The Divine GPS ~ God's Positioning System

Alright, buckle up, fellow travelers on this grand adventure called life! We're about to embark on a quest, a divine treasure hunt, to find God’s will for our lives. Now, before you imagine me in a theological robe, solemnly stroking my beard, let's keep this light, casual, and maybe even sprinkle in a few chuckles. Think of this less as a sermon and more as a friendly chat over a good cup of coffee.

For years, the phrase "God's will" conjured images in my mind of complicated riddles, cryptic signs, and perhaps a celestial pop quiz I was destined to fail. Was it a giant cosmic flowchart? A choose-your-own-adventure book with only one correct ending? And what if I picked the wrong page? Would I accidentally end up as a professional kazoo player in a faraway land when I was clearly meant to be a world-renowned expert on the optimal temperature for grilling cheese sandwiches? (A noble pursuit, indeed!)

The good news, my friends, is that God’s will is far less about divine trickery and far more about a loving, intentional relationship. It’s not some hidden Easter egg hunt where only the super-spiritual get the prize. It’s more like a divine GPS, (God's Positioning System.) And thankfully, it comes with a much friendlier voice than the one that announces "recalculating!" after I miss a turn I clearly saw coming.

Let’s kick things off with a verse that should probably be tattooed on the inside of every believer’s eyelids, because it’s a game-changer. Jeremiah 29:11 declares, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Boom! Right there. This isn’t some cosmic lottery where God is hoping you draw the short straw. He’s got plans, and they’re good plans. Plans for your prosperity, not your peril. Plans for hope, not despair. A future, not a dead end. This isn't the divine equivalent of that one relative who always gives you socks for Christmas. This is a God who genuinely wants good things for you!

Think about it: if you’re a loving parent or grandparent, do you sit around plotting how to make your kids’ lives miserable? "Hmm, let’s see… I think I’ll hide all their favorite snacks and replace them with Brussels sprouts, or when they ask a question, tell them “to figure it out for yourself!” No, you don’t! You want them to thrive, to be happy, to succeed. And our heavenly Father, the ultimate good Parent, feels that same way infinitely more.

Now, does "prosper" always mean winning the lottery or living in a mansion? Probably not in the way our earthly minds sometimes define it. However, it means flourishing, growing, and experiencing God's blessings in all aspects of your life, spiritual, emotional, and, yes, even practical. It’s about being truly alive in Him.

And while we’re busy making our daily to-do lists, God's still got the master plan. Proverbs 19:21 reminds us, "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails." It's like we're drawing up blueprints for a magnificent treehouse, but God's already designed the entire forest ecosystem. Our plans are good, but His purpose is ultimately what stands. This takes a lot of pressure off, doesn't it? It's not about being omniscient, but about trusting the One who is.

Speaking of plans, have you ever felt like you’re just kind of… winging it? Like you’re wandering through life hoping to stumble upon your purpose? Well, here’s a beautiful truth from 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."

Hold on a minute. "God’s handiwork"? That means you’re not some cosmic accident, a random splash of paint on the canvas of existence. You are a masterpiece! A divinely crafted original, with no two alike. And this masterpiece was created “to do good works.” Not just any works, mind you, but ones God “prepared in advance” for you.

Imagine being a professional singer and musician, as I was, and knowing that every note, every chord, every lyric was part of a song God wrote just for you. Or being an author, realizing that the very words you put on paper, the stories you tell, are part of a divine narrative. As a Christian author, I can tell you that there is a unique joy in seeing how your gifts, your experiences, and your very personality are all part of God's magnificent design for the "good works" He has in store for you. It's not about forcing yourself into a mold, but about stepping into the unique shape God has already given you.

So, if you’ve been feeling lost, like a sock without a partner in the laundry basket of life, take heart! You are a perfectly matched pair with a purpose. Your task isn’t to invent your purpose, but to discover and step into the one God already custom-fitted for you.

Now, how do we find these pre-prepared good works? How do we understand this divine GPS? Well, thankfully, God didn't just give us a car and no map. He gave us His Word. Psalm 119:105 beautifully states, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."

Imagine trying to navigate the backroads of Florida in pitch black without headlights. You’d probably end up in a swamp, or worse, at an overcrowded tourist trap. God’s Word is that light. It illuminates the path, showing us where to step and where not to. It’s not just a collection of ancient stories; it’s a living, breathing guide to God’s character, His desires, and His will for humanity and us individually.

And here’s where the "renewing of your mind" comes in. Romans 12:2 tells us, "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."

This verse is gold! It’s not about trying to fit into the world’s mold. It’s about actively letting God change the way we think. It’s like hitting the "reset" button on our worldview, allowing God’s truth to replace all the world’s noise. When our minds are transformed, our "spiritual taste buds" become attuned to God's "good, pleasing, and perfect will." We start to see it not as a puzzle, but as something that naturally comes from our refreshed way of thinking.

And don’t forget the Holy Spirit! As a former professional singer, I know the importance of listening to the conductor. The Holy Spirit is our divine conductor, guiding us with an inner whisper. John 10:27 says, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." If you’re a sheep (and spiritually speaking, we all are!), then you have a Shepherd, and He speaks. Learning to discern His voice takes practice, like tuning a guitar, but it’s a skill worth cultivating. It's often not a booming voice from the clouds, but a gentle nudge, a quiet conviction, or a sense of peace that settles over you as you pray and seek Him.

While some aspects of God's will are about personal guidance, others are as clear as a sunny Florida sky. These are the non-negotiables, the universal truths that apply to everyone, everywhere, at all times. Think of them as the divine traffic laws – ignoring them leads to spiritual fender-benders, or worse.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 gets right to the point: "It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality." Yep, God wants us to be holy. Not stuffy and boring, but set apart for Him, pure in thought and deed. This is about our character, our integrity, and our relationship with Him. It's about living a life that honors Him in every area.

Then there’s the big one, the one that sometimes feels out of reach: 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." In all circumstances? Even when the cat just threw up on the new rug? Even when the internet goes out right in the middle of your favorite show? Yes, even then. This isn't about pretending everything is perfect, but about cultivating a heart that recognizes God’s sovereignty and goodness even in the messy bits of life. It’s acknowledging that God is still on the throne, even when our circumstances feel like a roller coaster on steroids.

And speaking of doing good, 1 Peter 2:15 reminds us, "For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people."1 Living a life of good deeds isn't just about being a nice person; it’s a powerful testimony. It’s about letting our actions speak louder than any words, effectively shutting down those who might criticize or misunderstand our faith. It’s about demonstrating the love of Christ in tangible ways.

Finally, and perhaps most crucially, God's ultimate desire is salvation. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 states, "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” This is the heart of God’s will: for everyone to know Him, to experience His saving grace through Jesus Christ. If you’re ever wondering what God wants you to do, start here: know Him, and share Him with others. It’s the ultimate divine calling.

So, knowing all this, what’s our part? It’s a beautiful dance of surrender and obedience. Matthew 7:21 is a strong wake-up call: "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." It’s not just about lip service; it’s about life service. Our actions demonstrate the authenticity of our faith.

This isn't about earning salvation, but about living out the salvation we've already received. It’s about aligning our will with His. And when we do, we experience the profound peace that comes from being exactly where God wants us to be.

Think of Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” This is the ultimate "let go and let God" verse. It’s about releasing our need to control every outcome, to figure out every detail. It’s about saying, "God, I don't understand it all, but I trust You. You’ve got this." When we submit our ways to Him, He makes our paths straight, removing obstacles and guiding us with precision. It’s like having a master choreographer for the dance of your life.

And let’s be honest, sometimes we know what God wants us to do, but we just… don’t do it. Maybe it’s procrastination, maybe fear, maybe just plain stubbornness. James 4:17 serves as a gentle (or not-so-gentle) reminder: "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." Ouch. Wrong turn! “Recalculating, again!” The beauty of God's grace is that He doesn't condemn us for our missteps, but encourages us to get back on track.

Beyond specific tasks or callings, God’s will is profoundly relational. It boils down to the greatest commandments: love God and love others. As Jesus highlights in Mark 12:28-31, the summary of the law is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"

This is the ultimate framework for God’s will. If you’re loving God with everything you’ve got, and loving the people around you as much as you love yourself, you’re probably walking squarely in the center of His will. This covers everything from your career choice to your retirement hobbies.

And as we walk with Him, God actively works in us. Philippians 2:12-13 provides incredible encouragement: "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."

This is phenomenal! We "work out" our salvation, not for salvation. And here’s the kicker: God is working in us to give us both the desire (to will) and the ability (to act) to fulfill His good purpose. So, that nudge you feel to serve, that longing to create, that urge to encourage someone—that’s God working within you! He’s not just telling you what to do; He’s empowering you to do it. It’s like having a divine personal trainer who also provides all the motivation and energy.

So, what does this all mean for our daily lives? It means we can stop agonizing over every tiny decision, wondering if we’re somehow messing up God’s perfect plan. God’s will isn't a tightrope act where one misstep sends us plummeting into oblivion. It’s a wide, spacious road, marked by His love, His Word, and His Spirit.

Yes, there are big decisions: who to marry, where to live, what career path to pursue. But even within those, God gives us freedom. He doesn't care if you choose the blue car or the red car, as long as you're driving it in a way that honors Him. He doesn't care if you retire to the beach or the mountains, as long as you're using your time to glorify Him.

The key is less about finding the one specific thing and more about cultivating a heart that desires to please Him in everything. When our hearts are aligned with His, our "personal will" often naturally flows into His "perfect will." It's like a beautiful harmony, a cosmic song where our notes blend perfectly with His.

So, relax. Breathe. Enjoy the journey. God's will for your life isn't a test; it's an invitation. An invitation to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him, and to live a life filled with purpose, hope, and joy. It's the divine GPS leading you to the most incredible destination imaginable: a life fully lived in Him. And trust me, as someone who's had the privilege of walking with Him for many years, it's the best adventure you'll ever embark on. Better than LG's famous motto, "Life's Good," a life lived in God's will is the best!