How do I know what God wants me to do?

[Jaedan]

Its been a LONG time since i posted here (almost 5 years I think).

I'm in a point in my life where there are a lot of decisions that have to made (and made fairly quickly too). I'm somewhat kind of lost when it comes to making the right decisions right now. Also, I feel like the Lord has led me to do certain things however; I feel as if I'm not equipped to do them.

I know this post may seem vague but overall: How am I supposed to know what God wants me to do? And if there are some things he doesnt want me to do, how do I know to stop praying about them?

 

[Mark Quayle]

The last couple hundred years, maybe more, it seems a different perspective has become pervasive across Christendom, that we are put here on this earth for the purpose of doing God's plans for him, (to put it a little crassly). Truth is, it works out to the same thing the Pharisees were doing and that people from the beginning do, as though there was some level of obedience that was good enough, and worse, that figuring out what God wants (plans, etc) is our job to figure out, and that he can't do it without our cooperation.

We are here (both now and in the afterlife) as the Bride of Christ. We are what he is making, if you get what I'm saying. It is not ours to figure out what he wants —that becomes akin to divination. Thank God for prayer, where in spite of the direction our thinking intended he talks to us anyway. WE ARE HERE TO GET TO KNOW HIM. And no, not that we need not be obedient and listen to him. He loves it when we talk with him. But steer clear of methods of divining God's will.

You needn't stop praying about anything, unless your praying is demanding he treat you according to your understanding.

 

[St_Worm2]

Hello @Jaedan, here are some things to consider, a two-part teaching series by Dr. R C Sproul (each lecture is around 20 min), which includes a lot about what NOT to do when seeking to know God's will.

~God's Will and the Bible by R.C. Sproul from The Will of God​

Then second, a sermon about finding God's will for your life from Dr. John MacArthur.

~Knowing and Doing God's Will​

All three are interesting, useful, and free

God bless you!!

--David
p.s. - finally, here's a short quote from theologian/pastor Dr. Sinclair Ferguson that has been very helpful to me (whenever I remember and/or decide to follow it, that is), especially when I have two or more possibilities/directions before me to choose from.

 

[timf]

Walk by the Spirit and not the flesh.
Do good to all men especially the household of faith.

There are many admonitions in the letter of Paul to various churches that give guidance.

 

[Zceptre]

The Bible is God speaking, so checking what Scripture says about things and making sure we are in alignment with His ways is one solid way to know what to pray for and not pray for, and when it is something we want versus something God wants.

In addition to this is to listen with our hearts. God is love (1 John 4:8) and when we are in alignment with His will, which is always loving to Him, us, and others, He promises to fulfill those desires in His Word (Psalm 37:4). God doesn't speak in the ear, and loud booming voices don't interject when we need guidance or pray for insight into His wishes.

If you've ever felt the strong urge to do something uncomfortable and help someone while knowing full well it could end in personal embarrassment or just feel like it would be a waste of time, then you've heard God speaking to your heart. He lives in us (1 Corinthians 3:16) and when He speaks we feel. Now bear with me, not all "feelings" are God speaking, but He does move us to compassion and puts it in our heart to speak up about Christ to people and do the loving thing if we are listening to Him (with our heart).

You have to get "tuned in" to Him, be focused on Him, and know what He says in the Letter He wrote to us called the Bible. I have yet to date not found answers to my questions in that book, and it isn't the book but the fact I'm searching and listening to Him that rewards me for seeking His guidance (Matthew 7:7=Promise). It doesn't matter what we are reading, because He isn't limited to what He wrote down, but if we are reading we are listening to Him, and focused on Him, and He rewards us for that and those sought after insights start popping into our heads and the picture begins to clear up and our path becomes obvious (Hebrews 11:6).

My experience is the more I let go of concerns and focus on Him, the faster I obtain the clarity I was too busy seeking previously to focus on Him.

 

[NBB]

Don't listen to those who say we are almost alone without being able to know because that is not biblical.

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[a]

So you may need to be filled with the Holy spirit to have more guidance and more communion with God.

 

[Zceptre]

So you may need to be filled with the Holy spirit to have more guidance and more communion with God.

Absolutely.

John 6:63
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 

[RamiC]

You can always just ask for strength, or to be prevented from worrying. I do not know if you have done that, but it might get a result that is more effective than asking for answers directly about what to decide.