It is one of the questions every believer eventually asks. Not just once, but over and over again across different seasons of life. How do I know what God wants me to do? This past Sunday, Pastor Chip Dean brought a message that was practical, personal, and rooted deep in scripture. Here is a recap.
God’s Will Is Not a Puzzle to Solve
Pastor Chip started by clearing something up right away. God’s will is not a hidden treasure you have to hunt for. It is not a mystery you piece together from clues. It is not something God is dangling just out of reach to frustrate you.
God’s will is his pleasure for your life. The Greek word for will in scripture actually means desire. It is what God wants for you. It is what makes him most pleased when you are living it out. And here is the thing that changes everything: God’s will is not ultimately a what. It is a who.
God’s will for your life is Jesus.
Just like Pastor Chip did not marry his wife Michelle so she could support his plans, he married her because he wanted to spend his life with her. That is the same way we come to Jesus. Not so he can bless our agenda. But because we want him and we want his life lived through us.
Walk with Jesus
The first of three words Pastor Chip gave us was walk. Walk with Jesus.
Ephesians 1 tells us that God is making known to us the mystery of his will. And that mystery in the New Testament does not mean something secret or hidden. It means something already revealed. God wants his will known to you. He is for you. He is sovereign. He saved you. And he has a better plan for your life than you could ever come up with on your own.
The point Pastor Chip kept coming back to was simple. If you can trust God with your eternity, you can trust him with your everyday life. He is God. You are not. And that is actually really good news.
Follow Jesus even when it does not make sense. God can see around corners you cannot. Every decision he calls you to make, he is working together for his glory and your good. Sometimes faith means pulling the cord even when you are terrified of the free fall.
Obey God’s Word
The second word was word. Obey God’s word.
Joshua 1:8 says that when you meditate on God’s word day and night and do what it says, you will make your way prosperous and have good success. Not the world’s version of success. God’s version.
Romans 12:2 says do not be conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. And here is the payoff. When your mind is renewed by scripture, you begin to discern what is good, acceptable, and perfect in God’s will.
Pastor Chip made a statement that is worth sitting with. When you get into God’s word, God’s will gets into you.
He also shared something that reframes how most of us think about God’s will. We tend to stress about the big decisions. Where should I live? Who should I marry? What job should I take? But Pastor Chip said those big decisions make up about 1% of God’s will for your life. The other 99% is already written clearly in scripture.
He walked through ten things the Bible explicitly calls God’s will. Being saved. Living for the Lord. Avoiding sexual immorality. Living generously. Giving thanks. Doing good. Committing to God in suffering. Staying sober. Being filled with the Spirit. And making disciples. When you live the 99% that is already known, God reveals the 1% that feels uncertain.
God is not giving you a map. He wants to be your guide. Like a whitewater rafting guide who goes with you through the rapids rather than just handing you a map and wishing you luck.
Do What You Want
The third word was want. And before anyone gets uncomfortable, Pastor Chip explained exactly what he meant.
Psalm 37:4 says delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. That does not mean God grants every wish. It means something better. When you walk with Jesus and stay in his word, he places his desires inside your heart. You start to want what he wants. His passion becomes your passion. His priorities become your priorities.
God wants you to want what God wants.
Pastor Chip described it like a heart transplant. When someone receives a donor heart, they sometimes begin to crave what the donor loved. At salvation, God gives you his heart. And slowly, as you follow him, your desires change. You stop chasing what used to drive you and start longing for what he cares about.
That is how Pastor Chip knew he was called to be a pastor. That is how he knew Michelle was the one. That is how God led his family through adoption, through fertility, and all the way to First Baptist Powder Springs. He was just walking with Jesus and obeying the word. And God kept placing the desires in his heart along the way.
Not My Will, But Yours
Pastor Chip closed by pointing to Jesus himself in Luke 22:42 the night before the cross. Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but your will be done.” If the Son of God surrendered his will to the Father, how much more should we?
God’s will is not a downer. It is not a burden. It is the best possible life available to you. And it starts with trusting the one who already gave everything for you.
There’s a Seat for You
Whether you are wrestling with a major life decision or you are just starting to ask what it even means to follow Jesus, you belong here. We are a church that believes God’s will is not hidden from you. He wants you to know it.
Plan Your Visit and come hear more of what God is doing here. Or take your next step and Get Connected with our church family. We would love to be part of the journey with you.