Barriers To Knowing God's Will

Barriers to Knowing God's Will
by Rick Warren


Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:17 (NLT)
"Here's the key: God's will for your life begins with a friendship. "

Every day I talk to people who say, "If there is a God and he allowed me to be born and I'm still alive, what is his plan for me?"

"Why am I here and what am I supposed to be doing? How do I find out God's will for me so I don't waste my life?"

The Bible says this: "So be careful how you live. Don't live like ignorant people, but like wise people. Make good use of every opportunity you have, because these are evil days. Don't be fools, then, but try to find out what the Lord wants you to do." (Ephesians 5:15-17 TEV)

It's wise to figure out why I was put on earth. It's foolish to go through life without a clue. Fortunately, God doesn't play games with us. He wants us to understand his will for our lives. When we look toward the wrong things, we create barriers to discovering God's will. For instance:

God's will is not about a feeling. God's plan for your life is not discovered through some emotional sensation. His plan for your life is practical, not mystical.
God's will is not about a formula. God's will is not some step-by-step procedure that you rigidly follow through life. Life just isn't that simple! You need more than a formula.
Here's the key: God's will for your life begins with a friendship. God is far more interested in having you establish a relationship with him than he is interested in having you follow a set of rules.

First and foremost, God wants you to get to know him, like he already knows you. Once this relationship is established everything else—career, family, goals, recreation, ambitions, finances, health and friendships—will begin to fall into their proper place.