Understanding and Embracing God’s Will For Our Unique Calling
All too often, our prayer lives begin and end with our own wants and needs. We present God with a list of desires—finances, health, personal success—while forgetting to pause and simply say “thank You.” Yet, Scripture encourages us to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) with hearts of thanksgiving, not only when we are in need or crisis.
An attitude of gratitude realigns our focus, reminding us that God is our provider and sustainer. Rather than asking solely for what we want, we should look to God and prayerfully seek His will for our lives. When we ask, “Lord, what do You desire?” and open our hearts to His guidance, our prayers become an act of surrender, trust, and genuine communion with our heavenly Father.
The following Bible verses help us to understand the will of God and we learn that God’s will is neither hidden nor arbitrary. Rather, it is lovingly revealed to those who seek Him through prayer, thanksgiving, and submission to His word.
God’s Will For Man
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
(God’s will is for us to always put Him first in everything we do)
Matthew 22:37-40 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ … And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
(God’s will is for us to love Him with everything we got and to treat others the way we want to be treated [the golden rule])
1 Thessalonians 4:3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality…
(God’s will is for us to be sanctified meaning to be made holy. It is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit to transform us to be more like Jesus and helping us live according to God’s will)
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
(God’s will is for us to always be rejoicing, giving thanks and praying)
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have life more abundantly.
(God’s will is for us to have life more abundantly in Christ Jesus)
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
(God’s will is for us to make more disciples through out the world)
Luke 4:43 I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.
(God’s will is for us to spread the Gospel so everyone has a chance to hear the Word of God)
Matthew 20:26-28 Whoever wants to become great amongst you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
(God’s will is for us to help others, more so the less fortunate)
Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
(God’s will is for us to live a life characterized by justice, mercy and humble devotion. This is again talking about the ongoing transformation we go through. Treat people more fairly (stand against injustices), show kindness and compassion to others (mercy), always walking with God [humble devotion])
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform 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.
(God’s will is for us to be a living sacrifice. We sacrifice our own wants, desires, things of this world, making room for our minds to be transformed by the Spirit of God)
1 Timothy 2:3-4 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
(God’s will is not only for our personal growth but also for everyone to experience salvation and truth)
1 Peter 2:15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
(God’s will is for us to be a testimony with our God-honoring lifestyle)
2 Peter 3:9 He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
(God’s will is for everyone to repent and receive salvation)
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
(God’s will is for our lives to include purposeful action [good works])
SUMMARY: God’s will is for us to seek Him first and to repent and find salvation, to pursue holiness through transformation, to always put Him first and to treat others the way we want to be treated. Through our actions we rejoice, pray, give thanks, serve others, spread the Gospel, share our testimonies and make disciples and to have life more abundantly. Our life is to be characterized by justice, mercy and humble devotion. We continue to test and approve through our daily decisions, contexts, and personal callings through Spirit-led application.
A powerful reminder in Scripture is that the pleasures and pursuits of this world are temporary, while those who do God’s will abide in His eternal plan.
When we set our hearts on eternal values, obedience, love, and a Christ-like character, we store up treasures in heaven that cannot be destroyed. The promise of eternal life with God invigorates our faith, urging us to invest our time, resources, and passions into what truly matters and endures forever.
1 John 2:15-17 If a man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that’s in the world, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life, it’s not of the Father. It’s of the world. The world and its desires pass away. But he who does God’s will is going to live forever.
Understanding the broad strokes of God’s will for humanity—loving Him, loving others, living with gratitude, and embodying holiness—can often feel clear and direct from Scripture. When we read and practice biblical commands, we can be confident that we are walking on a steady path. However, discovering God’s specific calling for our individual lives can be more challenging.
Each of us is uniquely designed with different gifts, interests, and opportunities, and discerning how God wants us to steward these requires patience, intentional attention, and a willingness to seek His guidance. It may involve moments of stillness, prayer, and wise counsel as we ask, “Lord, what do You want me to do with my life?” Although this process can stretch our faith, it ultimately brings us closer to the One who knows us best and has a good, purposeful plan for our future.