What is the will of God for my life?

Throughout the New Testament, one will find that the “will of God” is mentioned. Jesus proclaimed many times emphasizing “the will of my father” in His teachings. In order to properly understand what the will of God is, one must rightly divide the Word of Truth as we are told to in the following verse: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

A true Christian knows that there are no two ways to be saved, but only one plan of salvation: that is to personally believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ (trust that Jesus Christ lived a perfect life being God in flesh and died a substitutionary death on the cross shedding His blood for forgiveness of all your sins and rose from the dead, accomplishing God the Father’s divine requirements for eternal life/Heaven).

Knowing this truth, we find that “God the Father’s will” regarding personal salvation is simply stated as trusting His Son Jesus Christ for eternal life/salvation. Notice Jesus explains this will of the Father: “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:38-40). These verses reveal the eternal security we have in our salvation from God in Christ Jesus.

Now once you clearly understand “God the Father’s will” for your personal salvation, you can decipher all the other Scriptures pertaining to God’s will depending on their context. Matt. 12:50, 18:14, Mark 3:35, John 4:34, 5:30, Galatians 1:4 speak of this same subject regarding God the Father’s will in salvation.

As we continue in the New Testament, we find the will of God mentioned in several places explaining our mission as Christians for faithful service towards Him: God has called believers to serve Him with a spiritually changed mind conforming to Christ, not the world (Rom. 12:1-2), to avoid fornication/sexual misconduct outside of marriage and honoring your body (1 Thess. 4:3), to not deceive or cheat people (1 Thess. 4:6), not to hate others but to love (1 Thess. 4:8-9), to independently study/work diligently and honestly (1 Thess. 4:11-12), to be thankful (1 Thess. 5:18), to trust God and remain faithful to Him (Heb. 10:36-39), to freely use our liberty in Christ to act graciously and kindly with integrity (1 Pet. 2:15-17), to maintain good behavior with a clear conscious in all our dealings (1 Pet. 3:16-17), to suffer with patience for the glory of God: resisting fleshly lusts, crude behavior, excessive drinking, partying, idolatries (putting anything above your service to God), being sober minded, praying always, loving others, hospitable, helping and caring for others, being joyful, faithful to God, ministering to others and using our gifts from God graciously for other’s benefit, never ashamed to proclaim and be known for Christ (1 Pet. 4:1-19 – “will of God” mentioned particularly in verses 2 & 19). 

The will of God for the unbeliever is to trust on Christ for salvation. The will of God for the Christian is to yield oneself over to the Lord in mind, body, and spirit. Are you in the "will of God"?