One question I hear frequently is “How do I know what God’s will is for my life?”

This is a pretty complex question. And the answer isn’t always a simple one. There are many things that factor into understanding what God wants you to do with your life, or even in any given situation.

But at the core of this answer lie two foundational elements: Prayer and the Word.

I know. It sounds trite and overly simplistic. But it’s true. These two elements are necessary to understanding what God want’s for your life.

Start with the Word of God.

There is really only one way to get to know someone. You spend time with them. Lot’s of time, usually.

The same is true with God. In order to know him better you need to spend time with him. Lot’s of time.

When I spend significant amounts of time with certain people, I tend to pick up some of their mannerisms. I start to act like them. I start to talk like them.

When I spend significant amounts of time with God, I start to act like him. I start to see things the way he sees them. I start to view people the way he views them. I start to want the things he wants. And I understand him better and better all the time.

The more time you spend in the Word of God, the better you understand his heart and mind. You probably won’t find any Scripture that directs you to take this job over that one, or to choose that college instead of another one. But what you will find are principles that direct your life, so that you can see better when you are faced with those kinds of choices.

Cover your decisions with prayer.

When you are faced with decisions to make, and choices to choose, make sure you invest plenty of time in prayer.

Prayer is our side of the conversation. You’ve heard his side through the Word, or friends, or circumstances, or even the leading of the Holy Spirit. Praying is our side of the conversation. This is where we express our feelings, pour out our hearts, and ask for his guidance.

Here’s the key: when you think like God from spending time in his Word, and pour out your heart to God in prayer, you can rest assured that God will lead you to make the decisions that he wants you to. You can make a choice knowing that God has been directly involved in the process.

Live confidently.

When you have these two foundational elements in your life, you are more likely to be centered in God’s will for you. Sure, you will make mistakes. Sometimes you will step in the wrong direction. Sin is a reality we have to contend with daily.

But when we strive to live in a way that honors him, and we seek to know him as well as we can, we will grow stronger in our faith.

Are there more things to consider when seeking God’s will? Certainly there are. But these principles are foundational, and they are a great place to start.

Do you struggle with wondering whether you’re in the center of God’s will? What do you do to help with this? You can share your thoughts in the comment section below.