How do I know God's will?

Decisions for marriage, career, relocation, and full-time ministry can have a huge impact on your future and life. A path that looks rosy and inviting today, may not turn out as expected in the long run. There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12.

Here are a few pointers to know God's will and steer clear of danger:

Ask and you will receive
If you haven't asked God what He wants for you, then stop and ask him. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all. James 1:5Be open to receive whatever God may say. Sometimes God may say For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways your ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8. Don't be afraid of disappointment. He may have a better and higher plan for you .Do not let your choice of a life partner be decided by someone else however spiritual he or she might be. We serve a personal God and he will reveal his will to you personally first, not through someone else.

Peace
Peace is the most important signal in your heart. Let the peace which comes from Christ act as umpire continually in your hearts—deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your mind (Col 3:15, Amp). If you are taking the wrong turn, then God's peace will start leaving you, leading to more frustration. If it is God's will, peace will surround your heart and guide you, and he will make the rough paths smooth.

His Voice and His Word
His voice- his still small voice will guide you if you are in tune and walking with Him. Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:21
As you seek God for his will, he will speak to you through His word to confirm his will. God may also re-confirm his word through a part of the sermon, during a time of worship, through a song, or even a prophesy. However, it is not advisable to base your decision solely on prophesy - some are deceived this way, remember that prophesy will only confirm God's word or scripture that was given to you earlier. The word of God should be final in our lives. Make sure you journal or write-down the words that he gives you, so that you can fall back on them in future.

Circumstances
Sometimes God confirms His will through circumstances. Pray and submit your life to God and ask Him to open doors you need to go through, and shut the rest. Sometimes, Satan can also use circumstances to shake our faith. However, if we believe and ask God to lead us, He will overrule all of Satan's attacks and lead us. Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God". Don't rush into marriage, wait for God's time. With the high divorce rate in our society, it is good to get to know the person you want to marry and see if they are someone who you can trust and entrust the rest of your life to. If you are still not sure, ask God to reconfirm and speak to you again till you have no shadow of doubt.

Godly advice and counsel
In the multitude of counsellors there is safety. Proverbs 19:21. It is good to have mentors or people you look up to for advice. Sometimes, God uses people to speak to us, especially other godly believers. If you are considering marriage with someone, discuss it with a few of godly married believers, consider their advice and ask them to keep you accountable. Heed the advice of godly parents and wait for their approval.

A Worldy Vs Godly Choice
Do not be conformed to this world – often the world's way of thinking is opposed to what the Spirit wants. If we want to be led by God, we cannot think and act like the world.

Romans 12:22 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

For instance, if you are looking for a life partner, the worldly way of going about it is too look out for external, superficialities like beauty, status, dowry or wealth. Choose not to base your decisions solely on these external or temporal values. Look for someone who has inner beauty, character, one who is diligent, hardworking, one who is not possessive, or suspicious. Also, do not be impressed by a person's "spiritual talk or christianese" - see how the person walks, if is practicing a christian lifestyle is what matters most. Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart of a person. 1 John 2: 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.