“God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin” (1 Thessalonians 4:3 NLT).
What can we do to help ensure we are aligned with God’s will? Well, we can start with a commitment to seek God’s direction in prayer. For instance, Job 12:13 and Psalm 32:8 each provide us with an incentive to pray…
“To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his” (NIV).
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you” (NIV).
The following Scriptures also provide encouragement in this area…
“…if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:3-6 NIV)
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
Another suggestion involves setting aside a time to read a portion of the Bible each day. For instance, the New Testament letter of 2 Timothy tells us “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV). Therefore, a person who develops a good working knowledge of the Scriptures along with a commitment to act upon them is someone who is well-equipped to make good choices. Psalm 119:11 also identifies the importance of internalizing God’s Word when it tells us, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (KJV).
Remember that the Biblical book of Romans tells us, “…everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4 NIV). As we examine the lives of the people who appear within the Scriptures, we gain the opportunity to follow their good examples and avoid their mistakes.
Finally, we should not overlook the value of Godly counsel as we seek the Lord’s direction for our lives. Psalm 1:1-2 emphasizes the importance of obtaining trustworthy, God-honoring advice when it tells us, “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.”
Taken together, these suggestions can help us follow God’s direction in the decisions of daily life.