This is one of those questions every Christian asks time and time again. How can you determining God's will when it come to life's questions (what career path should I take, where should I live, should I marry/who should I marry, etc).The following are notes compiled from a booklet of the same name (and an accompanying sermon) by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
"The safest place in the world to be is in the middle of God’s will".
It doesn’t matter if you are surrounded by war, typhoons, tornadoes, volcanoes, or earthquakes; if you’re in the middle of God’s will, you have nothing to worry about. The Bible says, “The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17 NKJV). If you are following God’s will, you have eternal life.
Q: How to determine God's will for my life?
A: Stay away from dubious forms of finding out (for example, flipping a coin, casting lots and throwing out fleeces, opening the bible and reading a random verse, interpreting your own dreams - although God can use these sometimes), "God wants you to use your brain. He even says, “Come now, let us reason together.”
Now what CAN we use to determine God's will?
Here are the basics:
1) It's God will that you will be saved (2 Peter 3:9), so God will always say yes to those situations that lead you closer to Him.
2) Please note, not EVERYTHING that happens to/for you is God's will (for example, Job's experience), so even in times of loss and disease, it may be for His glory.
3) Be willing and surrendered (John 7:17, Psalm 25:9 NKJV).
4) Be guided by His Word - “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). and be careful who you get counsel from (1 Corinthians 15:33 NKJV).
5) Seek Godly Counsel - “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14). Find others who have good judgment and will be honest with you. Find people who are doing God’s will themselves; make sure they have a consistent spiritual witness and be sure to get a few different opinions—the verse says “counsellors.” Godly friends can help you take honest inventory of yourself and discover your gifts and talents. They might point you in a direction you weren’t even considering!
6) Observe Providence - If God closes a door, don’t try to kick it down just because it’s what you really wanted. Be careful. Everything can go wrong when we’re kicking against God’s will to do our own. Remember, Balaam lost his life for this tragic mistake.
7) Pray and Fast - (1 John 5:14, 15). When you want to know God’s will, you need to pray He will guide you. But you also need to harmonize your requests with His will. If you’re going to pray and fast to know His will, then believe that He’ll show you His will.
8) Glorify God and Don't Be Selfish - When you are seek-ing after God’s will, make sure that the option you choose will glorify Him. If one of your options is going to harm His kingdom, then it is the wrong option. Never forget to “seek ye first the kingdom of God...(Matthew 6:33).
9) Be Guided by The Holy Spirit - (Isaiah 30:21). In searching for God’s will, you need to listen for that still, small voice. God will speak to you, and He will send His Holy Spirit to guide you.
10) Be Patient and Faithful where you are - Sometimes we become restless and want to do just about anything but keep guessing at what we should do. We want to act sooner than later, but sometimes God wants you to wait. Sometimes, God’s will for you is simply to be patient. (See Psalm 90:4.) Apparent delays could mean that rather than you picking an option, God’s will is coming to you special delivery.
11) Determining your heart's desire - When exploring God’s will for your life, don’t forget to consider what you want. Don’t be ashamed of including this in your list of criteria. “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart”(Psalm 37:4).If your delight is God and His will, you’ll be finding out He’s giving you the desires of your heart.
After all is said and done, tally the evidence:
Make a list. Ask yourself, “What does God’s Word say.” If the answer isn’t as obvious as you think you need, ask, “What do my counselors say?” and “Which one of my choices truly glorifies God?” Keep tallying the results until you have a decision you can stand on firmly.