God rescued the Hebrew nation from slavery in Egypt, then took them through the Sinai wilderness for forty years. He led them by means of two pillars they could see: a pillar of cloud for the daytime and a pillar of fire for the night (Exodus 13:21). When the cloud moved or the fire moved, the people followed. When the pillars didn’t move, the people stayed put. Every day they knew where they were supposed to be and what they were supposed to go.
Have you ever wished that God guided you in such an obvious way? Wake up in the morning and there is a sign from God, perhaps a to-do list that pops up on your phone. That would make following Jesus easy.
Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately— there are no daily to-do lists from heaven. Every Christian who wants to do God’s will has to discover what that means. Christian writers have proposed many systems of how to discover God’s will on a daily basis. The Bible also gives us useful methods for discerning God’s will:
•PRAYER. This should always be our first step in seeking God’s will. We should ask for guidance (James 1:5). The prayer for wisdom is the one prayer the Bible assures us will be answered.
•BIBLE STUDY. In the past, God spoke through the prophets and apostles. Their inspired messages were written down and eventually combined into a book we call the Bible (which just means the book).
On the one hand, these Bible stories are second-hand messages to us. They are God’s communication to someone else about their life situation. But imbedded within those ancient stories are God-revealed truth, moral standards, and principles of godly living that apply to every person no matter where and when they live. A good habit to form is the regular reading of the Bible to keep God’s words fresh in our minds.
•TEACHERS AND ROLE MODELS. Wise teachers, those who have followed Christ for years through varied life experiences, can offer insight into making important decisions. Such counselors include both people we know personally and the many Christians whose wisdom we can access through books, biographies, or other media.
•LIFE EXPERIENCE. Just as our counselors learned from their life experiences, so can we. Learning from experience is very important. For example, the book of Proverbs is filled with lessons that Solomon “picked up along the way” of his walk with God.
One sort of personal experience that can be very valuable in learning life lessons is making mistakes. Of course, nobody wants to make mistakes, but we all make them. If we learn from them, we are less likely to make a similar mistake the next time.
•MORAL INSTRUCTION. In Garry Friesen’s book Decision Making and the Will of God, he says that God’s will, as revealed in scripture, is primarily a moral will. As long as we do what is morally right, God allows us the freedom to make choices in our daily life. Friesen asserts that God’s plan for our life is not a detailed guidebook where we are led mindlessly though ever decision, rather we can use our God-given wisdom to make responsible choices—as long as they are morally correct. For example, a Christian who needs to decide between attending University A or University B, assuming there are no moral issues in this choice, is free to choose. He or she should ask God for wisdom in making the best choice, and rely on the counsel of those who know his/her strengths, but the choice is theirs to make. I find this approach very liberating.
•GOD’s GRACE. As a young Christian, I once faced a difficult decision (I have long since forgotten what it was). I got on my knees to ask for God’s guidance. I didn’t want to make the wrong choice. I prayed—and worried about it— for a long time. God didn’t tell me which choice to make. Instead he gave me the assurance that his grace was sufficient. Even if I made the “wrong” choice and fell flat on my face, he was able to pick me up and get me started again. My choice was not going to spoil God’s plan for the rest of my life.
For each of us who are seeking to do God’s will, I advise remembering the lesson of God’s grace. As long as we make a moral choice, we cannot flub so badly that God cannot pick us up and get us started again.
•STAY THE COURSE. Most days when the Hebrews awoke in their wilderness tents and looked outside to see what the pillar of cloud was showing them for that day, there was no change. The people stayed encamped in the same place for months or years at a time. God’s will for our lives need not involve frequent changes. While God does sometimes lead us to take a new direction, usually, when we awake each morning, we can expect the new day will go according to the plans we had laid out the day before. In other words, if God is not telling you to move, he probably expects you to continue where you are.
God’s guidance usually comes in the form of wisdom we gain through prayer, the word, teachers, moral instruction, and experience. In these ways God is renewing our minds to know his will (Romans 12:2).
Greg Giles is a published author, who, along with his wife Jean, has embraced the call to serve and teach around the globe. Their life together has included missionary work in Liberia, Bangladesh, teaching in China, and raising a family in Bemidji, Minnesota. Between global travels and local commitments, including serving as superintendent of Corn Bible Academy and their current part-time roles at Corn Heritage Village, the Gileses have found “home” in many places; yet, they now happily reside in retirement in Cordell. Please visit his website at reflections-on-wisdom.com.