How Can We Know God’s Will For Our Lives?

Q

My daughter is married with three children. I was talking to her today and she was in tears because she very much wants to do something here on earth for the Lord. She says that all she does is raise her children and do housework. I told her that the Bible says even if you give a cup of water in His name, there is a reward, and that not all of us have big ministries. She said she doesn’t want a big ministry, but just wants to do something more than she is doing now.

What more can I tell her? Isn’t raising up children in the way they should go a big thing in God’s eyes?

A

Many Christians lament that their lives seem to them to be void of any meaningful service to the Lord. But I agree that raising children in the way they should go is a big thing in God’s eyes.

To those who seek greater involvement, Paul offers this advice. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)

To me this means that through prayer we offer every aspect of our lives to God, asking Him to do with us as He desires. Then through the study of His Word we divest our selves of our worldly attitudes and opinions and take on the heart of a servant, willing to do whatever He asks. By doing this we’re walking in the Lord’s footsteps. He was God in His very nature, but humbled Himself to become an obedient servant (Phil. 2:5-8).

Whether it’s something big or a bunch of little things, when we’re doing what the Lord asks of us we’re serving Him, and we’ll be richly rewarded.