“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” is a prayer my family and I say daily, following the model of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6.
But as seemingly simple as the phrase is, it holds a deeply important question: What is God’s will, and how can we make sure we live by it? As always, we’ll turn to Scripture for guidance and answers where we find God’s will spoken of in a few different ways.
What Does the Bible Say About God’s Will?
Countless verses talk about God’s will so to make this easier to understand, we’ll group them under broad categories: God’s sovereign will, His moral will, and His redemptive will.
God’s Will as His Sovereign Plan
God’s sovereign power over all creation and every living being is one of the grand themes throughout the Bible. As Scripture declares in Romans 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!”
So God’s sovereign will can be understood as His supreme power and authority through which everything unfolds according to His divine purpose and royal counsel. His incomparable knowledge and wisdom make His ways higher than our ways and His thoughts beyond our thoughts (Isa. 55:8–9), yet all He ordains works together for good and for His glory. And with that said, nothing can hinder, overturn, or prevent any plan or purpose that God has determined to accomplish.
His supremacy is also revealed in the way He created and rules over all things, which perfectly reflects His sovereign will at work in history and in the events of today.
The Bible has specific things to say about God’s will as His sovereign plan:
- Isaiah 46:9b–10: “I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’”
- Proverbs 19:21: “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.”
- Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
- Ephesians 1:11: “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.”
Indeed, the Lord God is supreme and in control of everything. But while this is His sovereign will, is there a way God expects us to live and behave?
God’s Will as His Moral Standard
Being a believer means being transformed in terms of behavior and character. God is holy, and those who follow Him should be imitators of Him (1 John 2:6).
God’s moral will is His standard for human conduct. It guides us to know what is good, right, and pleasing in His sight. If God’s sovereign will is what He ordains or allows to happen, His moral will is what He commands of His people. However, it is not forced obedience—people have a free will to choose righteousness, using their bodies as instruments of good, or not.
Living righteously and remaining holy in an overly immoral world is evidence of genuine faith (Matt. 7:16–20); it’s how we show Christ to the world.
Living righteously, honestly, mercifully, and humbly, as well as loving God and others, are all ways we can honor God and bring His name glory.
Let’s look at some of the verses that describe God’s will in relation to how we should conduct ourselves:
- Colossians 3:5: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
- Micah 6:8: “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?”
- Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
We should walk in holiness and show the world what His goodness looks like.
God’s Will as His Saving Purpose
While God’s sovereign will reveals His supreme authority and His moral will directs our behavior, His redemptive will focuses on humanity’s salvation and God’s offer of restoration and the gift of eternal life. He so loved the world that He sent Jesus so that we may believe in Him, be saved, and have everlasting life (John 3:16). God’s redemptive will is His desire that all would be saved and come to know Him.
According to Titus 2:11, salvation is available to everyone, for God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. He wants to redeem us from the grip of sin by salvation offered through faith in Jesus Christ.
In addition to John 3:16 which speaks clearly about God’s intention for humanity’s salvation, we can turn to several other verses in the Bible that show His will is closely tied to His desire to redeem us.
- 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
- 1 Timothy 2:3-4: “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
- John 6:39–40: “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Jesus, whom God sent to save us, commanded His disciples to go and spread the Word so that many people might be saved (Matt. 28:19–20). It is God’s will that the gospel is shared with the world so that everyone may come to know Him and be saved.
5 Ways to Know God’s Will
We already know that God’s will is multifaceted, and in the same way, there are ways we can better understand and walk in His will:
- Fear the Lord: Honor and respect God above all else. Revering God helps align our hearts to receive His will (Prov. 9:10; John 5:22–23).
- Submit to Him: Trust God’s sovereign plan over your own and yield to His guidance for a straight path (Prov. 3:5–6).
- Pray often: Seek God’s guidance through constant prayer to conform your desires with His (Phil. 4:6–7; James 1:5).
- Read and apply Scripture: Let God’s Word illuminate His will and transform your mind to discern His purpose (Ps. 119:105; Rom. 12:2).
- Rejoice always and give thanks: Embrace a lifestyle of joy, prayer, and gratitude, walking in God’s will and trusting His plan (1 Thess. 5:16–18).
Peace Be with You as You Walk in God’s Will
It is God’s will that we know Him, love Him, and live in a way that reflects His goodness. Through His Word, prayer, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we learn to walk in obedience, holiness, and love just like Jesus.
May the God of peace give you all you need to live out His will, and may He keep working in your heart what is pleasing to Him through Christ Jesus.
Keep Growing in Wisdom and Discernment
If this article helped you better understand God’s will, you may appreciate exploring other topics that deepen your walk with Him. These additional articles will help you build confidence, clarity, and peace as you follow God day by day. Keep learning, keep seeking, and trust that He’ll guide every step.
- Where to Start Reading the Bible for Beginners
- Bible Verses Every Woman Should Memorize
- How to Study the Bible for Women
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