God wants us to live according to His will. He has taken some steps to help us discover and live according to His will. First, He has given His word to us to help us discover His will. Second, Paul tells us in Romans 8:26-27 that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us according to the will of God. The Holy Spirit, who is God, and knows the mind of God, knows God’s will for our lives and prays accordingly. God has also put parents, pastors, and brothers and sisters in our lives to help us know God’s will. He has purposely given us relationships to help us stay on course.
God also wants us to be assured that we are following the will of God. In Colossians 4:12, Epaphras labored in his prayers for the Colossians. His goal was that the Colossians would stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. We should spend time praying for God’s will in our lives, and we should also follow the example of Epaphras and pray for one another that we will be fully assured in all the will of God. (See Matthew 6:10.)
We can also be fully assured in the will of God when we are living according to God’s word. God is very straightforward in His word about His will for our lives. Consider the following parts of God’s will for our lives.
- God’s will is for us to be sanctified. (1 Thess 4:3-7)
- God’s will is for us to have a godly sorrow that leads to repentance. (2 Cor 7:9-11)
- God’s will is for us to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in everything. (1 Thess 5:16-18)
- God’s will is for us to submit to those in authority. (1 Peter 2:13-15)
- God’s will is for us to give generously to Him and to His workers in the ministry (2 Cor 8:1-5)
- God’s will is for us to serve others with a sincere heart. (Eph 6:5-8)
- God’s will is for us to suffer for righteousness. (1 Pet 4:19)