When I first became a Christian and people talked about following God's will, I didn't really know what to think. I mean...how did they really know that it was God's will and not simply their own desires convincing them that it was God's will for them to do something. At the time I compared to reading a horoscope, going to a fortune teller, or getting a fortune cookie. You find out that something in your life is going to happen in a certain way and then when something that comes close to what you think will happen you say that the prediction was right. Or in some cases, in particular with fortune telling, you are presented with making a decision and because of what was told to you by the fortune teller you might choose one path over another because it aligns with the prosperity foretold to you if you make a certain type of decision.
But as I grew in my faith walk I came to realize that for me, following God's will meant learning how God desires for me to live my life. Thinking about how his commandments for me aligned with decisions I was trying to make. That the path I would choose would be in alignment with God's purpose for my life. For some of the easier things in life this was simple. Figuring out what to do on a day to day basis simply meant examining how my choices would reflect myself as a Christian to those around me. Should I sacrifice a beautiful sunny Saturday going on a hike to help friends in need move? Should I take some of my free time to help watch a friend in need with taking care of their children? Should I stay home and watch TV in my pajamas or go to discipleship group?
Starting with our senior year in high school and for the next few decades after that we face some pretty major life decisions. Which college, what major, where to go after graduation, job choices, car purchase, relationships, family, pets, lifestyle, the list goes on. Each decision for each question shapes what the next question will be. And when we make a decision and things don't quite turn out how we expect, we are faced with unexpected questions. Some us will face the loss of a spouse, loss of a child, or loss of a parent. Others might phase the loss of a job, their house, or all of their belongings. The world tells us to examine a rational decision and move forward.
But Christianity tends to be a little different from the norm. Sometimes we choose the job that pays less, sometimes we quit a powerful job to stay home with family, sometimes we give large sums of money to mission fund or we choose to live life not for ourselves but for others. We sometimes choose the irrational path because it is "God's will." The longer you are in the Christian world, the more often you can actually see God's will in the decisions people make or the decisions you make for yourself. But how do you explain God's will to non-Christians? Sometimes we are even asked to defend our choices to our Christian brothers and sisters.
I'm sure we've all experienced having to make some pretty major life decisions. I've often shared with fellow Christians the events of my life and it never fails that someone will ask, "Have you sought God's will in this?" I appreciate my friends asking this because it shows me that they care and want to make sure that I have examined the choices with the greatest of care by seeking my heavenly father's guidance and direction. And if I haven't had a chance to seek God's will or I am still waiting for direction it gives me a chance to ask for prayer as I pursue God's will related to the matter at hand.
So how do we know that the path we choose is God's will? Look for more on this topic next week and it anyone has any comments on this topic I would love to hear them.
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