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What the Bible Says about How to Know God's Will
"Christians instinctively want to live in a way that pleases God. In fact, Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (Jn. 14:15). But sometimes it is unclear what "keeping God's commandments" implies when facing a specific decision. There are many times when it does not seem as if any specific teaching of Scripture can decide an issue for us. This book is intended to provide helpful guidelines whenever people wonder, "What is God's will for me in this specific situation?""--
Unknown Binding
Published April 1, 2020
About the author
Wayne Grudem
122 books341 followersWayne Grudem (PhD, University of Cambridge; DD, Westminster Theological Seminary) is research professor of theology and biblical studies at Phoenix Seminary, having previously taught for 20 years at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Grudem earned his undergraduate degree at Harvard University, as well as an MDiv from Westminster Seminary. He is the former president of the Evangelical Theological Society, a cofounder and past president of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, a member of the Translation Oversight Committee for the English Standard Version of the Bible, the general editor of the ESV Study Bible, and has published over 20 books, including Systematic Theology, Evangelical Feminism, Politics—According to the Bible, and Business for the Glory of God.
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December 14, 2020
How To Know God’s Will by Wayne Grudem: A Book Review
Introduction:
The age old question that comes up in nearly every discipleship relationship is, “How can I know God’s will?” This normally leads into a deep theological conversation about the various “wills” of God. We talk about God’s sovereign will, His permissive will, and His moral will all of which are important truths to consider when making choices. Among the books that I have read so far on God’s will, the authors tend to focus on one particular aspect of God’s will and apply it to the whole of decision making. I have read everything from Found: God’s Will by John MacArthur which emphasizes the moral will of God to charismatic books such as Hearing God’s Voice Today by James W. Goll which emphasizes God’s sovereign will. In my pastoral experience, I have found both extremes inadequate. For example, I was taught growing up to simply obey God’s revealed will, seek Godly counsel, and then make a decision. However, I was left wondering what part praying for wisdom and fasting played in the process. I also wondered what to do when even godly counselors were wrong. In contrast, when reading a book such as Hearing God’s Voice Today I was left wondering what role daily obedience and sanctification play in the journey of learning God’s will. The first book was too simple and the second was too complicated. (Grudem even titles one of his chapters, “The Danger of Making This Process Too Complicated.”)
I personally believe that our obedience to God’s revealed will is the starting and center point of walking in God’s will. God’s sovereign will can only be known in hindsight. However, this does not negate the importance of fervent prayer, fasting, and diligently seeking God as to which job to take, which school to attend, or which church to pastor. We have important decisions to make that are too complex and have too great of consequences. They require a thoroughly biblical approach.
In his book, How To Know God’s Will, Wayne Grudem does an excellent job at summarizing, contrasting, and balancing the various approaches mentioned above and is the most helpful book I have read to date on the subject. God’s Will: Finding Guidance for Everyday Decisions by J.I Packer and Carolyn Nystrom is the only other book I have read providing such a robust look at the issue, but it is quite dense and wordy. Grudem, consequently, provides an approach (I believe) that takes into account the whole of scripture and presents it in a way that a brand new believer can digest. It is concise and easily readable in 1-2 sittings. Not all individuals will agree with every point that Grudem makes, especially on the points pertaining to the direct leading of the Holy Spirit, but I believe this book will be extremely helpful in your personal discipleship and discipleship of others.
Summary:
Grudem begins the book by discussing the importance of pursuing God’s will in decisions small and large. He reminds us that some decisions must be made quickly, such as saying no to sin, and others require time and careful consideration, such as college and employment. Every decision we make is important and has eternal ramifications. Grudem writes,
“Joseph had only an instant to respond, and he made a wise decision and fled. . .Sometimes knowing God’s will involves major decisions, such as what career to aim for, what subject a student should choose as a college major, or whom to marry.” (p. 10)
The next section of the book provides a great outline for evaluating decisions biblically. Grudem titles this, “Four Aspects of Every Action.”
These four aspects are:
1. The Action Itself
“The first question to ask is, Is this a morally good action? To decide that, we need to know the commands of Scripture regarding the action.”
Wayne Grudem. What the Bible Says about How to Know God's Will (Kindle Locations 103-104).
2. The Person’s Attitude About the Action
Because “the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7), it is not enough for us simply to do morally right actions. . . In some cases, an action can be right and the results can be morally good, but a person’s attitudes might be wrong.
Wayne Grudem. What the Bible Says about How to Know God's Will (Kindle Locations 111-116).
3. The Person’s Motives for Doing The Action
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them , for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. (Matt. 6:1–2; cf. 23:5–7 ) “
Wayne Grudem. What the Bible Says about How to Know God's Will (Kindle Locations 121-123).
4. The Results of the Action
“To take another example, Paul was persuaded that the unclean foods in the Old Testament were no longer unclean for Christians to eat (“Nothing is unclean in itself,” Rom. 14:14), and therefore the action of eating pork (for example) was not morally wrong in itself. But it could bring a wrongful result, and in those cases it should not be done:”
Wayne Grudem. What the Bible Says about How to Know God's Will (Kindle Locations 139-141).
The most thorough section of the book which addresses the practicality of discerning God’s will is titled, “Nine Sources of Information and Guidance.” They are:
Information from the Bible
Information from Studying the Situation
Information about Oneself
Advice from Others
Changed Circumstances
Conscience
Heart
A Person’s Human Spirit
Guidance from The Holy Spirit
Grudem then concludes by reminding the reader of “The Danger of Making This Too Complicated” and the importance of “Acquiring Wisdom: The Personal Skill Necessary for Ethical Living.” He writes,
“However, I do not think that God wants this decision-making process to seem impossible for Christians to follow regularly or so complicated that they are discouraged by it. God wants us to be able to have wisdom to make right decisions: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).
Wayne Grudem. What the Bible Says about How to Know God's Will (Kindle Locations 436-438).
The reader will also find an Appendix where Grudem interacts with Gary Friessen’s book, “Decision Making and the Will of God.”
Some Personal Thoughts
The main meat of the book is found in the sources of information and guidance section, numbers 6-9 and the section immediately following where Grudem deals with potential objections to the preceding material.
This is where most Christians struggle the most. Do I continue to minister in a place where I am seeing no open doors. Can I trust my heart (gut feeling) or should I simply do what my leaders are telling me? Should I participate in this activity that I see other Godly men doing but my conscience doesn’t agree with? Are circumstances God’s leading, the result of my own foolish choices, or the direct opposition of Satan. These are not easy questions, but I believe that when we ask for wisdom in genuine humility, God grants it to us.
Does God Work Through Changed Circumstances?
I want to interact with this section, primarily due to some recent circumstances in my family’s ministry. We believed very strongly that God was calling us to plant a church in Orlando, FL. We made plans to move and even secured a job in Orlando. However, every home we looked at was not wise financially or feasible for my large family. I kept wondering if I should do another fundraising tour to make it happen. Another factor we had to consider was the willingness of others to join us. We believe strongly in the importance of team ministry, and we could not secure a team of like minded believers to join us. We also had some other trying circumstances which caused us to put things on hold. Was I bowing to circumstances or was God redirecting through circumstances?
A few months ago, God allowed us to purchase a home that is suitable for my large family (wife and five boys), wise financially, and in a strategic location for ministry to the poor. Another church in the area also called us to help them rebuild and grow in a town where we already have connections and deep relationships with other believers. It was a difficult decision to make because we thought we were called to the inner-city poor (we had also told donors this), and now we are ministering in a more rural area. Since moving to our new place, God has opened doors wide for ministry. Throughout this process, our local church was going through Acts, and I couldn’t help but notice how Paul consistently made plans to visit certain regions, but circumstances, an uneasy spirit, and direct intervention would prohibit and redirect him to a totally different place. Circumstances are not the final word, but they must be considered in seeking God’s will.
Is The Leading of The Holy Spirit General or Specific?
The section titled, “Guidance from the Holy Spirit” is the most controversial section of the book where Grudem discusses the various understandings of how the Holy Spirit leads. He does so by primarily dialoguing with Robert Schreiner, Gregg Allison, Andreas Kostenberger and Craig Keener. He writes,
Some commentators argue that this leading by the Holy Spirit consists only in the Spirit giving an inward desire or inclination to obey God’s moral laws as revealed in Scripture. For example, Thomas Schreiner writes that being led by the Spirit is not a matter of “specific guidance for daily decisions,” but rather of “being directed by the Spirit to live a life that pleases God. . . Other commentators, however, see guidance by the Holy Spirit as also including situation-specific direction to make a certain decision, take a specific action, or go to a particular place. . .And Craig Keener’s book Gift Giver contains 34 pages on “recognizing the Spirit’s voice” and “learning to hear God’s heart by the Spirit,” including several personal anecdotes of being guided by the Holy Spirit to walk someplace, talk to someone, and so forth.
Wayne Grudem. What the Bible Says about How to Know God's Will (Kindle Locations 334-346).
Grudem then spends a bit of time showing why he agrees with the second interpretation based on the passages that he quotes. I personally agree with Grudem, and I greatly appreciate how he approaches the disagreement. In my opinion much of this discussion is clouded with extreme examples of people saying that God led them to do something in direct violation of Scripture which has led others to say that the leading of the Holy Spirit is only a leading to obey God’s moral law. I know some will not agree, but this section of the book is very helpful for any engaging in the conversation.
Helpfulness in Discipleship
This little book is helpful in discipleship for a few reasons. The first is it’s concise yet thorough nature. It will not scare someone away, but it will also equip them with adequate biblical teaching. Second, Grudem does not over simplify or over complicate the biblical material by giving the reader enough teaching and references to wrestle through the material on his/her own. This provides a great springboard for discussion with the person you’re discipling. The final reason to use this book is that it provides a framework that any believer can apply today. Ultimately, obedience and practice is the greatest way to grow in this area. We pray for ourselves and others, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)
Introduction:
The age old question that comes up in nearly every discipleship relationship is, “How can I know God’s will?” This normally leads into a deep theological conversation about the various “wills” of God. We talk about God’s sovereign will, His permissive will, and His moral will all of which are important truths to consider when making choices. Among the books that I have read so far on God’s will, the authors tend to focus on one particular aspect of God’s will and apply it to the whole of decision making. I have read everything from Found: God’s Will by John MacArthur which emphasizes the moral will of God to charismatic books such as Hearing God’s Voice Today by James W. Goll which emphasizes God’s sovereign will. In my pastoral experience, I have found both extremes inadequate. For example, I was taught growing up to simply obey God’s revealed will, seek Godly counsel, and then make a decision. However, I was left wondering what part praying for wisdom and fasting played in the process. I also wondered what to do when even godly counselors were wrong. In contrast, when reading a book such as Hearing God’s Voice Today I was left wondering what role daily obedience and sanctification play in the journey of learning God’s will. The first book was too simple and the second was too complicated. (Grudem even titles one of his chapters, “The Danger of Making This Process Too Complicated.”)
I personally believe that our obedience to God’s revealed will is the starting and center point of walking in God’s will. God’s sovereign will can only be known in hindsight. However, this does not negate the importance of fervent prayer, fasting, and diligently seeking God as to which job to take, which school to attend, or which church to pastor. We have important decisions to make that are too complex and have too great of consequences. They require a thoroughly biblical approach.
In his book, How To Know God’s Will, Wayne Grudem does an excellent job at summarizing, contrasting, and balancing the various approaches mentioned above and is the most helpful book I have read to date on the subject. God’s Will: Finding Guidance for Everyday Decisions by J.I Packer and Carolyn Nystrom is the only other book I have read providing such a robust look at the issue, but it is quite dense and wordy. Grudem, consequently, provides an approach (I believe) that takes into account the whole of scripture and presents it in a way that a brand new believer can digest. It is concise and easily readable in 1-2 sittings. Not all individuals will agree with every point that Grudem makes, especially on the points pertaining to the direct leading of the Holy Spirit, but I believe this book will be extremely helpful in your personal discipleship and discipleship of others.
Summary:
Grudem begins the book by discussing the importance of pursuing God’s will in decisions small and large. He reminds us that some decisions must be made quickly, such as saying no to sin, and others require time and careful consideration, such as college and employment. Every decision we make is important and has eternal ramifications. Grudem writes,
“Joseph had only an instant to respond, and he made a wise decision and fled. . .Sometimes knowing God’s will involves major decisions, such as what career to aim for, what subject a student should choose as a college major, or whom to marry.” (p. 10)
The next section of the book provides a great outline for evaluating decisions biblically. Grudem titles this, “Four Aspects of Every Action.”
These four aspects are:
1. The Action Itself
“The first question to ask is, Is this a morally good action? To decide that, we need to know the commands of Scripture regarding the action.”
Wayne Grudem. What the Bible Says about How to Know God's Will (Kindle Locations 103-104).
2. The Person’s Attitude About the Action
Because “the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7), it is not enough for us simply to do morally right actions. . . In some cases, an action can be right and the results can be morally good, but a person’s attitudes might be wrong.
Wayne Grudem. What the Bible Says about How to Know God's Will (Kindle Locations 111-116).
3. The Person’s Motives for Doing The Action
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them , for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. (Matt. 6:1–2; cf. 23:5–7 ) “
Wayne Grudem. What the Bible Says about How to Know God's Will (Kindle Locations 121-123).
4. The Results of the Action
“To take another example, Paul was persuaded that the unclean foods in the Old Testament were no longer unclean for Christians to eat (“Nothing is unclean in itself,” Rom. 14:14), and therefore the action of eating pork (for example) was not morally wrong in itself. But it could bring a wrongful result, and in those cases it should not be done:”
Wayne Grudem. What the Bible Says about How to Know God's Will (Kindle Locations 139-141).
The most thorough section of the book which addresses the practicality of discerning God’s will is titled, “Nine Sources of Information and Guidance.” They are:
Information from the Bible
Information from Studying the Situation
Information about Oneself
Advice from Others
Changed Circumstances
Conscience
Heart
A Person’s Human Spirit
Guidance from The Holy Spirit
Grudem then concludes by reminding the reader of “The Danger of Making This Too Complicated” and the importance of “Acquiring Wisdom: The Personal Skill Necessary for Ethical Living.” He writes,
“However, I do not think that God wants this decision-making process to seem impossible for Christians to follow regularly or so complicated that they are discouraged by it. God wants us to be able to have wisdom to make right decisions: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).
Wayne Grudem. What the Bible Says about How to Know God's Will (Kindle Locations 436-438).
The reader will also find an Appendix where Grudem interacts with Gary Friessen’s book, “Decision Making and the Will of God.”
Some Personal Thoughts
The main meat of the book is found in the sources of information and guidance section, numbers 6-9 and the section immediately following where Grudem deals with potential objections to the preceding material.
This is where most Christians struggle the most. Do I continue to minister in a place where I am seeing no open doors. Can I trust my heart (gut feeling) or should I simply do what my leaders are telling me? Should I participate in this activity that I see other Godly men doing but my conscience doesn’t agree with? Are circumstances God’s leading, the result of my own foolish choices, or the direct opposition of Satan. These are not easy questions, but I believe that when we ask for wisdom in genuine humility, God grants it to us.
Does God Work Through Changed Circumstances?
I want to interact with this section, primarily due to some recent circumstances in my family’s ministry. We believed very strongly that God was calling us to plant a church in Orlando, FL. We made plans to move and even secured a job in Orlando. However, every home we looked at was not wise financially or feasible for my large family. I kept wondering if I should do another fundraising tour to make it happen. Another factor we had to consider was the willingness of others to join us. We believe strongly in the importance of team ministry, and we could not secure a team of like minded believers to join us. We also had some other trying circumstances which caused us to put things on hold. Was I bowing to circumstances or was God redirecting through circumstances?
A few months ago, God allowed us to purchase a home that is suitable for my large family (wife and five boys), wise financially, and in a strategic location for ministry to the poor. Another church in the area also called us to help them rebuild and grow in a town where we already have connections and deep relationships with other believers. It was a difficult decision to make because we thought we were called to the inner-city poor (we had also told donors this), and now we are ministering in a more rural area. Since moving to our new place, God has opened doors wide for ministry. Throughout this process, our local church was going through Acts, and I couldn’t help but notice how Paul consistently made plans to visit certain regions, but circumstances, an uneasy spirit, and direct intervention would prohibit and redirect him to a totally different place. Circumstances are not the final word, but they must be considered in seeking God’s will.
Is The Leading of The Holy Spirit General or Specific?
The section titled, “Guidance from the Holy Spirit” is the most controversial section of the book where Grudem discusses the various understandings of how the Holy Spirit leads. He does so by primarily dialoguing with Robert Schreiner, Gregg Allison, Andreas Kostenberger and Craig Keener. He writes,
Some commentators argue that this leading by the Holy Spirit consists only in the Spirit giving an inward desire or inclination to obey God’s moral laws as revealed in Scripture. For example, Thomas Schreiner writes that being led by the Spirit is not a matter of “specific guidance for daily decisions,” but rather of “being directed by the Spirit to live a life that pleases God. . . Other commentators, however, see guidance by the Holy Spirit as also including situation-specific direction to make a certain decision, take a specific action, or go to a particular place. . .And Craig Keener’s book Gift Giver contains 34 pages on “recognizing the Spirit’s voice” and “learning to hear God’s heart by the Spirit,” including several personal anecdotes of being guided by the Holy Spirit to walk someplace, talk to someone, and so forth.
Wayne Grudem. What the Bible Says about How to Know God's Will (Kindle Locations 334-346).
Grudem then spends a bit of time showing why he agrees with the second interpretation based on the passages that he quotes. I personally agree with Grudem, and I greatly appreciate how he approaches the disagreement. In my opinion much of this discussion is clouded with extreme examples of people saying that God led them to do something in direct violation of Scripture which has led others to say that the leading of the Holy Spirit is only a leading to obey God’s moral law. I know some will not agree, but this section of the book is very helpful for any engaging in the conversation.
Helpfulness in Discipleship
This little book is helpful in discipleship for a few reasons. The first is it’s concise yet thorough nature. It will not scare someone away, but it will also equip them with adequate biblical teaching. Second, Grudem does not over simplify or over complicate the biblical material by giving the reader enough teaching and references to wrestle through the material on his/her own. This provides a great springboard for discussion with the person you’re discipling. The final reason to use this book is that it provides a framework that any believer can apply today. Ultimately, obedience and practice is the greatest way to grow in this area. We pray for ourselves and others, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)
February 16, 2020
One of the highlights of Wayne Grudem’s ministry is his clear and biblical writing style. His most recent book is no exception. What the Bible About How to Know God’s Will is a short book which is focused on one powerful question.
Dr. Grudem probes the inner workings of a complex subject by the dimensions of every action and nine sources of guidance concerning the will of God. The great strength of this book is brevity. Readers who wrestle with the thorny matter of knowing God’s will will gain a clear understanding of the subject in a short period of time and come away with a wealth of biblical counsel.
Dr. Grudem probes the inner workings of a complex subject by the dimensions of every action and nine sources of guidance concerning the will of God. The great strength of this book is brevity. Readers who wrestle with the thorny matter of knowing God’s will will gain a clear understanding of the subject in a short period of time and come away with a wealth of biblical counsel.
February 1, 2023
Been reading this to my family over breakfast the last few months, a few pages here and there. So good. Super short and chocked full of Scripture.
April 4, 2020
Okay. Not nearly as good as the abortion/euthanasia one. Sometimes seems like he turns decision-making into a sausage-making process. Appendix unnecessarily gets into the weeds of an intramural debate. Body of work has some good things to say about wisdom, but discussion on personal guidance from the Holy Spirit displays too many of Grudem's idiosyncracies. Much prefer Kevin DeYoung's book on same topic (Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will).
May 17, 2025
Solid read. Grudem hits a few things from a different direction, encouraging us to not only think about the decisions we make, but also make sure that our motivations and attitudes beyond those decisions are correct.
He walks through some helpful biblical wisdom on how to make decisions, in his trademark style of simplicity and Biblical explanation.
Unfortunately his continuationism takes him off track, as he ends up suggesting that we rely somewhat on subjective feelings and possible prophetic nudges from God. This ends up leading him away from the sufficiency of scripture (a point he would deny, but it is the implication of his position).
He walks through some helpful biblical wisdom on how to make decisions, in his trademark style of simplicity and Biblical explanation.
Unfortunately his continuationism takes him off track, as he ends up suggesting that we rely somewhat on subjective feelings and possible prophetic nudges from God. This ends up leading him away from the sufficiency of scripture (a point he would deny, but it is the implication of his position).
June 13, 2021
No real surprises but a well-ordered explanation of the process.
Aside from the clear form, I appreciated the insight that both subjective and objective forms of guidance can lead us to error because we do not have perfect knowledge. This means the same argument levied against subjective guidance applies to objective guidance, meaning you can have both or neither and remain consistent.
Aside from the clear form, I appreciated the insight that both subjective and objective forms of guidance can lead us to error because we do not have perfect knowledge. This means the same argument levied against subjective guidance applies to objective guidance, meaning you can have both or neither and remain consistent.
December 24, 2022
This is a very quick read that gives a solid look into how one should make decisions that are rooted in wisdom. Grudem is an author that can be trusted and he packs scripture into ever corner of this essay. Though it’s good, there are probably other books that might be more helpful or better organized but overall I benefited from reading this no doubt.
February 21, 2021
This is not a bad book, but it did not resonate with me. It just felt like a class that the prof wrote down and published. Most of the ideas here are pretty straightforward. If you are new to this stuff, check this out. If you're looking for something a little deeper, this one might not be it.
January 10, 2022
Short, concise, and effective. Everything is rooted in Scripture and aimed at practicality. Result is a balanced approach to discerning God’s will. Solid introduction to Biblical decision making. One criticism: he references his own book, Christian Ethics, quite frequently.
November 10, 2023
This book provides a comprehensive examination of the scriptural principles that guide Christians in discerning God's will. Grudem's clear and logical interpretation of key biblical passages offers practical insights for navigating life's decisions in accordance with the Bible. The book's emphasis on the importance of prayer and the study of scripture for understanding God's guidance is both enlightening and empowering. Overall, a valuable resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of God’s guidance and decision making.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews