That night at church, people squeezed against the pews as Allen made his way up the crowded aisle. Trusting God is a free 4-week email-based devotional to help you learn to trust God through the storms of your life. Submitting to God’s will challenged us in ways we never expected and opened our hearts to other children with disabilities. Romans 12:10 You know who they are – the people who lift you up when you are down, who give you energy to move forward, who consistently remind you of God’s will. But my heart was doing flips. How to Determine God's Will . 1. archangel sent by God to Daniel 2. Recall what brought you here. Copyright © 2021, iBelieve.com. No matter what decision you are facing or what obstacles stand in your path, these seven steps will help you discern God’s will in difficult situations. “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”. God responds to a two word cry for help in the middle of a busy afternoon, just like He does to a focused prayer time after reading Scripture in the morning. God’s Desired Will. Then my husband and I would adopt. That was the decision Dana and I faced after meeting Ruth. 10 Powerful Reasons to Pray Scripture (And How to Start), Here Are 10 Things Selfish People Always Do in Relationships, 10 Ways Satan Wants You to Respond to the Coronavirus. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. A whirlwind trip to plan to East Africa. God faithfully directs his children. Meadow Rue Merrill is an award-winning journalist and the author of the memoir, “Redeeming Ruth: Everything Life Takes, Love Restores,” which releases with Hendrickson Publishers in May 2017. Then they crossed their arms over their chests before spinning down and disappearing into the water with a splash. But through it all, we kept walking faith, confident that adopting Ruth was indeed God’s plan. That long prayed for job or ministry opportunity lacks the outcome you imagined. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” So simply ask for God’s help and then… 3. Theresa had told me about her several weeks before. . Maybe you’ve faced a similar predicament. “Fifteen…sixteen months?” Theresa ticked off the numbers on her fingers, looking to Allen. 1) God’s promises are often conditional. “It’s too early to tell.” Theresa shrugged. By Dr. Ann Shorb . Ruth, who had cerebral palsy, was here for six months of physical therapy. Or perhaps the path you felt God directing you to follow now seems barren and barred by obstacles. But he wasn’t sure we were ready. So, together we prayed, “Lord, if you have another child for us, you will have to bring that child to us.” We wouldn’t pursue it. “You remember, honey?”. A friend once encouraged my wife and I to take on a certain task. The thought of spending the rest of our lives taking care of someone who might never be able to take care of herself scared me. Her skin was the color of gingerbread, and she was beautiful, stunning, with a high, rounded forehead and a fat little pucker of a nose. Verse after verse is filled with practical lessons and instructions for daily life. God rarely gives us a specific list of GPS directions for our lives. Everything else faded—parents filling the pews, Lydia leaning against my knee, our children lining the front of the church. When we seek God's direction for specific answers to particular situations, we need to ask ourselves if we are surrendered to God's will and if the answer lines up with His Word or if it seems more in line with our own desires. This has brought up a good question in conversation: How Can I Determine God's Will for My Life? What happens when life’s reality differs from our expectations---and prayers? Unless otherwise indicated, all contents are copyright of iStudyEBS. Don’t say it, I thought, handing Ruth back to Dana. The Gospel of Love "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men liberally without criticism, and it will be given to him,” says James 1:5. That part of the puzzle was God’s. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, so that we should walk in them,” Ephesians 2:10 says. by Selina | Sep 1, 2015 | Blog | 1 comment. Two weeks after graduating from college, I married my high school sweetheart, Dana. Basing your decisions on just one source of direction can often be risky. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} We welcomed our son, Gabriel, and daughter, Lydia, soon after. Or have you ever wondered how you are supposed to determine both God’s general and specific will for you and for others? iStudyEBS is a division of Explorer’s Bible Study. Honor one another above yourselves. And we talked to adoption agencies and lawyers to find out what steps adopting Ruth would require. It took me a moment to remember the baby that Theresa and her family were hosting from an orphanage in Uganda. 4 Ways COVID-19 Stresses Your Relationships and How to Respond, Why We Need to Look to God after National Calamity, How to Start 2021 Strong in the Midst of Chaos, 7 Prophetic Words God Has for Us about the End Times, 6 Things Every Husband Needs to Know about Emotional Support, 10 Unexpected Reasons for Infidelity in a Marriage, 10 Things Never to Say to Your Adult Children. You don’t have to live in fear of His displeasure when you seek His will through these 5 steps. She was scrawny and limp and dressed in a shapeless pink onesie that sagged where a round tummy and chubby thighs should have stretched it tight. Did God ignore our heart-felt petitions? Trust God? While Dana’s experience was different, as soon as he held Ruth, God awakened that love in him in a clear answer to my previous prayer. A promise does not make God bend to our will. God’s Will Definition. Faith is an important component to accepting God’s wisdom. If you’re struggling to trust God in the storms of your life, not sure God can really help with your troubles or don’t know where to even begin, I invite you to join the Trusting God study. Dana wiggled a finger, holding it out for Ruth to grab. Mine—and now Dana’s—was to rely on the Holy Spirit and walk in faith as we sought to discern that plan. Sometime later, I walked into a friend’s church for the last night of Vacation Bible School. Early on, I felt drawn to Africa and helping orphans. This was very confusing at first, but after some time I understood what it meant. He has a general and specific … There was money to raise. Dana slid Ruth into my arms. Or that wonderful man you felt called to marry left you feeling lonely and disappointed. God had … Do your plans line up with his? Co-ed Online Bible Study Groups with couples and singles. Let us study 12 specific, practical steps the Bible gives to show us how to change and improve our selves to become what God wants. From that familiarity with Jesus’ personality and character, we equip ourselves to recognize what His will is for us in all circumstances. “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety,” says Proverbs 11:14. These might be prayer warriors, ministry leaders, or others with experience in the area about which you are seeking to make a decision. A sudden urge to protect her overwhelmed me. “They sprang up—way, way up—into the air like Olympic divers. Clearly, adoption is in keeping with God’s desire. Learn how your comment data is processed. Being able to determine God's will in a situation is influenced by our effort to submit to Him and obey Him. Be devoted to one another in love. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding,” Proverbs 3:5-6 says. The better you and I know God’s general will, the easier it is to determine God’s specific will in particular situations. Then proceed to the next step. You can be confident that God will make any specific plans He has for you clear. Finding God’s will for your life is not as difficult as we make it out to be. While we don’t rely on man’s wisdom alone, God often uses people to increase our wisdom. Her right eye turned weakly toward her nose. But it's also a matter of practice. The most obvious answer to the question, “How can I know God’s will for my life?” is to ask Him. God's word is the best source of guidance for self-help and motivation for self-improvement. And Romans 12:2 says, "Be renewed in your mind so that you can prove what is the will of God"—His will, I believe, for you—"what is good, acceptable and perfect." Praying doesn’t have to be complicated. Yet here Ruth was, smiling from the cradle of my husband’s arms. The better you and I know God’s general will, the easier it is to determine God’s specific will in particular situations. His aim is that we be transformed, sanctified, freed by the truth of his revealed word (John 8:32; 17:17). There are five key questions to ask in order to determine God’s will in a decision-making situation. Do you ever wonder what Gods specific will is for your life? Tiny fingers curled into her palms, but she was smiling—a lopsided, baby-toothed “Here I am” smile that creased her cheeks and made her dark eyes gleam. As Dana and I sought God’s will, he led us to Scriptures encouraging us to share with those in need, feed the hungry, and care for orphans. God's Word clearly indicates that He is willing to give guidance to His children in both the big and the small areas of life (Psalm 32:8; 37:5, 7, 23; Proverbs 3:5-6). Surprisingly, our children were Ruth’s biggest advocates, always encouraging her and cheering her on. All the other steps are pointless if we don’t follow up with action. I had been praying and dreaming of this moment for decades, but not once had I imagined adopting a child with disabilities. So, I went digging to find verses that might help us know God’s “always” will . God has a will for all who know Him personally, which is referred to as specific will of God In every situation, what revelation of God must always take precedence written will of God So the second stage of God’s will of command is the discerning application of the Scriptures to new situations in life by means of a renewed mind. (Romans 12:1-2) I also felt called to write, but I had no idea how God would bring these paths together. I knew they were yours.”. … Was this God’s answer to our prayers? “Ruth only started therapy a couple of weeks ago. The will of God (or Divine Will) is the idea that God has a plan for people (Jeremiah 29:11-13). “I ask you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all speak in agreement and that there be no divisions among you. Some Bible verses have “timeless truths” that are applicable to Christians today. Along the way, God blessed us with a love for Ruth as deep as for our other children. For Dana and I, the idea of adopting wasn’t out of the blue. The Bible expects us to walk in the good works that God has prepared beforehand for us (Ephesians 2:10). Three years later, our son, Judah, was born. 4. God had indeed given me the desires of my heart, with one exception. 4 Ways to Love One Another. The second thing to keep in mind is that God not only has a general will that includes all of us, but He also has a specific will for each one of us. Rather than impulsively leaping forward or fearfully turning back, we took seven crucial steps—one at a time. Our boys had been coming all week. If so, it looked radically different from what I expected. The confirmation of God’s Word We can find the Cross first of all through loving sacrifice no matter how small or insignificant or hidden from the … What Would the Apostle Paul Say about Wearing Face Masks? But in a quiet moment alone, I’d offered up this feeble prayer: “Lord, if you want us to adopt, you will have to put it in Dana’s heart too.”. Lawyers to hire. When we spend quiet time with Him it will overflow into all areas of our life. The Bible outlines God’s general will for all man-kind. Don’t say a word. 2) God gives us promises to help us better submit to His will and trust Him. Many texts in the Bible are specific, concrete, revelatory expressions of broader, universal realities or theological principles. “God is going to give you the desires of your heart,” three separate ministers had told me on three separate occasions, and I believed them. I’d go to college, get married, become a writer, and have two boys and a girl—in that order. . While the specifics of a particular passage may only apply to the particular situation of the biblical audience, the theological principles revealed in that text are applicable to all of God’s people at all times. Since neither Dana nor I knew much about cerebral palsy, we talked to our pediatrician. In a previous article, I wrote about Following God Without Hesitation, referencing Joshua 3:3 and what I said there was that 'we need to determine God’s will and “go after” God without hesitation.' Keep on reading to find out what God has taught me about His Word and how it reveals His general and specific will for man-kind. Image Credit: ©Thinkstock/mavoimages 7 Steps to Discerning God’s Will in Difficult Situations, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Any indepth bible study, such as iStudy, will open His Will up for you to learn and follow. Since leaving our decision to adopt with God, Dana and I hadn’t talked about it. This is the greatest discovery we will ever make – God has a purpose and plan for each human being; past, present, and future. But be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement,” I Corinthians 1:10 says. For being so weak, Ruth’s happiness was contagious, and we laughed too. Paul desired to preach here 3. compared Paul's word with Scripture 4. circumstances which God arranges for His purposes 5. prayed to understand the meaning of a vision 6. the chief prince angel 7. a prophet who refused God's will 8. praiseworthy qualities that we should think upon 9. second channel marker No matter what decision you are facing or what obstacles stand in your path, these seven steps will help you discern God’s will in difficult situations, one step at a time. God’s aim is a new mind, a new way of thinking and judging, not just new information. The day we returned from our honeymoon I landed a job as a reporter for a small Maine newspaper. The four runway lights that I use to determine God’s will in making a decision are: 1. We sent the teams, recognizing the potential danger. When none did, we took this as God’s leading to spend more time with Ruth and see what caring for her was like. An ultrasound later revealed only one baby. Therefore, to determine God’s specific will for your life you must familiarize and submerge yourself in the Word of God. BOOK EXCERPT Circumstances and Hearing God's Voice By Craig von Buseck CBN.com Contributing Writer . Should I Think Of Having Children When The World Is So Broken? Ruth’s head rolled forward and back, forward and back. This modern engineering marvel can carry an amazing amount of weight and strain because of … God’s will is found in the Cross. When facing a decision that doesn’t look the way you expect, take time to reflect on whether this fits your passion and prayers. I learned that I can know how I should be living by reading God’s Word, discovering what pleases Him and what He desires from me, and then simply living it out. All rights reserved. It is one thing to pray for God’s will to be done in your life, but it is quite another to accept His will. Paul explained … Not once. To discern the will of God, analyze your gifts, motives, and desires in light of God’s sovereign purpose of being glorified among the nations. Look for the word “if” in the context. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”. Questions like, “Should we get a divorce?”, “How should I treat someone who persecutes me?”, and “Is it okay to look at pornographic material?” are all answered through Scripture. Many times I wondered, “How can I be effective for the kingdom of God?” or “What does God want me doing?” or “How can I best serve him?” In response to my questions, someone said, “Your ministry will come from your quiet time”. His Circumstantial Will. “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth,” John 16:13 says, “… He will tell you things that are to come.”, Two years before we met Ruth, God gave my mother a dream in which Dana and I had twin girls. The descriptive Biblical insights aren’t timeless truths for Christians today — though they are valuable for mediation, reflection, and learning about God. Watching her learn and grow was a greater delight than we ever anticipated. 3) Do not assume to know precisely when, where, or how God’s promises will be fulfilled in your life. one could Google the question or search the world to know God’s will for your life, your purpose for being but your best option is to spend a little time with God in the Bible and His Truth will open up to you. Pray, glorify God, study the Scripture, be willing to wait, and trust God’s … How can we discern what is truly God’s will for our lives compared to the curve balls that sometimes take us by surprise? And we almost missed it, all because Ruth wasn’t quite what we expected. Then I saw the baby dangling from his arms. Usually it's a day-by-day, sometimes minute by minute, method of guidance where we must listen and respond. This covers what the Lord desires us to do today in our current situation. God’s Immediate Will. With the astonishing revelation of Ruth’s age, Dana and I felt emboldened to pursue God’s plan. While we knew that adopting a child with disabilities would not be easy, we knew that God was guiding us together. He does not leave us wandering about in doubt and confusion. Since the Scriptures provide us to all good works (2 Timothy 3:16,17), they give all the guidance we need. The following March, we joyously welcomed our daughter, little imagining what God had in store. I was blessed to grow up with a God seeking, Bible-believing, Spirit filled mom who encouraged me to search out God’s plans for my life. Instead of giving in to fear and doubt, Dana and I set aside two months to pray while waiting to see whether another family would step forward to adopt Ruth. Then she was scheduled to return to her orphanage, Welcome Home Africa, unless someone wanted to adopt her. Ruth’s head was fringed with a thin scrub of curls. When you and I are making a decision “in the dark,” we also can line up the “runway lights” that assure us our decision is in the center of God’s will. Reading and studying the Bible will provide the answers for God’s general will for each and every person. More than a year later, as Dana held Ruth in church, I asked Theresa how old she was. Ask God for His wisdom. They were strong and athletic and very graceful. Does "God's will" only apply to moral decisions or is there a framework or guidelines/advice for identifying what God's will may be? 1. Jesus said that His true relations are those who know and do the Father’s will: “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother” ( Mark 3:35 ). ( James 1:5) “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Or trust ourselves? I couldn’t take my eyes off her. It struck Dana the same way it struck me. —John 3:16 The Boast of the Cross May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. If God was calling us to adopt Ruth, we knew he’d call our children as well. For Dana and I, the idea of adopting wasn’t out of the blue. Amazingly, Dana said it for me, “So, do you want to adopt her?”. Yes, we still walked through all the other steps of discernment, but we did so with greater confidence. Situations, California - do not assume to know precisely when, where, how! Follow now seems barren and barred by obstacles new mind, a new mind, new! 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