How do i know god's will for my life?
- Tammy Fager
- Jul 31
- 6 min read
Let’s Apply Some Biblical Principles
Every Christian spends time wondering if they are doing God’s will. I can’t tell you how many
conversations I’ve had trying to determine whether I am following God’s will or just thinking it’s a good idea on my own. How do you know? We pray and we pray for guidance and direction… Should we take that new job? Should we sell our house and start over? How do we ever know what we are doing is the right thing? At this moment I feel like these words I’m writing are for me. But I also know there are so many of us trying to make “the right decisions” with our lives.
Now let’s pause those thoughts and ask a different question: What is God already doing in my life? In other words, what does He want to accomplish with me, right where I am?
Maybe we need to stop trying to track down God’s plan like it’s a treasure map to be followed and instead start looking at God’s activity. This shift is at the heart of how to know and discern God's will.
“My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” (John 5:17)
Henry Blackaby wrote an amazing book and study titled: Experiencing God
One of its core teachings is that God is always at work around us. He never stops. He also says, “Understanding what God is about to do where you are is far more important than telling God what you want to do for Him.”
Maybe we aren’t slowing down enough to recognize what God wants from us. If we aren’t paying attention, we will miss what God is doing.
Jesus lived with this kind of awareness.
He said,“The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” (John 5:19).
Jesus never had to wake up and ask, “Hmm, I wonder what I should do today?” He watched what the Father was already doing and simply joined Him.
Blackaby summarizes this foundational truth: Find where God is working and join Him. We don’t have to invent a purpose for our days. God has already provided it. He invites us to become involved with Him in His work. We just have to be open to the invitation. This is one of the clearest pictures of how God guides believers and how to join what God is already doing.
God’s Will Is Revealed Through Obedience—Not Speculation
Another key insight from Experiencing God is that God’s will is revealed through obedience, not speculation.
Look at John 7:17: “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find whether my teaching
comes from God or whether I speak on my own”
Obedience comes before clarity. It is very easy to reverse that order. We like to have our ducks in a row and know that our path is clear and organized. But God often asks us to obey what we already know before He shows us the next step.
Blackaby points out that when God invites us to join Him, it almost always leads to a crisis of belief — a moment where we have to decide whether we will trust Him and act, even when we don’t have the full picture. As a follower of Jesus, I need to focus on staying in the center of God’s will one day at a time.
Luke 16:10 reminds us that whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much. Faithfulness in the small things positions us to experience God in greater ways.
God’s Revealed Will Comes Before Specific Direction
Many Christians are looking for guidance while actually ignoring clear commands. You know the ones: love your neighbor, forgive others, serve, pray, encourage.
Often God has already revealed His will, but we haven’t finished obeying yet. It’s easy to jump the gun and try to sprint to the end goal.
We decide to pray about our circumstances and wait to see what God will tell us. But is it possible that at some point that becomes spiritual procrastination?
The Experiencing God study teaches that God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church (other believers) to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.
Really hearing God's voice includes responding to what He has already said in His Word. We know Scripture clearly tells us to forgive, love our enemies, give generously, serve, share Christ, and encourage others. So maybe the answer isn’t just as simple as “I’ll pray about it.”
God Often Guides While We Are Moving
We can see in Scripture that God’s direction or redirection often happens while people are
actively moving, not just waiting around. Paul experienced this more than once. He made plans, took steps, and God redirected him along the way. This is often how God leads us and guides Christians today.
Blackaby emphasizes that you cannot stay where you are and go with God at the same time. That is an important thing to remember daily. Joining Him often requires major adjustments in our lives — changes in priorities, schedules, relationships, or even location. The adjustments are part of the process of experiencing Him.
God’s Will Becomes Clear One Step at a Time
As we work toward living one day at a time, we might notice that God’s will becomes clear one step at a time. God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet—it’s not a giant, blinding spotlight.
Abraham was told to leave without knowing the full destination. Israel followed the pillar of cloud, following God’s leading day by day. Enough light for the next step was always enough.
Discerning God's will and following God's will rarely means receiving the entire plan at once. It means trusting God for the next step and adjusting as He leads.
God Uses His People to Confirm His Leading
Blackaby emphasized throughout the study that God uses His people to confirm His leading. God rarely intends for us to discern major decisions completely on our own. The church and mature believers are one of the ways God speaks and confirms His direction. This is part of healthy Christian guidance and spiritual discernment.
The Goal Is Following Jesus Faithfully
Our goal should be to follow Jesus faithfully and see where God takes us. Our goal shouldn’t be to simply find the perfect life but to be obedient where God has placed us.
Does God have a specific plan for my life? Yes—but the center of that plan is becoming more like Jesus, not discovering one secret path that guarantees ease. Blackaby repeatedly taught that we come to know God by experience as we obey Him and He accomplishes His
work through us.
God hasn’t purposefully made our lives a box of puzzle pieces to be figured out. He simply invites us to move faithfully and obey Him.
The Christian life isn’t about asking God to bless what we decide to do. It’s about discovering where God is already at work and being willing to join Him there.
That simple shift can change how we think about guidance, decision-making, and following Jesus day by day. It transforms how we know God's will, discover God's purpose, and make everyday Christian decisions.
Study / Reflection Questions
Where do you currently see God already at work around you (in your family, work, church, or community)?
Is there something God has already made clear in Scripture that you have been delaying obedience on?
Have you ever used “I’ll pray about it” as a way to postpone doing what you already knew was right? What happened?
Looking back, can you identify a time when God’s direction became clearer while you were moving rather than while you were waiting?
What adjustments might God be asking you to make right now in order to join Him in what He is doing?
Who are the mature believers in your life that you can invite into major decisions for confirmation and wise counsel?
How does shifting the question from “What is God’s will for my life?” to “What is God already doing, and how can I join Him?” change the way you approach decisions right now?
What is one small, clear step of obedience you can take this week?
Watch for where God is already working. Obey what He has already made clear. Take the next faithful step — and be ready to adjust when He invites you further. I, for one, am going to endeavor to keep these thoughts in the forefront of my mind. Trust and obey, for there is no other way.
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Meet the author and Her Partner in Faith:
Tammy and Bruce have been married for 39 years, navigating life as best friends and partners in faith. Their days are a beautiful mix of service and creativity: Tammy serves her community as an active EMT when she isn't on the road, while Bruce, a retired Law Enforcement officer, is the visionary artist behind God’s Country Art.
Between the adrenaline of emergency medicine and the peace of the open road, Tammy is a lifelong writer currently preparing to publish her debut Christian Fantasy novel, Beyond the Mirror’s Edge.
Together, they are devoted parents and grandparents who find God’s handiwork in everything—from a life-saving moment in the field to a quiet piece of hand-carved wood. Whether through fellowship with others online at Your Jesus Journey, or a campfire chat at a new campsite, they are committed to sharing the love of Christ one mile at a time.
You can see some of Bruce's handiwork at Godscountryart.com
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