Submission by Lori Joiner

Last month, we discovered that knowing God’s will begins with knowing God Himself. Before asking, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” we first need to ask, “Lord, who do You want me to become?” God’s desire is to transform us into the image of Christ, and that transformation begins through a personal relationship with Him.

Once we belong to Christ, another question naturally follows: How does God guide His children?

While we often wish God would hand us a detailed roadmap for the future, He has already given us something far greater—His Word.

One of the primary ways God reveals His will is through Scripture. That may not sound as exciting as receiving a dramatic sign or hearing an audible voice, but throughout the Bible we see that God’s first priority is teaching us to know Him through what He has already revealed, rather than giving us every detail of His plan.

One of my favorite examples of this is Joshua.

Joshua had an enormous responsibility before him. Moses had died, and Joshua was now responsible for leading the Israelites into the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. If anyone ever needed a detailed strategy, it was Joshua.

I have to smile when I read this account because I know how I would have responded if given a big task. I’m a planner. If I have a major project ahead of me, I want a checklist. I’ll check it twice. I like to have my ducks in a row before I begin. If I had been Joshua, I probably would have wanted maps, battle plans, timelines and a 10-step strategy for success.

God gave Joshua something different. He pointed him to His Word.

In Joshua 1:7–9, the Lord told him, “Be careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. … This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night. … For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

God did not tell Joshua how every battle would unfold, explain every obstacle he would face or reveal the complete journey before Joshua took the first step. He instructed Joshua to know His Word and obey it.

Joshua moved forward because he knew God’s truth, even though he did not know the future. That principle has not changed.

Many of us spend a great deal of time asking God to reveal the details of our future while giving very little attention to the Bible He has already placed in our hands. We long for new direction while neglecting the direction He has already given.

Psalm 119:105 beautifully describes God’s Word this way: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

I love that imagery because it reminds me of the foggy drive I shared in last month’s article. A lamp doesn’t illuminate the next 20 miles. It provides enough light for your next step. That’s exactly how God often leads us. He gives us enough light to obey Him today, even when we cannot see the entire journey.

Scripture also tells us that God’s Word equips us for every good work. Second Timothy 3:16–17 reminds us that all Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, correcting and training us in righteousness so that we may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Psalm 32:8 adds another wonderful promise from the Lord: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”

Those verses remind me that God has not left us to figure life out on our own. He watches over us while He teaches us.

When I encourage people to read God’s Word, I’m not talking about reading an occasional verse someone posts on social media or opening the Bible only when life becomes difficult. I’m talking about setting aside regular time to read the Scriptures consistently. One of the reasons I often recommend reading through the Bible each year, such as by using The One Year Bible, is that it allows us to see the whole counsel of God rather than isolated passages.

As we consistently read Scripture, something wonderful begins to happen. We begin to think differently. Our priorities change. We recognize God’s character more clearly, and our decisions increasingly reflect His heart.

Before asking God for every detail of your future, ask yourself a simpler question: Am I faithfully reading the very words God has already spoken?

Sometimes we search for answers while the Bible in front of us remains unopened.

One statement I often make when teaching on God’s will is this: About 90 percent of God’s will has already been revealed in the Bible. We tend to spend most of our time asking God about the remaining 10 percent.

We want to know where to live, what career to pursue, whether to take a new job, whom to marry or what ministry to become involved in. Those are important questions, and God certainly cares about each one. Before we become consumed with those decisions, however, it is worth asking whether we are faithfully obeying the many things God has already made unmistakably clear.

For example, do we really need to pray about whether we should forgive someone? Scripture has already answered that question. Jesus repeatedly commands us to forgive as we have been forgiven.

Do we need to pray about whether we should tell others about Christ? Jesus has already given every believer the Great Commission to go and make disciples.

Do we need to pray about whether we should love our neighbors, encourage one another, serve with humility, pursue holiness or give thanks in every circumstance? Again and again, Scripture has already spoken.

The more time we spend in God’s Word, the more our decisions become shaped by biblical truth rather than emotions or circumstances. We begin to recognize what pleases Him because we are becoming familiar with His character.

Think about any close relationship in your life. The longer you know someone, the better you understand what matters to that person. You don’t have to ask about every little decision because you have come to know that person’s heart.

The same is true in our relationship with God. As we spend time reading His Word, we begin to know His heart. Our desires become more aligned with His desires, and our choices increasingly reflect His priorities.

That doesn’t mean every decision suddenly becomes easy. There will always be situations in which the Bible doesn’t tell us specifically which house to buy, which college to attend or whether to accept one job offer over another. The principles we learn from Scripture become the framework through which we evaluate those decisions.

We ask questions like: Will this help me grow closer to Christ? Will this allow me to honor Him? Will it strengthen my family? Will it give me greater opportunities to serve others? Will it place me in a healthy church where I can continue to grow?

Those questions help us make wise decisions even when the Bible doesn’t address our exact circumstances.

When we are walking closely with the Lord, reading His Word, obeying what He has already revealed and sincerely desiring to honor Him, we can move forward with confidence. We don’t have to live in fear that God is hiding His will from us. He delights in leading those who belong to Him.

The Christian life is a faithful walk with the God who knows the future, even when we do not. We may not receive a detailed blueprint, but we can trust the guidance He has already placed before us.

Next month, we’ll conclude this series by looking at several additional ways God guides His children. We’ll explore the role of the Holy Spirit, the importance of wise counsel and what to do when two different choices both seem to honor the Lord. We may not always know what lies around the next corner, but we can always trust the One who does.

Reflect

As you seek God’s direction this week, spend less time asking, “What does God want me to do?” and more time asking, “Am I faithfully obeying what God has already said?” You may discover that your next step becomes much clearer as you walk in the light He has already given.

About the Author: Lori Joiner is the founder of Lori Joiner Ministries, a Bible teacher, conference speaker and author who is passionate about helping women know Christ, grow in their faith and confidently apply God’s Word to everyday life. To invite her to speak at your next event or to peruse her many written resources, visit LoriJoinerMinistries.org.

Feature photo by Ben White on Unsplash