God's Will Part 1: Knowing Him

Heart Prep

Father, You are the most important relationship I will ever have.
Help me to desire to know You better each day.

I John 5:20  “And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding
so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ.
This is the true God and eternal life.”

If you spend much time with Christian people, you will notice them speaking about the “will of God.” Someone might reference doing something “if the Lord wills it” (James 4:15), or say they are waiting to make a big decision until they know God’s will. It may seem quite mysterious and hard to know.

The “will of God” is what God wants. It is what He wants us to do, and what pleases Him. To make this clearer let’s compare it to a relationship with a new boyfriend. When you have a new boyfriend you spend time with him, learning his personality, likes and dislikes. When you become a child of God you begin a life-long relationship with Him. You begin to learn about Him in a special way as He works in your life, and you are able to learn about Him by reading His Bible that He has given to us.

Just reading about someone doesn’t grow a relationship. It requires spending time together. We are able to spend time with God in prayer. This is how we go on a “date” with God. He wants us to plan a special time to be with just Him each day. In prayer you can share your heart with God. Tell Him things that you have noticed about Him in the Bible. Mention to Him things that surprise, delight, discourage, or confuse you. The amazing thing is that God is with you all the time, you can talk to Him any time, not just during your prayer date. Practice talking with Him during every day. If something has made you unhappy, tell Him! Then listen for Him to speak to your heart. Consider how He would want you to react, and do your best to act in that way.  When you do this, you are growing in your relationship with God and following His will.

Life Application

 What does the “will of God” mean?

What can I do today to grow in my relationship with God?

What can I look for in the Bible that will help me find God’s will for me?