How to find God's Will for your Life!

Plotting your course!

Early in the age of exploration, navigating the vast seas was no easy task! Without modern radar and satellites, captains were left with only the stars, the sun, and a few crude instruments.  As time went on maps were created, although they often were inaccurate. Most sailors came to rely on landmarks at the beginning of their journey. For instance if they sailed due east from the Canary Islands, they reached Africa. If they sailed due west, they reached the Bahamas. This type of navigating came to be known as "Dead Reckoning"

I wonder how many Christians navigate their lives by dead reckoning? They start off from the point of salvation and think they are heading in a certain direction where God wants them to go, but somehow along the way, their compass broke, the winds and waves shoved their ship off course, or perhaps they got distracted by the beauty of some passing shore and stopped for a rest. Either way, they are now wandering all over the seas in search of the course they should be taking.

I believe God does have a unique path for each of us! A path and purpose He created for us from before the world began. Some specific thing or things He needs us to do which requires our unique bland of talents, desires, and gifts.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart  Jeremiah 1:5
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future  Jeremiah 29:11

But how do we find that plan? Maybe your ship is foundering among the vast seas and you have no idea where you are going or where you should be going. You truly want to fulfill God's plan for you but you have a broken compass and the stars aren't shining and all you see head of you is endless water!  But did you know God gave us a compass that would never break? He gave us a waterproof map. It is His Word. And in it, we find specific directions on how to discover His will

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Okay.. so if you'll be able to test and approve God's will for you, then let's assume you will know God's will for you, right? So how do you come to know it? By allowing God to transform your mind!  And did you notice that His will for you will be good, pleasing and perfect? Do you know why it will be good, pleasing and perfect? Because you were made precisely for it!

For example, God made me a writer. But I never knew that until after I gave my life to Him and truly allowed Him to change my heart and mind. (Took years, and still is a Work in Progress, by the way)

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him  Philippians 2:13

Okay, so maybe you've giving your life to God, maybe you've been walking with Him for years and you still feel like you're adrift at sea, tune in next week when I hope to show you how God transforms your mind and why some Christians never seem to make any progress.