The reason why some many Christians are confused about God’s will is because they fail to read the Bible from cover to cover on a continual basis. Thus they fail to realize that God has already revealed His will through the pages of the Bible.
The more one reads and meditates on these pages the more one’s mind is filled with thoughts of God. This is what is meant by the renewing of one’s mind. That is enabling the human mind to think like the mind of God. Then you will be able to think not like the pattern of the world. Instead you will know what God’s will is.
When in doubt wait upon God. He will make His will known to you. Rely not on your own understanding. Instead seek God’s help and guidance. He has His own ways of letting you know His will.
One thing can be sure: He will not guide you against what He has already commanded in the Bible for right living. For example, it is written: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.”
If the Bible is the guideline; the real meaning of those words written there and how it applies to your life is explained to you by the Holy Spirit. So seek His help in prayer.
In everything try to please God and bring glory to Jesus. Try to please God and not man; for many a time people have missed God’s will by trying to please people rather than God.
Aaron yielded to the peoples desire by making a golden calf and King Saul brought back animals for sacrifice violating God’s command to destroy them completely in order to please people.
Never tire of asking God to make His will known to you for it is written, “seek and you will find.” Even while asking thus, ask God to search your heart. Hidden motives not pleasing to God in your heart often hinder your understanding God’s will.
Once those wrong motives are confessed before God, they need to be given up. If this is accompanied by a willing and cheerful obedience to what God shows you to do, then God’s will can be done in your life.
A great truth that Jesus taught regarding God’s will is: “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.”
James adds a further comment: “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
Finally, though God’s will can bring great conflicts to your mind like what Jesus went through in the Garden of Gethsemane; the Bible terms God’s will as “His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Therefore Jesus’ prayer to His Father: Not my will, but Yours be done, can be your prayer too.
Even though obedience to God’s will can take you through rough times there will be God’s assurance and peace in your heart, and His constant presence with you to give you courage.
Note: Many people rely on other’s counsel and circumstances alone to determine God’s will. Though God can use others and circumstances to speak to you there are two dangers here.
If the person or persons who counsel you are not in a right relationship with God and if they have wrong motives in their heart, you will be heading for trouble. Again, unfavorable circumstances can accompany God’s will as is very much evident in the Book of Acts.