I need you to know something before we start. There’s a dangerous, common myth among Christians that’s often believed yet rarely said out loud.
The myth goes something like this:
God has a super-specific game plan for your life, and it’ll lead to blessings and happiness. To access this God-ordained premium lifestyle, you need to make the exact right choices at the right time.
If you believe this myth, you might turn to prayer or other spiritual practices in an attempt to discover the right choices God wants you to make. But what happens when God doesn’t tell you His will for your life and you’re left feeling stuck? You might be led to believe one of these two things:
- Something’s wrong with you: You’re not praying enough, praying the right way, or noticing the signs God’s given you. Or you’re just not spiritual enough to receive God’s direction.
- Something’s wrong with God: God is holding out on you—not telling you how to access the good life He’s prepared for you—and wants you to be miserable.
Why the Myth Is Wrong
Let’s explore a flaw in the myth that God has a perfect master plan for our lives that He’s unwilling to share with us.
Imagine we were walking down a trail and came to a fork in the road. Let’s say I’d been on the trail before, but you hadn’t, so I knew one path was infested with poisonous snakes.
You ask which path we should go on, and I shrug. Then you ask which path had better views, and I said something like, “Depends on what you want to see.” Frustrated, you choose the snake path.
An hour later at the emergency room, as the antivenom kicks in, you ask why I didn’t tell you about the snakes. I say, “You didn’t ask the right questions. If you’d asked about snakes, I would have told you. It’s your fault we’re here.”
God Is Kind
I imagine that’d be our last conversation, right? Because a person with base-level decency wouldn’t let someone walk into a dangerous situation without warning them. If our loving God were going to provide us with one ultra-specific path for our lives alongside countless dangerous paths, He would give us a rundown of the choices He wanted us to make.
Daily Direction > A Life Plan
We ask God for His input as we make choices to live and love like Jesus, trusting that, no matter the outcome, God will ultimately use our faithfulness for good.
So let’s replace this myth with something healthier: We ask God for guidance as we make choices to live and love like Jesus, trusting that, no matter the outcome, God will ultimately accomplish His will and use our faithfulness for good.
Why? Well, in the Bible, we don’t see people asking God for a long-term, step-by-step road map, so we shouldn’t expect that from Him. Instead, we see people ask God for guidance and help as they work to trust His will and become the kind of people He wants them to be.
A Biblical Prayer for God’s Will
Perhaps the most famous prayer concerning God’s will was said by Jesus Himself on the night of His arrest. Here’s how He concluded His prayer:
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42 NIV
The “cup” Jesus spoke of was a metaphor for His brutal execution. He asked God to take it away, but also expressed His trust in God’s will, no matter the outcome.
This is the perfect posture from which we can approach God with our prayers for His will. God wants us to ask Him for help and talk to Him about our hopes and desires, while also trusting Him with what happens, even if it’s not what we prayed for.
Prayer isn’t a magic spell to get God to do what we want—we ask and then trust God’s love, no matter the result.
Why Pray for God’s Will?
So why do we pray for God’s will and guidance, if there’s not a single perfect master plan for our lives? Here are a few good reasons.
We want to make a God-honoring choice.
The best reason to pray for God’s will is to live a life that reflects the life and love of Jesus. When you pray for God’s will, it’s helpful to ask, “God, would you help me make the choice that best allows me to love You and love others?”
We know the right choice, but need His courage.
Often, we know the right choice deep down but aren’t ready to commit. Prayer can be a place to ask for God’s help, courage, and boldness to take a definitive step.
We want to process with a friend.
God isn’t a cosmic vending machine; He’s a person who wants to hear from you. All of us need to process big choices with the people we love, and God is always ready to listen and guide us.
Does God Answer Prayers for Understanding His Will?
Of course God can—and does—answer prayers for anything, including understanding His will. But we need to be wise and understand that His answer may not always include a clear, obvious path.
7 Prayers for God’s Will
Try these seven prayers to help you kick-start your next prayer time.
1. A Prayer to Trust God’s Will
God, I don’t know what to do right now. I’ve asked, waited, and hoped for a clear answer, but it still feels unclear. I know You’re not trying to confuse me, and I believe You care about my choices. Help me trust that, even without full clarity, You are walking with me. Give me peace to take the next step with faith, not fear. In Jesus’ name, amen.
2. A Prayer for Courage to Do the Hard but Right Thing
God, I think I know the right thing to do, but it’s hard. I feel scared, uncertain, and not ready. Please give me the strength to follow through. I don’t want to shrink back from something You’re leading me toward. Fill me with boldness, even when the path looks uncomfortable. In Jesus’ name, amen.
3. A Prayer for God’s Will
God, I’ve spent so much energy looking for the perfect path. But what I really need is Your help today. Lead me in this moment. Shape my decisions, my reactions, and my words to reflect Jesus. Show me Your will. Teach me to rely on You daily instead of waiting for a full map of the future. In Jesus’ name, amen.
4. A Prayer for When I’m Afraid of Making the Wrong Choice
God, remind me that You’re not hiding from me, and that Your love doesn’t depend on me getting everything right. Lead me with grace, and give me wisdom rooted in love, not pressure. In Jesus’ name, amen.
5. A Prayer for Surrender When I Don’t Get What I Want
God, I asked You for something, and the answer wasn’t what I hoped it would be. It’s hard to let go of what I wanted. But as Jesus prayed, I too say, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” I trust that You see what I don’t. Help me release my grip and receive Your will even when it’s difficult. In Jesus’ name, amen.
6. A Prayer for God-Honoring Decisions
God, I want my choices to reflect Your heart. When I’m faced with a decision, show me what leads to more love, more peace, and more Christlikeness. Help me choose what brings life to me and others. Let Your will shape my character more than my circumstances. In Jesus’ name, amen.
7. A Prayer for a Closer Walk with God
God, more than answers, I want You. Sometimes I treat prayer as a way to solve problems, but right now, I just want to sit with You. Speak into my heart. Lead me gently. Make me the kind of person who lives out Your will one small, faithful step at a time. In Jesus’ name, amen.
What Is God’s Will for My Life?
God will isn’t a secret map you have to beg Him to see. Instead, at its heart, it’s simply for you to love Him and love others in big and small ways. Your life plan matters to God, but who you’re becoming matters even more.
So pursue God’s will for your life today with confidence and clarity. Ask Him for wisdom, but don’t wait for a clear reply to pursue the fruit of the Spirit.