When people seek to know the will of God, many ask the question, “What is God’s plan for my life?” This question places the focus on themselves, on their own lives, and on what they think they are supposed to do. This is not the best question to ask. The better question is, “What is God’s will?” Once we know God’s will, His plan, His goal, His objective, and then we can adjust our life to Him and to His purposes. As we learn what God is doing, then we begin to see what we need to do to work with Him to accomplish His goals. Our focus needs to be on God and His purposes...not on us, and not on our life, and not on what we think should be done!

This means that the plan He has for your life is based on the larger, overall, plan that He has for His world. God’s desire is for you to fit into the great purpose He has for all humankind so that you become involved in what He is doing. When you find out what God is doing, then you can find out what part of His plan He wants to do through you and how you fit into the “big picture”.

This idea of doing God’s will may sound so very exciting that many people run off and start doing things they think will help God accomplish His purpose. Their life becomes like an out of control, run-away train. God can not get their attention long enough to use them as servants to do what He wants. This results in people being busy all the time, but not accomplishing much for God. It leads to frustration and discouragement.

It is necessary to develop a close, personal, and loving relationship with God first. Then a time will come when God calls you to do what He has for you. First, you must be still and know that He is God. This is called abiding in Him. Jesus tells us in John 15:5: I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me, and I in them, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

If you are trying hard and struggling, only to experience a time of fruitlessness...a time of no results...you may be trying to do things on your own; things that God does not intended to happen. Notice how Jesus calls to people who try to do things by their own strength...

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. - Matthew 11:28-30

A yoke is a harness built for two oxen to work together as a team. Jesus’ invites you to get into His yoke with Him - in other words, to join Him in God’s work. When you work where Jesus is already working, He accomplishes His work with you and through you in such a way that the yoke is easy for you and your burden is light.

Ask yourself this question: IF I AM TIRED FROM “DOING GOOD THINGS FOR GOD,” WHAT SHOULD I DO DIFFERENTLY?

The answer is found in John 14:6, where Jesus tells you and me: I am the way, the truth, and the life.

Please notice that Jesus did not say, “I will show you the way” or “I will give you a road map” or “I will tell you all the directions in advance”. No, Jesus said “I am the way.” When you do everything that Jesus tells you to do...one day at a time, one hour at a time, even one moment at a time, one step at a time...then you will always be exactly right where God wants you to be and you will always be doing God’s will and you will always be taking part in God’s plan. This is when you will always know God’s will and you will always be doing God’s will. Jesus is all you need, because He is “the way”.

When you allow Jesus to guide you one step at a time, you will experience a new freedom. This freedom will release you from the worry of making your own decisions based on your own strength. You will begin to live your life in the power of God. And that is the way God wants you to live.

Abraham is a good example of this principle at work in a Bible character. He walked by faith and not by sight. You can read his story in Genesis. God said to him, “Get out of your country.” God only gave Abraham this much detail, “To the land I will show you”. God asked Abraham to do something very big, and only gave him very limited details. But God promised to do the rest, and God kept His promise.

Are you willing to follow God’s directions for your life when He only gives you a small amount of detail? Can you walk by faith and not by sight? God says you can! There are many Biblical examples where God called people just to follow Him...with no other details. God is more likely to call you to follow one step at a time than He is to spell out all the details in advance.

For Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthew, and Paul, Jesus gave very little detail about their assignment. He basically said, “Just follow Me, and I will show you.”

The main thing God wants is to have a close, personal relationship with you that is based on mutual love. As He fills you with His presence, He will guide you to do things. Even as you do those things, He will be the One at work through you to accomplish His purposes. When you follow His leadership one step at a time, you will always be right in the middle of God’s will for your life. Remember:

God is working in you, Giving you the desire to obey Him, and the power to do what pleases Him. - Philippians 2:1