Show Me Your Will

Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D. Leading the Way

One of the questions people ask most often is, “What is the will of God for my life? How can I discover God’s will for me?”

 

We want to trust the Lord, not our own understanding, and we want God to make our paths straight, but we don’t know how to discern the will of God.

 

In Judges 6, we see the people of Israel once again fall away from God—and God must reawaken the people to their need for Him. So He calls another judge, a deliverer named Gideon. Gideon has an unusual way of seeking God’s will for his life.

 

After giving Gideon an expanded vision of the mighty warrior he would become, God told Gideon, “Go.” Gideon protested, thinking God was sending him out in his own paltry, insignificant strength. So God corrected him: “I will be with you” (v. 16). But Gideon was still unconvinced and wanted some assurance that he could trust God’s will for his life. He asked for a sign to be sure it was God who was speaking with him.

 

God understands our limitations and the weakness of our faith. He isn’t offended when we ask Him for confirmation. God is patient with us; He knows we are dust, and He stands by us as we struggle to trust and believe Him.

 

How did Gideon seek God’s confirmation? He sacrificed. He didn’t seek God’s confirmation on the cheap. At a time when the Midianites were destroying crops and stealing the livestock of the Israelites, Gideon offered to God food that was costly and scarce.

 

We all want God to confirm His will to us, but how many of us are willing to sacrifice—truly sacrifice—to discover God’s will for our lives? Gideon was willing to pay a serious price to discover God’s will. And when the fire sprang up to consume the sacrifice, Gideon was terrified—not because he was afraid that God would do him harm, but because he understood the profound seriousness of being face-to-face with the Creator of the universe. At that moment, he immediately called that place “The Lord is my peace” or “God is my total well-being.”

 

It is not a sin to seek to confirm God’s will for your life. In fact, God is pleased when we take His will that seriously. If we want to know God’s will for our lives, we need to search the Scriptures with our eyes open. Everything we need to know about discerning God’s will is found in God’s Word.

 

Prayer: Lord, You are my peace and my total well-being. I trust Your purposes for my life. Show me Your will as I read Your Word and help me obey. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

“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” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Check out more from Dr. Michael Youssef, here!

About The Author

Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Even before he was born, it is clear that God had a vision for Michael Youssef. His mother was in poor health when she became pregnant with Michael, and because his life was in danger at the time of birth, the doctor recommended terminating the pregnancy. An abortion was scheduled. But God intervened and sent the family pastor to reassure them that God was involved in this pregnancy. He told them not to be afraid and that the child would be "born to serve the Lord." Michael's parents accepted the pastor's message as a message from God and obeyed. His mother gave birth, and lived to see him give his life to the Lord at the age of sixteen.


Believing that God had called him out of Egypt, Michael sought an exit visa in a time in which no university student was allowed to have a passport or leave the country. God intervened again, and miraculously he managed to acquire a visa. He immigrated to Australia, where he studied at Moore Theological College in Sydney, was ordained as a pastor, and met Elizabeth who became his wife.


The Youssefs came to America in 1977, and in 1978 Michael received a master's degree in theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. Then he earned a doctorate in social anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael served nearly ten years in the Haggai Institute, traveling around the world more than 32 times, teaching courses in evangelism and leadership. He rose to the position of Managing Director at the age of 31 years. The family settled in Atlanta, and in 1984, Michael became a citizen of the United States, making his dream of many years come true.


He founded The Church of The Apostles in 1987 with fewer than 40 adults with the mission of "Equipping the Saints and Searching for the Lost". The church has since grown to be a congregation of over 3,000 people today. This church has driven the international ministry of Leading the Way. While it is heard by millions at home and abroad, behind every message preached through radio waves, is the heart of a pastor, willing to nurture and care for these people. Clearly God has uniquely equipped Dr. Youssef to speak to a global audience. The path he has taken has given him an understanding and firm grasp of the Scriptures that transcend cultures. He preaches, teaches and calls with a sincere, based on the authority of the inerrant, inspired Word of God. With his personal knowledge of the Holy Land, its history and culture, Dr. Michael Youssef transmits life to listeners all over the world.

More Posts by Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.:

  1. Asking for God’s Vision
  2. Praying the Will of God
  3. He Can Open Your Eyes
View All


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