What Does God Want Me To Do?
It’s one of the most common questions I’m asked in counseling. From the guy floundering in his marriage, the woman struggling with her aging parents, people facing quandaries at work, or relationship issues with extended family, I’m asked all the time, “What does God want me to do?"I can’t always give specific answers. I can usually give Biblical principles that help make decisions and often, there are simple Bible answers. But most of the time, making good decisions flow from an understanding of God’s values, goals, and how godly wisdom can be applied to those situations.But there is a statement from an obscure Old Testament prophet that can guide us through almost every decision, and enable us to live life in a way that matters."He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you: but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).• Do the right thing. That’s the meaning of “do justice.” It means to “do what is right.” And when I ask the question, “What is the right thing to do?”, almost always, the counselee knows in his heart what that is. So start there. Do what’s right. No matter how you think things will turn out, no matter what price you may have to pay, do what you know is right. Do the right thing.• Be nice. Actually, the word for kindness is a Hebrew word that is often translated “mercy.” It’s means being nice to people who don’t deserve it. I often say, “It doesn’t cost anything to be nice.” Sometimes you might have to have a tough conversation, but you can still be nice. A lot of family problems could be erased overnight if families lived by this rule, “No matter what, always be nice.” Don’t be nice to people because they are nice to you. Be nice to everybody, no matter what. You’d be surprised how that might change a lot of things in your life.• Be humble. We all have reason to be humble. No matter how much you have accomplished, how smart you are, how rich or poor or talented, everything you have has been given to you. Even if you work hard, your capacity to work, both physically and mentally, is a gift from God. None of us have reason to be proud. Knock off the know-it-all, cocky attitude and admit that everything good in your life comes from God. You didn’t really earn anything. It’s all been given to you. So approach life and every relationship in it with a humble attitude. After all, “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5 & James 4:6).• Walk with God. That’s what you were created for. He made you to know and enjoy him, and even more so, that he might enjoy you. Does he? Do you walk with him? Do you give him uninterrupted specialized time for prayer and reading his word? Do you obey him? Do you consciously think through, “What would be pleasing to Jesus?” Are you walking through life with God?So I can’t tell you who God wants you to marry, or should you take that transfer, or should you have that conversation with your mother-in-law. But if you do what you know is the right thing in everything else, if you are nice no matter what, you approach people with a humble attitude, and you are walking with God, you’ll make a good decision. Better yet, your life will be what it was designed to be: one that brings honor and pleasure to our creator.That’s what God wants you to do.