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“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matt. 12:50

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matt. 7:21

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matt. 6:9, 10

PROBLEM

There is a seriousness about doing God’s will, so how do we carry that through into our decision-making?

What do we know about the will of God?

1. Decreed will of God – “all things” (Dan. 4:35; Eph. 1:11)

How things will be – cannot be thwarted (mostly a mystery unavailable to discover in advance)

2. Desired will of God – moral commands of God (1 Thes. 4:3; 5:16-18; Heb. 11:6; 1 Pet. 2:15; 2 Pet. 3:9)

How things ought to be – can be disregarded

God directs what he has decreed most effortlessly through those who prioritize what he desires.

If you specialize in training yourself to decide on how things ought to be, you will enjoy the very best and centre of how things will be.

*Learn to obediently live in the desired will of God and right God-willed decisions will follow.*

Hindrances

1. don’t want to miss the exact “perfect” plan

2. afraid to risk – look for something easier than God’s desired will

3. we don’t want bumps – what God desires can hurt

4. so many choices –

Take aim at God’s ways and you can be certain the decisions made are God’s will?

Here’s how

1. Take aim at God’s kingdom and not your own. (Gen. 24)

If you take general aim at the big Kingdom picture, God will fill in the specific details.

2. The most important decisions are moral, not non-moral (Mic. 6:8; 1 Cor. 10:31).

You want to be great at decision-making that advances the decreed will of God for your life get good at his desired will

3. Everything about the Christian life is designed around our transformation, not just transportation to the next station in life (Psm. 25; Rom. 12:1-2).

You shouldn’t expect any confidence in your decision-making as it relates to God’s will without first the hard work of learning God-think.

4. Seek to be wise, get godly counsel, and be open to divine surprises.

Open doors of spiritual opportunity are meant to be entered (Acts 15:28; Col. 4:2)

Open doors themselves are not necessarily a sign of God’s will

Closed doors are not necessarily a sign to give up

“Fleeces” are not a spiritual tool, unless you are

Random verses are superstition not spiritual direction

Get rid of subjective gobbly goop

“…apart from the Spirit working through Scripture, God does not promise to use any other means to guide us, nor should we expect him to” K. De Young

5. Make a decision!