As we bid farewell to Casey, Tasha, and Claire Cockrell this week, we do it with tear-filled eyes (and gritted teeth!), wishing them God’s very best as they begin ministry with First Baptist Church of Tyler next weekend. As Casey describes the process of making that decision, no one is surprised to hear him say, “We feel like this is God’s will for us at this time.” We trust Casey and Tasha; we are grateful to God that the last five years of God’s will for them has included First Baptist Church of Plano!

How do you know “God’s will?” First, you must know God; that happens only through personal faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Once you know Him, you must know life in Christ is a matter of following Jesus—walking with Him, step by step. As we obey Him, He shows us the next step to take in obedience. When we stray from the path or wander from Him, we must turn back toward Him through confessing our sin (disobedience, picking our own path) and trusting Him to forgive and restore us (1 John 1:9).

How do we know which steps to take? Henry Blackaby, whom I first met in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1976, has described the process this way: God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His ways, and His will. Each phrase is essential!

How can you listen to God to see which “next step” will be the step of following Jesus? Ask the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Jesus Himself, who lives in every believer) to speak to you through the words of Scripture. To do that, you’ll have to read it!

Ask the Holy Spirit (God’s very presence in you) to speak to you as you pray, pouring out your heart to Him and yielding your will to His. To do that, you’ll have to pray!

Ask the Holy Spirit (the power of the Sovereign Lord of the universe) to help you see your situation from His perspective. To do that, you must relinquish your own sovereignty!

Ask the Holy Spirit (the Comforter who leads us into all truth) to speak to you through other believers as you share your life in meaningful relationships. To do that, you must connect and invest in Christian brothers and sisters!

God’s will is more that planning to one day meet Him at the horizon. Walking by faith, following Jesus, living under the influence of the Holy Spirit—are all minute by minute decisions. Live that way for a week and you’ll be able to look back over the past seven days and realize you’ve been in the center of His will.