Quote Source – Jarrod Scott

A Biblical Christian worldview perspective – How many of us use the “fleece method” (Judges 6:36-40) in determining God’s will, as we try to make a decision? Just this past week I asked God to make something clear by “opening a door to an opportunity” that I was not sure was “in His will.” Nothing new surfaced on the matter so I decided that was an indication it was a ministry He did not want me to invest time into.

Is that all there is to “discerning the will of God?”… I don’t think so.

Colossians 1:9 - And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

Colossians 4:12 - Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

It would seem that “testing” and perhaps more importantly, “prayer,” should be the foundation for discerning God’s will on a matter. However, there is a major step missing in that formula.

Many years ago, Henry Blackaby had one of the most popular Bible studies on the market (eight million copies sold), called Experiencing God. The objective of the study was contained within the subtitle, “Knowing and Doing the Will of God,” offering four sources of discernment. God speaks …

• Through the Bible
• Through Prayer
• Through Circumstances
• Through the Church

To “know the will of God” must begin long before one needs an answer. Learning who God is is paramount to knowing the direction He would wish us to take in any decisions we make in life. Studying His love letter to us (the Bible) must be the foundation of our discernment, which often already makes clear which direction we should go on most matters in life. The next step would be prayer. Not just a flare prayer between thoughts, but a fervent prayer that matches the level of importance the decision has in one’s life. Next comes the “fleece” as we view circumstances, trying to sense if the Lord is working in our lives in a particular direction (open/closed doors). And finally, the church, which is a reference to seeking those mature Christians who do not “have a dog in the fight” and can give you honest, Godly advice.

Note … there is an order to the four points above. It must begin with Bible study as an unchanging foundation. Without the Bible as a starting point, prayer, circumstances, and the advice of others can send you off track from God’s commands.

Finally, be sensitive to the possibility that your sin nature and, especially, the evil that exists in the world and the spiritual realm, might be interfering with your desire to follow God’s will. How many spouses have rationalized leaving their partners because they feel “called” to another who better nurtures their prideful sin nature?

What about the Evil One?

Remember, Satan is more than willing to provide circumstances that justify our departure from the known commands of God. Consider David, in the Bible, who was given a perfect opportunity to kill King Saul. He resisted because God had not told him to do that, so he clipped Saul’s garment instead (1 Sam 24:6-8). This also happened again in 1 Sam. 26:7-12, when, again, David was given the opportunity to kill Saul, and chose not to. 

Conclusion

Be careful when doors seem to open and circumstances seem to suggest a direction in your life. Make sure that it conforms to the known desires of God, through the study of His love letter to us, deep prayer, open/closed doors, and the advice of Biblical Christians you trust.