The Will of God - His Purpose for you

[LongLiveRawk]

:wave

I've always had a question...how do you know what God's will for your life is?

I've been trying to find that out lately, what God wants me to do in my life for His kingdom. Are we even supposed to know, or does it kind of sneak up on us and we don't notice it?

For example, I have a real desire to go to Israel for a few years and go to a university and get a degree in theology. I would really love to be in Israel for a few years, and during then just to kind of dive in the Gospel, and really get involved in kind of the "meat" of Christianity and the Word. But how do I know if God wants me to do this? Maybe He'd rather have me stay here in the states, or not even go to college at all. These are the kinds of things I've really been wondering.

Also as far as a career goes...until recently, I've always wanted a career in the pro-life movement, perhaps a job at Right to Life or American Life League. Thats where I felt God wanted me. But now, I'm also thinking about getting involved in fiction writing, maybe a little bit into astronomy or rocketry. Not like any of these can't be a hobby, its just I don't know where God wants me to direct my full attention too.

Can anyone help me with this? I'm not sure where God wants me, and getting some input and perhaps some life experiances from you guys may help. Thanks :):

[Sakrysta]

From my experience, the most important thing in knowing God's will for your life is to stay right with him and close to his heart. Then, do what you think is best, and wait for him to say yes or no based on how things work out.

Example: I didn't know what to do with myself. I was out of college, and though I had earned a degree, I no longer wanted to pursue that field. I drifted from one stupid job to another until I finally got fed up and decided to make a plan. I was moving to a different city to find a job in Christian service. So I saved up my money and started looking for housing in this city.

Then the Lord dropped a job in my lap - one in a field perfect for me and local. It was as clear as if he'd posted a sign on my forehead. :lol And every stupid job I had along the way had been perfect training for this new perfect job. It was all in his timing and plan.

I guess what I'm trying to say is it's not something mystical. It's following what you KNOW to be God's will, and trusting him to guide you in the areas you're unsure of. If the desire is there to go to Israel, start making plans. God has promised us the desires of our hearts. Sometimes it means he gives us what we want. Sometimes it means he changes our desires to match his. But it never means waiting for a lightning bolt from heaven to tell you what to do.

Man, I just preached myself a sermon. Time to start considering some plans of my own to let the Lord mold as he will.

[blitzkreig]

Then the Lord dropped a job in my lap - one in a field perfect for me and local. It was as clear as if he'd posted a sign on my forehead. :lol And every stupid job I had along the way had been perfect training for this new perfect job. It was all in his timing and plan. :nod

Question: Is it possible for a Christian to go very far outside of the perfect will of God for their life if all things work together for good to those who love the Lord (Rom 8:28)?

[Pooch]

Question: Is it possible for a Christian to go very far outside of the perfect will of God for their life if all things work together for good to those who love the Lord God has a perfect will for us, and a permissive will for us. For example:
God's perfect will is that there never be divorce. God's permissive will is yes, in the case of adultry.
God 'permits' us to do some things against His 'perfect' will, but as you stated, all work to the good. Joseph would have been in God's will had he not been sold, but since he was, God used it for His glory.

The will of God in all of our lives is to follow His Son Jesus. We can do that in any job, so like as was stated, pick a job you like. If God doesn't want you to take it, He will let you know. As for studying in Israel, you can 'dive into' the gospel here just as much. It would be cool though to at least visit Israel...

Above all else, pray first, act second.


Pooch

[blitzkreig]

Joseph would have been in God's will had he not been sold, but since he was, God used it for His glory.And that came as some sort of surprise to God? ... so are you suggesting he was "winging it" when He turned it to good? I believe He sees the end from the beginning.

The question directly put is "does God use Evil for Good"? And the answer has to be yes. And not by accident. And He is able to do so without actually creating the evil in the first place.

The greatest evil ever was the Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. That came as no surprise to God. The "use" of that event was actually planned prior to the creation of the universe. And early in Genesis it was forecast.

He knows exactly what you or I will do long before we do it. But He doesn't make us do it... we do it of our own accord.

Please do keep in mind that God is not contingent.

[BHiles]

:wave

I've always had a question...how do you know what God's will for your life is?

I've been trying to find that out lately, what God wants me to do in my life for His kingdom. Are we even supposed to know, or does it kind of sneak up on us and we don't notice it?

For example, I have a real desire to go to Israel for a few years and go to a university and get a degree in theology. I would really love to be in Israel for a few years, and during then just to kind of dive in the Gospel, and really get involved in kind of the "meat" of Christianity and the Word. But how do I know if God wants me to do this? Maybe He'd rather have me stay here in the states, or not even go to college at all. These are the kinds of things I've really been wondering.

Also as far as a career goes...until recently, I've always wanted a career in the pro-life movement, perhaps a job at Right to Life or American Life League. Thats where I felt God wanted me. But now, I'm also thinking about getting involved in fiction writing, maybe a little bit into astronomy or rocketry. Not like any of these can't be a hobby, its just I don't know where God wants me to direct my full attention too.

Can anyone help me with this? I'm not sure where God wants me, and getting some input and perhaps some life experiances from you guys may help. Thanks :):
Remember that the true meat of the Word is not studying some deep obscure theological point of view on doctrine. The meat of the word deals with a crucified life-a life of Biblical seperation from the world unto Christ and being a doer of the word. Far to many get so wrapped up in the deep dark secretes and never do what Christ told us to do. All this does is heap wisdom on ourselves that causes pride. The theology schools are full of these "theologians" who rarely if ever have brought a single, solitary soul to the Saviour. This kind of "meat" can be done anywhere God has you. Have you thought of going to a Christian college that you would be doing while you were learning? There are many out there.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.