The following verses are pertinent to finding God's will for your life:
"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much..." (Luke 16:10, ESV).
"... Well done, thou good and faithful servant..." (cf. Luke 19:17, KJV).
"Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 5:17, ESV).
"For I know the plans I have for you, ' declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).
"It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ, ... he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone" (Ephesians 1:11, The Message).
"For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, ... everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him" (Colossians 1:16, The Message).
"Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established" (Proverbs 16:3, ESV).
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death" (Proverbs 16:18, ESV).
"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand" (Proverbs 19:21, ESV).
"Unless you assume a God, the question of life's purpose is meaningless." (Bertrand Russell, mathematician, philosopher, atheist, author of the famed book, Why I Am Not A Christian).
God has uniquely gifted everyone for the ability to know His will, but it isn't an automatic given to know it, though Acts 22:14 says it has been granted Paul to know His will. We must search for it and be willing to do it or we will never know it. "If any man wills to do His will..." (cf. John 7:17). Obedience and willingness are provisos to finding out God's plan. If we are not obedient in what He has revealed, we will not be given more light. Most people blindly go through life, the blind leading the blind, and never find their true calling--they exist, but don't live. We are meant to live for something bigger than ourselves and for something that will outlast our lives--every chord we play strikes some note that will vibrate throughout eternity, but some of us march to the beat of a different drum than the light of Scripture. "When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD" (Proverbs 19:3). Man ruins his life, then blames God, or he is a success and congratulates himself!
This life is but a dress rehearsal and a tryout for the real thing in heaven, or a stage set for eternity, and we are meant to find out what we are here for. People who don't know their purpose attempt too much! Attempt great things for God, and expect greater things from God! The Bible is our Owner's Manual and has everything we need to know for fulfillment in life! Many people live as if they will never die, and die as if they never lived, and don't find purpose until their later years! What a pity that the common man sees nothing more to live for than the Epicurean philosophy of "eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die" (cf. Isaiah 22:13) school of thought. We are not to live just in the "here and now," but in "light of eternity," and "it ought to be the business of every day to prepare for our final day," according to commentator Matthew Henry. We have the ability to see and expect the future, but with that comes the downside or drawback of being capable of worry. We should never live in the past of regret, nor in the future of worry (paying dividends on bills we don't owe): These are the two thieves of our time and when we don't live life to the fullest it is usually this to blame.
Now, most people never even find out what they are good at, much less, their true calling in life: "God in heaven appoints each man's work" (John 3:27, NLT). It is often said: "You missed your calling" with tongue-in-cheek. The best we can hope for in life is to find out His will and plan for our lives, and it is never too late for God's best--He is in the business of changing lives and transforming them into the image of Christ. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Cor. 5:17, ESV). Christ is still in the resurrection business and can change our lives from the inside out--we don't just turn over a new leaf, but start afresh with Jesus in charge--we are changed from the inside out.
There is no greater joy, than in doing the Lord's work, but there is a curse on anyone who is slack in doing it (cf. Jeremiah 48:10). The happiest people, it has been put, are those who are too busy trying to meet other's needs and make them happy, that they don't have time to worry about their own. The sure recipe of a wasted life is to live it for yourself--get your eyes off yourself and live for God's will, whatever the calling--there are many callings, but the same Spirit (and that's what counts!).
Many people experience a dramatic conversion and their whole life turns around or heads in a new direction after finding Christ: Look at how prison radicalized the life of Chuck Colson (dirty-tricks and hatchet man for Pres. Nixon, turned philosophical apologist for the faith), for instance! God puts us through the fires of adversity to make us better people, and no one is exempt, not even Christ exempted Himself. Our crosses pale in comparison to His and we should be aware that adversity, trials, sufferings, discipline, and misfortune happen to all of us and are meant for our good, and Christ can turn even the most diabolical atrocity into something good: "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good" (cf. Gen. 50:20). God orchestrates all events, even historically, and never loses control of His Plan. (Romans 8:28, ESV says: "And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good....") We can do nothing to thwart His intentions and make God resort to a Plan B.
The most important link to finding God's will is seizing the day (going for it!), or carpe diem, or seeking God's will and recognizing it when you see it in the light of Scripture. God will open doors, we just have to be ready to step into His will (cf. Isaiah 22:22). When God opens a door, the impossible can become possible, because all things are possible with God (cf. Luke 1:37). When I first became a believer, I didn't understand why my brothers in the Lord were so concerned about what God's will was: "What would Jesus do?" As we mature we have a greater desire to please God and live for Him and His glory: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever" (cf. The Westminster Shorter Catechism, ca. 1646). "[E]veryone] who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made" (Isaiah 43:7, ESV). We must learn to live for Christ and not ourselves, to please others, not ourselves!
How do you know that you were not "born for such a time as this?" (Cf. Esther 4:14). Living on purpose is the only way to live, says Rick Warren, and life makes no sense without purpose. Life is an intricate plan of God and we are to fit into God's plans, not ask Him to fit into our plans! This is the origin of the Protestant work ethic. When we are engaged and engrossed in God's work everything else is put into the right perspective: "... I am doing great work, so I cannot come down..." (Nehemiah 6:3, KJV). Motivation is primed by the right orientation: "... [F]or the people had a mind to work" (Nehemiah 4:6, NKJV). We want to be like Jesus at the end of our lives and be able to confess: "... I have finished the work which You have given Me to do" (John 17:4, NKJV). MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Soli Deo Gloria!
"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much..." (Luke 16:10, ESV).
"... Well done, thou good and faithful servant..." (cf. Luke 19:17, KJV).
"Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 5:17, ESV).
"For I know the plans I have for you, ' declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).
"It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ, ... he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone" (Ephesians 1:11, The Message).
"For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, ... everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him" (Colossians 1:16, The Message).
"Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established" (Proverbs 16:3, ESV).
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death" (Proverbs 16:18, ESV).
"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand" (Proverbs 19:21, ESV).
"Unless you assume a God, the question of life's purpose is meaningless." (Bertrand Russell, mathematician, philosopher, atheist, author of the famed book, Why I Am Not A Christian).
God has uniquely gifted everyone for the ability to know His will, but it isn't an automatic given to know it, though Acts 22:14 says it has been granted Paul to know His will. We must search for it and be willing to do it or we will never know it. "If any man wills to do His will..." (cf. John 7:17). Obedience and willingness are provisos to finding out God's plan. If we are not obedient in what He has revealed, we will not be given more light. Most people blindly go through life, the blind leading the blind, and never find their true calling--they exist, but don't live. We are meant to live for something bigger than ourselves and for something that will outlast our lives--every chord we play strikes some note that will vibrate throughout eternity, but some of us march to the beat of a different drum than the light of Scripture. "When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD" (Proverbs 19:3). Man ruins his life, then blames God, or he is a success and congratulates himself!
This life is but a dress rehearsal and a tryout for the real thing in heaven, or a stage set for eternity, and we are meant to find out what we are here for. People who don't know their purpose attempt too much! Attempt great things for God, and expect greater things from God! The Bible is our Owner's Manual and has everything we need to know for fulfillment in life! Many people live as if they will never die, and die as if they never lived, and don't find purpose until their later years! What a pity that the common man sees nothing more to live for than the Epicurean philosophy of "eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die" (cf. Isaiah 22:13) school of thought. We are not to live just in the "here and now," but in "light of eternity," and "it ought to be the business of every day to prepare for our final day," according to commentator Matthew Henry. We have the ability to see and expect the future, but with that comes the downside or drawback of being capable of worry. We should never live in the past of regret, nor in the future of worry (paying dividends on bills we don't owe): These are the two thieves of our time and when we don't live life to the fullest it is usually this to blame.
Now, most people never even find out what they are good at, much less, their true calling in life: "God in heaven appoints each man's work" (John 3:27, NLT). It is often said: "You missed your calling" with tongue-in-cheek. The best we can hope for in life is to find out His will and plan for our lives, and it is never too late for God's best--He is in the business of changing lives and transforming them into the image of Christ. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Cor. 5:17, ESV). Christ is still in the resurrection business and can change our lives from the inside out--we don't just turn over a new leaf, but start afresh with Jesus in charge--we are changed from the inside out.
There is no greater joy, than in doing the Lord's work, but there is a curse on anyone who is slack in doing it (cf. Jeremiah 48:10). The happiest people, it has been put, are those who are too busy trying to meet other's needs and make them happy, that they don't have time to worry about their own. The sure recipe of a wasted life is to live it for yourself--get your eyes off yourself and live for God's will, whatever the calling--there are many callings, but the same Spirit (and that's what counts!).
Many people experience a dramatic conversion and their whole life turns around or heads in a new direction after finding Christ: Look at how prison radicalized the life of Chuck Colson (dirty-tricks and hatchet man for Pres. Nixon, turned philosophical apologist for the faith), for instance! God puts us through the fires of adversity to make us better people, and no one is exempt, not even Christ exempted Himself. Our crosses pale in comparison to His and we should be aware that adversity, trials, sufferings, discipline, and misfortune happen to all of us and are meant for our good, and Christ can turn even the most diabolical atrocity into something good: "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good" (cf. Gen. 50:20). God orchestrates all events, even historically, and never loses control of His Plan. (Romans 8:28, ESV says: "And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good....") We can do nothing to thwart His intentions and make God resort to a Plan B.
The most important link to finding God's will is seizing the day (going for it!), or carpe diem, or seeking God's will and recognizing it when you see it in the light of Scripture. God will open doors, we just have to be ready to step into His will (cf. Isaiah 22:22). When God opens a door, the impossible can become possible, because all things are possible with God (cf. Luke 1:37). When I first became a believer, I didn't understand why my brothers in the Lord were so concerned about what God's will was: "What would Jesus do?" As we mature we have a greater desire to please God and live for Him and His glory: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever" (cf. The Westminster Shorter Catechism, ca. 1646). "[E]veryone] who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made" (Isaiah 43:7, ESV). We must learn to live for Christ and not ourselves, to please others, not ourselves!
How do you know that you were not "born for such a time as this?" (Cf. Esther 4:14). Living on purpose is the only way to live, says Rick Warren, and life makes no sense without purpose. Life is an intricate plan of God and we are to fit into God's plans, not ask Him to fit into our plans! This is the origin of the Protestant work ethic. When we are engaged and engrossed in God's work everything else is put into the right perspective: "... I am doing great work, so I cannot come down..." (Nehemiah 6:3, KJV). Motivation is primed by the right orientation: "... [F]or the people had a mind to work" (Nehemiah 4:6, NKJV). We want to be like Jesus at the end of our lives and be able to confess: "... I have finished the work which You have given Me to do" (John 17:4, NKJV). MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Soli Deo Gloria!
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