Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach To Finding God's Will

Recently, the high school ministry has begun a new book among the leadership. The book is called Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach To Finding God's Will by Kevin DeYoung. I have listened to many sermons on God's will, and I have also read plenty of books on God's will. Yet, DeYoung brings a fresh approach that is more concise and clear than all of the previous material I have experienced.

Even though I have not completely finished the book, I can say from skimming through the pages, the content of this book is wrapped in theological and biblical realities that have been forsaken for many years by Christians because of misconceptions and conventional interpretations of "God's will for my life." DeYoung debunks the old conventional interpretations of God's will and reinforces God's will in three general categories: (1) God's will of decree, (2) God's will of desire, (3) God's will of direction.

God's Will of Decree. 
The Creator of the heavens and the earth is the sovereign God of all things. He is sovereign over everything that exists, because everything exists by his will of decree. Nothing happens by mistake or accident because all things are ordained and predestined by him and for him. God is in control of everything that transpires in the universe. What God wills, will happen, and what happens is according to God's will. (e.g. Dan. 4:35; Eph. 1:11; Col. 1:16; Rev. 4:11)

God's Will of Desire.
The Creator of the heavens and the earth has revealed himself through the Word of God. Through the Scriptures, commandments and precepts and statutes have been communicated to make known God's will of desire. The desire is centered on obedience and conformity to the authority of Scripture. God desires for man to reflect his image and be reconciled to him. Therefore, God's will of desire is for man to be saved and live obediently to his Word, and in such obedience, live in the will of God. (e.g. John 6:40; 1 John 2:15-17; Heb. 13:20-21; Matt. 7:21; Deut. 29:29; Phil. 2:12-13).

God's Will of Direction.
The Creator of the heavens and the earth did not create a special plan for our lives to figure out or discover by walking through life in a spiritual corn maze or walking on a tightrope to reach the other side and find God's will. Yes, God has a plan for our lives, but it is not up to us to discover it, but rather just do something that encompasses and understands God's decree and desire together. It is true that God has purposed everyone from the foundation of the world to "just do something." By understanding God's will of decree as "how things are," and by understanding God's will of desire as "how things ought to be," understanding God's will of direction is simple and biblical: seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, while trusting in his sovereignty by faith to provide for all necessary needs. Thus, to know what "God's will is for my life" is to know God is sovereign and is satisfied with those who obey the Word of God. The Westminster Catechism explains God's will for everyone with a simple opening sentence, "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever."