How do I discern Gods will for my life?

[00:00:00] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Have you ever felt lost? I mean, unsure of which path to take in life? Do you sometimes wonder if God is speaking to you, but you're not quite sure how to listen? Imagine standing at a crossroads, each path stretching out before you, disappearing into the mist of an uncertain future. Which way do you go? How do you know which choice is right? Today on the Ask Ralph show, we're diving deep into the crucial question, how do we discern God's will for our lives? Stay tuned as we explore how to hear God's voice and more importantly, act on his message in your life.

[00:00:46] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Before we jump in, let me remind you about yesterday's episode, where we discussed the 7 essential documents you should always keep. If you missed it, you'll want to go back and listen. It's packed with practical advice that could save you a lot of headaches down the road. Remember, you can find all of our episodes at askralph.com.

[00:01:07] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Well now, let's get to today's topic. I received a heartfelt message from Peter, one of our listeners. He writes this.

[00:01:14] Ralph Estep, Jr.: "Dear Ralph, I've been struggling lately with some big decisions in my life. I'm torn between taking a new job offer that would mean relocating my family or staying put in a job that's comfortable, but not very fulfilling. I've been praying about it, but I'm just not sure how to know what God wants me to do. How can I be certain I'm hearing his voice and not just my own desires? Ralph, I guess the question is how do I discern his will for my life?" That is a great question, Peter. I want to thank you for your vulnerability in sharing this struggle. I know many of our listeners can relate to the challenge of making big life decisions and wanting them to align with God's will.

[00:01:55] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Before I dive into answering Peter's question, I want to welcome all of you to the show today. Thank you for tuning into the Ask Ralph Show where we're mastering your finances from a Christian perspective. If you're finding value in these episodes, I encourage you to visit our website. That's at askralph.com and join our community. Share this episode with someone who might be wrestling with similar questions about God's will for their life.

[00:02:17] Ralph Estep, Jr.: And here's a little bonus for you. When you join our email list, you'll get a free copy of my book, Mastering Your Finances. It's a $10 value on Amazon, but it's my gift to you for being part of our community. Remember, this show is all about answering your questions. If you have a question you'd like me to address, send it to ralph@askralph.com or visit our website. That's askralph.com and click on the microphone icon at the bottom to record your message.

[00:02:44] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Before we dive into Peter's question, let's ground ourselves in scripture. The book of Proverbs chapter 3, verses 5 and 6 says, "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."

[00:03:06] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Now Peter, let me share a personal story I think will resonate with your situation. About a year ago, I found myself at a similar crossroads. I had a very successful accounting practice but I felt a tugging in my heart to do something more. Something that would allow me to combine my financial expertise with my passion for helping others grow in their faith. I can still remember sitting in my office one day, staring at my computer screen, feeling completely unfulfilled. The numbers were all there. The spreadsheets were perfect, but something was missing. I felt God calling me to something more. But I was terrified of making a change. What if I was just hearing what I wanted to hear? What if I was mistaking my own desires for God's voice? I spent weeks praying. I sought counsel from trusted friends and mentors and dove deep into the scripture. I was looking for a burning bush moment, some clear sign that would point me in the right direction. But, you know what? That dramatic moment never came.

[00:04:09] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Instead, the clarity I was seeking came in small quiet moments. It came in the peace I felt when I thought about using my skills to help others. It came in the doors that seemed to open effortlessly when I started exploring the idea of a financial ministry.

[00:04:26] Ralph Estep, Jr.: I had done a podcast back in 2017 and 2018. But I sort of lost interest in it. I had shelved it for a few years. It was just a business podcast back then with the goal of getting some new business and tax clients. I never even thought about how I can make it my personal ministry. The transformation didn't happen overnight. It was a process of learning to trust God's guidance

[00:04:50] Ralph Estep, Jr.: even when it didn't come in the form I expected. I had to learn to pay attention to the way certain paths brought me peace while others left me feeling unsettled. I guess the final thing was one day I was sitting at my desk and just looking out over the pasture where we had our black Angus herd. I thought about my home. I thought about my farm. I thought about my cars, my watches, and all the other stuff that comes along with all we call financial success. And I simply realized that all of that really didn't fuel me anymore. It was all just stuff and it had stopped motivating me. I realized my purpose needed to be helping others with their finances so they could live out their God-given purposes. So Peter, eventually I took the leap. I then decided back in November of last year to restart this podcast, along with my financial consulting practice, focusing on helping Christians align their finances with their faith.

[00:05:50] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Was it scary? Absolutely. Did I have moments of doubt? You bet I did. I still have them, but each day I am seeing new listeners and new viewers. But now looking back, I can see how God was guiding me every step of the way. I guess it was about a month ago when I got a message from a listener who said, Ralph, you were speaking directly to me. Thank you for today's podcast. It was like you're speaking directly to me. I struggle a bit with worry, but do my best to let go. I have a great book, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie. It was written in 1944 and has been updated, but it's all true even now. Thank you again. This was so good.

[00:06:31] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Peter, it's comments and messages like that which fuel me today. So Peter, let me share with you what I learned from the process and here are a few action steps I'd recommend as you seek to discern God's will.

[00:06:42] Ralph Estep, Jr.: The first thing you've got to do is you got to pray consistently. Make time each day to quiet your mind and listen for God's voice. It might not come as some booming voice from the heavens but rather as a gentle nudge or simple breeze or a sense of peace. I've been working with a podcast coach and he's been helping me better understand the why of what I'm doing and I just consistently pray that God would show me his will for my life.

[00:07:08] Ralph Estep, Jr.: The second thing Peter, is to study scripture. God's will is always in alignment with his word. Spend time in the Bible, especially focusing on passages about God's guidance and wisdom. This is the reason I try to always add a Bible verse to the show so that I can make sure what I'm saying is within God's will.

[00:07:28] Ralph Estep, Jr.: The third thing is seek wise counsel. Peter, talk to trusted friends, talk to family members or mentors who share your faith. I found that sometimes God speaks to us through the wisdom of others.

[00:07:40] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Another thing you've got to do Peter is pay attention to your gifts and passions. God often calls us to use these talents He's given us. Consider how your unique skills and interests might be used to serve him.

[00:07:53] Ralph Estep, Jr.: The next thing you got to do Peter is look for open doors. Sometimes God's will becomes clear through the opportunities he provides. Be open to new possibilities.

[00:08:04] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Number 6, Peter. Trust your peace. If a particular path brings you a sense of peace, even if it's challenging, that can be a sign of God's leading.

[00:08:14] Ralph Estep, Jr.: And number 7 and this one is not easy and this is something I deal with every day. You've got to be patient. Discerning God's will is often a process, not a one-time event. You've got to give yourself grace and time. There is not a set destination. It's all about the journey.

[00:08:34] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Remember this. God is not trying to hide his will from you. He wants to guide you even more than you want to be guided. Trust in his timing and his goodness.

[00:08:44] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Let's pray together. Heavenly Father, we come to you today seeking your guidance and your wisdom. We know that you have plans for us. Plans to prosper us and not to harm us. Plans to give us hope and a future. Help us to quiet the noise of the world around us in our own desire so that we can hear your voice more clearly. Give us discernment to recognize your leading and courage to follow where you guide us. We trust in your perfect will and timing. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.

[00:09:20] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Well today, we explored how to discern God's will in our lives and recognize His voice. Remember, it's a journey of trust, it's a journey of patience, and it's a journey of openness to God's leading. And listen, if you're facing a big decision and need help aligning your finances with God's plan for your life, I'm going to encourage you to schedule an appointment with me. You could do that by going to askralphpodcast.com/store. Now tomorrow, we'll be tackling another important financial question. And that is what are the average retirement account balances people have accumulated by age? I feel like this is a good thing to talk about. So you can see where you stack up. It's one you don't want to miss.

[00:09:59] Ralph Estep, Jr.: Well, thank you so much for tuning into the Ask Ralph show. And as I always say, stay financially savvy, and God bless you abundantly on this Sunday.