“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Psalm 143:10

If you want to know God’s will start with the Bible, because much of God’s will is revealed there. The Bible tells us what we should do to be in God’s will.  For example, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The Bible also tells us it’s God’s will for us to help the poor, to do good works, to honor our parents, to pray without ceasing, to forgive one another, and much more. 

The Bible also tells us what not do because it’s not God’s will. It tells us it’s God’s will that we should avoid sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3).  It tells us that stealing, lying, denying justice, taking bribes, idolatry and many other thoughts and actions are against God’s will. You don’t have to ask if it’s God’s will to cheat on your taxes. You don’t even have to pray about it. It’s not God’s will.

But what about specific decisions in your life, such as who to marry, where to live, or whether or not to take a trip? How do you know God’s will in such situations? The short answer is that the better you know God the easier it is to discern his will in every situation. The better you know Jesus and his teaching, the more you will be like him, the more you will seek his guidance, and the more your decisions will naturally conform to his will.

“Do not conform any longer 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 12:2)