How to Know God’s Vision for Your Life – Cont’d
Another primary way to know God’s vision for our lives is to pray and ask Him. Matthew 7:7-8 says “Ask, and it will be given to you.. for everyone who asks receives”. This is God’s will for us that we receive whenever we ask Him. However, three prerequisites are necessary to make this a reality in our lives. The first is to ask in accordance with God’s will. 1 John 5:14-15 reads, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15). There are no prayers that are more in line with God’s will than the very prayers He instructs us to pray. These include prayers inspired by the Holy Spirit, which are tailored towards knowing God’s will/vision for our lives. Examples can be found Colossians 1:9-11: “For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…”. See also Ephesians 1:17-18. These Holy Spirit inspired prayers are geared towards asking God continually for His Spirit of revelation and wisdom. As God gives us the revelation of of His will/vision, His divine wisdom will empower us to fulfill them in accordance with His will. Secondly, we must ask in faith. Jesus Himself taught that “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22). It is not just asking that results in receiving but believing that you receive when you pray – for the person who doubts should not suppose nor expect that they will receive anything from God (James 1:6-7). Thirdly, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins”(Mark 11:24). Jesus gave this admonition right after He taught that “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:24). By connecting forgiving others to believing and receiving from God, Jesus makes it clear that our guarantee to receive from God, even when we ask in faith, is also dependent on our obedience to forgive those who have wronged us.
Psalm 32:6-8 also says “Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found. Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him…. I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you”. From this text, we see that God’s promise to counsel, instruct, and teach us in the way we should go was given after His admonition to us to pray to Him at a time when He may be found. If we are interested in having God guide us in the way we should go (i.e. revealing and guiding us in His will/vision), then we can’t be those who call on God only in times of trouble or panic. A lifestyle of prayer is what we need (cf. Colossians 4:2).
Additionally, to know God’s will and vision, “Trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path” (Proverbs 3:5-6). In this text, God did not just promise to direct us when we wholeheartedly trust and acknowledge Him. He promises to also direct our paths. If God is the One directing your path then you will not miss our way; you will end up at the very destination He desires. If God is directing your paths, then He will close all the doors that ought to be closed and open those that need opening in your life (Revelation 3:7). In this way, you will meet those you are supposed to meet and miss those you are supposed to avoid. You will have the relationships you are supposed to have and be at the places God has designated for you. The end result is that will be that as you go on our way, God Himself will lead you in the centre of His will (cf. Genesis 24:27). We achieve this through trusting in the Lord with all our hearts, leaning on our own understanding, and acknowledging Him in all our ways (cf. Proverbs 3:5-6).
Kwadwo Omari, Ph.D.
August 29, 2023
A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me ([email protected]) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.