"But be doers of the word,
and not hearers only,
deceiving yourselves."
James 1:22
A college student made an appointment with her pastor. She wanted to know God's will for her life. She explained to him that she prayed often to know God's will, but she was not making any progress. After a lengthy conversation, he said, "Would you do God's will if you knew it?" She paused and smiled, then she said, "Well, it depends on what it is." The pastor responded, "That may be the reason you don't know God's will."
The truth is that the will of God is not hard to understand. Anyone who can read the Bible can know God's will. The word of God is the will of God. God's word explains to us clearly, what He expects of us, and how we can know His will. God's word declares God's commands for all of us.
The Holy Spirit speaks to us through Holy Scripture. He gives us wisdom and guidance through the Bible. Scripture explains to us how God's Spirit works in our hearts to know God's will in specific ways.
Knowing God's will and doing God's will are separate subjects. It may be easy to know God's will, but it could be hard to do God's will. All of us, left to ourselves, would rather do our own will. Nevertheless, there's good news! God is able to work in us a desire to do His will. He changes our hearts and puts the desire in us. "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). Doing God's will must come from the heart, a heart changed by the grace of God.
Father, lead us by Your Spirit to do Your will.
