While circumstances can be a guide to the way the Lord is leading, our interpretation of them should be checked by the other principles we have discussed (the book Experiencing God has a helpful chapter on circumstances).⁷

Principle 8: Be Sensitive to the Leading of the Holy Spirit

This one makes some people nervous. Who hasn’t heard the words “God told me to . . .” and then cringed at what was said next? There have certainly been abuses to the “I just have a peace about it” approach . . . too many to count actually. But does the existence of the abuse of this statement make all cases of God’s leading in this way illegitimate? Of course not. We must be reminded that we should be wise as we try to discern whether the Holy Spirit⁸ is prompting us or not. Many people, myself included, have experienced the strong leading of the Holy Spirit in a situation. We must not ignore Him in our decision-making. Even though this is a subjective process, God could be trying to get your attention; the question is are you listening and open to what He may say?⁹

Now this principle is best understood in light of the others we have discussed, and we should always test our “impressions” with God’s Word and with wise counsel. The Spirit’s leading is not a trump card to be used selfishly—remember to check your motives.

Before we wrap up our discussion, here is one more bit of advice—pay attention to your moods. If at all possible, don’t make decisions late at night or after a deeply emotional experience. Of course sometimes decisions have to be made on the spot with little or no time to reflect, but most often decisions afford a little time before they must be made. The bigger the decision, the less you will want to make it in the heat of the moment. Rather than deciding the course of your life at 3:00 am, sleep on it—things may look a lot different in the morning!

Reflection on Discovering the Will of God in the Most Affluent Nation on Earth

As an American Christian, one of the things that I have wrestled with is how to know that I’m not following the path of least resistance and calling it God’s will. In America it’s easy—too easy—to buy into the lie that God’s will is always that you be healthy and wealthy. (Our brothers and sisters around the world have a much different experience.) Now there is nothing wrong with being healthy or wealthy, and these can be seen as God’s blessing. But remember that with health and wealth come responsibility and stewardship.

On the other hand, sometimes we can feel guilty for being born in America—the land of opportunity. But we need to remember that God providentially arranged where we would be born (Acts 17:26–27). So if you find yourself in an affluent, comfortable, or influential situation, then consider how you can advance God’s kingdom program in ways that others without your privileges or status could not (e.g., we can create an awareness of how God is working globally and how Christians can get involved). However, just because we encounter suffering, adversity, or persecution, don’t immediately interpret these as reasons to change course. Sometimes, we must courageously trim our sails and head directly into the wind. The Christians in 1 Peter and Hebrews 11 are a testimony to this reality and serve as our courageous examples.

So as you seek the will of God for your life, employ the principles in this chapter. Be open to whatever God has for you and always live life for His glory, not your own (1 Cor. 10:31). If you have this attitude, you can’t go wrong.

The Big Ideas

• Since there are no formulas for discovering the will of God, we ought to utilize biblical principles. The ones we explored in this chapter were (1) consult the Word of God; (2) cultivate a heart for God; (3) pray for God’s wisdom and leading; (4) seek good advice and wise counsel; (5) examine your motives; (6) use your head; (7) believe that God is at work in the circumstances of life; and (8) be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

• Following the will of God in America comes with its own opportunities and challenges that we need to be aware of.