Determining God’s Will

The Question Box

Question: How can I determine the will of God in my life?

Answer: I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter.

Nine-tenths of the trouble with people is right here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord’s will whatever it shall be. When one is truly in this state it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what his will is.

Having surrendered my own will, I do not leave the result to feeling or simply impressions. If I do so, I make myself liable to great delusions.

I will seek the will of the spirit of God through, or in connection with, the word of God. The spirit and the word must be combined. If the holy spirit guides us at all, it will be according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.

Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God’s will in connection with his will and spirit. I ask God in prayer to reveal his word to me aright.

Thus, through prayer to God, the study of his word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment. If my mind is thus at peace, and continue so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. For trivial matters and in transactions involving most important issues I have found this method always effective.

George Muller