Everyday people are faced with decisions—some big, some small. As Christians, we believe that we need to submit to God’s Word in all things. Many people struggle with discerning God’s will. Many more struggle with fear and or confusion about whether God guides them, how they will know when He does, and even moreso, on what happens when they make a mistake. God’s Will Finding Guidance for Everyday Decisions by J.I. Packer and Carol Nystrom address these issues and more in their book.
God’s Will is a biblical and practical exploration into what divine guidance is and will help the people of God to build upon a solid foundation for understanding how and why God guides His people. In God’s Will the reader will discover the role of Scripture, discernment, wisdom, the counsel of others and the Holy Spirit help in discovering God’s will.
The authors note that “during the past century and a half, the topic of guidance from God has become a focus of fear among many Christians” (10). One of the biggest reasons for this struggle is because of how people view God. Many Christians view God as some genie in the bottle that if they pray to Him He will answer all their prayers. Yes, God answers prayer, but He doesn’t do it on our timetable. For example often times when I pray for patience, God sends me a trial to test my patience. When I pray for an open opportunity to share the Gospel, God doesn’t give me an easy person to minister to but sends a difficult person. Rather than viewing Him as the Lord of Creation, many Christians instead worship the god of chance and luck.
God’s Will was written to address the fear many believers have regarding knowing God’s Will. Throughout the book, the authors guide Christians by grounding their arguments in helpful biblical and theological categories that will help Christians to understand what God’s will is. After doing this they give a process whereby Christians can understand God’s Will. At the heart of all the authors teach is the belief that “through Scripture, wisdom, and help from fellow believers, Christians are prompted and sustained by the Spirit” (232). The Holy Spirit joins with the Father to further the glory of the Good Shepherd. “The Holy Spirit exerts the full power of creation to achieve the fullness of new creation in every believer’s life and to bring to each one a full perception of the guidance of God” (232).
God’s Will is a very helpful book that will help new or mature Christians. Written by one of the greatest Christian minds of the past century, God’s Will helps its readers to cut through the fog of what God’s will is by addressing Christians’ anxiety about guidance and decision making by taking them to the Word of God. The book not only does this with excellence, but it explains how the Holy Spirit is at work in their lives to help them to grow to be like Jesus.
This biblically faithful, theological robust and practical book will shepherd those who struggle with understanding God’s will by pointing them to the Good Shepherd—the Lord Jesus Christ. Read God’s Will: Finding Guidance for Everyday Decisions and learn from an experienced theologian on how and why God guides His people.
Title: God’s Will: Finding Guidance for Everyday Decisions
Author: J.I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom
Publisher: Baker Books (2012)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Baker Books as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
