Letting God run your life means surrendering your will to His will and seeking to follow His guidance in all areas. This requires faith, trust, obedience, and an ongoing relationship with God through prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers. Here are some tips on how to let God run your life:
Surrender your will to God
The first step is surrendering your desires, plans, goals, and dreams to God. This means dying to self and no longer seeking to be in control. It requires humility and the willingness to submit everything to God. Pray prayers like “Lord, I surrender my will to yours. I want your will, not mine.” Tell God you are ready and willing for Him to lead you.
Seek God’s will through prayer
Pray regularly, bringing your decisions and questions to God and asking for His guidance. Spend time in silence listening for His still, small voice. Pray prayers like “Lord, what do you want me to do in this situation?” Ask Him to reveal His will and make it clear to you. Be patient and trust that He will guide you.
Study and meditate on Scripture
God often reveals His will through His Word. Read the Bible daily, focusing on passages that discuss God’s will and guidance. Meditate on verses, asking God to speak to you and show you how they apply to your life. The more you understand His Word, the easier it will be to discern His voice.
Obey what you already know
If you want God to reveal more of His will, be faithful to obey what you already know He has commanded. Obeying His moral will which is revealed through the Bible will position you to hear His specific will for your life circumstances. Walk in holiness and pursue obedience in all things.
Seek wise counsel
Ask mature Christian friends and mentors to pray with you about decisions and provide biblical perspective and wisdom. Their godly insights can help you discern God’s will more clearly. Seek counsel from those who know you well and want God’s best for you.
Consider your gifts and desires
As you surrender your will to God’s, consider the gifts, passions, and desires He has given you. Often God’s will aligns with the abilities and interests He has instilled in us. However, be prepared to surrender these if He leads you in a different direction.
Listen for the Spirit’s direction
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and then listen for His inner promptings. Follow His leadings, even if they seem unclear or contradictory to your natural inclinations. Sometimes God’s will doesn’t make logical sense, but requires faith and obedience. Walk in step with the Spirit.
Look for open and closed doors
God often leads through open doors of opportunity and guides us by closing doors that are not His will. If something falls into place easily, it may be God opening the way. If you face continual roadblocks, God may be redirecting you. Be sensitive to these open and closed doors.
Seek confirmation
As you gain a sense of God’s will, seek confirmation through additional prayer, counsel, and circumstances coming together. If it is God’s will, He will usually confirm it through multiple means. However, be willing to step out in faith before gaining full confirmation.
Trust God’s sovereignty
As you take steps to discern and follow God’s will, trust that He is in control. He knows what is best and will work all things for your good and His glory as you commit your way to Him. Rest in the fact that He holds your life in His hands.
Surrender results to God
Let go of worrying about results and outcomes. You are responsible for seeking and obeying God’s will. Leave the results to Him. Even if things don’t turn out as you hoped, trust that He will use it for good if you are following Him.
Maintain an attitude of surrender
Letting God run your life is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Daily re-surrender your will to Him. Don’t take back control, but let Him lead you each step. Maintain a surrendered heart, not just for major decisions but in all areas of life.
Trust His timing and process
Remember that God’s timing and process may look different than what you expect. His will may unfold gradually over time. He may lead you through difficulties that prepare you for what’s ahead. Trust the process He has you in and don’t jump ahead or lag behind.
Walk in step with the Spirit daily
Letting God run your life involves continual dependence on the Holy Spirit. Seek to be filled with and led by the Spirit each day. Follow His promptings throughout your daily activities. Rely on His power to enable you to obey and align your will with God’s.
Conclusion
Surrendering control of your life to God is both a one-time decision and a daily process. By humbly submitting your will to Him, seeking His guidance, and walking in step with the Spirit, you can rest in the fact that He will direct your path and lead you into His perfect will for your life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I surrender control of my life to God?
God knows what is truly best for you. His plans are better than your plans. Surrendering to His will positions you to receive His peace, direction and blessings. It also enables you to fulfill your purpose on earth.
What if I can’t hear God’s voice clearly?
God speaks in different ways, including through Scripture, prayer, other believers, circumstances, and the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to make His voice clear. Stay patient and keep seeking it. His sheep know His voice.
What if I miss God’s will for my life?
If you have sincerely sought God’s will but feel you’ve missed it, don’t be plagued with regret. Turn to Him again, ask His forgiveness, and trust that He can redeem the situation for good. He is able to redirect your path.
What if God’s will doesn’t seem to make sense?
God sees the full picture and knows things you don’t. Walk by faith even when His guidance doesn’t make sense. In time, you may better understand why He led you that way. His ways are higher than yours.
What if God calls me to do something I don’t want to do?
Remember that God’s will is what is best, not necessarily what is easiest. Pray for willingness and trust that He will give you strength and grace for whatever He asks. Obey in faith and leave results to Him.
How do I find balance between effort and surrender?
Depend on God through prayer while also taking wise action. “Pray as if everything depended on God. Work as if everything depended on you,” as Augustine said. Faith and action work hand in hand.
Bible Verses about God’s Will
Here are some key Bible verses about discerning and following God’s will:
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Psalm 32:8
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
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.”
Ephesians 5:17
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
James 4:13-15
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'”
1 John 2:17
“And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
Prayers for Guidance
Here are some sample prayers for guidance in seeking God’s will:
Prayer of Surrender
“Lord, I surrender my plans, goals, desires, and dreams into Your hands. I release control and ask that Your will would be done in my life. Teach me to love what You love. Help me walk in step with Your Spirit. I trust You fully with my future.”
Prayer for Direction
“God, show me Your will and give me direction. Make Your priorities my priorities. Open the doors You want opened and close the ones You want closed. Guide my decisions and reveal the next steps You have for me. I trust You to lead the way.”
Prayer for Wisdom
“Father, I seek Your wisdom for the decisions before me. Make clear to me which path I should take. Give me discernment to understand Your will. Remove any confusion or distractions. Help me think wisely and choose Your way.”
Recommended Resources
For further guidance on seeking God’s will, here are some recommended books and articles:
Books
- Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby
- Decision Making and the Will of God by Garry Friesen
- Found: God’s Will by John MacArthur
- Knowing God’s Will by M. Blaine Smith
- Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer
Articles
- How to Know God’s Will for Your Life – Cru.org
- How Can I Know the Will of God? – DesiringGod.org
- Finding God’s Will – FocusOnTheFamily.com
The Journey of Letting God Lead
Letting God run your life is an incredible journey. Here are some key things to remember about what this journey may look like:
It requires dependence
You must daily depend on God rather than your own understanding. Letting Him lead means constant prayer, Trusting His guidance. It’s not a one-time choice but a daily surrender.
It involves faith
Following God’s will often requires taking steps of faith before His complete plan is clear. You must step out in trust as He guides you one step at a time.
It brings freedom
When you let God lead, you can release burdens of control and fear over your life. You’ll experience freedom from the need to chart your own course. His way is perfect.
It allows purpose
God’s will gives you a sense of purpose. You can rest knowing He has appointed good works for you to walk in. Your life gains meaning and focus.
It requires obedience
For God to direct you, you must submit to His lordship and obey what you already know He has commanded. Following His moral will gives clarity to discern His specific will.
It brings intimacy
Drawing close to God’s heart positions you to discern His voice and direction. Intimacy with God leads to clarity of His leading. Staying near Him keeps you aligned.
It requires patience
Learning to hear and follow God’s guidance takes time and practice. His timing and methods are often different from yours. But He graciously leads those who wait on Him.
It brings blessing
When you follow God’s will, you receive the blessings that come with living in harmony with Him. He promises to prosper those who walk in obedience to Him.
In Closing
Surrendering to God’s will may be challenging at times, but it is the safest and wisest path. His plans for you are good, pleasing and perfect. Letting Him run your life allows you to experience purpose, freedom and blessing as you walk in step with Him. Depend on the Spirit daily to show you His way. God promises to guide those who wholeheartedly commit their path to Him.
