Guide to help discern God's Will

1. Decision Making
Discerning God’s Will

2. How do you discern God’s will?

3. Key Questions About the Will of God
Has God already determined His will for me?
Can I actually know God’s will in my life?
How does God reveal His will?
Will God reveal the whole blueprint of my life?
Why does God’s will for me sometimes include sorrow and
affliction?

4. What decisions are pleasing to God?
He Initiates
LINE UP WITH HIS WORD
Accomplish His Purpose
Depends on His Strength
Result in Giving Him Glory
Promote Kindness, Justice and Humility
Reflects His Character
Comes from Faith
Considers the interests of others
Are bathed in PRAYER

5. Questions to ask in order to test your decisions

6. Scriptural Test:
Has God already spoken about it in His Word
2 Timothy3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness

7. Secrecy Test:
Would it bother me if everyone knew this was
my choice?
Proverbs 11:3
The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity

8. Survey Test:
What if everyone followed my example?
1 Timothy 4:12
Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, in purity

9. Spiritual Test:
Am I being people-pressured or Spirit-led?
Galatians 1:10
Am I now trying to will the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men?
If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

10. Stumbling Test:
Could this cause another person to stumble?
Romans 14:21
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do
anything else that will cause your brother to fall off.

11. Serenity Test:
Have I prayed and received peace about this
decision?
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

12. Sanctification Test:
Will this keep me from growing in the character
of Christ?
2 Corinthians 3:18
We…are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory

13. How does God give us guidance?
Let the wise listen and add to their learning,
And let the discerning get guidance
Proverbs 1:5
Turn ONLY to sound BIBLICAL METHODS FOR GUIDANCE

14. G-U-I-D-A-N-C-E

15. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one
another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace
1 Peter 4:10
Use God’s Gifts to discern opportunities

16. Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a
man of understanding walks straight ahead
Proverbs 15:21
Take time to Understand and what the
decision is all about and what is involved

17. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me
Proverbs 16:7
The Holy Spirit brings convictions/
Impressions and establish truth in your

18. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He
will give you the desires of your heart
Psalm 37:4
When you seek the Lord, His Desires
become your desires

19. Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in the future
Proverbs 19:20
Seek Advice from those who are grounded
with God

20. So whoever knows the right thing to
do and fails to do it, for him it is a sin
James 4:17
Evaluate and choose actions appropriately
(Necessity)

21. The heart of a man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps
Proverbs 16:9
Not all doors are opened by God, but
closed doors can help in decision making
See beyond Circumstances

22. All things are lawful, but not all things are
helpful. All things are lawful, but not all
things build up.
1 Corinthians 10:23
Eliminate choices

23. What if you just aren't sure?
Lord, because you know everything, You know the
decision before me and the way I should go. I want only
your will. Because I no longer have the option of waiting, I
will choose one option. If this decision is not right in your
sight, I ask your Spirit to put me a heaviness in my heart.
If this is the right direction, please confirm it with your
peace. I am willing to take whatever detours You decide to
put in my path, as long as I reach the destination You have
for me. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.

24. God plays no game of hide-and-seek
The closer you draw to the heart of God,
the clearer you’ll know the will of God.
He reveals His will day by day…
He unrolls the scroll one line at a time.
- JH