee says,
own God-given guidance. Does God then have
no place for your Christian friends in this matter “Christianity always involves a personal knowl-
of guidance? He surely does. Get all the help; all edge of God through His Spirit, and not merely
the light upon God’s Word; all the experience of the knowing of His will through the medium of a
others you possibly can. That is, you may get the man or a book…”.
facts from others. But you must make your deci-
sions yourself. For when we reach the place of Thus in practical terms today, we have the written
decision we cannot evade the personal, patient Scriptures, represented by Moses, and we have the
waiting upon God alone, through which we learn living human messenger, represented by Elijah who
the most precious lessons of His guidance.” never tasted death. These two God-given gifts to
every believer are among the most precious factors
Nevertheless, whenever we do have to go against that contribute to our Christian life: the Book of God
the advice of mature believers, let us check our own in our hand to instruct us, and the friend who lives
guidance repeatedly to make sure it is indeed God close to the Lord and who can often make known to
who is leading us. This must especially be remem- us what the Lord has shown him. The Book is always
bered when making major decisions. right; the counsel of a friend so often is. We need
God’s Book and we need God’s prophets. He would
not have us discard either. But the lesson of this
The Voice of the Lord
incident on the mount of transfiguration is surely
On the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter was rebuked that neither of these can take the place of the living
by God for attempting to place the Lord Jesus on voice of God to our hearts.
the same level as Moses and Elijah. These men were “We dare not despise God’s messengers. We need
indeed God’s spokesmen in Old Testament times, again and again the arresting challenge of a truly
but a new age was dawning and Peter had to recog- prophetic spoken word or the calm of mature spir-
nize that. In this new age there was to be only one itual instruction. But we do not commit ourselves
Spokesman – “This is My Son, the Beloved One; be totally and exclusively to the revelation which comes
constantly listening to and obeying Him” (Mark 9:7). through holy men of God, however sound it be. We
And so, when the disciples looked up again, “they are under duty bound to listen to the voice of the
suddenly no longer saw anyone with them except Lord and to follow Him.

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“Still less dare we despise God’s written Word.

2. The Holy Spirit often speaks to us through the
The inspired Scriptures of truth are vital to our life
witness of circumstances.
and progress, and we would not – we dare not – be
a. God can use circumstances either to confirm
without them. Nevertheless there are those of us
the guidance we have received or to prevent
who may be in danger of looking to the letter of the
our taking a wrong step.
Word even more than to Jesus Christ Himself as our
b. But Satan too can order our circumstances
final authority. What the Bible says we set ourselves
to some extent. So they are not always an
to carry out, religiously and in detail, and God may
indication of God’s will.
honour us for that. Yet if, in doing so, we go further
c. God may lead us at times contrary to circum-
and exalt the Bible to a position where our use of it
stances. We can also ask God to reveal His
challenges even the very Lordship of Christ Himself,
will by altering circumstances.
we may run the risk of remaining tragically out of
d. God may occasionally confirm His guidance
touch with Him….
to us by means of a sign. However, asking
“(Christianity) demands a personal, first-hand
for signs is a mark of spiritual immaturity
intelligence of the will of God, that embraces these
and we should grow out of that state as
other God-given aids but that does not end with
soon as possible.
them.”
3. The Holy Spirit may speak to us through the
The secret of guidance lies in hearing the voice of
advice of other believers.
the Lord.
a. God has made this provision as a safeguard
against our missing His will.
Summary b. The advice of godly men will enable us to see
1. The Holy Spirit guides us through the teaching other aspects of a particular matter which
of the Bible, when we are seeking His guidance. we may have failed to consider.
a. In many areas the Bible has already revealed c. There are some occasions when we should
what God’s will is. pay attention to the advice of godly men,
b. God may confirm His guidance through a and some occasions when we may have to
passage in our daily Bible-reading. But this go against their advice.
should never be made the sole basis for
guidance in any matter.

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 Chapter 5

Vocational Calling

One of the first major problems of guidance usually

faced by young people is knowing what vocation God
wants them to take up and where they should work.
God’s perfect will in vocation needs to be sought
not only by those contemplating full-time Christian
service, but by every believer. As mentioned in
Chapter one, God has planned a vocation for each of
His children. It is essential then that we seek to find
out what it is. If God’s calling for you is to be a teacher
in a school, you would be disobedient if you became
a pastor. Do not be an evangelist if God wants you to
be a doctor. Likewise, don’t take up a secular voca-
tion if God wants you in exclusively Christian service.

The Vocation of God’s Choice

Nevertheless, every believer should be a full-time
witness of the Lord Jesus Christ – even if he is not in
full-time Christian service. A Christian doctor when
asked his profession replied,

“My profession is to be a witness for the Lord

Jesus Christ and to bring souls to Him. I work as
a doctor to pay the expenses.”

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 Finding God’s Will Vocational Calling

Indeed, he had the right perspective. of God’s choice. He should constantly bear in mind
When vocation is considered from this view-point, the Lord’s words in Matthew 9:37 – “The harvest is
we need not fear the possibility of missing God’s will. indeed plentiful, but the labourers are few.” In obedi-
It is when personal advancement and prestige influ- ence to the Lord’s commands in John 4:35, he should
ence our choice that we go astray. seek to get details of the Lord’s work in various parts
How should a young believer go about the matter of his country and of the world. He should be ready to
of finding God’s will in this realm? Where the option go wherever the Lord may have need of him – whether
of choosing a career is still open before him, he as a teacher, as a nurse or as an engineer, whatever
should consider his intellectual aptitude and seek to his vocation may be. It is a shame that so many seek
study for the vocation most fitting to him. He should personal comfort and have no concern for the spread
however select a vocation only after much prayer. In of the gospel and for the salvation of souls.
the absence of any check in his spirit after prayer, He must then seek the advice and prayer-fellowship
he should go ahead and consider the vocation he is of mature believers (in his own locality or elsewhere),
most suited for. He should never, in any case allow who are interested in him and who are aware of the
himself to be pushed into a vocation selected for him situation in the areas where he is seeking employ-
by someone else. ment. He should also try and understand what God
Those who are already undergoing a University is saying to him through his circumstances. With all
course may perhaps be limited in their selection of this information in hand, when the time draws near
a vocation. Such need not fear that they might have to make a decision, he should seek to ascertain what
missed God’s will. God is sovereign and overrules in the Holy Spirit is saying within his own spirit. He
our life when we are ignorant of His ways. He lays should finally base his decision on this witness of
His Hand upon us and steers our course, unknown the Spirit within him, trusting God even then to turn
to us, long before we come to a place of surrender to him around in case he has been mistaken.
Him. He holds us responsible only after He speaks
to us.
Full-Time Christian Service
A few words need to be said here about full-time
The Place of God’s Choice
Christian service – i.e., the calling to be engaged
Throughout his student days, a believer should be exclusively in the ministry of the Word as a mission-
much in prayer that God will give him the right infor- ary, evangelist, Bible-teacher or pastor.
mation about job-opportunities, and contacts with God calls only a small percentage of believers into
the right people and institutions, so that he will, on such a ministry, even as He called only one tribe in
completion of his studies, be able to go to the place twelve, in Israel, to the service of the temple. But He

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expects all His children to be willing, should He call accomplishments for God in these places clearly
them. Every believer should therefore consider this show they lived in God’s perfect will for their lives.
calling and seek with all his heart to know whether “What form the call takes is unimportant, but the
God wants him in it or not. A person entering full- one who goes into an exclusively Christian minis-
time Christian service should be perfectly sure that try cannot afford to be unsure of his call. He cannot
God has called him into it. One who is in a secular recruit himself into this ministry, neither can another
vocation should be equally sure that God wants him recruit him. That prerogative remains forever in the
there. The calling to be an evangelist or a missionary Hands of God alone.
is not a more spiritual one than the calling to be an In most cases, a person called into full-time
engineer or an accountant. The important thing is to Christian service will find God confirming His call
be what God wants you to be. through circumstances and through Spirit-filled
A decision to enter full-time Christian service believers. However there can be, and have been,
should be taken coolly – not in the emotionally tense exceptions to this rule – for God cannot be bound
atmosphere of a meeting nor under pressure from to any fixed pattern. Yet some guidelines can be laid
any man. Hasty decisions are usually regretted later down: God calls those who are active in His work in
on. God always gives us ample time to be sure of His their secular occupations. He speaks only to those
will before we decide. who are seeking to be His witnesses in their present
The call to an exclusively Christian ministry is not circumstances. He is a rewarder of those who dili-
easily defined. As with all other guidance, it comes gently seek Him.
in different forms to different people. In some rare We must also remember that the calling of God is
cases it may come in a vision or through an audible not a static thing. God may lead you into exclusively
voice. Esther Butler, pioneer missionary in China in Christian work for a time and then lead you to be His
the early part of this century, said when God called witness in a secular occupation. We must be willing
her to this work she saw a crowded Chinese street to move with God as situations and circumstances
in a vision. She later clearly recognized the faces and change, and not remain in bondage to tradition and
places on arrival in Nanking. the opinions of men.
To others, the call has come as an inward urge based Whether we are in a secular job or in exclusively
purely on sanctified logic. John G Paton went from Christian work, our calling is equally to be a servant
Scotland to the South Pacific islands as a missionary of God. The nature and sphere of work may differ,
because he felt the people there had less opportunity but we are all called to represent the Lord worthily
to hear the message than those in Scotland. James before others and to bring them to a saving knowl-
Gilmour went to Mongolia because, he said, he did edge of Him. God has a specific place in His vast
not receive a call to stay in his home-country. Their vineyard for you. As the hymn says, “There’s a work

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 Finding God’s Will

for Jesus none but you can do”. It is your responsi-

bility to find out what that is and to make sure you
fulfil it.

“God ordained you to your work – see that you

Chapter 6
don’t fail Him” (Colossians 4:17 - JBP).
Final Considerations
Summary
1. God has a specific vocation for you. Your duty It should be evident to the reader by now that no
is to fulfil that. perfect formula exists for infallible guidance. Very
2. Every believer, irrespective of his vocation often we shall be faced with perplexity when seeking
is called to be a full-time witness of the Lord to know God’s will. God permits this so that we may
Jesus. press closer to Him and thus know more of His mind
3. A young person seeking God’s guidance about and receive more of His life.
his vocation should seek to prepare himself for Times of uncertainty are used by God to sift our
that which he is most suited, in the absence of motives too. When unsure of God’s will, we should
any indication from God to the contrary. examine ourselves to see whether we have fulfilled
4. When looking for a job, he should find out the prerequisites for His guidance (mentioned in
information concerning the needs of the Lord’s Chapter Two).
work in different places. He should be much God uses perplexity to exercise and strengthen our
in prayer and after consulting mature believers faith also
and considering his circumstances, he should
finally be guided by the inner witness of the “Who among you fears the Lord and obeys His
Holy Spirit. servant (the Lord Jesus)? If such men walk in
5. No person should go into full-time Christian darkness, without one ray of light, let them
service without a clear call from God. trust the Lord let them rely upon their God”
6. The calling of God is a dynamic thing. We must (Isaiah 50:10 - TLB).
be willing to move with Him into any new sphere
of work, as and when He calls. We should not therefore be surprised or discouraged
when we encounter perplexity. Even the Apostle Paul
was often perplexed, but he never despaired and gave
up (2 Corinthians 4:8). God may sometimes show us

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His will only just before we have to make a decision, by sight. God sometimes gives us clear assurances
and may keep us waiting a long time prior to that. to encourage us lest we faint. But many times He
In any case, He will show us only the next step expects us to move forward without visible evidences
at each stage. He leads us step by step because He of His approval. Having ascertained the mind of the
wants us to depend on Him day by day, and to walk Holy Spirit to the best of our knowledge, we should
by faith and not by sight. When He shows us only move ahead without waiting indefinitely. The Bible
one step at a time, we are compelled to lean on Him. says, “We should make plans – counting on God to
Moreover, if God showed us the whole future, it is direct us” (Proverbs 16:9 - TLB). Looking back over
quite likely that we would not want to obey Him fully. such decisions later, we will find that in spite of the
And so, He shows us just one step at a time and dimness of our vision, God did not let us go astray.
gradually makes us willing to fulfil all His will. To In other words, although there may have been much
find God’s will for our life, therefore, all we need to do uncertainty in prospect, there will be much certainty
at any time is to take the next step that God shows and rejoicing in retrospect.
us. As we do so, we will find God’s plan unfolding
gradually. “The very dimness of my sight Makes me secure
There is an ancient Chinese proverb that says, — For groping in my misty way I feel His Hand, I
hear Him say, ‘My help is sure’”.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with but a
single step.” J Oswald Sanders in ‘Spiritual Leadership’ says,

Abraham went out from his home-country not “It might be thought by those who have not
knowing where he was finally going. He only knew found themselves in a position of leadership, that
that God was leading him (Hebrews 11:8). He obeyed greater experience and a longer walk with God
God at every step and God did not disappoint him. would result in much greater ease in discerning
None who follow God like Abraham did, need ever the will of God in perplexing situations. But the
fear disappointment. reverse is often the case. God treats the leader
as a mature adult, leaving more and more to his
spiritual discernment, and giving fewer sensible
Deliverance from Indecision
and tangible evidences of His guidance than in
Many times we will have to take a step forward earlier years”.
while still not perfectly sure about God’s will. This
too is a part of the discipline of walking by faith, for Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission,
certainty can sometimes be the equivalent of walking once said in relation to guidance, that in his younger

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 Finding God’s Will Final Considerations

days things used to come to him so clearly and In the smaller details of daily life, guidance is not
quickly. “But”, he said, necessarily a question of constant conscious enquiry.
It is a matter of walking in the Spirit. Right relation-
“now as I have gone on, and God has used me ship with the Lord will lead to right action. In such
more and more, I seem often to be like a man small details, the guidance of God is not something
going along in a fog. I do not know what to do.” that we should be acutely aware of all the time. We
(Quoted in ‘D.E. Hoste’ by Phyllis Thompson). may be unconscious of it. It is our basic relation-
ship with the Lord that is the important factor, for
Yet whenever a decision was made, God always guidance is a spiritual matter and not a mechanical
honoured Hudson Taylor’s trust. technique.
If when taking a step in uncertainty we miss the
path of God’s perfect will, He can be trusted to deliver
Deliverance from Regret
us. The promise in Isaiah 30:21 (TLB) is,
Regrets over past failures may torment the minds of
“If you leave God’s paths and go astray, you will some of us. We may have missed God’s will in some
hear a Voice behind you say, ‘No, this is the way; issue and are now unable to correct it. But regret is
walk here’.” futile, for it will only eat up our spiritual vitality and
leave us totally unfit for any service for God. Failure
God can order circumstances to alter our course should be confessed to God, Who is faithful to forgive
when we miss the road. But we should not remain us and to cleanse us immediately (1 John 1:7, 9). He
in perpetual inaction waiting for spectacular guid- has also promised not to remember our past sins
ance for every move. A ship can be turned around (Hebrews 8:12). If God does not harp on our past
much quicker when moving that when stationary: so there is no need for us to agonize over it. We should
can we. therefore turn our back once and for all on those fail-
In Acts 16:6–10, Paul and Silas tried to go into Asia ures. It may not be possible to rectify the blunders,
not as a result of any clear leading from the Lord but we can ask the Lord to use the rest of our life,
but yet desiring to do His will. They were hindered – for His glory.
perhaps by God-ordered circumstances. Next, they David fell very low when he sinned with Bathsheba
attempted to enter Bithynia. Again their way was and then murdered her husband, Uriah. Yet instead
blocked. But because they were actively seeking God’s of living the rest of his life in regret, he came back to
will, and not passively waiting for guidance, He led God in brokenness and repentance. Accepting God’s
them finally to the place of His choice – Macedonia. forgiveness, he lived thereafter for God’s glory. The
Holy Spirit recorded later that David pleased the Lord

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 Finding God’s Will Final Considerations

in all his life, except in the matter of Uriah (1 Kings Refusing to doubt in the darkness what God had
15:5). If David had allowed regret to plague his mind, shown them in the light, they continued to praise
he would only have grieved the Lord further. Those Him (Acts 16:8–26). Later events clearly showed they
who live with the weight of regret perpetually on their were indeed in the will of God. Getting into trouble
minds only succeed in adding failure to failure. We is, by itself, no indication that we are out of God’s
must forget past failures and press forward to fulfil will. If we trust God we shall praise Him in the thick-
God’s will (cf. Philippians 3:13, 14). God can restore est darkness without any regrets.
to us the years that have been lost (Joel 2:25).
Another temptation is to worry over a past deci-
Deliverance from Fear
sion which at the time we felt convinced was in the
will of God, but which we now doubt. Perhaps the Fear of men and of circumstances can make us
decision has led us into trouble. Or maybe we are miss the will of God. Many believers are governed by
now aware of facts which had we known then, might considerations of security and safety when seeking
have led us to a different decision. The principle we guidance. They feel that a certain place or occupation
should always bear in mind is: Never doubt in the is insecure and dangerous, and so rule it out of their
darkness what God has shown in the light. If we minds altogether. But there is no place or occupa-
sincerely sought the will of God and decided accord- tion in this world totally free from danger. The safest
ing to the light we then had, there is no need to look place in all the world is always the centre of God’s
back now in regret. God is not a cruel despot who perfect will. We step into danger only when we step
delights in making fools of us. He is a loving Father out of God’s plan. The one who makes his decisions
and He will not give us a stone if we ask for bread. without seeking God’s guidance will be vulnerable to
If we sought His will sincerely, we can be sure God Satan’s attacks. But
overruled everything to let us decide rightly. Even
the facts that we were ignorant of then, must have “the one who lives and works in the appointed
been withheld by God with a purpose. place of the Most High will be protected by the
God gave Paul and Silas clear directions at Troas shadow of the Almighty” (Psalms 91:1 - adapted).
to go to Macedonia, and they went immediately. Yet
soon after arrival, they were locked up in prison with We need to be delivered too, from the fear of making
their feet in stocks. They could have wondered then mistakes. The man who never makes a mistake is
whether their senses of guidance was wrong. Had the man who never does anything. We are students
they known their fate in advance they might never in God’s school and we shall doubtless go wrong
have left Troas. But God gave them no warning. occasionally. But the Lord is ever near, ready to put
Though put in prison, Paul and Silas trusted God. things right. Apart from the Lord Jesus Himself, no

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 Finding God’s Will Final Considerations

man ever learned to walk in God’s perfect will without

Summary
making many mistakes. The greatest saints learned
to walk in the will of God just as a child learns to 1. God permits perplexity in order that we may
walk – through many falls. The child who is afraid know Him better. He also sifts our motives and
of falling may never learn to walk! We must never let strengthens our faith thereby.
such fear keep us from moving forward. Walking in 2. In most cases, we should move forward even
God’s will may not be easy but it is a great adventure when vague about God’s will, provided we have
with Him and He has promised to hold us when we ascertained the mind of the Spirit to the best of
fall – our knowledge. We should not wait indefinitely.
3. We should not look back in regret over past
“The steps of good men are directed by the Lord…. failures or past decisions.
If they fall it isn’t fatal, for the Lord holds them 4. We must never let either fear or danger or
with His Hand” (Psalms 37:23, 24 - TLB). fear of making a mistake keep us in perpetual
inaction.
Finally, remember that guidance is essentially a 5. We should leave it to God as to how He guides
personal matter between God and you. The way God us.
led another person may never be the way He wishes
to lead you. The broad principles are the same for all
believers, but the exact mode varies from individual
to individual. You will only be confused if you seek
for the same type of guidance you heard someone
else describe in his testimony. Leave it to God how
He should guide you. Let your concern be, that you
might always be available to Him, to do whatever He
desires. He will make it His concern to ensure that
you are made aware of His will, and that you are
strengthened to fulfil it.

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 About the Book

If you were alone in the middle of a thick forest on a pitch

dark night, not knowing which way to turn, you would be
glad to have with you someone who knew every inch of the
forest and whom you could trust fully. You would gladly
follow him without question whichever way he took. The
future that lies before us is darker than anything on earth
could possibly be. We know nothing of the damages and the
hidden pitfalls along each path. And yet we have to decide
which path to take.

God has a specific plan for your life. He has planned

a career for you, chosen a life-partner for you and even
planned where you should live and what you should do.
His choice is the best, because He takes every factor into
consideration.

Do you want to know how to find the will of God for your
life? Read on….

Zac Poonen was formerly an officer

in the Indian Navy. He has been
engaged in a church-­ planting
ministry in India and other coun-
tries since 1975. He ministers at
deeper life conferences in many
lands. He and his wife Annie, live
in Bangalore, South India. They
have four married sons, who, along
www.cfcindia.com with their wives, are also following
the Lord.
[email protected]