Recommended books on finding God’s will from John MacArthur, Kevin DeYoung, R.C. Sproul, Phillip Jensen, and more.
How can I find God’s will for my life?
It’s a question all Christians have pondered. Luckily, the Bible teaches us how to walk obediently in faith and love for God. But that doesn’t mean applying the Bible’s teaching to diverse situations is easy. Luckily we have gifted teachers who can help us harmonize biblical truth with our lives and decisions.
The following books should help you understand God’s will for your life. I haven’t read all of the books, but they come from (or recommended by) trusted names. I’ve also included lecture mp3s where available to give you a taste for the teacher and material.
This book was based on a series of messages by Aussie preacher Phillip Jensen. Part One of the book explains how the topic of guidance fits into God’s overarching purposes for the world (which is vital and often overlooked), while Part Two explains the “how to” of seeking God’s will for a decision. Part three closes with a variety of case studies to help readers see truth presented in the first two parts applied to real-life situations. Jensen is thoroughly biblical, offering fresh insights on many things evangelicals take for granted. Read this book prayerfully with a highlighter in hand.
This book is the perfect thing to give to a high schooler or college student looking for guidance in life. In typical fashion, DeYoung dismantles false views of finding God’s will, shares the biblical perspective, and encourages readers to ‘just do something.’ DeYoung is a funny guy—and I often found myself laughing out loud while reading this. The size of this book makes it ideal to give away.
“In this Crucial Questions booklet, Dr. R.C. Sproul outlines timeless principles for discovering and applying the will of God in day-to-day decisions. He then illustrates how these principles should inform two of the most significant decisions we face in life—the choice of a career and the choice of a spouse. Here is valuable guidance for those who are passionate to follow God.”
If you’re a big Packer fan like I am, you will want to consider this 274-page book with included study guide.
“In this biblical and practical exploration of divine guidance, you’ll find solid foundations for understanding how and why God guides his people. Discover the role of Scripture, discernment, wisdom, the counsel of others, and the Holy Spirit in helping you discover God’s will.”
Lecture: Guidance about Guidance (Audio on YouTube)
This is a short book featuring the solid biblical content MacArthur is known for. Description: “Does God have a path for me? How do I make the right choices in life? Why is it so difficult to uncover God’s will? Found: God’s Will shares six powerful principles that will give you direction, fill you with purpose, and give you the confidence to live out His plan for you.”
This book stands out as the most exhaustive tome (400 pages) on the topic of divine guidance. You may enjoy reading Greg Gilbert’s review on 9Marks which says, “All in all, the book is very good, if somewhat long. In some ways, it might work better as a handy reference for answering pointed questions about certain Bible passages than as a working tool to hand to people struggling through issues like these. Better for that kind of work is Phillip Jensen’s Guidance and the Voice of God. As a final note, the last two chapters of Friesen’s book, “Wisdom When Christians Differ” and “Weaker Brothers, Pharisees, and Servants” are fantastic—probably the clearest, most accessible practical treatment of the teaching of Romans 14 and I Corinthians 8 on the conscience that I have seen. The book is probably worth the purchase price just for those two chapters.”
For some, merely mentioning the name Sinclair Ferguson is enough to sell them that this is a quality book that will be clear, rich, and profoundly biblical. It is also a concise 120 pages. (And just in case you wanted the 1980’s edition with a cheesy cover, here ya go.) Below is part of Amazon’s description:
“But how do we discover the will of God for our lives? Sinclair Ferguson answers this question by showing how God’s will is shaped by his ultimate purposes for us. It is made known to us through his Word. At times discovering God’s will demands careful thought: it may require patience; it always demands a right attitude to God himself. Discovering God’s Will draws out fundamental principles by which God guides us, applies them to practical situations like vocation and marriage, and underlines many important biblical counsels. It shows that the guidance God gives comes primarily through knowing, loving and obeying him.”
More Recommended Books:
**Links in this article are affiliate links, which means I make a few cents on the dollar (at no extra cost to you) to help cover blogging expenses. 🙂
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