How do we determine God’s will in any particular situation? It’s actually not as difficult as you might think. All it takes is our willingness to give up everything, and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God! At least, that’s what Paul says in Romans 12:1-2.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Paul is an example of someone who offered himself as a living sacrifice to God, was transformed, and followed the leading of the Holy Spirit in everything he did.
So let’s look at an interesting example of discerning God’s will from Paul’s life. Acts 15:36 tells us that Paul’s intention is to re-visit the churches of Asia that he had visited on his first missionary journey.
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”
Acts 15:36
Something we often miss is that Paul is the one who came up with the idea to travel on this journey. It seems to be his initiative to begin the trip.
Mistaken belief
It’s easy to have a misplaced “servant” mentality when it comes to God’s will, where we refuse to move until God clearly tells us to. We then become stuck in one place, fearing that we might do the wrong thing and be “out of God’s will.” This is false teaching that will bring us into bondage rather than freedom. We are not God’s minions but we are His partners.
Yes, sometimes we do need to wait for God’s timing, but more often than not, God is actually waiting for US to make a move. The good news is that when offer ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice, He places His desires in our hearts (Philippians 2:13). And this seems to be what happens with Paul. He has an idea that it would be good to re-visit these churches – and this is what gets him back on the road, travelling.
Changing direction
But then the Holy Spirit interrupts Paul’s agenda and he has to set his own plans aside, as he discerns that God is telling him to go somewhere he wasn’t intending. (This is his second missionary journey – and it’s worth tracking this on a map to see where the various places mentioned are located.)
Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Acts 16:6-10
Notice that God did not tell Paul the final destination at the beginning. And often He doesn’t tell us either. Instead, it’s a step by step discovering (or discerning) of God’s will. And that’s part of the adventure of walking with God!
Do you need some direction from God today? If you are surrendered to Him, you can fully trust that the Holy Spirit will lead you in the direction you need to go. That’s what partnering with the Holy Spirit looks like.
It’s also a step-by-step journey. So just take the next step. God will take care of the destination and ensure you get to where you need to be at the right time, just like he did with Paul.
