Charles Stalker was praying one morning when God spoke to him and said, “I want you to go to China.” Stalker was amazed because he did not have contacts or finances to go. But the impression was so strong that he packed his suitcase and went to the station where such a journey would begin. There a stranger approached him and asked, “Are you Charles Stalker?” He then went on to say, “I was sent here with a ticket to send you to China.”

I cannot vouch for the details of this story. This is how I heard it many years ago. The point is that this story gave me a very wrong idea of how to discern the direction of God. It seemed that God might give me an impression at any time that might be contrary to all reasoning and circumstances. In this case, I had no way to distinguish my own imagination from the voice of God.

John Wesley gave some practical instruction on how to discern the will of God. He said, first of all, that we know that God’s general will for us is that we be holy and that we accomplish good. Therefore, to make a specific decision, we must consider which option will enable us to be most holy and accomplish the most good.

We learn from experience which circumstances are spiritually helpful and which are dangerous. As far as we are able, we should put ourselves into the circumstances that will help us spiritually. By reason and experience, and by the advice of others, we are able to judge which option will allow us to accomplish the most good.

How does God ordinarily reveal His will? Is it like Stalker’s experience, disconnected from any circumstances? Is it by a random word from the Bible, or an audible voice, or a “fleece”? Some expect to hear regularly from God in a way that overrides any other considerations.

God does not ordinarily show His will in a manner that can be clearly recognized as special revelation. Rather, He expects us to apply scriptural principles as we reason carefully and examine the circumstances. The Holy Spirit illuminates this process to an extent that we cannot measure. We should pray not for revelation but for wisdom and light.

People that rely on impressions contrary to reason and circumstances often become somewhat ferocious in their defense of their behavior. They show pride and hardheadedness, rather than humility. Since they consider themselves to be directly instructed by God, they ignore all human instruction, except what agrees with them. If they are leaders, rather than relying on the Spirit to likewise communicate the message to others, they may rely on personal force and expect naive trust from their hearers.

Leaders like this need to be told the Ukrainian story of a young Cossack who came to the priest and said, “Father, I had a dream and saw myself as the leader of 10,000 men.” The priest said, “Now all that remains is for 10,000 men to dream that you are their leader.”

On questions not specifically resolved in the Bible, rather than habitually speaking as though we infallibly perceive “God’s will” by direct revelation, perhaps it would be better to speak of “the best course of action,” or “the decision that will have the best results.” If the decision turns out to be an error, it will be better if the person did not claim that he had a message from God. Also, a person should avoid putting himself beyond help from the advice of others by claiming that he has a special insight into God’s will.

Besides the principle Wesley gave, here are more questions to consider:

1. Is it consistent with clear Scriptural commands?
2. Is it consistent with Scriptural priorities?
3. Is it consistent with a realistic view of the circumstances?
4 . Is it consistent with reason and common sense?
5. Is it consistent with Christian ethics?
6. Is it consistent with loving others as yourself?
7. Will it have a good influence on others?
8. Is it confirmed by godly advisors?

When God’s will is something very unusual, He is able to make that will known to you beyond doubt. An angel, or vision, or a burning bush has given sufficient certainty for some people in the past. Or He may simply give an inner assurance that is beyond doubt. But when no clear message from God has been received, follow reliable principles for discerning the right option. Do not expect to receive an inner impression for every decision. If you sincerely reason with the right priorities, you will later see that God guided your decision more than you were conscious of at the time.

Motives are the most important factor in discerning God’s direction. A person who seeks the will of God only so that he can decide whether or not to do it will probably become confused, because his motives are divided. A person who seeks God’s will with wholehearted determination to do it will not miss God’s will.

Dr. Steve Gibson is director of Kiev Wesley Bible College, Kiev, Ukraine.