This week I have been blogging about when to know what the will of God is in our lives. On Monday we noted to first look into God’s Word (The Bible) for guidance, then on Thursday we saw how we must know the peace of God that goes past all understanding. Today I want to deal with a topic that is one of the hardest decisions anyone will ever make, and how we can know God’s will in that decision.

Should I move?

One thing I think I have become a bit of an expert at (only through experience) is moving house, state or country. When I was growing up my family moved three times to different locations around the United Kingdom. When I was 25 I moved a little further, across the pond to the United States. Then two years ago I moved from Missouri to Maryland. Each time knowing exactly that it was in the will of God, in fact more than his will, but it was ordained or planned by God.

When I moved country I knew it was the right decision because I was in a place of transition and learning in my own life. I had no real ties to hold me to where I was. I was in a secular job and knew my future was in full time ministry. My wife to be was in the United States in a position that was in ministry. She felt called to the place she was and I didn’t feel called to the place I was. So with no job, no visa and without much thought (because there wasn’t much need for thought), I quit my job, packed my bags, said my goodbyes and moved to the United States knowing God was in control. He sure was, within three months I had a job, a home and a visa to work!

When we decided to leave Missouri and move to Maryland it was for different circumstances (I talked a little about this in part 2). My wife and I knew God had led us out of our positions and he was leading us into new ones, we just didn’t know which new ones. We had a few opportunities and options. We could go back to the United kingdom, go to a few other places in the United States or go to Maryland. Out of all the options Maryland was my least favorite, yet after visiting and weighing up all the options, praying and seeking God we knew from the bottom of our hearts that Maryland was the place. It wasn’t the best option, nor the most appealing, but we knew the path God was leading us, and all the signs led to this path.

That is how we knew to move; we knew the path God was taking our lives and the road to Maryland went down this path, not the other options. At times we can be concerned with the best job, the nicest or cheapest place to live, the best schooling for our kids, the least amount of crime etc. These are all options, but if they lead you away from the place God is taking you it will end in failure. I have seen many people move because it was the easiest option, or not move because they were comfortable where they were; this has most often ended in either a huge time of testing in their lives, or they have settled into the status quo of their lives and not become all that God had intended them to be. Do not let temporary distractions take you from the path or road God is taking your life. He has big plans for you and a decision based away from this path will end in a life unfulfilled.

In the book of Proverbs the writer tells us in both chapters 16 and 20 that it is God who determines a mans steps, and it is God who directs a mans steps, so how can anyone but God understand it.

Where is God taking you? What is his plan for your life? Submit to this plan and you will spend your life walking and living in the will of God!