Bible Reading: Romans 12:1-2
Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do. Romans 12:2
GOD’S UNIVERSAL will is the big part of his expectations that you can’t miss. It’s clear. It’s indisputable. It’s spelled out in his Word. And understanding and yielding to that universal will is the first step in finding God’s more detailed will specific to your life. So here’s where you start:
Trust Christ. The most important part of God’s will is for everyone to be savedto trust Christ as Savior and Lord. It’s pointless to look for any other aspects of God’s will until you walk in his will regarding your salvation.
Submit totally to Christ. Once you trust Christ, God’s will for you is to submit your life and future to Christ. Paul wrote, “I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?” (Romans 12:1).
Be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:17-18 says, “Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do …. Let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.” God wants to permeate your life through the Spirit he put in you. It’s God’s will that you ask him to fill you day by day.
Obey your parents. God’s no-doubt-about-it will for every student is that he or she live in obedience to parents (see Ephesians 6:1). One reason: God might choose to reveal his specific will to you through the advice and example of your dad or mom.
Stay sexually pure. You don’t ever have to wonder if it’s God’s will for you to become sexually involved with your boyfriend or girlfriend. God has already shown his don’t-miss-it will: “It is God’s will that you should … avoid sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3, NIV). If you have never been sexually active, stay that way until marriage. If you have been sexually active in the past or if you are sexually active now, determine to obey God’s will in this area from now on.
Share your faith. You don’t need to ask God, “Should I share my faith with others?” God has already revealed what he wants-for all believers. Jesus commanded, “Go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). God’s will is for you to share your faith with all nations-not just across the ocean but with those across the hall and the lunch table at school.
Whatever questions you face, by committing yourself to follow God’s universal will you open the door for God to reveal his specific will for your life.
REFLECT: How are you doing in obeying God’s universal will? Are you ready to start looking for his specific will?
PRAY: Talk to God about anything that gets in the way of doing his will.
