Many women today would agree that one of their greatest needs is learning to discern God’s guidance in their lives. Women want to know, “What is God’s will for my life?” Our grandmothers, and even our mothers seemed to lead lives that were somewhat less frantic and complicated than our own. They concerned themselves more with personal holiness, and with leading lost people to a saving knowledge of Christ. In our generation, however, most women face the responsibility of making countless decisions every day. In an effort to relieve pressure and simplify our lives, we understandably tend to wish someone else would make some of these decisions for us.

Most of us have probably thought at one time or another, “If only God would tell me exactly what to do each day. If He would clearly reveal His plan for me—write it on the wall, drop me a letter out of heaven, or fax it to me—I would do whatever He said. Then I would know for certain that He was pleased with me.” The good news is that God has made His will for each of our lives abundantly clear in His holy Word, the Bible.

Recently, I greeted a woman in our church hallway. She stopped for a moment to chat. “Nancy,” she began, “I heard your Bible Study this week will be on knowing God’s will for our lives. Can you tell me what God’s will is for my life?” (She asked me a loaded question and she was searching for a simple answer.) “God’s will for you,” I answered, “is for you to spend time getting to know Him better and loving Him more.”

Looking a bit disappointed, she asked, “That’s it? I mean—that’s all? There’s no plan, no pointers, no special tips on what I should do specifically?” I continued, “That kind of thinking is exactly what God addresses in Scripture. We want a plan or a method, but God gives us a process or a way of life. We want a program but He gives us a person. We want a formula but He wants us to have a relationship.” I concluded, “To state it very simply, God’s will is not an end in itself, but a means whereby we get to know Him better.”The added benefit for all women is that when we make a wholehearted effort to know God more intimately, and as we grow to love Him more deeply, we become more loving toward others in the process.

(See below for other related articles in this series.)

Nancy McGuirk - Bible commentator, small group facilitator, and intercessor - is the founder and director of the Women's Community Bible Study International. Nancy ministers to thousands of people each week in person and through a video and audio tape ministry. The focus of her work is evangelism, discipleship and intercessory prayer. For more articles by Nancy McGuirk, go to her website at  Women’s Community Bible Study a Christianity.com ministry partner.

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