Introduction

Most people want to make good decisions, avoid unnecessary pain, and feel confident they are aligned with God. Yet many live with ongoing uncertainty—unsure what God is doing, what He wants, or how to respond.

Scripture makes a direct connection between lack of understanding and negative outcomes, and it also reveals that confusion is not accidental. There is an active effort to distort truth, obscure identity, and disconnect people from God’s voice.

If God’s will is misunderstood, life becomes reactive instead of intentional.
If God’s voice is ignored or doubted, relationship becomes distant instead of dynamic.

Before we talk about how to act, we must establish how to clearly understand what God is saying and doing.

Why Understanding God’s Will Is Critical

 Lack of Knowledge Leads to Destruction

Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me…”

This is a causal statement:

Lack of knowledge → misalignment
Misalignment → destructive outcomes

The issue is not access to truth—it is failure to recognize, pursue, or apply it.

Our Natural Understanding Is Not Enough

Proverbs 3:5–6  – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

Human reasoning alone:

• • interprets through limited perspective
  • reacts to visible circumstances
  • often draws incorrect conclusions

Understanding God’s will requires alignment beyond natural perception.

Why Confusion Persists

 There Is an Active Source of Deception

John 8:44  – “…He does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 – “Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel… should shine on them.”

Revelation 12:9 – “…the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world…”

Confusion is not just lack of clarity—it is often the result of:

• • distorted truth
  • misplaced belief
  • accepted deception

The Pattern of Deception Is Predictable

Genesis 3:4–5 – “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die… you will be like God…’”

The pattern:

• • Question what God said
  • Contradict truth
  • Replace it with a believable alternative

This same structure appears in modern thought patterns and beliefs.

God’s Will Is Meant to Be Understood

We Are Commanded To Understand His Will

Ephesians 5:17 – “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

A command implies:

• • • responsibility
    • accessibility
    • expectation

Your Mind Can Be Renewed to Discern It

Romans 12:2 – “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Clarity increases as thinking aligns with truth.
God’s will becomes recognizable—not mystical.

You Are Given a Guide

John 16:13 – …when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth…”

Guidance is not occasional—it is part of the design of relationship.

You Have Direct Access

James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God… and it will be given to him.”

John 10:27 – “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

Understanding is not restricted to a few—it is available to those who:

• • ask
  • listen
  • follow

What Blocks Understanding: Lies vs Truth

If belief is distorted, perception is distorted.
If perception is distorted, decisions will follow.

Here are some common lies that get in the way of understanding God’s will.

 

Lie / Ungodly Belief	Why It’s Dangerous	Truth	Scripture
God’s will is unknowable	Stops pursuit	God commands understanding	“Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  (Eph 5:17)
God works in mysterious ways (so I can’t understand)	Justifies confusion	God reveals His will	“…that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Rom 12:2)
You can’t hear God	Blocks relationship	God’s people hear Him	“My sheep hear My voice… and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)
I’m not worthy	Creates distance	Access is granted through Christ	“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace…”  (Heb 4:16)
Confusion is normal	Accepts deception	God produces clarity and peace	“God is not the author of confusion but of peace…”            (1 Cor 14:33)
My understanding is enough	Leads to error	God must direct your path	“Lean not on your own understanding… He shall direct your paths.”(Prov 3:5–6)
The devil isn’t influencing me	Removes awareness	There is an active adversary	“Your adversary the devil… seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Pet 5:8)

How To Understand The Basics Of God’s Will

The Revealed Foundations of God’s Will

Before seeking guidance on specific decisions, you need clarity on what God has already made explicit.

God’s will is not primarily hidden—it is revealed at a macro level and then applied personally.

1. God’s Ultimate Intent: A Restored Heaven and Earth Under Christ

Ephesians 1:9–10  – “…having made known to us the mystery of His will… that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.”

Revelation 21:1–3  – “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth… ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them…’”

Key Insight:   God is moving everything toward restoration, unity, and alignment under Jesus.

 2. God’s Desire: That All Would Know Him and Jesus

Adam and Eve broke the unity with God by self centered action. They were changed, and creation fell as a result. God wants to connect us back to Him, and He went so far as to enter creation in the form of a man, to demonstrate sacrificial love, pay the price for sin, and give us a path our of this mess. 

John 17:3 – “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

1 Timothy 2:3–4 – “…God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Key Insight:  God’s will is not just about behavior change—it is about restoration of a relationship and knowledge of Him.

3. The Re-Entry Point: Repentance and Restoration

Turning Back to God Is The Key.

2 Peter 3:9 -“…not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

Acts 3:19  – “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…”

Key Insight:  Alignment with God’s will begins with turning from self-directed living to God-directed living.

4. The Provision: Wholeness Through Jesus (Sozo)

Salvation Is Complete Restoration

Isaiah 53:5  – “…by His stripes we are healed.”

Luke 9:56  – “…the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.”
(“save” = sozo: to make whole)

3 John 1:2  – “…that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”

Key Insight:   God’s will is not partial—it is restoration of the whole person:

• • • spirit
    • soul
    • body

5. The Transformation: Restored to God’s Image

This is All About Becoming What We Were Originally Designed to Be

Romans 8:29 – “…to be conformed to the image of His Son…”

2 Corinthians 3:18  – “…being transformed into the same image from glory to glory…”

Key Insight:  God’s will is not just to forgive you—it is to transform you into Christlikeness.

6. The Gold Standard: Imitate God

We Become Changed By Grace As We Seek To Model Jesus in Action

Ephesians 5:1–2 – “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love…”

John 13:34 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you…”

Key Insight:  God’s will becomes visible through:

• • • love
    • obedience
    • character alignment

7. The Assignment: Ambassadors of the Kingdom

Like It Or Not, We Are His Representatives to the World

2 Corinthians 5:20  – “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ…”

Matthew 28:19–20 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…”

Key Insight:  God’s will extends beyond you—it flows through you to others.

8. The Multiplication: Make Him Known

Our Mission Ripples To Others

Habakkuk 2:14  – “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord…”

Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men…”

Key Insight:  God’s will is global:

• • • know Him
    • reflect Him
    • make Him known

How to Begin Understanding God’s Will Specifically For You

Anchor in Scripture

God’s will is consistent with what He has already revealed.

Ask for Wisdom

James 1:5 “ If anyone lacks wisdom et him ask of God… and it will be given to him.”

Listen and Discern

• • Quiet Yourself
  • Focus Your Mind On Jesus
  • Ask Him for Input
  • Listen And Write What He Tells You

Evaluate:

• • Fatherly / Encoraging
  • Higher perspective
  • Alignment with Scripture
  • Sense Of Truth, Presence of peace vs confusion
  • Bears Fruit over time

Act on What You Receive

Clarity increases with obedience.
Understanding grows through application.

 Self-Test: Are You Operating in Understanding?

Beliefs become visible through patterns of thinking and response.

Aspect	Misalignment (Confusion)	Alignment (Understanding)
Direction	Reactive, uncertain	Intentional, guided
Decisions	Fear-driven or pressured	Truth-anchored and steady
Relationship with God	Infrequent, distant	Ongoing, engaged
Thought Patterns	Doubt, second-guessing	Clarity, confidence
Response to Challenges	“Why is this happening?”	“What is God revealing?”

Where to learn more:

1. Scripture: Build a Strong Foundation First

Start here. These are not random verses—this is a progression to establish that:

• • God’s will is knowable
  • He communicates
  • You are expected to understand and follow

God’s Will Is Knowable

Romans 12:2  – “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Ephesians 5:17  – “Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

God Will Actively Guide You

Psalm 32:8 -“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”

Proverbs 3:5–6 – “…In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

The Holy Spirit Reveals Truth

John 16:13 – “…He will guide you into all truth…”

1 Corinthians 2:12 – “…that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”

You Are Encouraged To Ask and Receive Direction

James 1:5 – “If Anyone Lacks Wisdom let him ask of God… and it will be given to him.”

John 10:27 – “My sheep hear My voice… and they follow Me.”

2. Videos & Teachers

Dan Mohler

Focus: Identity in Christ, transformation, living from truth

Search: “Dan Mohler identity in Christ”

Key Value: Removes performance mindset → builds clarity of who you are → unlocks alignment

Derek Prince

Focus: Spiritual warfare, deception, authority, truth vs lies

Search: “Derek Prince deception truth spiritual warfare”

Key Value: Strong teaching on how the enemy uses deception and how truth breaks it

Barry Bennett

Focus: Hearing God, healing, grace-based relationship

Search: “Barry Bennett hearing God voice”

Key Value: Practical clarity on how God communicates and how to respond

John Lennox

Focus: Confidence in truth, removing intellectual barriers

Search: “John Lennox God truth reliability”

Key Value: Strengthens confidence that God is real and knowable

Frank Turek

Focus: Why truth matters, defending belief

Search: “Frank Turek truth objective God”

Key Value: Reinforces that truth is real and discoverable—not subjective

3. MyGodInMotion.org

Focus: relationship → understanding → action.

Purpose: Help people build an active relationship with God and experience real transformation

Learning to Hear and Understand God

Practical framework:

• • • Quiet your mind
    • Focus on Jesus
    • Receive thoughts/images/feelings
    • Write and test what you hear

Emphasis: God expects you to hear Him and guides you through His Spirit

Seeing God’s Will in Your Life

God is actively:

• • • guiding
    • teaching
    • positioning you

You learn His will by recognizing His patterns and involvement

Your New Identity (Critical to Understanding His Will)

Key idea:

• • • Many believers don’t fully understand what Jesus accomplished
    • This limits their ability to walk in God’s will

Emphasis: renewed identity → renewed thinking → clearer understanding

Follow Jesus And Be Transformed

Key Idea: 

• • • Jesus Modeled The Desired Behavior: Humility, Sacrificial Love, Sacrificing His Life To Benefit Others To The Point of Death
    • Follow Him and Gain Eternal Life:  Deny Your Self,  Pick Up Your Cross and Follow Him – Lose Your Life To Find It

4. Practical Next Step (How to Use These Resources)

Don’t just consume—engage.

Simple Execution Flow

• • • Pray for God to Speak to you when you begin
    • Read 1–2 core Scriptures daily, and/or watch one resource video
    • Focus your mind on Jesus and Ask: “What does this reveal about God’s will?”
    • Sit quietly and ask Him for insight
    • Write what you sense from Him
    • Compare it to Scripture, Reflect on how the message should apply to you and your life 
    • Take one aligned action in response.

If you only:

• • read casually
  • listen passively
  • think intellectually

…you will stay in knowledge without clarity.

But if you:

• • actively pursue truth
  • ask Him directly for input 
  • listen intentionally for His input
    act on what you receive

…you will move into understanding—and alignment with God’s will.

 Call to Action

Identify one area where you feel unclear or uncertain.

Work through it:

• • What do I currently believe about this situation?
  • Does that belief align with Scripture?
  • What truth replaces any distortion?

Then:

• • ask God directly for clarity
  • listen
  • take the next aligned step

Final Thought

Confusion is not something to accept—it is something to resolve.

When truth replaces deception:

• • understanding becomes clear
  • decisions become aligned
  • relationship becomes active

God’s will is not hidden—but it must be pursued, received, and applied.