A friend asked me, “How do you know it’s the will of God?”
Right away I knew she’s asking the right question. You see, my friend is a new believer. She’s been a friend for a long time while she hasn’t had a real relationship with the Lord yet. On the flip side, I am the friend she knew all along is a Christian.
I should’ve expected this question to come my way sooner. I honestly didn’t know how to answer when I was asked. Finding and knowing the will of God for my life has become my lifestyle over the 20+ years I’ve been in a personal relationship with Jesus. I become dumbfounded when asked about it. But why?
As a new believer, and as a friend whom I dearly love, I want to give an answer to her question that’s well thought of, prayerfully sought an answer for, and that the answer is summarised into practical ways of putting the principles in action. I want to encourage my friend to grow her faith in the exciting adventure called the Christian life.
The basics of faith.
The basics of faith is the foundation to your Christian journey. It is the underlying basis or principle upon which your faith stands and built upon. The foundation of your faith is very important just as the foundation of a building is.
Read on the “Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders” in Matthew 7:24-27.
The basics of the Christian Faith are:
1. The Word of God (the Bible)
2. The Godhead
3. Creation and Fall
4. Jesus Christ the Lord
5. Sin and Salvation
6. The Holy Spirit
7. The Church
I have always believed that learning the basics of faith paves the way to knowing the thoughts of God for your life. This concept also comes in phrases like “knowing God’s voice” or “following His lead”. I know these concepts are somehow abstract to a new believer. A new believer must learn how to obey and that starts with knowing God’s precepts and living it out.
Come to think of it, when I look back at that time when I was a new believer, I heard and learned these concepts from fellow believers all the time. I somehow thought that I kind of just learned them on the fly. But in reality, I was surrounded by God-loving and God-fearing people (the Church), so it did feel like I’ve learned God’s concepts and precepts on the fly.
God is my teacher.
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” - John 14:26
I love this verse. It gives me so much comfort that I am not left alone to my own devices.
Here’s a question, though: when does a new believer start to hear from God?
It sounds spooky, I know. The idea of “hearing” from God is also often misused by Christians themselves to appear “spiritual” to others. So extra care must be taken when using phrases like “hearing from God”, “God spoke to me”, or even “God said…”
But God does speak to you when you are in a relationship with Him. I can attest to that. In so many occasions, though very far in between, I heard from God one-liner sentences that helped shape my life through the years. One of the Bible stories on “hearing from God” that inspires me (all the time!) is the story of Samuel when he first heard God’s voice.
“Samuel!”
The young, enthusiastic boy heard someone call out his name. Off he went to his master Eli’s side to check what he needs. Eli said he didn’t call out for the boy. The boy heard the voice for the second and third time, and ran to his master each time. The master then realised it was the Lord calling the boy.
Eli instructed the boy. “… if he calls you, say, ‘Speak LORD, for your servant is listening.’”
When God starts to speak to you, stop and listen. He is about to teach you.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
While the “will of God” is His desire or intention for humanity, He desires humility from each of us (people in the whole wide world). Those who do not humble themselves before the Lord are those who miss out on the beautiful and wonderful relationship that can be had with Him.
Eli taught the boy Samuel very well. Samuel replied to God, “Speak LORD, for your servant is listening.”
When the heart (or mind for that matter) is ready to listen, that is the first sign of humility. Humility is an attitude that the world has somehow diluted that even I, a Christian of more than 20 years, cannot fully grasp or put into action.
How do you “fear” the Lord?
Here’s a link to an article very helpful on learning how to fear the Lord:
https://iblp.org/questions/how-can-i-learn-fear-lord
Work out your faith
Not too long ago, I took up Creative Writing class. I loved writing since high school but the irony is, I haven’t given much thought developing the skill afterwards. I write every now and then, just for the “love” of it. But I know that my output is not at par with the kind of essays or stories that moved me. I knew there’s a capability within to output beautiful essays that could inspire others as writers and authors have inspired me with their work.
The Creative Writing class that I took taught the basics, just enough for me to learn the basic discipline of a writer. The basics are exercises to get your creative juices flowing to create a beautiful piece. Discipline always include routine exercises. And as for me, the exercises I set out to do are just enough to propel me to start building my creative writing muscles.
Similarly, desiring to know the voice of God in your life require discipline. Routine exercises are those activities that nurture the seed of faith that’s planted in you. Just as I took the first step of honing my writing skill by taking up Creative Writing classes, so should a new believer have to take first steps to working out his/her own faith.
The most basic routine exercise to hone your faith is meditating the Word of God (the Bible). As it is said:
“… faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” - Romans 10:17
Finally…
As you go along in the journey, one day you’ll realise you have learned to recognise the voice of God speaking to you. I always believed that God has a unique way of communicating to each of us, as that depends on our individuality. I believe God celebrates our own uniqueness and works in and through that.
Once you develop that skill to recognise how God speaks to you, I guarantee you it is one of the best parts of the Christian journey! In my experience, most often it is not the audible voice but the voice that speaks Spirit to spirit. This doesn’t mean I haven’t had the privilege to hear a somewhat audible voice on very rare occasions. Yes, they are very rare moments that have shaped my life so unexpectedly!
The Voice silences all the other voices that vie for my attention in this busy and chaotic world. The Voice has been a lifeline, a hope for another tomorrow in the horizon. However, this only happens depending on the posture of my heart. As David wrote:
A broken spirit and a contrite heart. You will not despise.
Psalm 51:17
So desire the authentic and intimate relationship with God. You’ll know you are there when you finally experience that “peace that passeth all understanding” only made possible and brought forth by faith.
bliss be with you! 